FROM PUBLISHER: Twelve-year-old David and his family search for their kidnapped mother in many different time period portals of their home, but when a stranger appears and tries to force them to sell the house, their desperation reaches new heights.

FROM AMAZON: Pretending everything's all right is harder than it sounds. But the Kings know that even if they told the truth about the bizarre things happening in their house, no one would believe them. They're hyper-focused on rescuing their lost family member before anyone finds out what's going on.

But when a stranger shows up to take their house, their options start dwindling fast. Why would he be so interested in a run-down old place? And what secret is he hiding--just as he hides the scars that crisscross his body?

The mystery gets stranger with each passing day. Will the Kings be able to find a way to harness the house's secrets and discover who is watching their every move before another gets snatched into an unknown world?

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A good follow-up to the first in this promising horror-mystery series, though with not quite as much going on as the first book.

Xander and David now know that their house isn’t just weird, it’s dangerous and frightening. Their mother has been kidnapped, and they and their father are absolutely determined to get her back. But that will involve the appearance of dangerous new opponents, risky plans, and more death-defying adventures into the bizarre portals in the upstairs hallway that lead to other times and places.

The introduction of some possible villains ramps up the suspense, but without the mysteries of the house itself, it isn’t quite as riveting. David and Xander continue to be impressively real characters, with understandable reactions to their mother’s disappearance and their father’s approaches to rescue. I liked seeing a little more from David in this novel. More excursions into the portals would have made me happier; the book becomes very good whenever the boys enter the other worlds. There are a few issues with pacing; a lot of high points of action followed by downtime that seems slow even if it is important, but wicked ending cliffhangers make me determined to read the next book soon!
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This is the second book in the Dreamhouse Kings series. It's written for young adults but the story line is interesting enough for most adults. The father and the three kids now have a mission inside the house. They are learning something new all the time about the house but it may not be enough, plus now another wants the house and will stop at nothing to acquire that goal. ( )

This novel has a strong Christian presence, but only the male family members discuss the intentions of the divine. A reader must have some background of Christianity and its values before reading the novel.

Western perspectives are primarily represented in this novel even though the characters explain the concept of the portals in their house as connected to all major cultures and events in history. The ancient, near eastern civilization is an additional perspective represented this novel, but only in a negative connotation with the antagonist being born of this 'barbaric' empire. It is a fun read, but lacking a representation of cultures outside of Western Europe, the near east, and America.

This would be an appropriate series to feature in coordination with fantasy novels/series that were a source of inspiration for the author: the Hobbit and the Chronicles of Narnia. The middle school english class may use these titles as a comparison and contrast tool as well as a source for elevated vocabulary words. ( )