Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The Tehran Initiative by Joel C. Rosenberg


The world is on the brink of disaster, and the clock is ticking.

Iran has just conducted its first atomic weapons test. Millions of Muslims around the world are convinced their messiah—known as the Twelfth Imam—has just arrived on earth. Israeli leaders fear Tehran, under the Twelfth Imam’s spell, will soon launch a nuclear attack that could bring about a second Holocaust and the annihilation of Israel. The White House fears Jerusalem will strike first, launching a preemptive attack against Iran’s nuclear facilities that could cause the entire Middle East to go up in flames, oil prices to skyrocket, and the global economy to collapse. With the stakes high and few viable options left, the president of the United States orders CIA operative David Shirazi and his team to track down and sabotage Iran’s nuclear warheads before Iran or Israel can launch a devastating first strike.
But will they be too late?
 
The Tehran Initiative by Joel C. Rosenberg is the sequel to the The Twelfth Imam. Starting with a short preface from the first novel, The Tehran Initiative jumps right into the action left behind by The Twelfth Imam. The plot line of this book is quick, action-packed, yet still saturated with the Gospel message, the Muslim ideals and prophecies, and the political tensions surrounding the arrival of the Twelfth Imam. There is a good mix of the action segments and the slower, more political events. I enjoyed the variety, and it increased the suspense of the scenes as I had to wait sometimes to see what was going to happen to the characters. The action scenes were excellent and exciting, but I was also surprised by the brutality often displayed by the CIA. The political intrigue and the rising Middle Eastern tensions were interesting and striking,  and I was able to clearly see parallels to what is occurring abroad right now. There were several unexpected twists to the story that kept me on the edge of my seat, and one scene in particular that deeply satisfied me.

The point of views from which this novel is told switch between multiple people.  These include CIA director Robert Allen, Tom Murray, Will Jackson, David Shirazi, Marseille Harper, Eva Fischer, and Najjar Malik. These perspectives change quickly and often, though the story primarily lies with David. These changes help the reader understand that much of the passage of information in the story is fractured and that the situation is rapidly moving out of the control of the world leaders.

The characters of The Tehran Initiative were well developed and kept growing and changing from the previous novel. David Shirazi definitely experienced the most growth, and I enjoyed seeing his character change and deepen throughout the novel. The President, William Jackson, was introduced on a deeper level in this novel, but I was not impressed by his character. He came off, as he was intended to, as a weak and indecisive man who was more concerned with a fake 'peace' then saving Israel as well as America from the plan of the Twelfth Imam. The Israeli Prime Minister and his minister of defense, however, were incredibly strong characters that were afraid to defy America in order to save their country. Other characters whose characteristics continued to be revealed were Marseille Harper, Eva Fischer, and Najjar Malik. Both Eva and Najjar took stands during this novel for what they believed in and were not afraid to face the consequences. Marseille was more involved in the story and began to discover the truth about several people, including the Twelfth Imam. More of her past and character came out as she investigated.

Overall, I enjoyed The Tehran Initiative immensely. I thought it picked up smoothly from The Twelfth Imam, had a great plot, neat narrator changes, and excellent character development. I would highly recommend both The Twelfth Imam and The Tehran Initiative to anyone who enjoys action or political thrillers. These books are also a great way to learn more about the tensions in the Middle East in an exciting and only slightly more fictional manner.

I received this book for free from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. 

Sunday, August 26, 2012

The First Gardener by Denise Hildreth Jones

Read the first chapter here
Jeremiah Williams has been tending the gardens of the Tennessee governor’s mansion for over twenty-five years. And like most first families who have come and gone, this one has stolen his heart.
Mackenzie and her husband, Governor Gray London, have struggled for ten years to have a child and are now enjoying a sweet season of life—anticipating the coming reelection and sending their precious daughter, Maddie, off to kindergarten—when a tragedy tears their world apart. As the entire state mourns, Mackenzie falls into a grief that threatens to swallow her whole.

Though his heart is also broken, Jeremiah realizes that his gift of gardening is about far more than pulling weeds and planting flowers. It’s about tending hearts as well. As he uses the tools that have been placed in his hands, he gently begins to cultivate the hard soil of Mackenzie’s heart, hoping to help her realize what it took him years to discover.

A Southern tale of loss, love, and living, The First Gardener reminds us that all of life is a gift, but our heart is the most valuable gift of all.

The First Gardener was a heart wrenching story that left me in tears but that renewed me at the same time. The plot line was well written and included many unexpected occurrences. I was not expecting such horrible events to befall the London family, and the final chapter also came as a complete shock. The storyline was beautifully woven and kept engaged the entire time. I read the entire book in a single evening because I could not put it down. The tone of the book varied with the characters' feelings and situations, and the language change between the chapters told from Jeremiah's perspectives versus the other chapters was excellent. 

The characters were wonderfully developed and complex. Jeremiah had incredible faith in God, knowledge about different flowers' meanings, and the confidence to witness to those who were hurting. The final revealing piece of his character and life fit in so well and only increased my admiration of his strength and faith. Mackenzie experienced the most devastating grief and the complete shutdown of all emotions. This made me sympathize with her and grieve with her, but made it hard for me to connect with her simply because I have never experienced such great devastation. However, many people do go through that kind of suffering and grief, and her growth and recovery were critical to the story and important for all readers to see. Gray was amazing. He continued to love and pursue his wife even as she withered away on the inside. Gray was not without his faults, and he did experience several complete breakdowns as he grieved and as he refused to acknowledge that he needed help. Eugenia, Mackenzie's mom, was the complete opposite of her daughter and provided an excellent foil to her and Grey. She was bossy, controlling, and critical, but she loved her family immensely and only sought their good and to help them in their time of need. She and her friends had many hilarious scenes and provided critical comic relief in the dark moments of the novel.

The First Gardener was filled with powerful themes that really spoke to me. These included the need to grieve openly and not hold it inside, be open to the work of God, and the faithfulness of God even in the midst of great tragedy. This novel was convicting and heart wrenching and beautifully spoke of loss, love, and open arms of the First Gardener who loves us and holds us through it all.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Go and Do by Jay Milbrandt

Read first chapter here
With an MBA and a law degree from Pepperdine University, Jay Milbrandt had the world at his feet. But rather than following his peers into big firms with high profile clients and even higher salaries, Jay has chosen a completely different road—a journey that has led him across large portions of the globe to “go and do likewise,” as Jesus modeled and instructed in His life on this earth. In his efforts to bring justice and healing to people all around the world, Jay’s pursuit of justice has become an adventure far greater than he could have ever dreamed or imagined.

As Christians, we are called to take a step of faith for Christ, to change ourselves, and perhaps by doing that, to change those we encounter along the way. Go and Do is an invitation for all of us to join in the adventure of God’s story arc. It is an opportunity to understand why so many are finding such satisfaction and joy in reaching out to others. It is a chance to climb on board and discover exactly what role each of us can play in actively engaging this world as we, too, “go and do.”


Go and Do is an engaging book that challenged me and left me daring to do more for God's kingdom. Jay Milbrandt's energy and passion clearly speaks from his book, and he writes in an exciting and dynamic way that kept me turning the pages as if Go and Do was a novel. Go and Do is written clearly, concisely, and pulls in scriptures and biblical examples throughout its pages. This book was convicting to me because, as a college student, I have been struggling to know what I want to do with my life, how I can make an impact in others' lives. I do not want to simply live and plod through a job. I want to be a bright shining star that lives to bring glory to God and brings others into His kingdom. One of my favorite quotes from Go and Do was "Nothing is as dangerous as encountering the true and living God. Why? Because meeting God redefines everything we call normal and commands us to seek first his kingdom."

While I agreed with many of Jay Milbrandt's convictions and revelations, there were times where I felt like he was putting too much emphasis on what we can do as humans instead of focusing on the complete power and sovereignty of God and the power that He gives us to step out in faith and bring people into His Kingdom. While Mr. Milbrandt does refer to this, such as in the quote above, many of his points seem all about what we can do in seemingly our own strength.

Overall though, I really enjoyed Go and Do. It was convicting, engaging, and pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and follow the call God has given me. The author's points were true and convicting, and I believe this book could really have an impact on creating a worldwide call to GO and DO!

I received this eBook for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

The Last Temple by Sigmund Brouwer and Hank Hanegraaff


and see the book trailer Here

Set in the turbulent years just before one of the most horrendous events in Jewish history, The Last Temple concludes the trilogy of The Last Disciple and The Last Sacrifice. Vitas is reunited with his wife and retires to Alexandria, determined to live a quiet, domestic life. But he can’t avoid the debts that he owes to the men who saved him, and he becomes a key figure in the plot to rid the empire of Nero. It sweeps him into the “year of four emperors,” when the Roman Empire is nearly destroyed, and takes him back to Jerusalem as Titus lays siege to the great city. Only then, as the prophecy of Jesus begins to unfold, does Vitas discover the true mission set before him and the astounding conspiracy behind it.

 
The Last Temple was a spectacular end to the Last Disciple series by Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer. As an avid fan of all of Sigmund Brouwer's books and this series as well, I really thought this novel ended the Last Disciple series well. The plot line picked up several years after the Last Sacrifice left off and culminated in the destruction of the temple, as prophesied by Christ in the Bible. There were instances of sacrifice, suspense, and deception that kept the plot flowing well. The story clearly showed the wickedness and corruption in the Roman Empire's leaders and the pain and suffering they caused to believers. I was drawn in by the accuracy of the novel and the truths that the authors so expertly wove into the fiction. I did not agree with all of the authors' views about the many/all of the prophecies in Revelation being fulfilled during the Roman era, and I also did not think they provided much support for many of their arguments. However, it was enlightening to see their ideas and how some of the prophecies could have been fulfilled during those times, just like how Jesus' prophecy of the fall of the Temple was certainly fulfilled then.

The characters of The Last Temple were also well developed and continued to grow from the two previous books. Vitas continued in his quest to discover the truth about Jesus, and I was quite happy with his final decision. The other supporting characters also grow and become more complex as the series continued.

Overall, I thought that The Last Temple was a good conclusion to the Last Disciple series, and I enjoyed the plot and character development.

I received this book for free from Tyndale House in exchange for an honest review. 

The Betrayal by Jerry B. Jenkins


Detective Boone Drake has just masterminded the most massive sting in Chicago history, bringing down the heads of not only the biggest street gangs in the city but also the old crime syndicate. The story is the biggest in decades, and the Chicago Police Department must protect the key witness at all costs. Despite top-secret plans to transfer the witness ahead of his testimony before the grand jury, an attempt is made on his life. And the person suspected of leaking this information may be one of the CPD’s own.

The Betrayal by Jerry B. Jenkins is the second book in the Precinct 11 series. It was an interesting book that was filled with suspense, deception, and the loyalty of friends. I did not read the first book, the Brotherhood, but the Betrayal's plot line seems to follow immediately after where the first novel ends. The plot line was exciting and filled with mystery. I was captivated by the book and read it in one sitting. I quickly figured out who was the betrayer in this novel, but the suspense in this book was still phenomenal. Throughout the entire novel I had no idea who was working with the main antagonist or how everything would be resolved in the novel. The tone of the plot line of the novel varied nicely, and there was a good mix of slower, more reflective moments and action packed scenes throughout the novel. The book followed the perspective of Boone Drake and gave the reader a good idea about what he was thinking during the novel.

The characters in The Betrayal were excellently developed and very realistic. Boone Drake was a very flawed character, but he did experience considerable growth in the novel. I did not read the first book in the Precinct 11 series, but I gathered from this novel that his relationship with God had already grown significantly from the events that had happened previously. His character had many admirable qualities, such as, loyalty to those he loved and incredible perseverance and honesty. His boss, Jack, was a great character as well. He was an unbeliever, but I enjoyed seeing his steps toward discovering the power of God's love. His interactions with Boone were hilarious and definitely my favorite part of the book. They had a really awesome friendship and camaraderie. Not only were the main characters developed well, but I thought that all of the supporting character were very dynamic as well. They all had unique and varying personalities that added a lot of flavor to the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and I would highly recommend the Precinct 11 series by Jerry B. Jenkins to anyone who likes a good ol' mystery and detective work. I would suggest starting with the Brotherhood before this book, however, just so more of the connecting plot lines are clear.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

A Path Toward Love by Cara Lynn James


Katherine came home at the insistence of her parents because she was trying to forget her past.
The last thing she expected is a hopeful future.

Young widow Katherine Osborne returns to her family’s rustic camp on Raquette Lake in the Adirondack Mountains. She’s determined to live a quiet life, but her socialite mother is equally determined to push her into a new marriage while she’s still young.
Andrew Townsend has known Katherine since they were children. An attorney who is successful, but not wealthy, he knows she is socially out of his reach. But he’s curious what changed the free-spirited girl he once knew into this private, somber young woman.
Katherine has kept hidden the details of her unsuccessful marriage. When past sins come to light, she must turn to God for the courage to be honest. But how can she trust the God she feels has let her down? When she confides in Andrew, their relationship takes a dramatic turn into uncharted territory.
Amid impossible obstacles, two young people must learn to trust enough to walk the path that God has cleared for them. A path that leads to healing and restoration. A path toward love.

A Path Toward Love by Cara Lynn James is an exciting and enjoyable read that kept me glued to the pages. The plot line was interesting, exciting, and filled with romantic tension. There were unexpected twists and there were moments of sadness, adventure, and arguments. The story alternated between Katherine and Andrew's perspectives and the tone changed to match their personalities beautifully.

The characters in A Path Toward Love were excellent, well developed and realistic. I loved Katherine and Andrew both. Katherine was a beautiful example of God's never-ending work in our lives. She had to learn to forgive those who had sinned horribly against her, and she had to discover, through prayer and other Christians' guidance, what God's path for her was. She had completely sworn off marriage after first marriage, and it was amazing to see God's work in her life. Andrew was an awesome character that I completely loved. He was kind, encouraging, understanding, and willing to give up anything for the girl he loved. Despite his many strengths and his trust in God, he still had several flaws that he had to grow through, such as fear of failure and loss and standing up for what he loved. The minor supporting characters were also well developed. Katherine's Aunt Letty was hilarious, and she supported and guided Katherine toward God and His plan for her life when no other relative would.

Overall, I really enjoyed A Path Toward Love. It was well written, the plot was great, and the characters absolutely spectacular. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants an interesting, romantic read that is superbly blended with Christian truth.

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson


PAUL FALCON AND ANN SILVER: A LOVE STORY
Check out the Full Disclosure Website at http://fulldisclosurenovel.com/
Ann Silver is a cop's cop. As the Midwest Homicide Investigator, she is called in to help local law enforcement on the worst of cases, looking for answers to murder. Hers is one of the region's most trusted investigative positions.
Paul Falcon is the FBI's top murder cop in the Midwest. If the victim carried a federal badge or had a security clearance, odds are good Paul and his team see the case file or work the murder.
Their lives intersect when Ann arrives to pass a case off her desk and onto his. A car wreck and a suspicious death offer a lead on a hired shooter he is tracking. Paul isn't expecting to meet someone, the kind that goes on the personal side of the ledger, but Ann Silver has his attention.
The better he gets to know her, the more Paul realizes her job barely scratches the surface of who she is. She knows spies and soldiers and U.S. Marshals, and has written books about them. She is friends with the former vice president. People with good reason to be cautious about who they let into their lives deeply trust her. Paul wonders just what secrets Ann is keeping, until she shows him something earthshattering, and he starts to realize just who this lady is that he is falling in love with....

Full Disclosure was a wonderful book. It ties in beautifully with the O'Malley series and the Uncommon Hero series, but it is also an excellent standalone novel. Dee Henderson does an amazing job making a novel that gracefully concludes the other two series she has written as well as opening the door for new readers to experience the O'Malley and Uncommon Hero series after reading this book.

The plot line of Full Disclosure was well written and multi-layered. The twists and turns were well-crafted, and I was left in complete suspense as I neared the end. I figured out the final twist before it happened, but it was still excellently planned and mind-blowing. I felt that the pace of this novel was much slower than many of Dee Henderson's other books. Full Disclosure is not a novel you can rush. It is a slow, drawn-out love story that requires time and patient. At first I was put off by this slower pace, but as I learned more about Ann Silver, I realized that the pace of the novel matched her character perfectly. After that I just sank into the book and reveled in its tone and pace.

The main characters in Full Disclosure were incredibly well developed and had intense depth. I loved watching Paul's journey throughout the novel as he strove to understand and reach Ann under all her layers and her quiet personality. He was so kind, patient, and understanding with Ann that you wanted to hug him for all his persistence. Paul did not experience a lot of growth throughout the book. He was willing to be flexible for Ann, but the changes he made were something that you could already see was part of his character. He did not seem to have any obvious flaws which was a bit odd. Ann, on the other hand, was not as much flawed as scarred. Seeing her growth as she accepted Paul's presence and learned to live more openly, not burying everything away, was admirable. I enjoyed seeing her retain her personality yet still have the willingness to compromise. Both her and Paul's relationships with God were sweet and realistic. I loved the intimate relationships they had with God and their openness about their beliefs.

My absolute favorite part of Full Disclosure was its tie-in with the other series that Dee Henderson has written simply because she did it so well. Having the other characters pop in and out of the novel was like seeing old friends again, and I enjoyed their contributions. Ann's involvement in the other characters lives and stories was a wonderful connection, and I thought Dee Henderson wove that together brilliantly. I cannot wait to reread the Uncommon Hero Series and the O'Malley Series.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed Full Disclosure, and I highly recommend it to those old time fans and those new to Dee Henderson alike!

I received an ARC of this novel for free from http://fulldisclosurenovel.com/ in exchange for a honest review.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Nothing to Hide by J. Mark Bertrand


A grisly homicide.
An international threat.
The stakes have never been higher for Detective Roland March.
The victim's head is missing, but what intrigues Detective Roland March is the hand. The pointing finger must be a clue--but to what? According to the FBI, the dead man was an undercover asset tracking the flow of illegal arms to the Mexican cartels. To protect the operation, they want March to play along with the cover story. With a little digging, though, he discovers the Feds are lying. And they're not the only ones.
In an upside-down world of paranoia and conspiracy, March finds himself dogged by injury and haunted by a tragic failure. Forced to take justice into his own hands, his twisting investigation leads him into the very heart of darkness, leaving March with nothing to lose--and nothing to hide.

Nothing to Hide by J. Mark Bertrand is the third novel in the Roland March Mystery series which follows the cases of Roland March, homicide detective. It is not critical to read the books in order, as I had not read the first two novels, but if you plan to read all three, then you should read them in order so that the results of the first two mysteries are not spoiled by the third. The plot line of Nothing to Hide was well crafted and contained many unexpected twists as March raced to discover the truth of what had happened. This novel contains an incredible mystery and I was hooked from beginning to end. The storyline is graphic and grisly at times, but it clearly displays the tough case that March has to deal with. At intervals throughout the book the story goes back almost thirty years to when March was in the army and was dealing with corruption and the CIA. The first few times that the novel goes back into March's memories, it seems unrelated to the case at hand, but it is eventually drawn brilliantly into the overall storyline. The story is told from the perspective of Roland March and is set primarily in present tense which engages the reader and really pulls them into the story.

The characters were gritty and realistic. Roland March was a complex and flawed character who was open in his struggles. He is not a Christian, but he is surrounded by others, such as his wife and a close friend, who are Christians and live their lives honestly and show him Christlike love. I got the feeling that March has grown significantly through the series in his spiritual journey, and I was able to see his continued progress through Nothing to Hide as secrets were laid bare and as he had to decide between the right choice and the wrong. The other supporting characters were significantly less complex than Roland, but they were still interesting and added to the story's depth. There were even surprising twists in certain characters as their true colors were revealed.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and cannot wait to read the first two novels in the Roland March Mystery Series. The plot line was gripping and intense, the narrative style and flashbacks interesting, and the characters complex, flawed, and realistic. I enjoyed seeing March's growth as a character even as he struggled against the reality of a loving God at work in his life.

I received this novel for free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Accused (Pacific Coast Justice) by Janice Cantore

Download first chapter here
Detective Carly Edwards hates working in juvenile—where the brass put her after an officer-involved shooting—and longs to be back on patrol. So when a troubled youth, Londy Atkins, is arrested for the murder of the mayor and Carly is summoned to the crime scene, she's eager for some action. Carly presses Londy for a confession but he swears his innocence, and despite her better judgment, Carly is inclined to believe him. Yet homicide is convinced of his guilt and is determined to convict him.

Carly's ex-husband and fellow police officer, Nick, appears to be on her side. He's determined to show Carly that he's a changed man and win her back, but she isn't convinced he won't betray her again.

As the investigation progresses, Carly suspects a cover-up and strikes out on her own, uncertain whom she can trust. But when danger mounts, she begins to wonder if she made the right choice.

Accused by Janice Cantore is the first book in her new Pacific Coast Justice series. The book was an excellent and well developed novel that kept me captivated until the wee hours of the night. The plotline was well written and filled with mystery, suspense, and a battle between good and evil. There were several unexpected twists and the author left me guessing for much of the book about who was corrupt and who was pursuing justice. The tone of the book varied and matched the attitudes displayed by the characters and the twists in the plot. The language and description enhanced the storyline and contributed to the gritty unknown that occurred regularly in the plot.

The characters of Accused were also excellently developed. I was simultaneously saddened by Carly's bitterness and put off by her anger toward those closest to her because of the hardships she had experienced. Carly started out angry and unresponsive to God and unwilling to talk about God at all. However, I really enjoyed watching her learn more about faith in God, about herself, and about her ex-husband as the story continued. Towards the end I was able to identify with Carly and her struggles as I understood why she felt the way she did. Nick was a great character whom I really enjoyed. He had already undergone many changes from the man Carly first married by the time I was introduced to him, and these changes continued to be revealed throughout the novel. His care for Carly and his desire to introduce her to God were admirable, and I really enjoyed seeing his continued growth. Several of the less major but still important characters were also given great depth even in their supporting roles.

The themes of this book were crystal clear and well woven into Accused. These themes included seeking after God, living out His love toward others, having wisdom in seeing those that are choosing good over evil, and forgiving those who have wronged you. I loved the clarity by which Janice Cantore demonstrated both the Gospel and the importance of living a life of love to all men. Even though this was a novel, I was very challenged to have a clearer witness to God's love and truth.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. Accused was a brilliant suspense thriller with an excellently written plot, well developed and deep characters, and clear and convicting themes. I cannot wait to read the next novel in this series, Abducted.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The Widow of Saunders Creek by Tracey Bateman


Corrie Saunders grew up in a life of privilege. But she gave it all up for Jarrod., her Army husband, a man she knew was a hero when she vowed to spend her life with him. She just didn't expect her hero to sacrifice his life taking on an Iraqi suicide bomber.

Six months after Jarrod's death, Corrie retreats to the family home her husband inherited deep in the Missouri Ozarks. She doesn't know how to live without Jarrod -she doesn't even want to try. By moving to Saunders Creek and living in a house beloved by him, she hopes that somehow her Jarrod will come back to her. Something about the house seems to even suggest that maybe Jarrod has come back. Corries begins to wonder if she is actually feeling Jarrod's presence with her in the house.

Jarrod's cousin Eli is helping Corrie with the house's restoration and he knows that his dead cousin is not what Corries senses. Eli, a pastor whose faith puts him at odds with his mystically oriented relatives, knows there is more to this presence than Corrie believes. Can he convince Corries that letting go of Jarrod will lead to finding her footing again-and to the One who will never leave her?

The Widow of Saunders Creek was a truly interesting and frightening look into demonic forces and those who serve them. The plot line was well crafted and flowed easily from Eli to Corrie's perspectives. There were instances of romance, mystery, horror, and suspense. The story was realistic, and I could tell that Tracey Bateman had researched and interviewed mediums to relay the true horror of communicating with evil spirits. The author did an excellent job revealing the truth of the danger that lies in speaking with demons and the reality that only the power of Jesus can banish those spirits.

The characters were also well developed and portrayed in this novel. I enjoyed watching Corrie recover from the loss of her husband and her slow return to God and a relationship with Him. The author did a great job revealing Corrie's thoughts and feelings and her reactions to the presence in her home. Eli was an awesome character as well. He was smart, kind, and truly cared for Corrie. He was not without his flaws, however, and his journey through forgiving Jarrod and letting go of bitterness was inspiring. The other minor characters were well rounded and supported Eli and Corrie well as foils or as supporting characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Tracey Bateman developed the plot line and characters well, and both were very informative and realistic. Her themes of forgiveness, spiritual and emotional healing, and the danger of communicating with demons were clear and well presented. I would highly recommend this novel, and I cannot wait to read more of Tracey's novels. You can read the first chapter Here and check out the author's website here.

I received this novel for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Press in exchange for an honest review.