The Vampires are Coming! No, the Vampires are here!

As I write this, Twilight fans are going bonkers in Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Yikes! There's a very cute Jacob (my daughter's fav) smiling at his screaming fans. Uh oh . . . tears are pooling in eyes and streaming down cheeks. Is this the profile of a girl who needs to sit down with a mom who has read Touched by a Vampire?

Last night, near midnight, a 26-year old friend stood in line for almost two hours to see New Moon, knowing she had to get up for work this morning. And my own 26-year old daughter is driving to a near-by town to see New Moon with a friend--and she can hardly wait. Let me point out that both of these young women are strong Christians. They read across the board--contemporary to classic, and they're avid movie-goers.

When I watch how excited everyone is about the Twilight series, when I see how concerned Christians are, and when I watch the media frenzy, I feel incredibly sad that we've come to this point, that we take our entertainment so seriously, that we're so influenced by it. I know it's not unlike the feelings and emotions my generation experienced when Elvis hit the big screen. What upsets me is that we've reached a point where we really do need to be educated about trends in general, not just vampire trends. So if your kiddo is drawn to vampires, you might want to call on Touched by a Vampire by Beth Felker Jones. This is a thorough Bible Study of sorts.

Faith and Fangs
What do you need to know about vampires? You may think that you don’t need to be educated about the vampire trends in media—especially the Twilight Saga—but your family is being bombarded with messages from books (Twilight, Wuthering Bites) to television (Vampire Diaries, True Blood) to movies (New Moon releases on November 20).
One of the most popular vampire outlets is the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. The second book New Moon is being made into a movie that hits theaters in November, so we want to make sure that you and your family are prepared to make the decision if you’ll go see it, and if you do see it to have thoughtful discussion about some hidden themes it holds.

You can see all the different options where to purchase Touched by a Vampire by clicking HERE.

EXAMINING TWILIGHT THROUGH A BIBLICAL LENS
People around the world are asking the same question, 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 is the first book to investigate 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 pop culture enthusiasts. It includes an overview of the series for those unfamiliar with the storyline and a discussion guide for small groups.

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I confess: My kids grew up watching Salem's Lot, The Shining, and The Birds. We huddled around the TV and we were all scared together. While I'm really not a vampire fan, I couldn't resist seeing what Thirsty is all about. I've read a few Bateman books. Some leave me cold while others are wonderful. In all honesty, I haven't finished Thirsty, but only because my own deadlines have interfered with my reading schedule. I feel confident in saying this: Bateman is a storyteller. You won't be disappointed in her story. Bateman's writing in Thirsty is superior to anything else she's written. I believe she really had a passion for writing this book. I highly recommend Thirsty and suggest that Tracey Bateman is an author to watch.

Thirsty by Tracey Bateman

Summary:
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 an 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 unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.

You can purchase Thirsty HERE.

These books were provided free for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.