An August Adams Adventure: Illuminated (Hardcover)

by Matt Bronleewe (Author)
Key Phrases: black queen, tenth image, illuminated map, Grandma Rose, Order of the Dragon, Holy Roman Empire (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“ . . . this rare breed of suspense thriller combines mysterious hidden clues, secret societies, buried treasure, double agents, and the Knights Templar . . . if you turned National Treasure into international treasure, traded Da Vinci codes for Gutenberg Bibles, married it to Indiana Jones, and added the pacing of 24 you’d be in the neighborhood of Illuminated . . . on a scale of one to 10, this one goes to 11.” 

—Aspiring Retail Magazine

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Description

August Adams has failed his family before. He's sacrificed relationships in pursuit of adventure, fame, and money. Now the very lives of those he loves depend on his ability to decipher a centuries-old puzzle encrypted in the colorful hand-painted illuminations that adorn three rare Gutenberg Bibles.

It's a secret that could yield unimaginable wealth, undermine two major religions, and change the course of Western civilization. Two ruthless, ancient organizations are willing to do anything to get their hands on it. And August has the span of one transatlantic flight to figure it out.

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Product Details Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson (August 7, 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 1595542493 ISBN-13: 978-1595542496 Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #489,788 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
black queen, tenth image, illuminated map, illuminated pages

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Grandma Rose, Order of the Dragon, Holy Roman Empire, New York, Gutenberg Bible, Library of Congress, Great Hall, Agent Meng, Emperor Sigismund, Leo Kahn, August Adams, April Adams, Dragon Master, Morgan Library, Foucault's Pendulum, Jamba Juice, Mainz Bible, King Solomon, Saint Luke

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	77% buy the item featured on this page: An August Adams Adventure: Illuminated 3.7 out of 5 stars (29) $17.24
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Customer Reviews

29 Reviews 5 star:  (11) 4 star:  (7) 3 star:  (6) 2 star:  (2) 1 star:  (3)           Average Customer Review 3.7 out of 5 stars (29 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars Exciting But...., September 3, 2007 By  Reader from Fairport (Fairport, NY USA) - See all my reviews Illuminated is truly an exciting story. For that I have given it three stars. However I found all of the characters, even 8-year old Charlie, to be remarkably unappealing. August Adams seemed to deserve all of the trouble that came his way. April was simply obnoxious. Other problems: why was there so much turbulence when August's plane landed in New York, but none when April's plane arrived only minutes later? Why was April's mother constantly referred to as "Grandma Rose", as if being Charlie's grandmother was the only thing worth mentioning about her? Why wasn't much more said about Dr. Winter, who apparently had a key role in the plot? And the dialogue was unrealistic. It did not seem like real conversation. I feel that Illuminated just missed being a great thriller and was in need of some serious editing. Not to shorten it--at least it isn't weighed down with excessive description--but simply to have it make more sense. 6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars Hard to Suspend my Disbelief for This One, December 22, 2007 By  Timothy Haugh (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)       Sometimes I wish I could stop picking up these thrillers based on literary history. It seems to be a rare skill these days to put together one that really thrills from beginning to end. In Illuminated, Mr. Bronleewe makes an honorable attempt, but falls short. In this one, there is a secret hidden in the illuminations of Gutenberg bibles, placed there by Johnnes Gutenberg himself. There are not one, but two secret societies--the Orphans and the Order of the Dragon--racing to protect and/or uncover the secret. The secret, of course, leads to an ancient, hidden treasure. OK, to be honest, I eat this kind of stuff up. And, to be fair, there's a lot of interesting stuff in here about Gutenberg, his bibles, and the history of the period. I'm just having a harder and harder time dealing with the suspension of disbelief required of these novels. And I don't mean the foundations of the story. I'm willing to throw my lot in with those. It's how the action unfolds, which breaks through the boundaries of the credible. Just a few examples (spoiler alert): the bulk of this novel unfolds over the course of a single airline flight from Europe to America. Granted, that makes for a quick and easy read, but it also puts a strain on the events that have to happen. During the time required for this flight, a librarian steals a Gutenberg from the Library of Congress underneath the noses of professional thieves and killers; an asthmatic, pre-pubescent boy saves his grandmother and himself from multiple professional killers (and interprets a key clue from the Gutenbergs); and our protagonist--in a couple hours--figures out the multiple stages of the hidden secret that has remained unknown for hundreds of years. Then, he misleads his captors as to the meaning of the secret, escapes from a bomb with his family, and discovers the secret for himself. I'm sorry to everyone who appreciates this kind of action but I like even my thrillers to at least remain within certain bounds of believability. This one crossed the line for me and made it hard for me to enjoy the more pleasurable aspects of this novel. This was an idea that deserved better treatment, I think. 6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Old Books, New Fiction, August 8, 2007 By  J. M. Denouden "bibliophile" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Secret societies, hidden codes, ancient art - This isn't the latest controversy penned by Dan Brown. This is a stunning debut novel from producer/songwriter Matt Bronleewe. Illuminated combines edge-of-your-seat action with a centuries old mystery, creating a story that hooks the reader early and keeps the pages turning. Most ancient book scholars spend their days in rooms devoid of sunlight examining books many centuries old, but August Adams isn't your standard, everyday archaeobibliologist. Not content to remain in the confines of museums and back rooms, August throws himself into the acquisition and sale of ancient books. Because of August's thirst for adventure he has fractured his relationships with his son and his (now ex) wife, and he struggles to keep his head above water financially. After a brief prologue introducing the reader to a young Johannes Gutenberg, the man who would later invent the printing press, the book opens with August leaping into the heat of the excitement as the airplane he is on experiences some extreme turbulence. After the turbulence dies down and he returns to his seat we find out that August has found a Gutenberg Bible, one of the rarest, and therefore costliest, books in the world and is delivering it to a buyer in New York. He has high hopes that this one sale will bring him out of debt and put him in better standing with his kid and ex-wife. August and his family are then swept up into a centuries old mystery involving secret codes hidden within the illuminations in the margins of Gutenberg Bibles and secret societies connected in some way to both the Knights Templar and Count Dracula. Unrelentingly paced, Illuminated grabs you by the shirt and doesn't let go until long after the final page has been read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good intrigue. Be warned though, this book is NOT for the faint-of-heart; there are one or two scenes that contain somewhat graphic violence. My only complaint for Mr. Bronleewe is that the book ended too soon. I would have liked more interaction between August and his family, and more information about the secret societies. Matt Bronleewe represents the next generation of Christian Fiction, and the future looks very bright.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 3.0 out of 5 stars A junk food snack to satisfy your conspiracy cravings A quick read, yes. Deep thoughts, no. If that's what you're craving in letters right now, snap this one up. I read it in a few hours. Read more Published 1 month ago by Sheepie87 2.0 out of 5 stars It's the "Da Vinci Code" only... not I really, really, tried to get into this book. It just fell flat, though: characters never sprang from the pages and the plot never really caught my attention. Read more Published 2 months ago by Barbara L. Lemaster 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read! I heard about this book when it first came out but just now had a chance to read it right before book 2 came out. A great read that reads quickly. Read more Published 11 months ago by James A. Nichols 5.0 out of 5 stars All the Endorsements are correct! The endorsements for this book rave about it's quality and after reading the story I must admit that I agree fully! Read more Published 11 months ago by Margaret A. Chind 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Debut with more to come! I picked up this book because I'm a book fanatic and love "books on books." Matt also appealed to me because he is a man of many talents (see his bibliography in the music... Read more Published 12 months ago by Paul Turner 3.0 out of 5 stars surprising in many ways... i liked: the story line-suspenseful, fast paced, adventuresome, mysterious, complex, twists and turns. Read more Published 12 months ago by rv rick 4.0 out of 5 stars Illuminated This one really reminded me of Divinci Code. I love trying to solve the mysteries of old! I really liked the soundtrack to the different characters that you can download for... Read more Published 12 months ago by Jeanne 4.0 out of 5 stars a good popcorn book This was a fun book penned by one of the founders of Jars of Clay. I got my hands on an Advanced Reading Copy several months ago, which I then promptly lost until recently -- so... Read more Published 12 months ago by Brendt Waters 1.0 out of 5 stars Not for the Discriminating Reader As one 5-star reviewer put it, Matt Bronleewe is indeed a man of many talents, and with work, perhaps he could develop into a novelist as well. Read more Published 13 months ago by Lady Abigail 2.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't even finish it. I rarely give up on a book, but this time I had to. After reading that the main character (who is being held hostage on an airplane, while a scheming woman tells her accomplice... Read more Published 14 months ago by Ramona L. Voight Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (August 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595542493
• ISBN-13: 978-1595542496
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #489,788 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Exciting But...., September 3, 2007

By	Reader from Fairport (Fairport, NY USA) - See all my reviews

Illuminated is truly an exciting story. For that I have given it three stars.

However I found all of the characters, even 8-year old Charlie, to be remarkably unappealing. August Adams seemed to deserve all of the trouble that came his way. April was simply obnoxious.

Other problems: why was there so much turbulence when August's plane landed in New York, but none when April's plane arrived only minutes later? Why was April's mother constantly referred to as "Grandma Rose", as if being Charlie's grandmother was the only thing worth mentioning about her? Why wasn't much more said about Dr. Winter, who apparently had a key role in the plot? And the dialogue was unrealistic. It did not seem like real conversation.

I feel that Illuminated just missed being a great thriller and was in need of some serious editing. Not to shorten it--at least it isn't weighed down with excessive description--but simply to have it make more sense.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hard to Suspend my Disbelief for This One, December 22, 2007

By	Timothy Haugh (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Sometimes I wish I could stop picking up these thrillers based on literary history. It seems to be a rare skill these days to put together one that really thrills from beginning to end. In Illuminated, Mr. Bronleewe makes an honorable attempt, but falls short.

In this one, there is a secret hidden in the illuminations of Gutenberg bibles, placed there by Johnnes Gutenberg himself. There are not one, but two secret societies--the Orphans and the Order of the Dragon--racing to protect and/or uncover the secret. The secret, of course, leads to an ancient, hidden treasure.

OK, to be honest, I eat this kind of stuff up. And, to be fair, there's a lot of interesting stuff in here about Gutenberg, his bibles, and the history of the period. I'm just having a harder and harder time dealing with the suspension of disbelief required of these novels. And I don't mean the foundations of the story. I'm willing to throw my lot in with those. It's how the action unfolds, which breaks through the boundaries of the credible.

Just a few examples (spoiler alert): the bulk of this novel unfolds over the course of a single airline flight from Europe to America. Granted, that makes for a quick and easy read, but it also puts a strain on the events that have to happen. During the time required for this flight, a librarian steals a Gutenberg from the Library of Congress underneath the noses of professional thieves and killers; an asthmatic, pre-pubescent boy saves his grandmother and himself from multiple professional killers (and interprets a key clue from the Gutenbergs); and our protagonist--in a couple hours--figures out the multiple stages of the hidden secret that has remained unknown for hundreds of years. Then, he misleads his captors as to the meaning of the secret, escapes from a bomb with his family, and discovers the secret for himself.

I'm sorry to everyone who appreciates this kind of action but I like even my thrillers to at least remain within certain bounds of believability. This one crossed the line for me and made it hard for me to enjoy the more pleasurable aspects of this novel. This was an idea that deserved better treatment, I think.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old Books, New Fiction, August 8, 2007

By	J. M. Denouden "bibliophile" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Secret societies, hidden codes, ancient art - This isn't the latest controversy penned by Dan Brown. This is a stunning debut novel from producer/songwriter Matt Bronleewe. Illuminated combines edge-of-your-seat action with a centuries old mystery, creating a story that hooks the reader early and keeps the pages turning.

Most ancient book scholars spend their days in rooms devoid of sunlight examining books many centuries old, but August Adams isn't your standard, everyday archaeobibliologist. Not content to remain in the confines of museums and back rooms, August throws himself into the acquisition and sale of ancient books. Because of August's thirst for adventure he has fractured his relationships with his son and his (now ex) wife, and he struggles to keep his head above water financially.

After a brief prologue introducing the reader to a young Johannes Gutenberg, the man who would later invent the printing press, the book opens with August leaping into the heat of the excitement as the airplane he is on experiences some extreme turbulence. After the turbulence dies down and he returns to his seat we find out that August has found a Gutenberg Bible, one of the rarest, and therefore costliest, books in the world and is delivering it to a buyer in New York. He has high hopes that this one sale will bring him out of debt and put him in better standing with his kid and ex-wife.

August and his family are then swept up into a centuries old mystery involving secret codes hidden within the illuminations in the margins of Gutenberg Bibles and secret societies connected in some way to both the Knights Templar and Count Dracula.

Unrelentingly paced, Illuminated grabs you by the shirt and doesn't let go until long after the final page has been read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good intrigue. Be warned though, this book is NOT for the faint-of-heart; there are one or two scenes that contain somewhat graphic violence.

My only complaint for Mr. Bronleewe is that the book ended too soon. I would have liked more interaction between August and his family, and more information about the secret societies. Matt Bronleewe represents the next generation of Christian Fiction, and the future looks very bright.