Christians Read: Books Review

Book Review: Downfall, Intervention Series

Terri Blackstock

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: March 01, 2012

List Price: $14.99 USD

Pages: 304

ISBN: 978-0310331483

Amazon.com

Emily has come through a long fight to overcome her drug addiction, but she has successfully navigated her abstinence for two years. Barbara, her mother, stood by and suffered with her during the worst and Emily is having trouble earning her trust. Barbara believes the nightmare begins anew every time Emily stays out late or does something she did during her years of addiction. Emily attends college now and enjoys her new addiction-free friends—who stay out late. 

When Barbara comes to Atlanta to be near Kent, it brings them back to the place of Emily’s addiction, and to an old enemy she didn’t know she had. The “Avenger” decides he will kill her and her family. He plants a bomb under her car. From that moment, the bodies fall as he gets nearer to her family. Drugged beyond reason, he enjoys the game. 

I had a revelation during the reading of this book. I didn’t realize that ex-addicts can never again take a narcotic, even to help terrible pain. The addict must always feel every bit of pain he or she is victim to—or succumb to painkillers and begin the foggy, insane years again. 

The action is constant, characters believable, and the suspense continuous. Anyone who reads this book should start with the first book. Though the mystery begins and ends in this book, I felt like someone who goes to a party and walks into someone else’s conversation in the middle. The author often refers to happenings in earlier books. If the first books move at the pace of this one, Emily should be agoraphobic as well as addictive. I certainly wouldn’t leave my house—though for her, home offers no safety.

  

Book Review: Employed by God: Coming Through Job Loss

Tracy S. Deitz

Subtitle: Benefits Packaged with Faith

List Price: $10.99

Pages: 160

ISBN: 978-1466370821

Amazon.com

Employed by God talks about Tracy’s firing and the period of unemployment following it. She relives her grief and anger at the loss. 

I appreciated the moments of imperfection she shows as well as the times of courage. She snaps a few times. She loses patience. She gets discouraged. She finds herself angry with God. Her appealing transparency gives the reader a glimpse of a real person. In fact, she paints each person she mentions with a full brush. Everyone in the book could be someone you know. 

She makes good use of her time away from the work world. She tells of one harrowing mission trip, and a miracle she expected that didn’t happen. She felt she knew how God would act, and then, since His ways are not our ways, she felt cheated. How could He not intervene in a child’s tragedy?

She went with her Buddhist friend on a yoga trip, and, though she found some things meaningful, other things offended her and caused discomfort. 

Every experience builds her compassion and shows a new reliance and love for God. 

The reader will find courage, forgiveness, and spiritual growth here. Employed by God is well worth a reader’s time and money. 

I received this book from the author. We have not met. This is an honest review.

Book Review: Spirit Rising, Tapping into the Power of the Holy Spirit

Jim Cymbala

SubTitle:  Tapping into the Power of the Holy Spirit 

List Price: $19.99 

Pages: 208 

Publisher:  Zondervan 

Pub Date:  March 01, 2012  

ISBN:  9780310241256

Amazon.com

Spirit Rising talks about the Holy Spirit and the work of the third person of the trinity. “The Holy Spirit is God’s agent on earth” author, Jim Cymbala says. He: “chooses people for ministry assignments;” “searches out the deep things of God to make them known to believers;” “makes Christ a living reality to the believer;” is “coequal with both the Father and Son.” We can struggle to be like Jesus but unless we give our lives to the Holy Spirit, everything spiritual will remain a struggle. 

The author tells of many testimonies of miracles done by the Holy Spirit. My favorite is the story of Roma Black. I wonder what happened to that hit man. Is he a person who will no longer kill? Are there murders that this nation will never experience because of him? How could there be any other outcome after the Holy Spirit climbs in the car with you. But this tells the story of Roma. 

The author’s need to pray for Pakistan demonstrates one way the Holy Spirit works—Pastor Cymbala felt possessed by a need and unable to let it go. He says that the way to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit is to obey His voice when it comes. Pray to be sure it is Him, but do what He wants when you are sure. We must succumb to the Spirit, letting His direction be all we want, taking time to hear His voice. 

Pastor Cymbala leads a charismatic church, but anyone who wants more of God will find Him here no matter what the reader’s church denomination. My prayer changed after reading this book.

Book Review: Sentenced to Life

Kay Baker

Publisher: Tate Publishing 

List Price: $12.99 

ISBN: 978-1617390913 

Amazon 

Also available on Kindle 

Kathy takes a meandering path from prison to the surprising destination that ends this book. An accountant with too much access to her client’s money, she succumbs to temptation. Thus starts her sentence as a white-collar criminal. She describes the day-to-day life of prison to minimum security to halfway house and then to her Christ-filled life. The optimistic protagonist portrays the years she spent in prison as almost fun, at one point comparing it to a country club. I respect her decision to accept her imprisonment and educate herself. 

The author lists Sentenced to Life as fiction based on truth, but it reads more like a memoir. 

The reader will find not so much a polished novel as it is an old-fashioned letter. It is readable and interesting. 

I received the book from the author but I have not met her. She did not pay me. This is an honest review.

Books Review: Beyond the Farthest Star

Bodie and Brock Thoene 

SubTitle:  A Novel 

Publisher:  Zondervan

List Price: $14.99

Pages: 240 

Pub Date:  January 01, 2012 

ISBN:  9780310336105 

Amazon 

Pastor Adam Wells, former child evangelist and possible next Billie Graham, instead, pulled in to his new church with a sad secret, a damaged daughter and unhappy wife. Each church he accepted became smaller than the previous ones. He longed to do something important, and the burning of the nativity in the public square promised him his chance. But can he withstand Senator Cutter’s desire to annihilate his family with the old secret? 

The reader wants the best for the characters—though Anne, Adam’s daughter, dares us to like her as she does everyone in the town of Leonard. 

Tim, raised by his wise grandparents, tries to give her friendship.  In so doing, he brings along his dangerous friend, Kyle, who feels rejected by Tim’s new bond with Anne.

This highly readable book delivers constant action. Hints of the family tragedy pepper the story, but readers must wait to know what brought them to this place. Read it only if you have time because you will find your dishes waiting while you push on to the end. 

I didn't know until I finished the review that this will be a movie. I'd go if I didn't know the end. Christians can go without fear of wishing they hadn't.

I received this book through NetGalley.