Tyndale Blog Network review of "I Still Believe" by Jeremy Camp

I honestly had not heard this story prior to reading the book and although it was heartbreaking in one sense, it was encouraging in another. 
Born January 12, 1978, Jeremy Camp is a well-known Christian music artist with several popular songs under his belt. Growing up in a Christian family, Jeremy personally witnessed God's grace as a child through his parents' faith during times of intense financial poverty. His father played guitar and often led worship at church, encouraging Jeremy as a young teen to learn to play the guitar.
Without re-writing his story here, the book delves deeply into his struggles as a teen, his sense of God's hand on his life in college and on his relationship with his first wife Melissa. While on their honeymoon in October 2000, Melissa realized her fight with ovarian cancer might not be over and she succumbed in only a little over three months. Around her hospital bed immediately after she passed away, Jeremy's family along with Melissa's family began to praise God for the fact that He is good even in the midst of devastating circumstances, and although crushed, Jeremy joined in the praise. Thus began a long time of grief and healing for Jeremy as he learned to trust his Father in heaven with everything and, more importantly, everyone. Now married for the second time (December 2003), Jeremy tours and shares his story along with his music. More often than not, his wife and three children accompany him. Expect to need tissues as you read his story but beyond even that, expect your faith to be challenged.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Tyndale House Publishers, in exchange for my review. I was not required to give a positive review.

Tyndale Blog Network review of "A Voice in the Wind" by Francine Rivers

Incredible, thought-provoking historical novel~

I look again at the five words I used to introduce my review and find they don't even come close to explaining the depth and impact of this story. I have read other works of fiction by Francine Rivers and have found them all to be well above average.
I agree with another reviewer, in that this book is not for a young audience nor is it for the faint of heart. The book is filled to the brim with the worst of human nature. If one ever doubted that human beings without God are depraved, one doesn't need to look further than this book. The descriptions of the human heart's insatiable desire for sin are, unfortunately, all too accurate. And the parallels between the Roman culture in 70 A.D. and our current culture, not only in the United States, but in most of Western Europe are too obvious to ignore.
The main character is Hadassah, a young Jewish girl who has been sold into slavery after the destruction of Jerusalem, but the remaining characters are well-developed. Decimus and Phoebe Valerian are wealthy Roman citizens who purchase Hadassah as a slave for Julia, their petulant, strong-willed, fifteen-year-old daughter. Their son Marcus, several years older than Julia, is shrewd in business and handsome enough to attract the most beautiful girls, not hesitating to enjoy their intimate company until he gets bored and moves on to his next conquest. Marcus and Julia both have grown up surrounded by the debauchery of Rome and do not understand their parent's objections as they both, each in their own way, serve themselves without regard for others.
Although a Jew, Hadassah is a Christian, and we watch as her faith grows stronger with each page turn, through all her fears and failures as she continues to cry out to God, praying for the family she serves. She tries in vain to help her mistress, Julia, as she defiantly propels herself down a dark path of destruction. As the story progresses, Marcus finds himself irresistibly drawn to Hadassah as she selflessly and willingly serves not only Julia, but the entire family. I also can't neglect to mention Atertes, the young German captured by Roman soldiers and taken as a slave, trained to be a gladiator, and now fighting for his freedom with blood on his hands and heart.
After finishing this book, I immediately, and I do mean immediately, downloaded the remaining two books in the Mark of the Lion Series. When you make the wise decision to pick this book up, make sure you get the other two as well. If not, have your keys and wallet handy, ready to drive to the nearest bookstore the very second you read the last word on the last page. Woe to you if you finish the book at night when they are all closed. You will not want to wait for the store to open the next morning!

(I was given a copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review, but was not required to give a positive review.)

Tyndale Bloggers review of "Abducted" by Janice Cantore

Let me start by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. So much so that I have to admit I probably read it too fast! I just couldn't wait to find out what happened to Carly, Nick, A.J., etc. As I was reading this story, I soon realized it was the second book in a series and I hadn't read the first one yet. Ugh! I hate that, so as soon as I finished this one, I checked on Amazon in their Kindle store for the first book (Accused) and found that I had already downloaded it! I am now in the middle of that one as well.

Okay, on to my synopsis and review. The main character, Carly, is such a likable and believable person that the reader can't help but be drawn into her story as she struggles to find the path to reconciliation with her ex-husband Nick. Of course, Nick is struggling himself as he recovers from an injury (which I am sure I will find out about when I finish the first book!) that has put him on desk duty. Both of them are new christians and they are both trying to trust God in not only their relationship, but also in the middle of the main thrust of the story. Carly's partner Joe finds himself in an unthinkable situation—his sweet wife is unconscious in the hospital and the doctors have no idea why. When she was brought in an ambulance, their four-month-old baby boy A.J. was brought in as well for observation. However, someone managed to slip in, disable security systems, and slip out of the hospital with the baby! The closer Carly and Nick get to solving the mystery, the more dangerous it gets.

I don't want to say too much more and give anything away, but hopefully I have said enough to get you interested. It is a great book and I think you will love it. My husband is going to read it next. Hey, it's a cop story! What more could he want? Anyway, buy it ... you'll like it!

Please note: To comply with FTC regulations, it is important to mention that Tyndale House Publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

Tyndale Bloggers book review of "No Greater Love" by Levi Benkert

I knew I would love this book as soon as I saw the synopsis. My brother-in-law Ken and his wife Laurette have two little girls from China, and my nephew Nate and his wife Pam are currently waiting for their referral call for a child(ren) from Ethiopia. We also have several friends who either have, or are in the process of, adopting children from various corners of the globe. I thought it would be interesting to read about a couple who took it one step further and actually moved from the United States to a foreign country with the specific goal of helping orphans.
In the forward of the book, Levi states, "'this book does not end well." Quite frankly, I think it ends great! He wasn't afraid to put the highs as well as the lows of their journey in this book, and that is one of the main reasons why it is so amazing. As a reader, one can get tired of the perfectly predictable storybook endings, especially in non-fiction. Life is not pretty, and is more often than not, quite messy. I have learned to be suspect of an author's honesty when everything appears to tie up into a nice, perfect bow. Yes, God is behind the scenes, weaving together the tapestry of our lives, but it is normally only in hindsight that we can catch a glimpse of His intricate handiwork. When we are in the middle of the complicated situations of life, we often can't see our hand in front of our face. That openness is what Levi has given us in this book. The honest and at times heartrending story of his decision to move his family to Ethiopia.
Be prepared to learn some disturbing things you probably didn't know about the (hopefully) past culture of Ethiopia. You may need a box of tissue, especially if you are a mother. This book is well written, but be warned, once you pick it up you will have a hard time putting it down! If you have a heart for children, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Levi's story.

(I was given a copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review, but was not required to give a positive review.)

Tyndale Bloggers book review of "As One Devil to Another" by Richard Platt

(A to Z blog challenge readers—today's "S" post is right before this one!)

The front cover of this book declares, "A fiendish correspondence in the tradition of C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters." In the christian fiction genre, this is a perfectly accurate description of the book Mr. Platt has offered us.

Just like the Lewis book, the chapters are a series of letters between two demons. In this case we read correspondence from a "loving " uncle, Slashreap, to his nephew, Scardagger. The uncle is mentoring his young charge in the procedures to keep human souls out of Heaven and usher them into Hell. Satan is referred to as "His Infernal Majesty," and Jesus is called "The Adversary."

At the end of Chapter One, Slashreap suggests that his nephew study some articles in the Encyclopaedia Diabolica about such negative character traits as cowardice, doubt, despair and arrogance, and points out that they are cross-referenced with character traits we would consider virtues such as courage, faith, hope and charity. Although humorous in a way, the entire book prompts the reader to consider the fact that the forces of darkness are real, and as the Bible says, our enemy is prowling around like a lion ready to destroy us.

If you have read and enjoyed The Screwtape Letters, you will most certainly enjoy As One Devil to Another. (I was given a copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for a review, but was not required to give a positive review.)

I have also been given the opportunity to offer a free copy of As One Devil to Another. If you would like to have a chance to receive the free book, please comment and request your name be entered into the running. One week from today on April 28th, I will pick a random name from all entries and notify the winner shortly thereafter.