Creston Mapes Reviews

Added March 13, 2007

The Rock Star Chronicles Book 2: Full Tilt

Author: Creston Mapes
Publisher: Multnomah Publishers
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: March 2006
Genre: Fiction: Christian/Thriller
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $12.99
ISBN-10: 1-59052-506-X
ISBN-13: 9781590525067
Author Email/Website: www.crestonmapes.com
Reviewer: Phillip Tomasso III

Full Tilt is Creston Mapes' second novel, and is the second in a series entitled The Rock Star Chronicles. The first, Dark Star, introduces readers to acid rock legend, Everett Lester, whose satanic music hypnotized and poisoned America's youth. That is until Lester discovered the truth and changed his ways.

Full Tilt begins where Dark Star left off. Lester is married and has completely moved away from the rock scene. He has dedicated his life to the Lord and is concentrating on promoting the upcoming release of his new worship album.

Unable to escape his past, his new life is anything but peace, love and happiness. Duped fans of his one popular DeathStroke band begin relentlessly tormenting Evertt's home and family. To make matters worse, Everett's brother has a gambling problem so severe that the Mafia is after him-and because Everett tried to help smooth things over, the mob wants a piece of Everett, as well.

Like a final blow, Everett's new wife has shocking, disheartening news that will effect their marriage for the rest of their lives . . .

Equally compelling to Dark Star, equally engrossing, and enlightening, Full Tilt is a solid second novel in the series. Suspense, tension and action fill the pages. Great characters, concrete story lines, and an ever-important message are the elements necessary and achieved in Full Tilt. I look forward to Mapes' next work!

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Added June 11, 2006

The Rock Star Chronicles Book 1: Dark Star

Confessions of a Rock Idol

Author: Creston Mapes
Publisher: Multnomah Publishers
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: May 2005
Genre: Fiction: Christian/Thriller
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $12.99
ISBN: 1-59052-472-1
Author Email/Website: www.crestonmapes.com
Reviewer: Phillip Tomasso III

Dark Star, Creston Mapes first novel, is probably the best book I have read so far this year. I don't offer praise like that lightly; Dark Star earned it. This gripping murder mystery, full of tension, suspense and page-turning courtroom drama was nearly impossible to put down. And when I was able to set it down, I spent my time away from the novel thinking about the characters, wondering what in the world was going to happen next.

Everett Lester is the main man in the popular rock band known as DeathStroke. His rebellious lyrics and evil antics inspire a huge following, making him and the rest of the band extremely wealthy. Anything Lester wants, Lester can have, from personal planes, to women, drugs, and booze, to his very own psychic that travels around with him and the band.

Having everything he wants, and doing anything he wants does not make Lester a happy rock idol. Instead he is in constant search for that magic something that will make him feel whole and complete. His fan mail is littered with the typical rock fan mail stuff-we love you, we love your music, we own all your CDs, blah, blah, blah. Until Lester receives the most ironic letter from a woman who absolutely hates his music-but loves him. She's not in love with him, but loves him because Jesus loves him, and promises to pray for his salvation. Little does Lester know that over the next ten years this young woman will continually write encouraging letters and send along little gifts, keeping her promise to keep him in her constant prayers. And little does he know that these letters will become more and more important to him as he finds himself losing touch with reality.

Lester's uncaring and blatant disrespect for life around him explodes worse than usual during a concert. His recklessness sends a teenage girl to the hospital, leaving her in an inescapable coma. From having it all, to risking it all, life gets worse when Lester is next brought up on first degree murder charges and all the evidence screams of his apparent guilt.

Being on trial for his freedom isn't the only battle raging on in Lester's life. There is also a battle going on over possession of his very soul. As Lester learns the truth about Jesus it becomes more obvious that forces are at work to keep him away from the true Light and instead trapped in the limelight as a rock idol where he can continue to lead the millions of DeathStroke fans toward eternal damnation.

How else can I say it? This book was gripping, intense and just overwhelmingly engaging. The next in the series is out-Full Tilt. I have it. I cannot wait to begin reading it. Mapes is truly talented. I am thrilled to have been blessed by reading his novel of love and forgiveness. Though fiction, it still contains powerful testimony!

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