Sarah Graham is a wounded woman. Daughter of an adulteress, father convicted of murder and raised by her emotionally distant grandmother from the age of one, Sarah understandably has some issues. However difficult her childhood, her own foolish, self-centered mistakes have compounded her general sense of betrayal; the world has let her down and nobody loves her, or so she believes.

Upon her estranged father’s death she arrives in the incredibly small town of Jonah, New York to claim her inheritance. The will includes the condition that she dwell in Jonah for six months before the monies will be released to her. Broke, homeless, and with a newly finalized divorce, the last thing Sarah wants to do is spend six months in an isolated mountain hamlet. With few other options available to her, she hunkers down for the snowy season and reluctantly comes to know the townsfolk.

Home Another Way is populated with an eccentric cast of characters. The people of Jonah are overwhelmingly Christian and downright unusual. Each has experienced some degree of pain in their lives, difficult circumstances, sin. Yet they all look for the light, the silver lining, and worse – they all speak well of Sarah’s deceased father, whom she is determined to hate.

Debut novelist Christa Parrish breathes new life into Christian fiction that focuses on interpersonal relationships. Home Another Way sparkles with crisp, cutting descriptive prose and veritably oozes angst. Convinced that everyone else is to blame for her destructive downward spiral, Sarah’s life is an open wound that she aggressively defends with sharp words, angry offensives, and seductive wiles. Her attempts to staunch its flow of blood include junk food, strange men, and impassioned, solitary violin solos.

Short chapters and rapid scene changes propel the reader through the novel. When it seems that Sarah’s self pity and anger will never end, glimpses of the joy and peace in the lives of those around her shine through the darkness to save the story from descending into pure depression. The contrast between her life as an unbeliever and those of the Christians she knows is stark, yet believable due to their foibles and realistic lives. These characters are so authentic in their quirks and qualities that they linger in the memory long after the story is over. From the obese Memory, her heart for hospitality and grown invalid son to young Beth with her disfiguring scars and pure heart – their unremitting hope and faith is a beacon to all who will encounter them.

Parrish swerves to avoid clichés and predictable, tidy endings to provide readers with an authentic, satisfying conclusion. Not everything is as it seems for Sarah, or for the reader. Those seeking a refreshing change of pace from the glut of repetitive Christian romance titles will be pleasantly surprised.

As Sarah comes to know the villagers, their gritty brand of tough love combined with genuine compassion and concern bring her to a new place in her life; a place where she can start over. Ultimately Home Another Way details the birth of a new beginning, the start of healing and of redemption.

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Publisher Info:

Title: Home Another Way
Author: Christa Parrish
Format: Paperback, 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House (October 1, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0764205234
ISBN-13: 978-0764205231

Welcome to the first edition of the Christian Book Carnival!  We have a few entries this week, and I hope to see more participation in the future!  Please share about the carnival with your readers, and make sure to submit for next Wednesday :).  You can either use the submission form, or email me - jennifer at quiverfullfamily dot com.  You can read more about the details here.  Reviews in any genre of Christian literature is accepted, as long as it’s more than a few brief sentences, blog tour posts that include a review are welcome!  I’m also looking for future hosts so please email me if you are interested!

For this past week we have the following reviews to share!

FICTION

Melissa at Bibliophile’s Retreat shares her review of The Blessed by Lisa T. Bergren, the third in a series.

Deena at A Peek at My Bookshelf shares her review of The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner.

NON-FICTION

Ruth at This That and the Other Thing shares her review of Knowing Right from Wrong by Thomas D. Williams.

And my review (Jennifer) here at Quiverfull Family is for Generation Hex - Understanding the Subtle Dangers of Wicca by Dillon Burroughs and Marla Alupoaicei.

Enjoy reading the reviews this week, and remember to submit before next Tuesday at 9 p.m. for the second edition!

Jake Colsen is a man with a hunger for God. Formerly filled with the Spirit, his spiritual life is now a struggle. Running on empty, he can’t help but wonder if there isn’t more to the Christian life than what he’s living. These feelings of dissatisfaction are not fully realized until he meets a mysterious man named John, who Jake suspects might be one of Jesus’ original disciples. Through encounters that God miraculously coordinates in seemingly random acts of synchronicity, Jake is guided through probing conversation with John to seek God’s face. Jake learns to dig deeper into his Christian life and to follow Christ no matter the cost or outward appearance of his walk in faith.

So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore presents Wayne Jacobsen’s message of living in God’s love and seeking Him above all else to fiction readers. While co-written with Dave Coleman, most of the insights and ideas presented throughout this work of teaching fiction seem to be Jacobsen’s. Although it fails to make the grade as a well-written piece of literature, So You Don’t Want To does provide an accessible format to Jacobsen’s ministerial message for those with a strong aversion to non-fiction titles.

The strong message that Jacobsen and Coleman work to convey results in an extraordinarily dialogue-heavy novel. Jake Colsen and John are the only two characters described at any length; neither of them achieves personhood but rather serve as mouthpieces for the points of the authors. Other features common to compelling writing are weak as well: scenery, engaging plot, authentic relationships etc. This is a book on a mission, and that mission does not include striving for excellent fiction writing.

What So You Don’t Want To successfully accomplishes is the encapsulation of Jacobsen’s thoughts about God - as shared in his previous non-fiction titles such as He Loves Me! – with readers as applied to a specific man, and a specific topic; Jake Colsen and the organized/institutional church. As Jake matures spiritually, he turns away from looking to the church he serves as associate pastor for his spiritual food and focuses Jesus Himself instead. While this refocusing and the resulting changes in direction that Jake makes in his life are evidently intended to appear the results of a closer walk with Jesus, it often appeared otherwise to me.

As the characters interacted with John, he was often portrayed as an all-knowing wise man; the one with all the answers. I was quite irritated at the somewhat mindless way in which the characters would ask John to reframe their own experiences according to his own understanding of God. They seemed to ask him how they should think, how they should feel, and I saw much more of this than I saw of them turning to Jesus Himself.

Lest we toss the baby out with the bathwater, there are redeeming features that we must catch sight of in this novel. Through the application of Jacobsen’s understanding to a specific, fictional Christian we are able to see how these beliefs might work themselves out on a practical level. Jake leaves the organized church and is led to pursue a less formal, more relational, spirit-led walk with God and other believers. The sharing of this message alone – that Christian’s are the church regardless of where they fellowship – makes this title interest-worthy.

I appreciated the authors’ hearts in sharing this message, that where Jesus leads is different for each of us and may appear unconventional to others. I can certainly relate, as God has yet to place my family within an organized body of believers since our conversion. He seems to prefer us to relate casually with small family groupings at this time. We’re open to and eager to act upon any future changes He presents to us whether that includes joining an established, organized congregation or continuing in this direction.

While setting the stage for Jake’s departure from an organized church John points out the ways in which institutional structures tend to bind rather than free; tending towards religion over relationship. These concerns are certainly valid and have been experienced by many seeking to follow Christ. Unfortunately these points are used to build a less than subtle inference that casual fellowship is better than an organized congregation. The door is left open for believers to remain in established, formal groupings but the attitude is that this is a lesser form of fellowship. In truth, Christians are called to many positions in the body of Christ. Whether called to an institutional setting or to casual, small-scale forms of fellowship, the key is to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit above all else.

Despite my reservations, I would like to see So You Don’t Want To widely read by members of the body of Christ. Christians are often too hasty to declare that a brother or sister has lost their faith, is a backslider or a prodigal when they fail to establish membership in a local congregation. The body is much larger than we can see and far more diverse than many imagine. What a joy it is to release each other to walk in freedom with the author and finisher of our faith whether that walk leads us to a mega-church, house church or loosely knit community of friends.

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Title: Title: So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore
Author: Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman
Format: Paperback, 191 pages
Publisher: Windblown Media (March 1, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0964729229
ISBN-13: 978-0964729223

Have you ever fallen into a performance trap? Felt like God only loved you if you were performing to His standards? Doubted His love for you during hard times? Wayne Jacobsen has penned He Loves Me! to offer warm, personal encouragement for Christians who feel removed from the love of their Father.

Jacobsen writes strongly, sharing his conviction and personal experience of God’s unfailing love. Revisiting familiar parables and scenes from throughout the New Testament as well as the Old Testament, Jacobsen builds a case for God’s ongoing desire to enter into relationships with each and every one of us.

He Loves Me! keeps a tight focus on God’s love. Jacobsen repeatedly turns the readers eye away from themselves and places their sights upon the Heavenly Father. Rather than exploring the message of salvation, Jacobsen’s work is written for those who have already entered into relationship with God through Jesus Christ, but who may not feel confident in His love.

While an excellent resource for new Christians who seek to understand the basis of their new position in Christ, He Loves Me! also offers a healing balm for those wounded by works-based religious belief systems. A theme that occurs repeatedly throughout Jacobsen’s works is that Christianity is not a religion, a set of rules that Christians must follow in order to please God. Rather, it is God’s invitation to enter into a relationship with Him each day through the death of His son on the cross. It is refreshing to read a work from a man who is so clearly grounded in this truth and who proclaims it loudly.

Jacobsen reassures us that we will never be good enough for God, we will never be able to please Him with our own efforts at righteousness. Our status with Him is dependent entirely upon Jesus’ work on the cross. Our position in Christ rests not upon our striving to fulfill the laws’ commands, but rather the holiness that knowing Jesus will produce in our lives as we let His love fill us full to overflowing. I went into Jacobsen’s body of work with a degree of skepticism, being unfamiliar with his teachings. I wondered if I’d encounter claims of universal salvation, the dismissal of sin or a philosophy of ‘easy-believism’. Thankfully none of these were present, only a rallying cry to return to the foundations of faith – knowing Jesus and following Him.

However, there are some weak points present in Jacobsen’s work. Few scriptures are provided to back up his points, and single verses at times serve as the foundation for suppositions that are widely divergent from those held by the majority of the body of Christ. For instance, he posits that believers no longer need to fear God, but a brief survey of the word ‘fear’ as used throughout the New Testament would display that the matter of fearing God is not as one-sided as presented here. Scripture speaks to the fear of God in a believer’s life, as well as fear not being present in perfect love. All instances of the term ‘fear’ need to be taken into account to form a balanced view of God’s thoughts on the matter. Jacobsen’s beliefs regarding sin should also be closely compared with scripture; it seems that they may ultimately lead to the doctrine of complete sanctification within this life when followed to their logical conclusion. Readers will need to proceed with discernment, eating the meat and spitting out the bones.

If you’ve been entrenched in a struggle to trust in Christ’s work on the cross on your behalf, these teachings regarding God’s love may take some time to sink in. Jacobsen acknowledges that tuning in to God’s love and experiencing Him daily takes time, patience, and trust. With each chapter Jacobsen provides points for personal application, as well as questions that can be explored in a group discussion setting. Seeking God in prayer that focuses upon the suggestions offered, and discussing these teachings with others will serve to deepen understanding and belief.

For myself, I’m inspired to read through the New Testament once again, seeking to understand the love of God through His word as I seek to draw near to Him. I am confident that He Loves Me! will reach many believers who are seeking to regain an authentic, personal walk with Christ as they emerge from works based expectations.

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Publisher Info:

Title: He Loves Me! Learning to Live in the Father’s Affection
Author: Wayne Jacobsen
Format: Paperback, 208 pages
Publisher: Windblown Media; 2nd edition (August 31, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0964729253
ISBN-13: 978-0964729254

Simon Mason is not your average world-famous evangelist. A down-to-earth “everyman”, his rapid ascent to household name surprised him more than anyone else. After being informed that his name is popping up in terrorist circles as a target, he employs Taylor Pasbury - an unusual woman in her own right - to provide security services for him.

Taylor is barely on the job when her past Secret Service training is called into action. Mason’s daughter Kacey, the jewel of his life, has been kidnapped. The terrorists demand? Forsake Christ. Deny that He is the Son of the living God. Then we will return your daughter. Placed in a situation that few of us will ever be called to face, Mason must make a life-shattering decision that will change his life forever.

While Forsaken sounds at first glance like a typical terrorist/suspense novel, it is so much more than what it seems. Well deserving of the suspense genre label, it moves at an intense and engrossing pace through the first two-thirds of the book, only to slow into a more thoughtful, reflective later portion. Readers are treated to what amounts to two stories within one cover, skillfully blended. A tale of nerve-wracking uncertainty and action combined with the story of one man’s faith and spiritual journey.

Jordan’s novel enthralled me. Forsaken possesses a special quality that refuses to let the reader set the book down for long. Far from being rote, the story of Kacey’s capture and the difficult decision her father faced were captivating. The characters are realistic, flawed and uncommonly personable. Mason is true to life in his vulnerability, failings and foibles. Pasbury, a woman with a difficult, tainted past is gritty, wounded, and loveable. The author has succeeded in writing both male and female characters that resonate in the heart of the reader.

Exploring far more than the themes of inter-religious tensions and terrorism, Jordan dips his characters into loneliness, evangelism, love, the bonds of family and God’s grace. A surprising depth is created through the drawing together of seemingly disparate threads of story - the lines between past and present.

Jordan does introduce some threads that are left dangling by this story’s end. Readers looking for a single title read may feel disappointed that these avenues have been left open. Those looking forward to future adventures with Taylor Pasbury will be delighted by the prospect of a sequel. Double-Cross is scheduled for release in October 2009.

A balanced perspective on the actions of Muslim terrorist groups is also woven into this novel. Far from condemning all followers of Islam as dangerous radicals, it is made clear that the purpose of such radicals is rarely religious, but more often power based. Moderate followers of Islam are treated with respect and dignity without minimizing the need to share the gospel with them.

Certainly a well-written suspense novel, Forsaken is so much more than I expected; deeper, truer, touching and surprising. Come for the thrill, adrenaline and addictive compulsion to keep reading. Stay for the lingering reflection, insight and first steps on the path to healing.

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Publisher Info:

Title: Forsaken
Author: James David Jordan
Format: Paperback, 400 pages
Publisher: B&H Fiction (October 1, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0805447490
ISBN-13: 978-0805447491

Evangelical Christians often encounter bizarre and inaccurate depictions of witchcraft, Wicca and other neopagan faiths. Whether through depictions of Satan worship, sacrifices or other heinous practices, many of these accounts are simply not true, and are misapplied to the faith groups being charged with such activities. Thankfully Dillon Burroughs (an accomplished apologetics author) and Marla Alupoaicei have teamed up to co-author Generation Hex, a new work explaining the Wiccan religion to Christians.

In the first portion of the book Burroughs and Alupoaicei examine common misunderstandings, replacing them with truth. The history of Wicca, the beliefs of its practitioners and an examination of how the occult has invaded popular culture are examined. The subtitle “Understanding the Subtle Dangers of Wicca” does not seem entirely accurate – for Christians Wicca is a completely incompatible belief system, not exactly a subtle danger, and the authors thankfully do not present Wiccans as dangerous people.

To write this book the authors engaged in extensive research, including reading original Wiccan texts, interviewing Wiccans, and observing rituals. With such a diverse religion it is difficult to nail it down, but Wicca by its nature is a pluralistic sub-section of neopaganism featuring beliefs that are extraordinarily varied. Its most common beliefs, though, are spotlighted without fear or fanaticism, and the diversity of Wiccan beliefs are explained. A book concerning Wicca would not be complete without mentioning the larger movement – neopaganism – that it is embedded within. Neopaganism and its many practices are touched upon briefly, but the main focus is Wicca itself. The authors provide extensive quotations from Wiccan texts as well as interviews they have conducted with Wiccans and Neopagans. A complete bibliography is provided for further research.

The second portion of the title focuses upon understanding the personal aspects of Wicca. Where do you find Wiccans? How can you discuss your faith with them? How does Wicca compare with Biblical Christianity? Burroughs and Alupoaicei accurately describe the response of the average Wiccan to evangelical Christians, and as such their recommendations for sharing the Christian faith are spot on. Wiccans are spiritual seekers, but are heavily invested in a pluralistic (many pathways to truth and God) mindset as well as a monistic (everything is God) worldview. Many view Christianity through a skeptical lense and are often openly offensive against the faith.

While Generation Hex was for the most part balanced and Biblically accurate, there are some statements that lean closer to pagan beliefs than Christian ones. For example, consider the contention: “While these beings and objects are sacred because they were created by God, they are still distinct from God.” This statement accurately points out that God’s creation is separate from Him, but I do not agree that His created beings are sacred.  Perhaps I’m hyper-sensitive due to my past beliefs, but there is the potential for animistic thoughts to arise with statements such as these.  There are less than a handful of such statements, and reading with discernment will easily point them out.  Even with the inclusion of some slightly off statements this title serves as a valuable tool within the body of Christ.

I would have loved to see more than one testimony of a Christian who previously walked in occult paths. The example they chose to share seems to be more of a general neopagan/new age follower rather than a Wiccan. It would have been interesting to see the conversion testimony of a former Wiccan who was fully involved in the community, in rituals, or covenwork.

Generation Hex is an excellent primer for any follower of Christ who seeks to learn more about this growing religion. As many followers of the Wiccan faith are teenagers and young people, youth pastors and parents should certainly brush up on their knowledge of this religion. Wicca is often seen as a frightening unknown within the body of Christ, and I pray that this title will both educate and encourage Christians to reach out in love to Wiccans. Wiccans who have newly come to Christ and those who seek to learn more about the comparisons between the Craft and Christianity will also benefit from reading this accessible work.

As a former witch, and current follower of Jesus Christ I’m delighted to see Christian authors working to remove the stigma from the Craft. Witches, Wiccans and other Neopagans are people, just like any other. True, they are lost, but no more so than any other person without a personal relationship with Christ. There is no need for fear, only love. Love your pagan friends, neighbours and coworkers with the heart of Christ, and be there to answer their questions when the Father starts to draw them. I know that I’m thankful for the Christian neighbours in my life who kindly answered my queries without pressure or disdain when I heard Him call.

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Publisher Info:

Title: Generation Hex: Understanding the Subtle Dangers of Wicca
Author: Dillon Burroughs and Marla Alupoaicei
Format: Paperback, 176 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (August 8, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0736924019
ISBN-13: 978-0736924016

Eternity’s Edge, the second installment in the Echoes from the Edge trilogy is filled with non-stop action, interdimensional travel and mystery. It has been a few months since I read the first book - Beyond the Reflection’s Edge - and I wish I had reread it prior to delving into the second novel. Davis wastes no time engaging readers in his alternate universe.

The characters we came to know in the first title are up and running from the first page, and Davis maintains a grueling pace with nary a pause for air. The typical exposition reminding readers of the events of the previous novel is next to non-existent, so you may want to read the first title again to get your bearings on the world that Davis has created. Due to the complexity of his work – featuring multiple words with identical characters on each earth – it took some time to reorient myself, identify the different worlds, the origins of each character and so on.

As Nathan and Kelly Red’s search to find Nathan’s parents continues they quickly learn that Interfinity — the coming together of all three worlds: red, blue and yellow — is close at hand. The interdimensional wounds are growing, and with Solomon Shepherd, Nathan’s father, nowhere to be found, Nathan finds the fate of the three worlds resting in his hands. Wrestling with his priorities, Nathan attempts to make sense of a conflict that he does not yet fully understand.

The friendship between Nathan and Kelly develops into a sweet and chastely romantic love that is surprising in its depth and authenticity. The two cling to each other while separated from parents, friends, and the complete lack of normality in the worlds they find themselves exploring. While I’m not a supporter of youthful romance, Nathan’s deep integrity and commitment to purity shine through in all of his actions. He is truly a chivalrous young man, and I admire his deep sense of morality and concern for others. His relationship with a younger version of his mother develops into a sweet filial love as well.  Mothers take note; Nathan is a wonderful role model for the young men in your life!

While some of the mysteries presented in the first title are brought to some sense of resolution, many more are brought forward. This uncertainty and lack of a clear overview is both frustrating and fascinating, and I read at a break-neck speed in my attempts to discover the secrets of this alternate universe and how exactly God is involved in the entire situation, for He certainly is. By the end of the book much remains to be discovered and a seemingly overwhelming amount of work lies before the young hero and heroine before the rift in the universal fabric can be healed completely. The prolific loose ends and unanswered questions are sure to keep Davis fans on edge as they wait for the release of the third and final novel. Looking back on my review of the original novel I can clearly tell that my fondness for the series has only grown with this new addition.

As a young adult I absolutely adored reading stories that featured interdimensional travel, alternative realities and the like. Thankfully Davis, a Christian author, has entered the genre. Though written for teens, adults who enjoy speculative fiction should not miss this series; many of today’s finest authors are writing for young people, particularly in speculative fiction.

Though filled with danger and a clear separation of good and evil, Davis’ prose is clean and wholesome. Violent events instigated by the forces of darkness – vision stalkers such as Mictar whose origin we do not yet understand – continue to occur and are disturbing; this is definitely a title for older readers. Davis’ blend of faith, science fiction, and music create a unique and captivating tale. This second installment begins to develop themes relating to the Christian faith, such as sacrificial love, though it’s too early to tell where Davis is headed with them. With his skillful blending of the Christian faith together with a high intensity story line Davis has created a book that is never heavy-handed, and is highly entertaining.

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Publisher Info:

Title: Eternity’s Edge (Echoes From the Edge)
Author: Bryan Davis
Format: Paperback, 368 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (October 1, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0310715555
ISBN-13: 978-0310715559

Celebrated author Lois Gladys Leppard went home to the Lord on October 5th, 2008. Leppard’s Mandie series – consisting of 40 titles, with over 6 million copies sold – has brought joy and adventure into the lives of many Christian children and their families.

Over the past few years Bethany House publishers have been compiling the Mandie series into thick volumes, with five Mandie stories in each book. Our family has had the pleasure of reading The Mandie Collection, Volume 1 - containing the first five chapter books - for our bedtime reading over the past several months. The end of each story segues seamlessly into the next, creating a non-stop “Mandie-a-thon” for fans of Leppard’s work.

Included in the first volume are: Mandie and the Secret Tunnel, Mandie and the Cherokee Legend, Mandie and the Ghost Bandits, Mandie and the Forbidden Attic and Mandie and the Trunk’s Secret. New readers can collect the series at a very affordable price, and parents who fell in love with Mandie at the beginning of her literary adventures in 1983 can now conveniently share her with their children.

The story is set at the turn of the nineteenth century, and Mandie is a polite 12-year-old girl with a fierce streak of curiosity. This inquisitiveness leads her into many mysteries, adventures and learning experiences, along with her growing crew of friends. In some ways the Mandie series is similar to that of The Boxcar Children, a lengthy series in which the children solve mysteries and embark upon adventures with little parental oversight. However, I’m pleased to say that the Mandie books are written to gently stretch children’s vocabulary. They are not aimed at the lowest common denominator, but rather feature prose that is readable without sacrificing quality and challenge.

Young readers are introduced to Mandie and her unique family circumstances in Mandie and the Secret Tunnel. The book opens with Mandie attending her father’s funeral and unfortunately being subjected to a doctrinally unsound warning pertaining to the after-life. Sadly the only appearance of a pastor in this first collection of stories is of a man who preaches salvation by works, keeping the Ten Commandments, staying away from sin, living a “good” life with the threat of hell fire spilling into his words. This is terribly inaccurate – the only salvation any of us can receive is through the spilled blood of Jesus Christ, not through our own efforts.

In fact, I can’t recall any mention of Jesus throughout the first five books in the series, though God is often called upon and discussed. I took this opportunity to reiterate the basic concepts of the gospel message with my children to avoid any possible confusion. Thankfully this scene was brief, and we quickly moved on, establishing the foundation for the rest of the series – introductions to key characters and settling Mandie into her new role in life.

A Bible verse is included at the beginning of each story, hinting at the theme to be developed throughout the upcoming pages. In the first book, Mandie and the Secret Tunnel the provided verse is, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…” from Psalm 23:1, and while Mandie doubts God’s love and provision for her at times, she comes to know His love and personal care for her by book’s end.

While polite and respectful, Mandie is far from perfect. She has flaws, she stumbles, she makes mistakes, and she asks God for His forgiveness and help to do better. Mandie is a teachable young girl, and learns from her errors. She apologizes when she is untruthful or behaves inappropriately, and is quick to turn to prayer when encountering dangerous situations. Mandie is concerned when she learns that others do not know God and seeks to share His goodness and provision with them. Her humble example provides a sweet example for young girls.

One area of concern that parents may want to exercise discernment in is the matter of Mandie’s friend Joe. While their relationship is chaste, at the end of the first title Joe and Mandie become engaged, without parental input. As mentioned previously, Mandie is 12 at the time of this event, Joe slightly older. I chose to avoid reading the passages dealing with their romantic relationship, as our family believes that until a child is ready to marry these types of interactions are inappropriate.

Jealousy and strife also create sub-themes throughout future stories as minor characters develop an interest in either Joe or Mandie. Joe and Mandie both take their turns in feeling angry, jealous and even speaking poorly of their “competitors”. If as parents you seek to guard your child’s heart from romantic involvement until they are prepared to marry this is a component of the series to keep in mind.

The children also spend long periods of time separated from adult care in the course of their adventures, and while nothing importune occurs you may not wish to encourage this behaviour in your children.

While some readers have misinterpreted Leppard’s work in this series as racist, they seem to be missing some key points. Mandie herself is one-quarter-Cherokee and suffers from persecution both from Native Americans and Caucasian’s due to her mixed background. Leppard herself has some Cherokee blood in her background, which is why she chose this people group to focus upon for the First Nations components of her stories.

This spunky little girl makes friends across all social spectrums, the African American household help, her Native American relatives and her upper-class schoolmates at a finishing school for girls. She extends her love towards all of these characters equally while encouraging them to pursue God. The stories are set at the turn of the nineteenth century and the terms currently in use for these groups are not employed. Rather some historically accurate terms are used, though not in a derogatory way.

I found Leppard’s work quite enjoyable to read aloud. While some find the stereotypical accents confining and perhaps derogatory, I had so much fun reading a variety of accents. From mountain hillbilly, to black servants and first generation English speaking native’s, Leppard easily conveys the appropriate pronunciation through her use of the written word. Just read along and you’ll find yourself sounding like the Indian in any Western movie, or a black kitchen worker. I felt that these ways of speech were historically accurate, though I was somewhat frustrated with Uncle Ned’s (Mandie’s watchful guardian) never-ending use of the terms squaw, papoose and brave, not once using the word woman, child or young man, when this is clearly what he was indicating. Characters in the book who have received an English education speak just as Mandie does.

Written for the 8 – 12 year old market, my five-year-old also found these stories intensely exciting when read aloud. Leppard successfully builds tension time and again until my daughter was squealing, “Mommy, look ahead and see what happens! Are they going to be all right?” There are aspects of Leppard’s writing that would be hard to distinguish as a parent without reading her work aloud.

Reading these stories with my daughter pointed out that Leppard has a gift for creating questions in the young readers mind, then following through with the answer. Whenever my daughter asked a question, Leppard would answer her within the next few sentence.

My little girl was so entranced with the ongoing plot and mystery of these stories that every family member – both immediate and extended - was treated to ongoing narrations of the tales by phone and in person while we read through the collection. I have never heard her relate a story so enthusiastically in the past, and in such detail. Our family has read over 40 chapter books together with our children over the past few years, and I believe the “Mandie stories” are amongst the favourites of both my daughters, my two year old included.

While our family greatly enjoyed the stories, the collection itself is very simple, allowing perhaps for the affordable cost of this edition. A table of contents is provided for each story, but no overall table of contents listing the page number for the beginning of each included book is provided, making orientation somewhat more challenging. With 541 pages it would be wonderful to know where each story ends and begins.

One illustration graces the books cover, from the third included title, Mandie and the Ghost Bandits, no interior illustrations are present. I also would have loved to see the appropriate cover included at the beginning each of the chapter books in the volume. In addition it’s easy to form the conclusion that this collection of stories missed the final edit. Simple punctuation and spelling errors occur in a number of the stories, and the Bible verse for the final story – Mandie and the Trunk’s Secret – is missing entirely. Having read a number of Bethany House titles, these oversights are very out of character for their high quality books.

At the end of the day, when pros and cons have been examined and analyzed, the ultimate question is – have my children been entertained? Have their reading horizons been expanded? Have they been encouraged to turn to God with their needs, both physical and for forgiveness?

I know that meeting Mandie and her friends has made an impact on our family’s day-to-day existence. Our orange and white tabby kitten has been renamed Snowball after Mandie’s white cat. When I finished reading the first five books in this volume to my children they both exclaimed, “More Mandie Mamma!” When my five-year-old catches sight of the book she asks, “Can we read Mandie again Mommy?” In conclusion I quote my eldest child once more, “Mommy, isn’t Mandie the bestest bedtime story book ever?”

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Publisher Info:

Title: The Mandie Collection, Volume One
Author: Lois Gladys Leppard
Format: Paperback, 544 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (September 1, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0764204467
ISBN-13: 978-0764204463

Pastor Alan Rockaway is on a couples retreat with his church, accompanied by his beautiful young (and new) wife and his teenaged son Jeff. The couples attending the teaching cruise from Pastor Rockaway’s mega-church in Colorado are ready to set their marriages aflame by way of the teachings they receive. Jeff, a reluctant attendee due to a difficult relationship with his father and the perceived hypocrisy within the church, is there as a videographer, recording the retreat for posterity.

A bright Sunday morning ushers in an unusual treat for the couples, as well as their home church. With his technical knowledge, Jeff has arranged for a live feed of the retreat attendees touching base with their church before they board a tourist submarine for an underwater exploration just off of Barbados. While Jeff is on deck filming the submarine’s descent – beaming the images back to Colorado – the unthinkable occurs. A rapid-fire collision occurs, with the damaged submarine dropping to the bottom of the ocean floor. People are trapped, hurting, and running out of air while a frantic church body drops to the floor in desperate intercession after viewing the accident live during their Sunday morning service.

Rescued is, in short, the most surprising book I’ve read this year. I am still astounded at what co-authors Bevere and Olsen have accomplished with this novel. I was so entirely taken in by their strong point-of-view writing that I felt they’d jumped up behind me and smacked a chair over my head. I was taken in completely unawares by their plan, to the extent that I would almost call them deceptive or sneaky, luring readers in before springing their trap. However, this is a trap you’ll want to be caught up in; a trap that will lead you to your knees in repentance before a holy God.

I found Rescued an extremely difficult book to read, and it certainly wasn’t due to the easy reading prose. If I hadn’t been obligated to review it I would have thrown it across the room in disgust and left it lying on the floor. I couldn’t believe that a respected Christian publishing house had allowed this title to be published under their imprint. How far had Christian fiction fallen? My stomach literally churned and I became queasy as I came to know Alan Rockaway. Alan is not a likeable character for a Christian who takes the Bible literally.

Watching him twist the word of God to justify his sins, watching his church support him in those sins, watching him revel in them, declaring these sins as God’s will for his life - it was just too much for me. I could barely handle the flashbacks as he reflected upon his decisions, justifying them once again in the face of possible death. I kept going, only because I had to, and if you find yourself reading Rescued, I recommend that you do the same. Persevere and you will receive a rich reward; read the story until it’s end - after all, it’s only 288 pages long.

I cannot think of one person who would not benefit from reading this title; God has, and will continue to use this work for His glory and purposes. Are you ready to be challenged and driven to self-examination? Are you ready to become humbled, contrite and driven into the arms of the Father? John Bevere and Mark Andrew Olsen spent hundreds of hours in prayer and study of the scriptures in order to write this novel. In retrospect it’s apparent that they must have. Only under the Lord’s guidance and inspiration could they have pulled this one off. If you’re able to withstand an emotional roller coaster ride through the extremes of emotion, I highly recommend you pick up Rescued, then share it with your friends, your relatives and others within your church. Are you ready to experience the ultimate rescue mission?

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Publisher Info:

Title: Rescued
Author: John Bevere and Mark Andrew Olsen
Format: Paperback, 288 pages
Publisher: Bethany House (September 1, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0764204475
ISBN-13: 978-0764204470

Abby Sherman and Dylan Hatfield, former compatriots in the war against evil, are not speaking to each other. In his yearning for the action he previously enjoyed as a covert assassin and special ops agent he considers returning to a form of active deployment, a move Abby strongly disagrees with. After their argument Dylan accepts an assignment for a dangerous, top-secret mission – exploring an Afghani tunnel that Bin Laden disappeared from in 2001 without a trace. What he finds there, the evil and darkness is enough to shatter the heart and soul of a man who dares face it without God’s covering.

Meanwhile, Abby is off to Jerusalem where she receives a warning and a charge. The forces of darkness are rallying again, this time planning an attack against America of catastrophic proportions. The only way to prevent the foretold death and destruction is for Abby to find the summons, the call to war, and awaken the Warriors. Once she and Dylan are reunited following his failed mission they are swept into a desperate, unbelievable quest to find a way to stop an attack they know little of.

The Warriors is the second in an informal series of novels by Mark Andrew Olsen. While marketed as novels that can be read individually, I’d recommend that readers first peruse The Watchers, the first novel. A stronger basis for understanding the world of spiritual warfare that Abby and Dylan operate within will reward the effort.

Violent physical attacks continue to replace spiritual defenses. The romantic tension between Abby and Dylan fails to rouse any believable feelings, excepting one moment that borders on genuine in the closing scenes. Without needlessly repeating myself, I will simply say that my concerns with the first novel are still present in the second. For further details please see my review of The Watchers. While Abby’s father – Robert Sherman – was not a main character in the first novel (in fact I didn’t mention him in my review), he has disappeared without a trace from the series. There are no mentions of him whatsoever, but it would have been interesting to see his newfound faith develop further.

Despite my ongoing concerns with some of the content, The Warriors proved to be even more compelling than it’s predecessor. Olsen beautifully describes the lush scenery of various European locations as Abby and Dylan pursue their feverish goal. Olsen’s integration of the history of persecuted European Christians such as the Waldensian people was a welcome and unexpected surprise.  Their history was woven together with the geography during their ongoing search.

I was relieved to see Abby set to the side, relinquishing the stage and role of main character to Dylan.  In this series Dylan has always been the stronger character, and in The Warriors he truly has a chance to shine.  The final scenes are stirring; if I were to make a book trailer for this title I’d include some clips from them along with “What if His People Prayed” from Casting Crowns playing for soundtrack. There are truly some awe-inspiring moments to contrast the depictions of evil as the battle continues to rage.  Oddly, each description of a demonic presence is foul and grotesque.  In scripture we see Satan and his minions masquerading as angels of light in order to deceive.  It would be wonderful if Olsen would integrate this as an interesting twist in upcoming novels.

Similar to The Watchers, readers are not treated to a lengthy, expository conclusion. After tying up a few loose ends it is made eminently clear that Olsen plans to pen additional installations for this series. While many readers are enthusiastic about these novels I won’t be investigating future efforts in this series. It’s not Olsen that I have issues with; I have enjoyed other books bearing his name. Rather, it’s my own stubborn insistence that Christian fiction should be somewhat aligned with scripture on issues the Bible speaks to clearly.  Mark, it’s not you, it’s me.

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Publisher Info:

Title: The Warriors
Author: Mark Andrew Olsen
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
Publisher: Bethany House (April 1, 2008)
ISBN-10: 076420274X
ISBN-13: 978-0764202742