Christian Books

This book is excellent for whoever wants to get a good understanding of how to hear God and to understand whether they have a prophetic gift. It has been tremendously useful to me in understanding how God speaks, the protocols for giving prohecies and how to develop and nurture the gift of prophecy. Its a book I will read over and over again.

If there is one important question that will affect your entire destiny it is, "How do I hear the Voice of God?" Written in a style that it more a personal counseling session that literature, this book will bring comfort to a confused heart.

One of the most important question you can ask that will affect your entire destiny it is, "How do I hear the Voice of God?" Written in a style that it more a personal counseling session that literature, this book will bring comfort to a confused heart.

This is probably the best book for those who are new to the Prophetic. It does an excellent job of outlining the history and basics of the gift of Prophecy (and Prophetic Intercession), teaching fundamentals that are needed to operate in ministry, and to recieve prophetic words more appropriately. More important than the information it provides is the fact that it motivates you to minister prophetically, and addresses much of the fear we have when we begin to operate in that realm. This book was not only packed full of information and encouragement, but Cindy Jacobs does an excellent job of making it an effortless read. In fact, it would have been easy to read in one sitting, had I not been so engrossed in the learning that I had to put it down each chapter and think and pray about each section. Overall I greatly recommend it for beginners who are just learning, and even the more seasoned ministers that need an encouragement boost.

Even though I have not finished reading this book, I have found it to be most helpful to me in regards to my prophetic ministry. I recommend this book to anyone who desires to know and understand the prophetic.

Thank you,
Betty J. Harris

McCallum makes a wonderful presentation of the grace of God for all of us in Christ Jesus. The apostle Paul had his hands full just explaining how Christ fulfilled the law so that the works of sacrifices, holy days, and other procedural aspects of the law were no longer necessary in Christ.

Jesus never spoke of grace, but he demonstrated grace in his works. He told the woman that was taken in adultery that he did not condemn her, but to go and sin no more. The woman at the well also found grace in the eyes of our Lord. She happened to cross paths with Christ at the well and found so much satisfaction in Christ she left her waterpot at the well. Jesus could have railed on her for having five husbands and living in sin but he chose to present the remedy of his love. She became a flaming witness and pointed the entire town to Christ.

Jesus gave many parables regarding his return. At the second coming of Christ, Jesus will not be preaching grace but judging the church first and then the world. He said two shall be in the field; one shall be taken and one will be left. Jesus taught that those followers who are faithfully doing his will shall escape the tribulation and those who remain will have to endure it. Peter asked Jesus who he was talking to and Jesus responded with the parable of the steward. Those who do his will are blessed to enter the kingdom and those who are not shall be beaten with stripes in outer darkness. I wrote a book this year called Ready or Not, Here I Come to publish the gospel of the kingdom as preached by Christ. It's available on Amazon.com. Ready or Not, Here I Come Please do not deactivate this link. May grace and peace be multiplied to all of you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Take care. Steven A. Janda

Walking in Victory is a must read for any believer at any level of maturity. This book lays out some amazing truths from God's Word in a clear and easy to understand way. Mr. McCallum does an excellent job explaining how we can have victory day to day because as you will see in the book, Christ has already accomplished what we were never able to do. We have a new identity and learning about this new identity will change your life! This is also a great book to go through in a small group and study guides are available at [..].

Years ago, studying this book clarified key areas of the Christian life, helping me to finally get my own walk with God and ministry going. Victory lies in a believer's full acceptance before God based on Christ's atoning work on the cross. It's by understanding and focusing on this truth that Christians are able to develop lives of zeal, ministry effectiveness, and slow growth toward true holiness. Aside from the Gospel message itself, this concept, my identity in Christ, has been the most important lesson I've ever learned, and I haven't found a more sound explanation of it than in Walking in Victory. Now, I rely heavily on this book in mentoring students, and I'm able to see in them the fruit that is born from an informed and enthusiastic grace-focus.
The content matter, perfect for the scholar or new convert, is masterfully presented and extremely useful. McCallum skillfully mixes careful Biblical exposition and interpretation with down-to-earth application and insightful observations of human nature to create a work that is both provocative and practical.
I highly recommend this book to all believers who want to begin their walks with God on the right foot, who wish to deepen their appreciation of their identity in Christ, and who seek to help ground others in the firm foundation of grace.

I really like this author's body of work. I've read all his non-fiction. He's very objective and can sound a little bit like notes from a lecture. But it is also emotionally productive, without the bells and whistles, unlike many Christian authors, and has genuine feeling and vulerability to appeal to anyone's subjective sensibilities. This book is my favorite from this author. He wrote that walking with God is about tranformation by the Spirit, not a change of behavior. The author makes points about principles and leaves the reader in charge of how to purpose God based on teachings from the Bible. This message is biblical and encouraging to anyone who has accepted Christ but doesn't know what to do next. This book is not a self-help book. It's not a method plan. Many Christians love the book of Romans and should really take a look at this book as extracurricular. This book is not a substitute for reading the Bible but a companion, conversation piece, the result of the word of God in the author's live - which the author states could happen to anyone who wants a personal relationship with God through Christ.

If you've never understood God's acceptance and grace fully, this is a book you would definitely benefit from! McCallum obviously put a lot of thought into how he could make these deep truths easier to understand and apply. Personally, I love the tables sprinkled throughout this book. They do so much to make things clearer, and are a great resource for group bible studies!!

Some of the many tables found in this book:
<> Comparing Biblical and Modern Love
<> How the Means of Growth (Prayer, Word, Fellowship, Ministry) work together and affect one another.
<> Our Old Self (in Adam) vs. Our New Self (in Christ)
<> Living under the Law vs. Living in Grace

The book is very inspiring and useful especially to those who are at the crossroads of their lives. It's a life-giving book and brings you closer to God. In fact, a friend who's in her challenging stage in her life is using this book.

This book presented itself to me when I was deep into a project and just needed some factual answers. It's only 94 pages. I thought I could read it very quickly.

Ha.

It did give me answers, but it wasn't a quick read. It was the kind of book that had me reading a page, then pacing the floor, waiting for the million thoughts it excited to settle down so I could read the next. This went on for a week. And then I read it again, and read it out loud to friends. The cheap copy I bought is already wearing out.

What's it about? Simply, it's about the ancient practices of the Desert Fathers, of solitude, silence and prayer, how and why they came about, why they are needed now, and how they can be made to work in our crowded, noisy, distinctly non-contemplative lives.

The thing that first got my attention, was Nouwen's description of the problem of worldliness in the church, our tendency to think the way everybody else thinks. Worldliness, not simply in the way we've all come to see it, drinking and carousing, that sort of thing. He talks about the sneakier form, the kind that creeps in without our noticing, that has us convinced that what makes us valuable, what makes us worthwhile, is what we own, what we have accomplished, and what people think of us. Take those away and we have no reason to exist.

Think what that does to us. Think how it drives our choices, how it colors our view of others.

That's what began to get my attention - but I knew the book would be precious to me when I read the story of St. Anthony, who after some twenty years of practicing the disciplines of solitude, silence and prayer was finally able to pray genuinely - talking to God as himself, not the person he thought or wished or hoped to be. When he rejoined humanity, his very presence was healing to people because at last he could look at them with clean eyes, he could really see them as they were, not as accessories to his own self esteem.

Can you imagine how that way of being would change everything?

Buy this book. If you can, get a good strong copy. It's going to have to hold up to much reading.

This book is about how people who are engaged in active work to help others also need to spend time in prayer with God so that they can be more peaceful and more in touch with who they are and who they need to be.

This is a book that should be required reading in highschool or maybe earlier.

Had I previously investigated the author and the content, I wouldn't have purchased WOTH. Nouwen draws heavily from the "Desert Fathers," a group of hermits who lived in a Middle Eastern wilderness during the Middle Ages. They based their philsophy and practice of spirituality not only on the Bible (which is why I awarded two stars instead of one) but from eastern mysticism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. If you want to learn more about the beliefs of these mystics, it's an excellent sourcebook. As a reformational Christian, there wasn't much in this book I can recommend to those seeking to know the God of the Bible.

I have read this book and still page through it very often. The book is an excellent reminder for me as I get caught up in my day to day challenges that things like family, friends and just appreciating the little things in life is what really matters.

The 'reader' who has now written two negative reviews about this book and one of its authors, Todd Montgomery has some serious issues. You obviously do not know these people at all. I feel sorry for you. Life is too short to be so hateful and negative.

We all need reminders of why we're here and what's good in the world. You never know from where those reminders will come, but for me, it came from this beautiful book. Thanks to Susan and Todd Montgomery for sharing and providing a window to the world in which we live, but don't always see and appreciate.

With beautiful pictures and powerful prose, this is a truly inspirational book. It encourages us to refocus, reflect, and remember. It is a great book to share with family and friends.

Todd Montgomery is an inspirational man. On Sept. 11th I happened to be at ground zero trapped in a building praying that I would live another day. Outside, smoke, death, and distruction changed the world forever. As a CLIENT of Todd, I had the opportunity to call him for support. On the phone at his kitchen table Todd took the time to spread a map out of lower Manhattan and strategically worked with me to figure out the best possible escape for all of us. Fortunately I made it, however six of my co-workers did not. Regarding the recently posted negative review and attack on Todd Montgomery, apparently you have forgotton about 9-11 and What Really Matters Now. Get a clue.

I found this book to be a pleasant surprise. In the wake of Sept. 11th, many of us have changed our perspectives on the world and what truly matters. Todd and Susan Montgomery have taken a very thoughtful and heartfelt look at what really matters most, our friends and family. I personally celebrated the pictures used in this book. Some made me laugh, some made me cry, but above all they made me think. The Montgomery's have contributed to our national perspective and truly aided in the post-911 healing process. Todd and Susan - thank you!! I'm sure you are both wonderful people, and I'd welcome the chance to say so in person.

I LOVED this book! After reading the first I rushed to the store to get the whole series. This is a great series for girls who love God and love sappy cute romantic stuff. I would def recomend the whole series.. I think I finished them all in like 2 weeks.

I enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the rest of them in this series. I very much like Elizabeth and I admire her strenghth and courage to move so far away and to change her lifestyle in such drastic ways. She gave me hope as I too have recently moved far from friends and family and at times it can be so lonely and tough. This book not only had hope and courage and love -- it also had elements of humor and even horror (at least the mouse on the chair made me gasp!!!).

I absolutely loved this novel.

I am a Christian, and I enjoy Janette Oke's books dearly. They are so wonderfully written--such wonderfully story lines, great details, great plots, and great faith in God.

I have read many of her novels, but I must say this one was my favorite. Something about this wonderful story made me just couldn't put it down! I found myself wanted to read it until I finished.

The story is wonderful, with Elizabeth's heart for teaching and her courage to moving to the west, and I love that is a love story at the same time. And her faith in God is so wonderful as well...

It's so neat cause when I read Janette's books, I don't just read a great story, but I learn something at the same time---great principles to apply to life - every time

If you want to read a great story (with no worries if younger readers want to read it) I truly recommend this story!

I loved it!!!!!!!! And you will too.

This is my second favorite Janette Oke book. (My first is A Gown of Spanish Lace.)I am currently rereading it for about the tenth time and once again falling in love with all the characters.
It is about a somewhat pampered and sheltered young woman named Elizabeth who decides to accept a teaching position in western Canada where life is backward compared to her hometown.
She encounters a few obstacles with courage and spunk. She adores her students and is an awesome teacher and role model.
She is determined not to marry right away, but when an attractive Mountie comes into her life, her mind changes. Mine would too if I met someone like Wynn! Jannette Oke has good taste in men. :) I highly recommend the entire Canadian West Series for females ages 15 and up. I especially love the first 2 of the series. It is easy to fall in love with both the characters and Canada.
In order to really enjoy an Oke book you really have to read it slowly. So if you don't have the time and patience to spend a few days quietly reading a book, this isn't for you.I often have a hard time settling down for the first chapter or two of her novels since they are slowpaced, but then I am able to really get into the story and am glad I decided to slow down and smell the roses.
I hope someday Hallmark (or anyone else)makes this book into a movie.

When Oke Engages My Heart, by Sara Larsen

Anyone that likes a quiet, sweet story about the experiences, joys, and sorrows of life from the perspective of a woman will love "When Calls the Heart" by Janette Oke. Oke effectively engages us and connects us to her protagonist by using strong characterization, sensory details, diction, and appeals to emotion.
On the first page of the novel, Elizabeth thinks to herself. "And how are you this delightful spring morning? I asked myself. Why, I am just fine, thank you, I silently answered, and then almost blushed as I quickly looked around for fear that someone might be able to read my thoughts." This is one of the first glimpses we get into the life of our protagonist. By developing the thoughts of her character and letting us into her brain, Oke has quickly helped us understand the personality of her character, and thus we become involved with the character on a more personal level. By connecting us to her character, Oke can then communicate messages, emotions, or ideas to us through her protagonist.
The powerful sensory details used by Oke when Elizabeth is spending her first night out in the Wilderness allow us to almost see what our protagonist sees and smell what our protagonist smells, thus inviting our sympathy and involvement. "...the tall grass had recently been cut but had been left to lie, browning where it fell. It smelled musty and insects buzzed busily about it...the riotous colors flamed out over the sky in shades that I had no words to describe..." (73) We get a glimpse into the newness of Elizabeth's experience by reading these sentences and can vividly picture the scene before her. Because of Oke's use of imagery, we feel as though we are experiencing Elizabeth's world because we have a detailed description of what her world is like, which is essential because then Oke is able to get us to feel what she wants us to feel.
Oke lets us know the terror that Elizabeth feels when she hears a sound that she's never heard before, and we become further engaged in the story because we can almost hear these sounds for ourselves and feel the heat on our faces because of the details used. "A wolf pack!...They had smelled new blood and were moving in for the kill...the sharp stubble of the grass and weeds bit into the palms of my hands, but I crawled on. Another howl pierced the night...the flames were robust now...I continued to feed the fire and huddle over it, coughing and crying into the woodsmoke." (74) We can imagine what is happening, almost feel the thorns in our own hands, and we also feel the same fear that Elizabeth does. Oke entices us, by using such imagery, to experience this with Elizabeth, to take an active part in the story and connect with her protagonist.
On the fourth page of the novel, Oke's carefully-chosen words effectively illustrate her characters when Elizabeth is describing her family; we are invited to see these characters as she sees them, thus aligning our point of view with our protagonist's. She uses words like "flighty one," "adventure-seeker," "the romantic," "silliness," "dainty," "pretty," "plenty of male attention," and "never enough" to describe her sister Julie. By using four rather short sentences with well-chosen words, Oke develops a single character, letting us get personally involved with her description. It is easy to paint in our minds an accurate, though unique, picture of Julie. But again, we see these characters through the eyes of Elizabeth, and Oke can then get her message across to us by using her characters--characters that we now view in the way she wants us to view them.
Oke superbly uses diction to get us involved in Elizabeth's dilemma with the school stove, and just by reading these words we understand how she feels about herself and how she feels about her friend, Wynn Delaney. When Wynn Delaney walks in, we read words like "gasp," "choke," "embarrassment," "self-conscious," and "predicament," causing us to feel Elizabeth's humiliation. Words we read about Wynn Delaney include "benefactor," "save," "purposefully," and "friendship," (133) making it clear that Elizabeth was appreciative of Wynn's help. Oke strategically uses these words to cause us to subconsciously feel the same way that Elizabeth does; thus we see the following events from Elizabeth's point of view, which is Oke's objective, because then we become attached to our protagonist and sympathize with her feelings when things go wrong for her.
Oke gets us emotionally involved when Elizabeth is about to return home and leave behind the world she has come to love. She pauses when she hears her name. "A hand was placed on my shoulder, and through the mist in my eyes I saw a red-coated chest and I looked up into the face of Wynn Delaney. His eyes looked troubled as they gazed deeply into mine." (219) By this point in the story we have a firm understanding of Elizabeth's confusion about her relationship to Wynn, and we also know how reluctant she is to return home because we, too, have come to love this wilderness through Elizabeth's experiences. Oke now effectively touches our emotions, but is only able to do so because throughout the story we have come to know, experience, and love her characters, which she has effectively done through characterization, sensory details, and diction. Now that Oke has fully and completely engaged us with the story and with her protagonist, she gives us one last gift of connecting with our emotions. We leave the book feeling our hearts touched in some way.
Oke does an excellent job of connecting us to her protagonist and engaging each of her readers, no matter what background they have. If you want to be left with a happy feeling and you enjoy these kinds of books, you will love "When Calls the Heart."

This is such an easy read! I found it fascinating to learn that the Bible has so much scrpiture on money and how to spend, save, and tithe! It was required for pre-marraige counseling, and it offers examples, solutions, and comparisons between what society deems appropriate and what the Bible states! I really enjoyed it, and it provides practical solutions you can implement into your life!

This book came to my attention through a class told by Crown Financial. I have recommended "Your Money Counts" to numerous people and purchased a copy for my son. It is an excellent tool in learning how to budget and be a good steward of the money we possess.

This is a great book. It really doesn't tell you anything you don't already know, but it reminds us of where we are and what we should be doing as stewards of His belongings. I am a Financial Planner and I give it to my clients as gifts and they love it !

This is a fantastic book. It's easy and enjoyable to read. It tells you all those common sense things about money that we often lose sight of in this world's culture of materialism and 'gotta have it now' attitudes. I've read it multiple times and it just keeps driving home those truths you need to be reminded of like figuring out contentment, the value to giving and saving, etc.

I teach a seminar at our church on the Biblical approach to managing one's finances, and I use this book as a starting point. My students love it (one said she needs to go back and "marinade" in each chapter. Another pointed out that the while the title is "Your Money Counts", what he got from the book is "Y our Money Counts.") The bottom-line is that this book is an easy-read and makes it clear why God cares about our money matters, and it is equally clear how to apply those principles to succeed financially. I teach it once a year, and so far 90 students would vouch that what this book teaches works!

The Peifer family's work in Africa is tremendously inspiring, and Steve's record of their journey, which is both poignant and funny, really makes you feel like a friend from the start.

Having seen Steve Peifer on CNN Heroes Awards, and You Tube videos, I was additionally inspired by his book. It's just like reading your own personal emails from him. While there is the occasional typo,it's not preachy or pretentious,and his deep devotion to his family,faith and ministry are awesome. He's got a great sense of humor which must really help him out in the midst of struggles of real life in Kenya. I hope & pray his work will continue to grow, especially in light of recent turmoil. If you're not expecting a novel then you won't be disappointed in his style, and hopefully rewarded by inspiration leading to action.

An amazing, honest, heartfelt and humorous collection of email letters written by Steve who lives and works with his family at Rift Valley Academy in Kenya, Africa. From adjusting to life in Africa to adopting 2 African children, you will not only gain a glimpse of the hardships many Kenyans face but also a compassion for the people like Steve who are doing their best to help make a better life for the children in Kenya. A must read for anyone who wants to know what life as a missionary is like or wants to know how their financial contribution CAN make a difference.

I read this book from cover to cover while flying home after hearing Steve speak. Steve is a wonderful story teller - I laughed and I cried when I read this book. I'm going to write on the inside of the cover "Read this and then send it to someone else, because this book is the kind that has to be shared". And then I'm going to send it on to someone else that I'm sure will love the book as much as I did.

I know this family personally and worked with them at Rift Valley Academy. They are very down-to-earth people and it was fun to revisit the names and places where I lived through the pages of this wonderful book. They are inspiring and set an example of following God step by step in obedience. The anecdotes are hysterical, nearly as funny as Steve himself. You will find yourself laughing out loud! The descriptions of the problems in Kenya, the lives of missionaries and their kids and the questions they raise for Steve and his family are honest and thought-provoking. A very meaningful read and a way to put a face with the myriad of problems facing Africa today.

This is a terrific book with wonderful ideas on how to reach out to your community! The author encourages low-to-no-pressure ways to share your love of Christ with your neighborhood. It is an encouraging read that inspires you to get out and do good! I recommend this book to anyone interested in changing the world, one cup of coffee at a time.

As the author I want to share my thoughts on this book...

When it comes to being 'conductors' of the love of God there is no end to what can happen when God's Spirit shows up. He causes his people to fall in love with others. That love brings us each to a place of availability to God in reaching out to our surrounding community. This upward spiral widens until we are in touch with larger numbers of people. We end up loving great numbers of people in more profoundly touching ways - all because God grabbed us by the collar to begin with and wouldn't let us go until we were willing to express the love we received out to others. Therein lies the great joy of the life of Christ followers - greater fulfillment in losing than in winning - greater glory in coming in last than in coming in at a place perceived to be the top of the dog pile.
This book helps us to get this notion straight - we are the ones who find glory in coming in last. And it helps us set up a lifestyle of losing in a strategic way over and over by a multitude of serving projects that are proven to work. All the projects are easy and highly doable.

Try them and see. You may become a voice for serving in your neck of the woods as well!

Steve Sjogren

I'd like too much, so I showed to my friend and he got it from me.

I had another flash drive for 3 yrs and it literally broke down. Kingston is great! It has more memory and very easy to use. Just put it into the USB drive and open. I am storing all kinds of documents for each project I am working on.

I love it!

Share your love, and show everyone a little bit of Christ! You may be the only kind touch a person receives, and it could be something that opens doors to a different perspective on life. Jesus is an example we should all follow, and this book shows simple ways of performing tasks that will brighten the day of strangers, who will be curious as to why you're doing it. Break the ice with a bottle of water, a smile and a bit of happiness. Let Jesus' light shine!

Finally Ms Antinou is back with her fantastic Marketplace series. Initially I was uncertain that I would like this book due to the fact that it was a series of short stories rather than a complete novel. However, the individual short stories are held together by a plot line dominated by a political battle within the Marketplace that defines it's very essence. This subplot helps maintain coherence and moves the novel along very well.

The only other fault that you may notice is that some of the references are dated (such as describing the coming return of Hong Kong to China). But nothing serious enough to ruin the enjoyment of well written prose.

For those readers that fell in love with the BDSM classic, the Story of O, there has finally come a series that treats BDSM as more than just a cheap trick to sell poorly written porn. This book is well written, has identifiable characters and an interesting premise. Lara Antinou is a frequent guest at many BDSM conferences. I believe that her premise taps into the desire of many of BDSM scene (whether they go the events or just dream at home) that there is a group of people out there that take the leather scene a little more seriously than your average S&M aficionado. It is just a little exciting to think that if you can shine as a truly powerful Master or well behaved slave, that you may be allowed into a special clique of true devotees.

In addition to her well conceived premise, the characters in the book are well developed and interesting to read about. And while you may or may not identify with the disciplined Chris Parker or the self indulgent Michael, they sure would be a lot of fun to meet in the proper setting.

Just one note of caution, if you are not comfortable with male bisexuality then you may not enjoy this book. Otherwise I think that you find it is a welcome break from aggressive, badly written fare that passes for BDSM novels.

Laura Antoniou had a great idea: her Marketplace series was so popular and fans wanted so much more, why not continue the story but also allow others to create their own Marketplace pieces? The result is the wonderful story of the Marketplace worldwide meeting with the intriguing Kris Parker as the main character. We also meet older slaves, trainers, and owners, and those somewhere in between at the Asia meeting. Not only do we find out more about Kris Parker but we also get the wonderfully varied works of sevearl well-known and fairly new erotica authors other than Antoniou. Almost every taste and every orientation and every combination is covered as we go from formal slavery in Asia and England to the new age of California and the proper victorian style households. I enjoyed it greatly; only wished I could have written a story for it too.

The Academy: Tales of the Marketplace is set in Japan. We find Chris Parker, among other reader favourites, at the Marketplace's annual gathering, The Academy. Chris is to present a proposal that may cause some waves within the organization. Michael LaGuardia has accompanied Chris to this annual event and we watch him as he continues to struggle to become a Trainer. Of course, the book is filled with all the wonders of The Marketplace, such as pony and dog slaves, pleasure slaves, and other specialty slaves.

If you ever wanted to know about Parker, this book is definitely for you. We learn quite a bit more about how Parker came to be as well as a few other interesting bits about other Marketplace favourites. I couldn't put the book down (but then again, I couldn't do it with the first three either). At first, Parker wasn't my main focus, but by the time I reached The Trainer, I was hooked. I needed to know more and was in agony until I found that a fourth novel was coming out, The Academy. I prayed that I would finally be put out of my pleasant misery with more tidbits about Parker. My begging was answered.

As an interesting twist, Antoniou has invited authors Karen Taylor, david stein, M. Christian, Cecelia Tan, and Michael Hernandez to contribute a series of short stories. Each story is it's own, but blends nicely and gives us more glimpses of The Marketplace.

My only disappointment was Michael's role in the novel. When Anderson reveals to Parker what she feels Michael's most likely outcome would be. I laughed, thinking it was surely a joke. But when I saw her prediction played out in a few very short pages, I was very let down...cheated. I didn't like Michael at the beginning, but I grew to like him, even started following him more closely. I felt my time invested in him was a waste.

Lifting my spirits at the end was a glimpse of Antoniou's next book, The Reunion. Once again, I feel anxious. Must have Parker.

This book is a common type in the science fiction area where guest authors add stories on a theme to a skeleton set by the main author. Not only does this require strong co-authors but a strong and skilled main author which role is filled admirably by Laura Antoniou.
The Academy its self is a meeting of trainers with slaves that are good enough that their owners want to show them off. While there is good erotica here the main plot centers on Chris and his goal of being a slave and Anderson's sale of him. The other major plot concerns his proposal to rate trainers and only give full rating to those who have served as slaves under a master trainer for at least two years. Michael from The Trainer is still around and Chris has improved him to the extent that he appears human and has started to understand service; in fact he gets an award as "most popular with men women and sled dogs".
Unlike some standard erotic fiction these books by Laura Antoniou have plots, humor and good character development with interesting characters.

This book was awesome. I loved the way differnet writers did different stories and then Laura worked her magic to weave them all together. I could not put it down. I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone.

With Allah's Fire, Roper and Holton have delivered a novel chock-full of non-stop action and suspense. The story begins by rapidly alternating between sisters Julie and Liz in Beirut, Cooper on the Ivory Coast, and the terrorists planning an attack that will rock all of their lives and test their faith. The paths of each of these individuals are set on a collision course when Julie is kidnapped after barely surviving the terror attack that firebombs a World Bank meeting and kills her husband. Her sister Liz refuses to give up the hope that Julie somehow survived. Cooper has scars of his own, having recently recovered from injuries sustained by a car bomb that sent him to the States. Cooper's team is sent to investigate the bombing in Lebanon and the threat of a new, untraceable explosive. The clock is ticking for Julie -- will Cooper and Liz be able to rescue her in time, and thwart the terrorists' plans?
I have to say -- doesn't this book have a fantastic cover? I love it, and it does a very classy, smart job of conveying the action-packed, adrenaline laced feel of the novel. I also have to add that the editing of this collaborative effort was done extremely well -- Roper was quoted as saying that she wrote the female point of view sections, and Holton the male pov -- and both are seamlessly blended. Holton's military background lends this story an genuine, realistic feel, and adds authenticity to the interaction and relationships between the members of Task Force Valor.
This book is a stellar beginning to what promises to be a fantastic series. The authors do an incredible job of exploring the theme of "faith under fire," and how individuals cope with real questions and struggles about their faith and belief in a good and just God in the midst of horrific, stressful circumstances. If you enjoyed Dee Henderson's Uncommon Heroes series, pick this novel up. I only wish I didn't have to wait until Spring 2007 for the sequel.

My life right now doesn't leave much room for recreational reading (even though I love to read), but I started this book and couldn't let it alone until I finished. Excellently portrayed military action intersperses with compassionate portrayal of tough issues pervasive to the Middle East. The relationships between the characters are realistic and thoroughly enjoyable. And the insight into the terrorist mindset is quite chilling. Great start to a new series.

This is my favorite of all of Gayle Roper's works, which is saying something because all her books are excellent. Shortly after finishing this book, news reports exposed real plots frighteningly similar to what had been written. It is an exciting book and one that would appeal to both Christian readers and non-Christians alike. I recommended it to my husband, which says it all, since in 25 years of marriage we've only agreed on a handful of books. I would highly recommend Allah's Fire.

ALLAH'S FIRE transports you to Panama City, Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, and Beirut, Lebanon - all in the first three chapters! This military suspense novel has something for everyone. Non-fiction author and first time novelist, Chuck Holton teams with prolific author, Gayle Roper to write an enthralling story of an Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit (headed by Master Sergeant John Cooper) which travels the globe defusing explosives used in warfare.

In the first of a three-book series, John Cooper's EOD team is sent to Beirut after tragedy strikes their unit in the form of an unknown and deadly explosive device, following an otherwise successful mission. A suicide bomber devastates a hotel in the heart of Beirut utilising the same device and a new terrorist organisation, Ansar Inshallah, is implicated. At a function at the hotel with her Arabic husband, American Julie Assan disappears and her journalist sister, Liz Fairchild begins her own mission to locate her sister.

Familiar with Beirut having spent her childhood there, Liz is on assignment, investigating the condition of Palestinian women in the Sainiq Refugee Camp on the outskirts of Beirut. With her sister's disappearance she returns to the camp in search of clues, and instead finds death and terror. The storylines converge and John and Liz clash over his need to maintain the tenuous military and political stability in Lebanon, and Liz's desire to launch a rescue mission for Julie in the hope she is still alive.

While initially the writing style is erratic as the location and characters change with each chapter, once that distraction is overcome readers can settle in and enjoy this intense and exciting ride. The military and weapons information is detailed and authentic, with Chuck Holton previously serving as an Airbourne Ranger for the United States Army and flying helicopters for the National Guard prior to commencing his writing career. The relationship between John and Liz is well developed, yet does not overpower the suspense and action of the story.

The remaining books will be written solely by Chuck Holton and the first sequel, to be released early in 2007, will revolve around Staff Sergeant "Rip" Rubio, a member of John's EOD team.

Liz and her sister Julie are two Americans that live in Lebanon. When the building that Julie was attending a party at is destroyed by a bomb, Liz goes on a mission to find her after finding evidence that she may still be alive. Meanwhile John is a member of a special ops team sent to Beruit to find Palestinian extremists who have discovered a new way to threaten terror in the region. John and Liz's lives intertwine as they try to find Julie and prevent the terrorists from instigating more fear into the lives of the people there. The story is non stop action throughout, an edge of your seat reality read.

While reading this book, I felt like I was watching the evening news. Everything seemed so real and action packed. The situations the characters got themselves in could be ripped right out of the headlines. At first John's story felt a little boring to me with all the military talk and I wanted to get back to Liz's and Julie's story. However as I got more into the book, I enjoyed reading from both angles. I thought it was very interesting learning more about the Arab and Muslim culture. Many Americans don't really understand the religion and get only a one sided view on it. By explaining customs and rituals, the reader is able to have a better understanding of that side of the world. I also liked how the explanation of the way women are viewed in that world. As westerners, it's hard to understand why women would allow men to treat them the way they do in Arab countries. I appreciated that while Liz is an American, her character is used to the customs of the country because she grew up there. She does not act like a fish out of water or have scenes displaying ignorance. This book is recommended for those who like action stories, stories that could have happened, or interested in what life is like in the Middle East.