Thirsty by Tracey Bateman (Book Review)

Title: Thirsty
Author: Tracey Bateman
Publisher: Waterbrook Press

My synopsis: Nina Parker is an alcoholic. Her husband has divorced her. She does not have custody of her children. Her reputation as a vet has been tarnished. And now, after an episode with her ex lands her in rehab, she finds herself relocating to her hometown of Abbey Hills. She plans on staying with her sister Jill for awhile until she can save up some money for her own place. Meagan, now fifteen, will be accompanying her for spring break.

Abbey Hills contains only painful memories for her. She grew up as the daughter of an alcoholic father and began drinking at a young age. She made it through high school, but after the night of her graduation, she finds herself pregnant with no clear picture as to what happened. She moves away from Abbey Hills determined to make it on her own. She is able to quit drinking during her pregnancy and the first few years of Meagan life - then she meets Hunt, her now ex, and slowly the drinking once again becomes routine. Abbey Hills, even though it is full of past regrets, is now her chance at a new life and a new start with her daughter Meagan.

Jill just happens to be the sheriff of Abbey Hills. On their first night in town, Jill gets a call that there has been a murder, and a pretty gruesome one at that. Some animals have also been found carved up with their hearts missing. Nina becomes a catalyst for the events that transpire, even though she is unaware of it.

My thoughts: I liked the way that the book told Nina's back story, alternating between Nina and her ex, Hunt. It fills in all the gaps while also moving the story forward. Nina is very likable and I can relate to her relationship with her teenage daughter. I sort of felt that she had been dealt a bad hand and I was happy that she was staying sober. Throughout the book, she seems to slowly be regaining faith in herself and faith in her family.

Thirsty
Publisher/Publication Date: Waterbrook Press, October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-307-45715-8
384 pages

*This book was provided to me for my unbiased review by Elizabeth at Random House.*

Faith and Fangs - Blog Tour (Nov 16 - Nov 20)

There are two books touring this week for Multnomah Books. They are Thirsty and Touched by a Vampire.

Thirsty by Tracey Bateman

About the book: There's no place like home, they say.

"Hello, I'm Nina Parker. . .and I'm an alcoholic."

For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier - and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone - or something - igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.

Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates and unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?

As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfolds to its startling, unforgettable end.

About the author: With close to one million books in print, Tracey Bateman is the award-winning author of more than thirty titles. Fan favorites include the popular Kansas Home historical series: Color of the Soul, a tale of race and prejudice; and her many intriguing Heartsong Presents romantic novels. Tracey resides in Missouri with her husband and four children.


Touched by a Vampire: Discovering the Hidden Messages in the Twilight Saga by Beth Felker Jones

About the book: Examining Twilight Through a Biblical Lens

People around the world are enraptured with Edward and Bella's forbidden romance in the Twilight Saga, a four-book serial phenomenon written by Stephenie Meyer. The bestsellers tell the story of a regular girl's relationship with a vampire who has chosen to follow his "good" side. But the Saga isn't just another fantasy - it's teaching girls about love, sex, and purpose. With 48 million copies in print and a succession of upcoming blockbuster films, now is the time to ask the important question: Can vampires teach us about God's plan for love?

Touched by a Vampire investigates the themes of the Twilight Saga from a Biblical perspective. Some Christian readers have praised moral principles illustrated in the story, such as premarital sexual abstinence, which align with Meyer's Mormon beliefs. But ultimately, Beth Felker Jones examines whether the story's redemptive qualities outshine its darkness.

Cautionary, thoughtful, and challenging, Touched by a Vampire is written for Twilight fans, parents, teachers, and youth workers. It includes an overview of the series for those unfamiliar with the storyline and a discussion guide for small groups.

About the author: Beth Felker Jones is assistant professor of theology at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. She is the author of The Marks of His Wounds: Gender Politics and Bodily Resurrection, as well as numerous articles and reviews. Beth is a mother and a pastor's wife.

ARC Arrival: Thirsty by Tracey Bateman

Thirsty by Tracey Bateman

Publisher: Waterbrook Press

About the book: "Hello, I'm Nina Parker. . . and I'm an alcoholic."

For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier - and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone - or something - igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.

Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying even that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates and unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?

As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfolds to its startling, unforgettable end. (back cover)

About the author: With close to one million books in print, Tracey Bateman is the award-winning author of more than thirty titles. Fan favorites include the popular Kansas Home historical series: Color of the Soul, a tale of race and prejudice; and her many intriguing Heartsong Presents romantic novels. Tracey resides in Missouri with her husband and four children. (back cover)

Thirsty
Publisher/Publication Date: Waterbrook Press, Oct 2009
ISBN: 978-0-307-45715-8
384 pages