Inside Threat by Jason Elam

A story about an EX-NFL'r, Muslim extremist terrorists, a love interest, all wrapped up into one sporty/political thriller.  And written by an EX-NFL'r who is a proclaimed Christian.  Sounded great!

While I had high aspirations for this title, it didn't live up.  I requested this book in June of 2011, and as of today, December 6, 2012, I still haven't managed to finish it.  The first several chapters were intriguing, and the writing and story-telling were decent, but it was nothing special in my opinion.  I don't like that I requested a book to review and am giving a review when I didn't complete it, but I also have heard the saying that life is short and you should only read the good ones.  And I didn't know this was book 4 of the series.  I'm sure if I would have known that and read the first three, I may have enjoyed this one more.

This may have been a great book, but it never caught me and made me want to read more.

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

The God I Never Knew: How Real Friendship with the Holy Spirit Can Change Your Life by Robert Morris

“Many people find the Holy Spirit mysterious, confounding—even controversial. Why is the third person in the Godhead—the one Jesus said would be the believer’s ultimate source of truth and comfort—the source of such confusion?”

The premise of this book initially caught my eye, and I requested this book in hopes of digging deeper and answering some questions.  We all know who God is, and we all know who Jesus is.  But the Holy Spirit has brought up questions with people for some time. 

While I had high aspirations for this title, it didn't live up.  I requested this book in June of 2011, and as of today, December 6, 2012, I still haven’t managed to finish it.  I sometimes have a hard time with Christian self-help books, as it is very easy for someone to use their opinions and steer people away from what I believe scripture actually teaches.  I can’t say for sure if this book did that or not, because as I said above, I still haven’t finished it.  I don’t like that I requested a book to review and am giving a review when I didn't complete it, but I also have heard the saying that life is short and you should only read the good ones.

This may have been a great book, but it never caught me and made me want to read more. 

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

Darkness Rising by Lis Wiehl and Pete Nelson

Terri Blackstock meets Frank Peretti - supernatural murder mystery.  That was the feeling I got while reading this book, along with the first installment of this series, Waking Hours.  In Darkness Rising, Wiehl and Nelson hit us with a chilling, but thrilling, story of the evil that has taken up residence in East Salem, NY -  a mostly affluent suburb of New York City - and the fight against it.  The spiritual realm, which is usually unseen to most of us, suddenly becomes visible, and those caught in the middle of the good-versus-evil fight that ensues may not make it out alive.

Wiehl and Nelson are gifted story tellers, and this one, along with the first one, will keep you on the edge of your seat.  These two are obviously history buffs, and parts of this story leave you feeling it could really happen.  You won't be disappointed.  Read this story, but read Waking Hours first.  I can't wait for the third installment!

I was provided this book by Thomas Nelson and their Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review.   

House of Mercy by Erin Healy

Choices.  Consequences.  Mercy.  These are the topics that Erin Healy tackles in her fourth solo novel, and it may be her most powerful yet.  As the story begins, we meet Beth Borzoi, a girl who dreams of becoming a vet, and who believes she may have healing powers.  Her family operates a ranch, the Blazing B, that gives second chances to its tenants.  But Beth makes a choice that could bring it all to an end.  She, like all of us, tries to mend things on her own, but instead she causes a downward spiral that seems to have no end in sight.  To save the ranch, she must find her grandfather, a man she’s never met, and on her journey, she has an unusual companion to guide her way.

                As is with Erin Healy’s other novels, and her co-authored stories, she keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.  House of Mercy is suspenseful and fast-paced, and also spiritually challenging and supernatural.  And as all the good writers do, she leaves you scratching your head at the end.

                I would definitely recommend House of Mercy, as well as Healy’s three other novels, and I would rate this story as 4 out of 5 stars.

                I was provided this book by Thomas Nelson publishers and their Booksneeze program in exchange for my honest review.

The 13th Tribe by Robert Liparulo

From the back of the book: "Immortal vigilantes from the time of Moses have planned the unthinkable.  But how can you stop what you can't see?"

In The 13th Tribe, Liparulo tells the story of a group of people whose sin punishment was to walk the earth forever, never able to see the face of God again.  These people, given the moniker of The Tribe, take it upon themselves to remedy their situation in a very unusual way: by removing the earth of all sinners, all the while hoping God will accept their work and call them home.

Liparulo forces the reader to think while enjoying his story, and very few authors have the ability to pull this off successfully.  Is killing ever justified?  What about when it's taking the life of someone who is guilty but never served punishment?  Should children be held accountable for their mistakes?  These questions will take root in your mind as you read this story.

And lastly, we’ve all seen instances where the harsh realities of life have hardened people’s hearts.  Imagine what 3500 years of these realities can do to someone’s heart.  But, as is in life, redemption is there for the taking.  You just have to know where to look.

READ THIS BOOK!  You won’t be disappointed.

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

Life Support by Robert Whitlow

You’ll meet several characters in this story:

1.      Baxter Richardson.  He has everything he wants, but “plunges” off a cliff, which should be certain death, but he somehow survives – paralyzed and on life support.

2.      Alexia Lindale.  Hot-shot divorce lawyer who always seems to find a way to win.  But her life changes when she gets assigned to …

3.      Rena Richardson.  Baxter’s wife.  The reader quickly learns of her childhood issues, issues which led to her husband’s demise.  She wants to “pull the plug” on her husband.  But she runs into the resistance of…

4.      Baxter’s father, who wants to keep Baxter on life support, but for what reasons?

From there, the story takes many twists and turns.  But it didn’t do it for me.  For one, Alexia, the intelligent lawyer, can’t seem to wrap her head around the fact that she’s obviously being deceived.  And then there’s the “oh yeah, this is a Christian fiction book so we need the character to meet Christ” conversion towards the end that seems rushed and disingenuous.  Lastly, the end isn’t really an end - the story continues in Life Everlasting.  And from what I’ve read, this story could be told in one book, but Whitlow stretches it out to two books, causing both to suffer.

It wasn’t terrible, but not great either.  3 out of 5.  If you want to get involved in a good Whitlow story, check out The List.  (And if you'd like to read some quality Christian fiction, check out Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker.)

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers and their Booksneeze Blog Book Review program.  In turn, I agreed to write this review.

The Fight of Our Lives by Bennett and Leibsohn

From the inside cover:

“America’s devotion to political correctness has crippled its ability to accurately interpret and respond to the motives of its fiercest enemies.  Unless we change course and re-engage the fight, the costs of our tolerance will prove tragic and immeasurable.”

In “The Fight of Our Lives: Knowing the Enemy, Speaking the Truth & Choosing to Win the War Against Radical Islam,” New York Times Best-Selling Author William J. Bennett and Seth Leibsohn directly take on our nation’s  inability to recognize radical Islam for what it really is.  It begins with the Fort Hood shooting, where a US military member who subscribed to the radical Islam ideology took many innocent lives in the name of his religion.  Sadly, the report thereafter failed to mention anything near the word “Islam” or “terror” and stumbled all over itself to make sure that the military’s diversity didn’t become a causality as a result of the shooting.

From there, it takes you on an eye-opening journey at our country’s marriage with political correctness and how it has weakened us to the point where we can’t recognize evil for what it is, much less tell anybody that we think they are wrong about ANYTHING.  The authors’ straight-shooting, no holds barred approach makes this an enjoyable read.

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers and their Booksneeze Blog Book Review program.  In turn, I agreed to write this review.