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Unified by Tim Scott, Trey Gowdy
If you are looking for a book about politics or political views, this is not the book for you. If, however, you are looking for a book that will provide insight and hope for an America less divided along racial lines, this is exactly the book for you.
These two high-profile politicians are disarmingly down-to-earth in this co-written book that feels more like an unhurried conversation with two extraordinary human beings. The book alternates between Tim and Trey as they each tell their perspectives and perceptions of the same events. The story of the way their relationship progressed from friendship to brotherhood is beautifully illustrative of what is possible when people begin from the common ground between them rather than overemphasizing their differences. This theme is one that they both thread throughout the book, and the hope they have for America to heal its wounds is reassuring in a time when the media and much of academia give a bleak outlook for the future. Both Tim and Trey are open and candid about their deep emotions about the deadly shooting at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston on June 17, 2015, and both are clear about how they relied on their Christian faith as they dealt with the tragic aftermath of such an ugly, racially-motivated crime. Their words are honest, heartfelt, and quotable as two men who work side-by-side to bring people together in personal and practical ways. As someone who is the white wife of a black husband, and as someone who cares deeply about race relations in the country I love so much, I highly recommend this book!
As One Devil to Another by Richard Platt
As a lifelong fan of C.S. Lewis, I looked forward with great anticipation to this book that was billed as, "A fiendish correspondence in the tradition of C. S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters." Perhaps my anticipation was so great that it set me up for disappointment, I'm not sure, but I did not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped. I think it is always difficult for an author, no matter how talented, to carry forward a story begun by another, much-loved author because the comparisons are inevitable and the chance for disappointment is high.
This story is indeed "in the tradition of" The Screwtape Letters, but, for me, the similarities end there. I think Richard Platt does an admirable job of paying tribute to C. S. Lewis and his work, but I cannot put it on par with the brilliance of the original.
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The Tehran Initiative by Joel C. Rosenberg
The Tehran Initiative reads with the intensity and suspense of an episode of 24! This is the second book in Joel Rosenberg's series about the Twelfth Imam, the prophesied Islamic messiah. This riveting story follows the harrowing travels of David Shirazi, an American CIA operative of Iranian descent who is working deep inside Iran to thwart the efforts of the rising leader of a new Islamic Caliphate that is sweeping the Middle East. Shirazi is not only travelling the world to heroically protect his beloved United States of America and the people he loves, but he is travelling a personal journey of choosing where he will ultimately place his faith. Joel Rosenberg also takes us behind the scenes in the terrorists' plot and intersperses their actions in real time with the story of the American efforts to stop them. To call this book a page-turner is a tremendous understatement!
I would recommend reading The Twelfth Imam first if you can. Although I had not read the first book, I thoroughly enjoyed The Tehran Initiative and was able to pick up the threads of the story with no problem, but I think having the background of the first story would only heighten your understanding of the characters and the background of the overall story. I have long been a fan of Joel Rosenberg, who is an excellent writer. His ability to pace a story, and to seamlessly combine his deep knowledge of the Middle East and the cultural, religious and political landscape with his ability to create rich characters makes his books feel incredibly real. His are fictional stories that are based on real situations that could be right out of the morning's headlines. Reading Rosenberg's books is incredibly informative as well as enjoyable because of his life experience in this part of the world. I have a much better understanding of world news after reading his books. I highly recommend this book and anything else Joel C. Rosenberg has written!
Learn more about Joel C. Rosenberg at the following websites:
www.joelrosenberg.com
www.joshuafund.net
www.epicenterconference.com
Hear the author describe this book in his own words! His passion is contagious!!
Tyndale House Publishers has graciously provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of giving an
honest review which is my own opinion.
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Inside Threat by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn
The fourth book in a series of thrillers by Elam and Yohn,
Inside Threat opens with American hero, Riley Covington back on the football field, but wondering if he is where he belongs and trying to forget the woman he loves but can't have, Khadi Faroughi. Khadi too is questioning the direction of her own life and trying to forget Riley. Before either one of them can fully answer these questions, their lives are violently interrupted by a heinous attack that will put them both in jeopardy. Set against the backdrop of terrorism and our war against those who would do us harm, this is a story of faith and sacrifice, heroism and love, of God and His people that will leave you hoping that we really do have people like Riley Covington and his friends looking out for us in these dangerous times.
I had read the first book in the series (
Monday Night Jihad), but not the other two (
Blown Coverage and
Black-Out). I found that while the books are definitely a series, I was able to enjoy
Inside Threat even without reading the two books in between. As a football fan, I could really appreciate how much inside-the-huddle perspective Jason Elam (former placekicker for the Denver Broncos) brought to Riley Covington's character. The story moves from scene to scene, from watching Riley, to the efforts of his friends at the counterterrorism unit he was once a part of, to Khadi working security for a powerful U.S. senator, to the terrorists plotting the attack. The suspense builds rapidly and draws you in to the life and death decisions and split second timing of the team trying to stop the terrorists. One of my favorite things about this book is that the Christian faith of the believers in the story is portrayed with honesty and realism. They ask real questions and struggle with real issues, sometimes they even blow it and do the wrong thing. No cookie cutter, paper-doll caricatures of faith here, but real, earnest, fallible followers of Christ who live to serve Him as best they know how.
Tyndale House Publishers has graciously provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of giving an honest review which is my own opinion.
