The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
I wish I could find more books just like this one!  Through the eyes of the main character, Lou, the reader explores a futuristic world with timeless conflicts.  Lou was born with autism, and while advanced therapies have helped him  adapt to the "normal" world he still wonders what his life would be life if he could change.  He is given that choice when his company buys into an experimental brain treatment that they think will "cure" people of their autism--but he doesn't want to be pressured into changing just because other people want him to. This book chronicles Lou's journey as he weighs his current successes, friendships, and way of experiencing the world against the futures that could be if he decides to embrace change.  What I enjoyed about this book was that I could relate to every struggle that Lou experienced, even though his way of thinking was different.  Here we have a character who must face some of the hardest questions of life head on--and he does so with an incredible intelligence and dignity, despite his "handicap".  Not many books make me wish there were others just like them, this one does so I highly recommend it to any reader.


In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado (The audiobook version)
In his vivid prose, Lucado illustrates the grace of God. His points are loosely based on the first chapters of Romans, and he uses several modern day parables to illustrate the barriers that people put up to receiving God's grace. It's a uplifting and sometimes challenging look at how legalism, judgementalism, and "I can do it myself"-ism seperate us from God. This audio version was an execellent adaptation, I loved the "ka-ching" sound effects that they used when they were talking about the sound the old credit card machines made. Give this one a listen for some uplfting and Biblically based teaching.


The Faithful Spy by Alex Bereson
John Wells is an American C.I.A. agent who infiltrated Al Qaeda--but he didn't warn the agency about 9/11 and he hasn't been heard from in years. So when he resurfaces again in the States the folks in the agency are distrustful of him--all except for his handler, a woman who may have deeper feelings for him than just business.  She believes that he is loyal--and that he may be the key to stopping the next big terror attack on US soil.  Can Wells redeem himself and prove his loyalty by stopping the next big attack? Will he be able to survive the tests of loyalty Al Queda demands from him, and will he be able to live with himself if he does?
This was a great thrill ride, and had a very contemporary feel as it dealt with our current threats from terrorism (which might make it a bit too scary for some)! The ending was somewhat predictable, but it was fun seeing how the good guy got there.  I recommend it to fans of thillers (who don't mind violence and scary scenarios) looking for an exciting summer read where the good guy has to overcome impossible odds to win.