The Last Temple by Sigmund Brouwer and Hank Hanegraaff

Read first chapter here

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.