Christianity Books

Grab this book, sit down and read it. It is amazing...one of the best books I have ever read.....powerful message of Christ's redeeming love. I am about to read it a second time.

When I first got this book I looked at how thick it was and said "Great this will take me at least 2 weeks to finish" (I read about 80-90 pages / hour) Plus my natural indistinct is to think a thick book will be a long and boring book.

Man was I wrong - I finished it in 3 days because each night I wanted to read more and more.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a fictional Christian book. If you're on the airplane or going on a long road trip this is a book to read. For a girl this book shows how a man should truly love you in marriage. And for a guy it showed me how much love needs to be shown and displayed in marriage.

On the surface, Redeeming loves tells the love story between Micheal Hosea, the kind-hearted farmer, and Angel, the not so lovable prostitute. But it transforms into a love story between God and us. Awe-struck is how I felt when I read it.

Tamera Lynn Kraft
Faith Filled Historicals For the Adventurous Heart
www.TameraKraft.net
www.tameralynnkraft.blogspot.com
www.authorsden.com/tameralynnkraft
www.shoutlife.com/tamera
www.myspace.com/tamerakraft
Redeeming Love

After reading this book, I recomend that all the ladies and friends I know to read it. It's like a story you don't want to end. This book should also be a mini series. Everyone should know the love of God like Angel does.

I have loaned this book to every woman that I care about. I think it is an essential read. This book literally changed ny life. It is not only a wonderful romance novel, but a fantastic book about God's NEVER-ENDING love for us.

I bought this book as a gift for my 16yr old niece. The very next day, she told me how much she loved the book. She even cried reading it. I think it's nice to find reading materials that can move the minds and feelings of teenagers.

I skimmed through the book before I gave it to my granddaughter who just turned 13. I thought it had some well written stories that a teenager can relate to and a lot of food for thought. She was so happy to get it, since she had the one for pre-teens also and really liked it.

Once again, "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books has a hit. This is a wonderful gift for young teens with its easy read of short stories on pertinent topics and experiences teens face. Teens I have given it to as a gift have loved it and purchased the next in the teen series. Also a source of good talking points for those anxiety ridden moments or social issues teens face.

I am a teacher in two high schools and I like to read the stories of the book to my students from time to time to inspirate them and reinforce their teenage self esteem! I suggest it to all teacher to make the same with a nice calm background music.

I recomend that you read this book because its stories are touching, sad, heart warming, and pretty much every other emotion you can feel. You can learn a lot about different in life, and how people got through them. :p
zoe r.
lanier ms

The mark of the lions series is probably one of the best series i have ever read. I couldnt put the books down! I was constantly in my bedroom reading for hours. The books have everything in them from spiritual to action to romance; and Reading about Hadassah's faith for the lord just makes your faith grow even stronger and to see how she faces such terrible promblems in wich i couldnt even imagine , she still clings to her faith .


This is truly an amzeing book. I would recommend it to anybody.

I absolutely love these books. I can't believe how good the writing is, how amazing the love story is, and how much I love the characters. They are an easy read that will suck you in and never let you go. They are my favorite books of all time and such an inspiration.

I could probably write a book about this series of books! In fact, my book club just finished talking about the second one last night! These are great Christian fiction literature. Rivers ties the characters together so well, and really does NOT make the characters too "fictionalized". You can really see the struggles that they go through, it could be real.
I really love all three of the books... probably my favorite Francine Rivers books.

This series is amazing! Could not put them down. No one would be disappointed with this read, for sure! Francine Rivers takes a fictional story and makes it tug at your own Faith! Reminds you of God's amazing Grace and Love. Worth the read!

This is one of the best Christian Trilogies I have ever read!!!

In order, the books are:
(1)"A Voice in the Wind"
(2)"An Echo in the Darkness"
(3)"As Sure As The Dawn"

If you are looking into these books for the 1st time, my advice is... stop everything and go get them right now! I ABSOLUTELY INHALED all 3 books in record time. (I'm talking, so intense that I was up till 3 & 4:00 in the morning more than a few times!) I can not say enough about how great these book are. I am so sad that I am finished with them! All three books are so well written and I feel like I know the characters personally.

I feel like I can read about Hadassah to no end. I LOVED her character development and you can truly FEEL her love for Marcus and you can FEEL her pain through her trials. I borrowed these books from my friend, and I now plan to go out and buy a set for me to own, re-read & share. They were just too good not to pass around and recommend to others. In the last book, I was surprised that I became just as attached to the relationship of Atretes and Rizpah as I did with Hadassah and Marcus.

Francine Rivers is now one of my new favorite authors, and I am on my way to read Redeeming Love, which I have heard SO MUCH ABOUT!

God's Blessings to Miss Rivers- I look forward to many more of her books!

I'm 48, and about 20 years ago, I first read "I AM GOD" in a book by Shirley MacLaine. It was revolutionary then - and NO ONE talked about it. Now, when Bishop Jordan writes it -I KNOW IT. I AM GOD. YOU ARE GOD. WE ARE GOD. Imagine if the whole world finally came to that realization. Whether your God is black, white, Hindu, Catholic, whatever. That God put you here for a reason - and Bishop Jordan helps you remember that. I HIGHLY recommend this book. Thank you Bishop Jordan. Blessings everyone.

Bishop E. Bernard Jordan's book brings three words immediately to mind: BRILLIANT, POWERFUL, AND INSPIRING. This wonderful book is all three of those things and I should actually add, eye opening and insightful, to that list of adjectives. This book is a MUST READ for anyone wanting to manifest prosperity into his or her life. I can't urge you enough to read this book AND to seek out other books/videos by Bishop E. Bernard Jordan. His teachings are influencing huge corporations and world leaders and after you read this book I'm sure you will understand why. Stop wasting time reading the reviews and get the book. Your return on investment from absorbing the principles in this book will pay for itself many, many times over! In "The Laws of Thinking" Bishop Jordan teaches 20 secrets to manifest prosperity in your life. If you're a Christian the book will renew your spirit and bring you closer to God as well. If you're not a Christian then this book will give you some valuable deeper insights and may open your eyes to some important things that you hadn't considered or experienced before. Really, it doesn't cost much and what you will surely gain from absorbing the principles taught in "The Laws of Thinking" make it an easy choice - GET THE BOOK AND READ IT TWICE!

This book really causes you to think outside the box of what you been taught in traditional churches. It teaches you to use mind power to possess the desires of your heart and the things that seem so out of reach!

Lanesa Stubbs

This book is AWESOME !!! If you have the courage to change your circumstances, then this is the book for YOU! Master Prophet Jordan has the keys in this book to literally change your life! I just wish that I had read the whole book sooner. The wisdom that is in this book is PRICELESS!!!
Richard O. White
Cocoa, Florida

This is a wonderful publication! I couldn't put it down when I started it. This is a must have!

What an inspiration Coach Tony Dungy is and this book was one I could not put down.

As a Steeler fan who is old enough to remember Dungy as a part of the Steel Curtain defense (but not as large as I remembered!), as a Christian husband and father, and as a Patriots hater who cheers for any team against New England, I had three reasons to look forward to this book, and it was even better than I expected.

Dungy's writing, with assistance by a co-author, reads as mild and humble as his (lets face it) nerdy appearance. Despite, or because of, this to-the-core character, Dungy has succeeded at the cutthroat business of professional football at the highest level. Remember, neither of the teams he has coached had any history of winning before his tenure, and he essentially won a Super Bowl with each team (Chucky Gruden won with Tony's players after Dungy was fired, and you can see what kind of success Chucky has had since!).

One of the amazing aspects of Dungy's book is how wide spread his deep-rooted Christianity was amongst the "nasty" 70s Steelers--Dungy, Dirt Winston, Mel Blount, and Donnie Shell not alone made for one of the hardest-hitting defensive backfields in NFL history, but apparently one of its most mature and consistent Bible studies as well. It is encouraging to read about NFL players and coaches who focus on family and faith, not contracts and crime sprees.

Dungy never sounds boastful or arrogant about his faith, usually demonstrating his life lessons from his own mistakes. My tears spotted the pages of the chapter when Dungy talked about his son's suicide and the rest of the way it was hard for me, and for Dungy as well, to focus on football. As he says in a later chapter, never confuse your goals (winning a Super Bowl) with your purpose (glorifying God).

I needed reminding. Thanks, Tony!

This book is fantastic - I couldn't put it down! I have been a big fan of Tony since he was the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, because of his presence on the football field. This book is an honest and inspiring account of Tony's life and the trials and successes he has encountered. Thank you Tony for a great read.

Loved the book, many lessons to be learned, a little too much football at times but if you can look by that it is a quick and enjoyable read

The autobiography, "Quiet Strength," of Tony Dungy is appropriately subtitled "The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life." Dungy recounts his life from its beginnings to the present as the Coach of the world champion Indianapolis Colts. A man of proactive faith, Dungy has been able to climb many mountains, from being one of the first black quarterbacks in NCAA college football to one of the first black head coaches in the National Football League.

"Quiet Strength" details key formative relationships, those that helped him to become what he is today. They include his mother, The Most Athletic Dungy, who supported in him in a number of sports; his father who taught him what was most important - not the accolades and memories of success, but the way you respond when opportunities are denied; his high school assistant principal, Mr. Rockquemore, who took a great interest in him and Dungy claims things would have been different if he had not; and his first pro coach, Chuck Noll, who taught him how to win in the NFL and how to maintain family-career balance.

Dungy always viewed his work in football as a means to do something more as a servant of God. When he was fired as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the firing itself was not the cause of shock, but rather, the thought that God was allowing this great experiment of using him as a head coach in the NFL to end. He wondered, what's next? How will God use him, whether in the NFL or not.

I am grateful that Dungy went on from Tampa to win the Super Bowl as coach of Indianapolis. More than becoming the first African-American to win a Super Bowl, this extraordinary achievement provided an excellent platform from which to tell this great story.

Dungy's story is inspirational, challenging, and encouraging - reminding us about what really is important in a world driven by the love of material success. He shows that one can live their Christian faith in the workplace and succeed - even in the demanding fish bowl atmosphere of the NFL. He is a living testimony of one man's faith in God.

"Do you your best and let God do the rest."

I love this story and was planning on getting it for my daughter at some point- when I saw it as a board book I decided to get it right away! The book seems well made and has nice bold, vibrant illustrations. The only negative thing I noticed about it- and I noticed it right away when I received it- is the fact that it has pointy edges. Most board books are rounded at the corners. It's not a huge deal, but for young kids/babies who are clumsy and put everything in their mouths, it seems like a poor design.

Max Lucado has an touched a nerve with his delightful stories. This book reaches the heart of all of us.
We all want to know our worth. This beautifully written and illustrated story reminds us that we are all of infinite worth, in the eyes of our creator.

LOVE this book - perfect gift for an adult or a child - beautiful pictures and wonderful, meaningful story.

I work with children with Autism and have given this book to each of them once they do not need my services anymore. This book is a rare find! Excellent story and great pictures!

This is an excellent message for children that they are special and not to place too much importance on what other people may think. My 2 and 3-year olds are captivated by the story.

"Same Kind of Different as Me" is an excellent read; in fact, I rate it among the best I have ever read! I read it through without putting it down, as did my brother and my son. Highly recommended!

A powerful testimony of how God works in the lives of His children for
"His good". We certainly can't understand the process and the outcome is
not what we would always desire, but God is in control and we must trust
Him in all circumstances.

Here is a copy of an email I just sent my friends, and I want to share it with anyone reading these reviews.

I'm reluctant to impose my spiritual beliefs, such as they are, on anyone - I wouldn't have made a very good disciple! - but I can't help but share this book with some of you whom I think would appreciate reading a very inspiring book called "Same Kinda Different as Me". I certainly will give a copy to each of my girls, knowing they may not get around to reading it for a while, but someday they will see it in their bookshelf up and say, "I wonder why Dad wanted me to read this." The book was suggested to me by a good friend in Texas, and I am thanking her by sending this recommendation along to you. It's a pretty quick read - I thought it was extremely well written and edited, and while not in the genre of your favorite page turning author, from Robert Ludlum to Dan Brown, I can tell you that I spent an entire Sunday sitting by a mountain lake reading until I finished it -- and I hope any of you who take my suggestion to read it feel it was worth the time and money. The book certainly gives new meaning to the fishing practice of "catch and release".

I thoroughly enjoyed this one - it's very thought provoking and insightful with many life lessons. I liked the way the narration went back and forth between the white man and the black man with their personal thoughts on the same situation. Very interesting and I highly recommend it for anyone.

I bought this book because of a recommendation by my late father's lovely 88-years-young lady friend (she recently quit tap dancing). FABULOUS read, and keep the tissues handy. This is such a wonderful, incredible story about two of the most unlikely men to ever become lifelong friends. One seems hopeless beyond repair, and spent the majority of his life working for no pay; he is black and named Denver. The other man is white, and has been lucky in life AND mostly lucky in love; he is Ron. Ron's wife is the "cook" who adds the ingredients of this friendship, and stirs it to make it happen. No one is more surprised by the results, than Ron and Denver and their entire community in Texas. This is a gift of a true story, that filled me with such pride and wonder, and gave me hope for the world. What an incredible woman Deborah Hall turned out to be!! Great book to give as a gift, especially to a friend who needs a mental boost! LOVED this story. Just an outstanding read. I especially loved the way the authors alternated the chapters they wrote.

I had an immediate paradigm-shift when I read about the relationship between Revelation and the celebration of the Liturgy - The incense, the garbs, the altar, and more importantly the words we sometimes echo without feeling or thinking of the real meaning of it all... "Holy, Holy, Holy,", and the "LAMB of GOD" now echos in my heart during mass. The Liturgy for me is now Heaven on Earth for I place myself in the book of Revelation and am connected to an altered state I can't explain. If you are a Catholic and are going "through the motions" at mass. Please read this book. You will never look at mass the same way again.
I would like to recommend "Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Explain, and Defend the Catholic Faith". Believe it or not it's also a good start in educating the lay Catholic person. PEACE!!

This was a very informative, yet readable book. I would recommend this to all Christians!

I'm surprised at how well received this man's opines are within the Catholic community; perhaps this is due to Hahn's remarkable capacity to pull biblical passages out of his hat with startling acuity. As increasing numbers of Catholics turn to reading the texts outside the Mass and Lectionary, people will be less impressed with Hahn's Biblical gymnastics. Hahn converted via an academic spiritual exercise, i.e., Pedantic Enlightenment. His musings turn Catholicism into a hybrid Protestantism, which misrepresents his newfound faith. With a heavy hands in "The Lamb's Supper," Hahn inserts Revelation into the body of the Mass. Hahn demonstrates his phenomenal Protestant fascination with the end of the world. Reliably, Hahn again provides a theology infused with his special brand of Spiritual Velveeta, lacking deep historical, spiritual, and theological understanding. Beware those cutesy chapter subtitles: "Stealing My Thunder," (who would dare, Dr. Hahn?), "Moriah Carry," the repellent "Victim's Rites," "Extrasensory Censers," and the nauseating "Oath Meal," to name a few.

For someone who emphasizes that his conversion occurred due to his liberation from Protestant sola scriptura, Hahn remains remarkably laden with words, boxed into Biblical frameworks. Hahn squeezes out faith from memorizing and breaking down Old and New Testament passages into digestible chunks, sucking the juice of wisdom dry, and regurgitating the remains to a vast and adoring audience. He lacks the expertise of Rabbinical scholars in the Judaic tradition of intimately examining and memorizing scripture. Hahn relies on quoting biblical passages and citing their numbers, missing the bigger, far more complex picture. In all this detail, this plethora of words, however accurate, Hahn remains somehow incapable of complex analysis. In his personal process of "divinization," he displays zealous New Revelation Catholicism; for him, deep worship via Mass is simply inadequate to feed his narcissism. He must again reinvent the wheel for the rest of us, and with typical heavily-Hahndedness smother the Mass with Revelation.

Even fallen away Catholics (like me) will benefit from this book. I can identify with Hahn's experience of realizing for the first time that what he was entering in to (the Mass) was infact the unfolding of time and space - of heaven and earth. The Book of Revelation now makes more sense to me.

Scott Hahn helps you to rediscover the beauty and mysteries behind the mass. You'll never miss mass again after reading this book. He is brilliant!

I was given this book to read by a friend at my church, and I reluctantly took it because I am not a huge reader. After the first chapter, I was hooked and couldn't put it down! There is a lot of good instruction, and the part I like most is Jim Cymbala backs up the instruction with real-life experiences and results. Granted, not all results will be similar to his, but he shows the foundation on which to build your life. I highly recommend this book (I bought one for my father, brother, and father-in-law).

You can't not believe this man. It is not the most impressive thing that he built up a huge Church starting with about 10 people in a dangerous area of New York.
It is not the most impressive thing that his wife, who has no training in music, helped to write, guide and direct, songs for one of the world's most loved groups, i.e. The Brooklyn Tablernacle Choir. What is a most impressive to me is that they have stayed right where they started about 25 years ago, continuing to be instrumental in thousands of changed lives of former drug addicts and pushers, prostitutes and pimps, gangs and gangsters, gays and lesbians in what is - except by the grace of the Holy Spirit - still in a dangerous area and with quite a few potentially very dangerous parishioners. People feel embraced by YHWH's welcoming Love in Cymbala's Church. And I believe it is His Love that protects them and moves them all.

With that background I knew I wanted to hear what this man has to say.
I wasn't disappointed. The message is simple as he would say himself:
Prayer, and lots of it, first. Everything else later.

Someone said, "Prayer is not preparation for the work. Prayer IS the work." Cymbala agrees.

One of the more inspiring books I've ever read. It makes you want to meet with Christ and see the power of what He can do. Read if you want to be humbled and empowered.

A few years ago, I wasn't just asked, I was TOLD to read a book called "Breakthrough Prayer," by Jim Cymbala. It didn't look like a brilliant title. But "Breakthrough Prayer" was simply amazing! Since then I've read "Fresh Power," and this book has simply been waiting on my shelf for me to pick it up. I finally did, and it is pretty awesome as well. Jim Cymbala is the pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, and through the power of prayer, some awesome things have happened.

It had to start with a leap of faith. Asked by his father-in-law (and won't we do ANYTHING for the in-laws!?) was a question. Would Jim preach four Sunday nights at the Brooklyn Tabernacle, where things had hit an all-time low? Hmm! What would you do? Jim took a leap of faith. And there were times where he felt like quitting. But through it all, and still today, he is the witness of modern day miracles on the meanest streets.

Now, "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" is considered a classic by some people. And not because it talks all about Jim, his wife, Carol, and what He did. This is about an awesome God who broke through, just like He did in the days of Moses, Elijah, David, the days we seem to think are over. He tells stories of people like Charles Finney, D.L. Moody, men without a college education, who stormed the gates for Jesus Christ!

Stepping out in faith, and trusting is all God asks us to do. Jim Cymbala did just that. He illustrates the power of prayer. And time after time, you don't see Superman tales. You see ordinary people in the service of an extraordinary God. That's what makes this special. God writes the story, and we live it out! That's awesome!!!

Cymbala's book more than anything is a call to prayer and earnest seeking of God. As a young man in the early 1970s he began pastoring the fledgling Brooklyn Tabernacle having had no formal training. Through his own brokenness and seeking God, he came to understand that God would bless the ministry and continue to bring people for them to minister to and introduce to Jesus if they would truly seek Him and not rely on their own devices or abilities.

As a result, the Tabernacle saw a great deal of growth and tremendous Christian ministry opportunities were opened to reach out to the people of Brooklyn and New York City as a whole. From the very beginning they made the cornerstone of their church the Tuesday evening prayer service during which they called to God and sought Him. Many extraordinary events occurred as a result and continue to happen today.

People who were once very closed towards Jesus come to true repentance and a real relationship with Him through this ministry. The Tuesday evening prayer ministry is so important that Cymbala will not accept speaking engagements if they keep him away from the prayer meeting more than one prayer meeting at in a row.
As a result of allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and direct them through seeking Him in prayer, they see lots of really cool stuff that could in no way be scripted.

Prayer is also an integral part of their Grammy award winning choir ministry with the weekly rehearsal incorporating at least 30 minutes of prayer to the practice.

Far from being a feel good type of book, Cymbala challenges the reader and today's churches to truly come before God and passionately seek Him in prayer and study of the Bible. He mentions various trends and how some churches try to cater to popular culture and make things cool and hip and while those things aren't bad in and of themselves, he emphasizes that it is a mistake to promote these flashy programs and neglect the ministry of prayer. Contrastingly, he points to the early church "These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer..." Acts 1:14 When believers and the church is in constant communion with God, He tends to work more actively and mightily.

I highly recommend this book as a reminder on the importance of prayer as well as a good high level overview of the history of the Brooklyn Tabernacle.

Do not start this series unless you intend to finish it. Do not read this book unless you want to be haunted by the characters for months to come. Francine Rivers' A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion Series #1) is hauntingly written, with powerful archetypal characters that will linger in your subconscious. Once you come to know them they will surface in your thoughts repeatedly to remind you of important lessons in Christian character.

Powerfully written, this first in a series of three works of historical/biblical fiction transports us to a time shortly after Christ's death. Hadassah is a young Hebraic Christian girl whose father knew Jesus during His time here on Earth. We first meet her during the fall of Jerusalem to the Roman armies. Losing her entire family during the siege and attack she finds herself taken hostage and eventually sold as a slave.

Throughout A Voice in the Wind we are able to watch Hadassah mature in her faith and come to trust in the Lord completely. The book chronicles the challenges she faces as she strives to love those she serves in a Christ-like way. The Roman family who owns her is immersed in the idolatry and widespread sin common in their society. Despite, and indeed because of this fact, Hadassah is driven to love them and serve them beyond her personal limits as she seeks to show them Christ's love relationally.

Her mistress Julia embodies the self-centered and morally decaying Roman society. Through her example we come to see that all types of sin have been with us ever since the fall, including modern `hot spots' such as abortion and homosexuality. At times one would think that the book was written in a modern setting due to the relevance of the issues dealt with throughout.

Julia's older brother Marcus is a Roman playboy, disaffected and empty, seeking fulfillment in all the wrong places. His emptiness draws him to Hadassah when he begins to see Christ's light shining within her. Rivers was a romance novelist prior to her conversion, and as Marcus is drawn to Hadassah we encounter some highly sensual scenes as he attempts to engage her physically. For those who prefer to avoid sensual, romantic novels, I can assure you that though Marcus is persistent Hadassah holds firm to her Christian values throughout. It is a delight to watch her placing God before anything else in her life, difficult though that may be.

I found myself challenged by Hadassah's integrity and seemingly never-ending love for those she served. As I watched her place her own needs and desires aside time and time again in order to serve I found myself challenged to examine my own performance in the role of servant-mother. Observing her walk with the Lord inflamed my desire to know Him intimately, and I sought to draw nearer to Him. Would that my light could shine as brightly as hers! Believers will come to love Hadassah as they are encouraged by her Christian example, strengthened in their faith, and challenged to go deeper - to give all.

Francine Rivers has developed a name for herself as a modern master of Christian fiction. I can see that her reputation is well deserved. While the characters can appear too archetypical - black or white, it is their clear struggles, weaknesses and strengths that make this novel a valuable tool for Christian growth. This tenth anniversary edition includes a new foreword, an introduction from the author and a book discussion guide. The discussion guide features probing questions for individual or group study of the characters' natures. I was, and remain strongly moved by their individual journeys; they continue to live on in my heart.

I just finished reading "A Voice in the Wind" by Francine Rivers. In many ways it was a disturbing read in that Rome in the first century was much like our world today. So much for the "good old days" huh! The challenges the main character overcame made me come face to face with the reality that even on my worst days, I am blessed. In the days that Hadessah lived in Rome every religion and thought was accepted and held in high esteem, EXCEPT for Christianity and Judaism. Does that sound familiar to anyone? The difference is that today, at least for now, in the United States the persecution meted out is humiliation or slander instead of facing literal lions in the coliseum.

When we watch the History channel on television and they show the coliseum we often think of the place as a place of games. IT WAS A PLACE OF SLAVERY AND DEATH! The blood thirst of the spectators held them prisoner as well as the gladiators and Christians. Most of the time the reality of the place never reaches our brain. God, forgive me!

My fear of offending or conflict has been hard to overcome. I know the Lord will be with me to stand for my beliefs to the end. This book has given me much to think about. The characters were interesting, complex, and infuriating. It is worth the time and energy to read and explore the deeper issues of life.
This is syndicated from Nan's Journey, and written by noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Littau).

If I had to guess, I would say I've read well over 1,000 books in my short 31 years on this earth. This book is by far the most captivating, engaging tome I have ever picked up. And speaking of picking it up - I didn't put it DOWN once I opened it. I read it on a Saturday morning, finished on a Sunday morning without even going to bed. I am not a huge fan of christian fiction because so much of it is pure drivvel, but this one will NOT dissapoint. Must read!

This story was utterly breath taking. It was sweet, exciting, and sad all at once. Hadassah is the true epitome of what a Christian should be. She is self-sacrificing, loving, humble and forgiving. Even in the face of death her faith never waivered. It also never waivered when she had to choose between her love for God and her love for Marcus.

Julia was one character that I grew to loath the more I read about her. She was spoiled, self-centered and uncompassionate. I couldn't stand the fact that Marcus catered to her every whim which is one of the reasons she became the person that she was.

Marcus did the unthinkable in ancient Rome. He fell in love with a Jewish Christian who was his sister's slave. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Marcus because in falling with Hadassah he went up a against a mighty force and that was God.

The ending of this novel was gripping and touching. I had tears in my eyes as Marcus realized what Julia had subjected Hadassah to. His reaction was heart gripping. I look forward to reading the second installment.

I would strongly recommend this book.

This book was extremely good. The characters were alive and vibrant. I received a good lesson about Rome and about Roman culture. Plus it was a good reminder about how our brothers and sisters were persecuted and tortured because of their love for our Lord.

Do not be afraid to purchase this book, and once you start reading this exciting adventure--well you will be as hooked as I was.