Fear Has a Name

Title:  Fear Has a Name

Author:  Creston Mapes

Pages:  448

Year:  2013

Publisher:  David C. Cook

                Fear Has a Name is my introduction into the writing world of author Creston Mapes.  The storyline presented has many reflections on the choices believers have, especially when confronted with evil.  The antagonist is a man named Granger who was raised in a home without the love of Christ, love of family and emotional abuse at home as well as school.  Therefore, Granger learns how to survive in life without anyone close to him, except for one woman he wants to be his, Pamela Wagner.

                Fighting the war within him, Granger acts more out of fear than anything rational.  He believes the lies that are told to him.  He was bullied to the max by others when he was young.  The only one to show true friendship was Pam; she showed honest friendship though never really knowing what horrors awaited him when he would go home to his parents.  Her impact on him many years ago drives him to make unwise choices, culminating in breaking and entering.  Granger also displays his knowledge of her life over the years, causing Pam to choose to believe or not believe God would protect her.

                Pamela’s husband Jack is a first rate journalist who loves the Lord, Pam and their two daughters.  Pam’s family life is anything but normal though not in same way as Granger’s.  Jack is someone who shows her what real faith looks like.  Now, with his family being threatened and scared all the time, Jack has to decide what the right decisions are in leading his family through the various trials they are facing.

                Evan is a pastor at a Methodist church and married to a wonderful woman, raising three wonderful boys.  Evan battles depression and tries to lead his flock with unwavering devotion, though the associate pastor has other more sinister plans.  Evan decides to leave it all behind, including his family because he believes lies whispered in his ear.  On one particular night, he is visited by an elderly lady who used to steer Evan to the path God has for him.

                Throughout the novel, the characters are wrestling with their fears, faith and lives which aren’t what they thought they would be.  Somehow the different characters and situations keep presenting the choice of believing God is in control or not.  The fears, if allowed to control a person, would seem to cripple their lives; peace in their souls is nonexistent.  I read straight through this novel, seeing what would happen in the story and how the threats to the characters pushing them to the precipice of believing God or not.  Though I was aware I was reading a work of fiction, I couldn’t help but see how all of us have choices to make decisions based on His Word, with the true love of others upholding us in some of our darkest hours.  The suspense, action, times of romance and emotionally packed scenes just wouldn’t let me put it down!  Creston Mapes has a new follower for his novels that are in some ways beyond description.

                My rating is 5 stars.

Note:  I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book.  The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.  Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ .  Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457

At The End Of Our Journey by JACK R EAST JR {June 18, 2013} - $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

At The End Of Our Journey By: JACK R EAST JR

About the Book

At the End of Our Journey is a personal testimony of the life and Christian faith of the author. The inspiration for the book came from two incredible and powerful dreams about Jack's Christian faith. The dreams were experienced in November of 2010 on two consecutive mornings. Jack awoke from both dreams with precise and detailed memories of the events and emotions felt during the dreams. He can recall all of the events of both dreams two years later. To be able to remember all of the details of both dreams is very unusual for him and for most other dreamers. The two dreams did not reveal anything new about his Christian faith. The first dream expressed all of the doubts, fears, and questions that all followers of the Christian faith have asked themselves many times. The second dream was a direct confirmation from God that all of the promises of the Christian faith are true and will happen for all who believe in Christ's redemption and follow his teachings. Words cannot adequately describe the events and emotions of the second dream. The author has difficulty finding words to describe the emotions experienced in his dreams, but he can share the following conclusions about his dreams and the Christian faith with you.

He experienced the finality of knowing that he had died. He knew the joy of knowing that his Christian faith allowed him to conquer death. He felt hope and joy to know that his spirit had conquered death and was rising into Heaven.

He was overcome with joy, peace, contentment, fulfillment, and the sure knowledge that the only place he could possibly be was in Heaven. No other place could feel so good and right. He cannot adequately describe how it felt to know that God was there to welcome him to Heaven where he heard his powerful and loving voice say to him,

"Jack, I am glad you are here, I have been waiting for you."

How could he describe hearing God's welcome end with the following words...

"but, I am not ready for you yet."

At the End of Our Journey is Jack's attempt to share with you the wonderful experience of his life, dreams, and Christian faith. His wish is that you may also know the joy of the personal presence of God in your life and feel the full depth and beauty of His powerful love. And that you may receive a taste of what awaits for us at the end of our journey of Christian faith.

Get the PAPERBACK on Amazon!

JACK R EAST JR Jack was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in September of 1940. In 1945 his family moved to Southern California where he lived for 30 years. He started his journey of Christian faith in 1956 at the age of sixteen. Jack married his wife Barbara in 1961 and their marriage has lasted for over fifty years. Jack started his career as a CPA, and he and Barbara started their family while living in Southern California. Jack and Barbara moved to the far north coast of California in 1975. Jack continued to work at his accounting and tax practice as he and Barbara raised a family of three great sons. Their boys and their spouses have provided them with four precious grand children. Both family and the Christian faith have always been important parts of the life of Jack and Barbara. At age 72, Jack is still working at his accounting and income tax practice with Barbara's help. Retirement is under consideration, but it is not their greatest priority at this time. In November of 2010 Jack experienced two incredible dreams about his Christian faith. The dreams were the inspiration for writing a book and for this website. The dreams have started a new chapter in the life and Christian faith of Jack R. East, Jr. at age 72.

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Red Dawn Rising

Title:  Red Dawn Rising (Red Returning #2)

Author:  Sue Duffy

Pages:  287

Year:  2013

Publisher:  Kregel Publications

                Sue Duffy‘s latest book in her trilogy, “Red Returning”, is titled Red Dawn Rising.  This picks up where the first book, The Sound of Red Returning, left off.  The story takes place between basically three venues:  New York City, Charleston and Washington, D.C.  This a contemporary suspense novel with short, crisp chapters that make for easy reading.

                In addition to the characters from the first book, who appear again in this storyline, there is the addition of Jordan Winslow, Cass Rodino, her mother and step-father, as well as the emergence of the Architect, who the person in charge of the entire saboteur network intent on destroying U.S. landmarks.  In addition, the network is to dispose of Liesl Bower, who thwarted their plans in the first book.  The saboteurs have long been in place and know what their assignments are; they are just waiting for the signal from the Architect.

                Liesl is preparing for her wedding later in the afternoon when she answers the front door.  She doesn’t realize she is opening the door to danger on a life-threatening scale.  Her only means of escape is Evgeny Kozlov, the man who tried to kill her just a short time ago.  Now, he has come to her rescue or has he?  Is this just another ploy to get her to trust him so he can finally carry out his mission to kill her?  What information does the young couple, Cass and Jordan, have that is a danger to her?  Liesl is once again on the run, although this time she is not alone.  Who has Cass’s stepfather been meeting secretly with at night, but claiming he was only meeting a weird client after hours in their home?

                There are many surprises and twists in the plot that keep the reader guessing what will happen next.  I liked seeing Liesl’s growing spiritual development and her telling others about God.  Now, Cass and her mother are beginning a return to the faith they both abandoned long ago thanks to Liesl.  I hope in the third book to see Jordan and Cass speak of their newfound faith and that their budding romance will continue.  This book is filled with action, suspense and spy thrilling moments.  It was very entertaining and the pages flew through my fingers as I eagerly read each page.  I await the final book in the series to see how people and their relationships with each other and with God mature.  This is just a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a rainy day!

My rating is 4 stars.

Note:  I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book.  The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.  Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ .  Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457

American Phoenix by Jane Hampton Cook

Title:  American Phoenix:  John Quincy Adams and Louisa Adams, the War of 1812, and the Exile that Saved American Independence

Author:  Jane Hampton Cook

Pages:  450

Year:  2013

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson

                This is an amazingly detailed recounting from the private journals of John Quincy Adams and Louisa Adams before he was President of the United States.  The time period is around 1815, with a look back at various events in historical context that took place before this time to provide information relevant to what was currently happening in their respective journals.

                Reading the private thoughts of those who lived in the 1800s is so very interesting to me.  Through their thoughts, readers get to experience vicariously the life from that time period.  The difficulties in traveling whether by sea or by land, the length of time to get anywhere and the waiting between or for any type of communication are just a few of the difficulties seen.  The anguish Louisa felt in leaving her two oldest sons behind in American while she, her husband and her youngest son traveled to Russia is so very poignant.  Louisa thought they would be gone only a year, two at the most; however, their journey lasted far longer.  The desperate longing for the two to be reunited after being apart almost a year with Louisa staying in Russia and John traveling elsewhere pulls at the heartstrings.  The dedication of John Quincy to serve his country and putting the needs of his country ahead of his own is practically unheard of in today’s society.  This deserves our admiration and respect.  Thanks to the author for showing us a side of these political figures I had not seen before.

                The amount of meticulous research needed to produce such a work must have been monumental.  The time required to compile all the journal entries, put them in some semblance of order and deciding what to include and what not to include are just some of the hurdles the author must have faced when taking on this project.  Her hard work and attention to detail are obvious.  The writing style is somewhat antiquated due to the use of original diary entries and some readers might find the prose difficult to follow.  I am a fan of the Victorian age, so I’ve read several books in this style and therefore, I had no trouble following the style.  However, the timeline did seem to jump around without letting the reader know so it required some re-reading to discover when things were taking place.  I also think the book could have been shortened by about 100 pages.  The length of the account may be a bit daunting for some readers.  Overall, this is a very good historical account about two people to whom much is ignored today.  I learned quite a lot about them and would recommend this book.

My rating is 4 stars.

Note:  I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book.  The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.  Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ .  Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457