DON'T LEAVE ME BY JAMES SCOTT BELL

DON'T LEAVE ME by JAMES SCOTT BELL is a suspense novel that I found hard to put down!
Chuck Samson is trying to put his life back together after his horrific experiences in Afghanistan, where he served as navy chaplain, and the death of his wife, Julia, in a car accident.
Chuck has a job as a school teacher, which he finds most fulfilling, and he is responsible for his younger brother, Stan, who has special needs. 
Everything changes when a man Chuck calls the "Mad Russian" deliberately causes him to slam into his car and then pulls a knife on him.
His life gets really complicated when his house burns down and he is suspected, not only of of manufacturing amphetamines, but also of committing murder!
Things are not at all as they seem and Chuck is devastated when he finds out the truth behind all that he goes through. Chuck has always had to be the brave one, the one with the answers to life's problems for his brother, the children in his class and those he ministered to in the army, but he is at a total loss as to why all these things are happening to him. He is gradually drawn back to the God he hasn't spoken to since his wife's death seven months ago.
It is a story of betrayal, the unfairness of life, and greed, as opposed to simple trust and tremendous courage. For example, we see how Stan, the fearful one, overcomes fear when his brother's life is in danger. The relationships between the characters are convincing and the plot is well worked out. It is an excellent read and I can highly recommend it.




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CONGO DAWN BY JEANETTE WINDLE

CONGO DAWN by JEANETTE WINDLE is a rivetting suspense novel which is set in the Congo in the Ituri rainforest area. We see unbridled horror, greed and corruption on the one hand, as opposed to Christian love, compassion and forgiveness on the other.
Trevor Mulroney is horrified to find that the interpreter he has hired as part of his security team, Chris R. Duncan, is in fact a woman. Robin, as she is called, is an ex marine who was deployed in Afghanistan. It is there that she knew Michael Stewart, who she is surprised to meet again in the Congo. Michael, who is now a qualified doctor, was a medical orderly in Afghanistan and she blames him for her brother's death. They haven't seen one another for five years, and whilst Michael is still a committed Christian who lives out his faith, Robin has lost her childhood faith and feels very far from God. It is Michael's sister Miriam, with her loving ministry, and the danger that Robin finds herself in, that cause her to draw close to the Lord once again.
While it doesn't take long for Michael and Robin to uncover the truth about what happened that dreadful day in Afghanistan, it takes longer for them to uncover the truth about what really is happening in the Ituri rainforest, what really happened to the local population and why the mine workers are being held as prisoners.
The Are Solutions operatives are going to be well paid for this mission which is very important for Mulroney, who stands to lose everything if it fails. The mine has been sabotaged by the man they call Jini, the ghost, and these soldiers, together with some of President Wamba's men, are hunting him like an animal.
Robin is a dedicated operative and does her job well, but this assignment is especially important to her as her sister's child of four needs expensive surgery in order to survive. Little Kristi is the only person that Robin has allowed herself to love and she wants to help by paying for her operation.
We see how Robin learns that God is able to supply His children's needs without her help, and we see her great bravery and compassion for others when put to the test.
The characters are well portrayed, the setting is beautifully described and the story is full of biblical truth. There is much food for thought in this novel and I can highly recommend it.


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THE MEETING PLACE BY JANETTE OKE & T. DAVIS BUNN

THE MEETING PLACE by JANETTE OKE and T. DAVIS BUNN is a story of reconciliation, forgiveness, and overcoming heartache through faith in God and His goodness.
Catherine Price and Louise Belleveau are two young girls from neighbouring villages in Acadia, one of them English and the other French, whose friendship and desire to study the Scriptures and have a living relationship with the Lord, not only affects their lives but the lives of their husbands, families and communities.
The French village of Minas consists of a community of Huguenots who left France due to religious persecution. They are hard working and have no desire to fight, either for France or for England. The English are afraid of the alarmingly large number of Frenchmen in Acadia, and have the misguided idea that they will join with the Indians to fight against them. This is why the French have been ordered by the British to sign a declaration of allegiance to the British throne, promising to fight on the British side in any war. This they refuse to do.
Catherine marries Andrew Harrow, a captain in the British regiment, and they live in the village of Fort Edward. On the same day Louise marries Henri Robichaud. The women's friendship grows in leaps and bounds and they meet regularly in a beautiful clearing. Catherine, who has learnt some French, takes out her grammar book and studies it throughout the winter in order to be able to better communicate with her friend. Both women are open with their husbands about their meetings and their friendships, not wanting to go against their husbands' wishes, and this leads to a strong bond between the two men as well.
In this novel we see two godly couples who dare to be friends, and who are literally prepared to lay down their lives for one another, in contrast to the bigotry and hatred shown by others towards those they consider a threat.
It is a well known fact that the two countries, England and France, have hated one another for a long time, and in this book we see how brave and godly people follow God's commandment to love one another, no matter the cost.
It is a beautifully written book in which the struggles and heartaches of the characters are well portrayed and the message of the Gospel shines through. I can highly recommend this novel.


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HARVEST OF GOLD by TESSA AFSHAR

HARVEST OF GOLD by TESSA AFSHAR is the sequel to Harvest of Rubies. The novel carries on with Sarah and Darius' story, this time set against the backdrop of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Although it is best to read the books in sequence, they can each be read as stand alone novels.
Darius and Sarah are summoned to Susa by the king and queen of Persia and on the way they uncover a plot to kill king Artaxerses.
The plot seems to originate from Damascus, and Darius and his armed men are to go with Nehemiah as far as Jerusalem, and then carry on to Damascus to find the people who are trying to overthrow the king. Sarah is Jewish and has always longed to see the land of her fathers. She begs Darius to allow her to go with them. She is deeply in love with her husband and doesn't want to be separated from him.
Their story is beautifully interwoven with the wonderful story of Nehemiah's faith and courage as he undertakes the impossible task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, constantly under attack from his enemies, but still managing to bolster the courage of the Judeans, who had been living without hope and in dire poverty.
Darius' mother was Jewish but it isn't until he is in Jerusalem, working closely with Nehemish, that he comes to know his wife's and mother's God. He is literally rebuilt once he faces the "rubble" of his past and sees that his foundations were destroyed when he was forced into an army barracks at the age of seven. Here he learned to live without showing any feelings and this is the reason that he is afraid to open up to Sarah. Once he has faced his past this all changes.
There is a harvest of gold for Jerusalem, with the sun shining on the stones of the newly built wall and the grain growing in the fields round the city. Darius and Sarah also reap a rich harvest in Jerusalem.
It is a story of God's faithfulness in adversity. We see the importance of never giving up and also of facing one's past and allowing the Lord to heal one's wounds.
It is a beautifully written novel, with a good story and is full of scriptural truth. I can highly recommend it.





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VEILED FREEDOM & FREEDOM'S STAND BY J. M. WINDLE

VEILED FREEDOM & FREEDOM'S STAND by J.M. WINDLE are two of the most thought- provoking novels I have read. Set in war-torn Afghanistan with the Americans trying to help rebuild the country with humanitarian aid and para-military protection, we meet, amongst other colourful characters, a young aid worker, Amy, an ex Special Ops soldier, Steve, and a young Afghani, Jamil, who is full of hatred and the desire for revenge.

Amy builds up New Hope where women who have been released from prison can live with their children. She comes to love these people, and Steve at first finds her rather naive and far too trusting, although he comes to see her true strength in the end. Amy lives out her Christianity and many are touched and drawn to Jesus, or Isa Masih as He is called there, through her witness. She tells the children Bible stories from the Old Testament to which they can relate.

Jamil is her helper and we see how he is also touched by the love of God and how his hatred melts away when he understands the sacrifice that was made on the cross to set him free. Whereas he feels that he can never do enough to make up for his sins and satisfy Allah, thus attaining paradise, he comes to know that the God of the holy book Amy has given him will welcome him freely. We see how he struggles to accept this free gift of salvation which goes against all he has been taught. The gentleness and understanding he sees in Amy's dealings with everyone and her uncompromising faith in her Lord, affect him profoundly. Amy is careful not to proselytize, but is desperate for the people she has come to love so much to find true freedom. She and Steve feel that there will never be true freedom in the country until people are allowed to choose who they will worship. Also women should be able to choose as far as marriage and a career are concerned. There is much fuss made about the up-coming elections, but there is not much to choose between the equally immoral candidates. Steve sees the double standards of the Americans who are willing to turn a blind eye in order to keep the peace at all costs, backing Khalil in spite of proof of his corruption because he is relatively pro America.

It is dangerous to practice Christianity there, in spite of the fact that the country has been "liberated" by the Americans, and dangerous to interfere where women are concerned as they are still treated like chattels. This is something Amy feels very strongly about and she is desperate about "her" women and children until she realizes that Jesus loves them more than she does and commits them into His care. Things change at New Hope while she is home in the States for three weeks leave and this devastates her. She is passionate about her work there and is forced to sit back and watch the place being run as a tight knit business by her new superior and the Afghani couple she left in charge while she was away.

We also see clearly the very understandable mistrust that the Afghanis have of the Americans who often don't bother to try and understand their ways and who can leave and go home to their own country at any time. We also see the very real corruption in high places and amongst the populace, where there may be talk of democracy but where it is each man for himself.

We see how Steve, this muscular, focused soldier, who is afraid to love because of the risk of getting hurt, softens and turns back to God, letting people come close.

All three of the main characters show unconditional love, the willingness to forgive, and to lay their life down for others as they serve The Lord under very difficult and dangerous circumstances.

Whilst each book can be read as a stand alone novel, I recommend that they are read together in order to get the most out of them. The novels are very exciting and are so full of biblical truth that I can highly recommend them.

CITY OF ANGELS BY TRACIE PETERSON and JAMES SCOTT BELL

CITY OF ANGELS BY TRACIE PETERSON and JAMES SCOTT BELL is the first book in the KIT SHANNON series. It is a legal drama which takes place in the early 1900's in Los Angeles.

Kit arrives in Los Angeles determined to become a lawyer. She causes quite a stir as women lawyers are practically unheard of at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Kit has had a sad and difficult childhood, but through it all she has never forsaken her faith in God which was instilled in her largely through her beloved preacher father. Orphaned at a young age and harshly treated at St Catherine's orphanage, she holds on to The Lord and to His word found in her most precious possession - the Bible her father left for her.

She comes to live with her Aunt Freddy, a wealthy widow to whom social standing means everything, and who tries to dissuade Kit from practising law, wanting her instead to pursue more socially acceptable pastimes whilst waiting for a husband and children!

Kit meets the legendary Earl Rogers who takes her under his wing and helps her become a member of the bar. Kit shows her brilliance in the courtroom in spite of opposition.

In her search for truth Kit becomes the object of persecution, but she is undaunted in pursuing justice for her clients. She comes up against snobbery, police corruption, the lies of those who are covering up the truth, for example the lawyer Heath Sloate, Dr Lazarus the false preacher, racism and the teachings of Darwin.

Her life is one of prayer and determination and she sees her law career as God's calling on her life. We see how she defends her friend Ted Fox when he is falsely accused of murder, and also her friend Corazon's brother who has been set up on an assault charge, and how she longs for her Aunt Freddy to come to a relationship with The Lord.

I have just re-read the whole series, but City of Angels can be read as a stand alone book. There is a strong Christian message throughout, the characters and life in that era are well portrayed and it is an exciting read. In fact I can highly recommend reading the whole series in sequence.

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IN DARKER PLACES BY BRANDT DODSON

IN DARKER PLACES by BRANDT DODSON is the fourth book in the Colton Parker series and is well worth reading. It is a modern story of the "lost sheep" that Jesus speaks of in His parable of the same name.
Callie Parker runs away, and her father pulls out all the stops to find her. He follows the leads to Las Vegas and it is in "Sin City" that Colton realises that he is also lost and needs saving.
Callie, largely due to her grief over losing her mother, becomes involved with kids at school who are into Goth clothes and anti- establishment behaviour and this leads to her becoming part of a satanic cult. The leader of the cult, who draws young girls into prostitution, takes a special liking to her and she becomes one of his followers. Colton realizes that he is unable to fight against the evils of occultism in his own strength and he turns to the God who his wife, his friend and former colleague Mary, his new friend Marty, and his wife's pastor, have been talking about for so long.
The novel exposes the dangers children face today. Drugs, satanism, new age philosophy and prostitution are realistically exposed. There is also a strong theme of unconditional love running throughout. It is an exciting read and I can highly recommend it.



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