Monday, April 11, 2011

Review/Giveaway: The Missionary

A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

The MissionaryTitle: The Missionary
Authors: William Carmichael and David Lambert
Genre: Contemporary Christian suspense
How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.
Entry deadline: April 25, 2011
Restrictions: Open internationally!

That's right, enter right here for this giveaway.  This is my review copy, so it has been gently read.

---------------
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Physical Description: 382-page paperback
List Price: $13.99
ISBN: 978-0-8024-5569-7
For More Info: http://www.missionarynovel.com/

Synopsis:
David Eller is an American missionary in Venezuela, married to missionary nurse Christie. Together they rescue homeless children in Caracas. But for David, that isn’t enough. The supply of homeless children is endless because of massive poverty and the oppressive policies of the Venezuelan government, led by the Hugo Chavez– like Armando Guzman.

In a moment of anger, David publicly rails against the government, unaware that someone dangerous might be listening—a revolutionary looking for recruits. David falls into an unimaginable nightmare of espionage, ending in a desperate, life-or-death gamble to flee the country with his wife and son, with all the resources of a corrupt dictatorship at their heels.
About the Authors:
William Carmichael is an accomplished bestselling author of marriage, family, and parenting books. He and his wife, Nancie, are popular speakers across the United States and Canada. He is also the founder of Good Family Magazines, which published Virtue, Christian Parenting Today, and Parents of Teenagers magazines. The Missionary is Bill’s first novel.
David Lambert is senior fiction editor for Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. He is the author of nine books, including the Gold Medallion Award winning Jumper Fables (Zondervan), coauthored with Ken Davis, and four novels for young adult readers.
What I Liked: 

I was immediately attracted to this book because of the missionary component - the global worldview, the intense desire to help others, all of that. And it was definitely there.  I could even relate to David's frustration and need to act where the political regime is concerned, having been near Zimbabwe's political and financial meltdown. 

The authors did a great job of getting the reader inside David's head to understand how a nice, peace-loving Christian guy with a heart for humanity can end up in the wildest of suspense stories.  He's easy to relate to.

And yes, it is a wild suspense story - with lots of action and twists and turns and connections you never quite figure out until the end.  Definitely a page-turner.

Intertwined through the suspense was the story of family.  Mentor, brother, parents, child, wife - the relationships are solid, positive, not without challenges, but with a definite clarity on how important family is.  A refreshing picture compared to many popular suspense plots in stores now.

I also enjoyed the philosophical gems scattered throughout.  The book starts with "Life turns on small choices" - as you realize how something seemingly minor can have a huge impact on you, your family, and the world.  Choose wisely. 

Another one I am still pondering:  "Love sees the need, not the cause."  I like it, and I don't, and I'm still trying to figure out why.

If you're into family-friendly suspense, I definitely recommend this book.

What I Didn't Like: 


Nothing...

Thanks to Bring It On! Communications for the review copy of this book, and to Mamabuzz for coordinating the review.  (By the way, Mamabuzz is also giving away a copy of the book, winner drawn 4/25, if you want another chance to win...)

26 comments:

Damla said...

Thanks for the giveaway.

annabell_lee_dk (at) yahoo.com

Damla said...

I follow your blog via GFC.

annabell_lee_dk (at) yahoo.com

The Crazy Cat Lady said...

Hi Winning!
I'm a follower of your blog - love it, by the way - and I posted about your giveaway on my personal blog: http://thisnthatnthose.blogspot.com

Thanks a bunch!

amanda38401 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Renee G said...

I follow as Renee G on gFC
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

Asheley T. said...

Sounds exciting! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

asheley.tart@gmail.com

Asheley T. said...

I also follow you through GFC...

asheley.tart@gmail.com

grannyvon said...

I would love to win this. Our church sponsors a church and Childrens Home there. We do six mission trips a year and its has become harder and harder to get in supplies. The last trip was to help build a church at the childrens home. We were held up at the airport for 6 hours and told that the candy, colorbooks and colors was over limit. We were met by the pastor and some church members when we couldn't get through and all of us joined hands and prayed. God came through and the guards got disgusted and threw the articles in the box and told us to get out and next time don't bring so much. We kept telling them it was for the children. They all had to eat some to see that it wasn't drugs. Right!
ybutler@oppcatv.com

grannyvon said...

I subscribe and follow GFC. Thanks for the extra points ybutler@oppcatv.com

Anonymous said...

HORTON111@AOL.COM

GFC FOLLOWER

Unknown said...

Would love to read
thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read this novel ;)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

karenk said...

email subscriber ;)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Melissa M. said...

Sounds interesting. Please count me in.
hismercysurrounding(at)yahoo(dot)com

apple blossom said...

thanks for a chance to win

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

apple blossom said...

subscriber

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Jennifer Wilson said...

Please enter me. Sounds like a great book. (I have several friends who are missionaries, too!)

jenndiggy at gmail dot com

Jennifer Wilson said...

I follow GFC
jenndiggy

jenndiggy at gmail dot com

Rhonda said...

GFC follower
rhondastruthersatyahoodotca

Rhonda said...

Winning reader subscriber
rhondastruthersatyahoodotca

Melanie Montgomery said...

I'd love to readthis.
clarkmurdock@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I would like to read this book!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

sounds like a great book

jim.coyne2@verizon.net

Bakersdozen said...

I would love to read this. I have just finished three Christian suspense books this past month. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

Bakersdozen said...

Email subscriber. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

It sounds like a very interesting book. I would love to read it. Thanks. garrettsambo@aol.com