One of my favorite books of all-time is a book called This Present Darkness, by Frank Peretti. It’s a novel about spiritual warfare, and is one of those books that has stayed with me the entire 20 years since I’ve read it. I read – and enjoyed – its sequel, Piercing the Darkness, but I hadn’t read a Peretti book since.
So you can imagine how thrilled I was when I was asked to read and review his newest novel, Illusion. I started reading it immediately the day I received it, and didn’t put it down for the next few days until I’d finished it. Quite simply, it did not disappoint.
Illusion tells the story of Dane and Mandy Collins, husband and wife and popular magic act for forty years. When Mandy is killed in a horrific car accident, Dane is consumed with grief. As he mourns, Mandy returns to life… but as her 19-year-old year old self in the present day. Drawn to each other by a connection neither can explain, the two meet and eventually enter into a mentor/protege relationship.
Mandy finds work as an illusionist and performer at a local coffee house, and with Dane as her coach, begins to forge a successful career as a solo magician. As she tries to piece together who she is and how she got here, Dane tries to reconcile his feelings for this beautiful young girl who reminds him so much of his wife. Meanwhile, the pair is being watched – closely – by the people who hold all the answers they’re looking for.
I must confess I don’t ordinarily read books about things such as time travel, but Peretti writes it in such a way that he makes me a believer. His characters are sympathetic and true-to-life, and their relationship (both in the past and the present) is heartfelt and inspiring. He made me root for the good guys and boo for the bad guys, and crafted a story that is full of heart, twists, and turns. The last 100 pages especially were like a roller coaster hurtling to the bottom of the giant drop. It was a book I simply couldn’t put down. *
Want to win your own copy and see if you love it as much as I did? One reader will win a brand-new (soft-cover) edition of this book, just released this month.
Here’s what you gotta know:
There are four ways to enter. Please leave just ONE comment letting me know which ones you’ve done. The giveaway will stay open for one week, and a winner will be randomly selected on Friday, April 6th. I will announce the winner on my blog, but I will also contact you by email. So make sure you’re leaving a valid address (I won’t use it for any other purpose, I promise. :))
1. Post a comment on this entry, any old comment at all.
2. Share the link to this giveaway on Facebook.
3. Share the link to this giveaway on Twitter.
4. Let me know one of YOUR favorite books of all time.
Good luck!
(*All opinions are my own. I wasn’t required to give a positive review*)
YAY!!!! I love giveaways!!!
Sounds good! I wonder if the library has it yet?
I shared this on FB.
One of my favorite books ever is *Upstream* by Ludwig Lewisohn.
This sounds interesting. I’d love to read it!
My top favorite books are:
Pride and Prejudice (and all Jane Austen)
Farenhiet 451
Out of the Silent Planet
The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Mayor of Casterbridge
…too many to mention actually, and some newer titles, but I do love old literature!
Ohhhh, sounds very good!
Love his books!
My favourite book of all time is Francine River’s “Redeeming Love”. There aren’t many books I reread, but my copy of that one is becoming quite well-worn.
Looks good!
Just started following your blog and ♥ it!
This sounds like a *wonderful* book! I’d love to have a copy, particularly since it would be introducing me to an author I’ve never read before.
Sounds like a fun book! I enjoy reading your blog, thanks!
Sounds Like a good read
My 15 year old son is currently questioning the God thing. He’s got some friends who have introduced him to spirituality on the “evil” side of things (such as “The Bible is a conspiracy, telling only God’s side of the story and painting the Devil in a way that isn’t true” – this friend of his has a lot of books about Satan, apparently telling HIS side of the story – and this is one of my son’s friends!), and also “The Illuminati. My son is thinking through everything and trying to decide what is truth. If God exists & is good/powerful etc, why is there evil in the world? He isn’t much of a reader, but I think this book sounds like something he would read! And it would help him to see that yes, there is a very real spiritual battle going on, and he needs to choose which side he wants to be on. So yes, we would love this book.
I love Peretti!
My favorite book is thr3e by Ted Dekker!
1. Thank you so much for doing this giveaway, I had no idea he had a new book out, but I would triple love to read it!!
2. Sharing to FB
3. Sadly I can’t share to Twitter as I don’t have an acct. 🙁
4. I think my fav book is Sophie’s Heart by Lori Wick but LOVE This Present Darkness and The Oath….both life changing for me.
I love his books and would love to be entered!
My favorite book that I’ve read recently is the 13th Tale. Talk about stick with you, I couldn’t get that one out of my head for months!
I want to enter. 🙂
The book sounds good to me. One of a few of my favorite books is The Mothman. Anything paranormal or true ghost stories.
Will you accept entries from overseas? I’m in Australia, so consider this my entry if I’m allowed 🙂
Looks good. I’d give it a read! 🙂