The Forgotten Way - Meditations

Ted Dekker is by far a house hold name for most Christians! Besides being a well known and best selling author, Ted Dekker's novels take the reader into places they never expected to go and always come away with a sense of having experienced something a bit more than most readers do after a great novel. Their lives are changed. It is more than to say its a sense of bewilderment, but I would call it an awakening instead. Its like we have known this all along and have to be reawakened to remember who we really are.

Whether it is through a novel surrounding any variety of genre's, Dekker awakens the soul in all of us. In The Forgotten Way, it is a book that is much deeper than anything he has ever written. Almost prophetic in nature, you feel as if the words he writes are from someone much older and with that sage like wisdom and mystery about them. This is a book of meditations geared to take the reader on the path of Yeshua for power and peace in this life. Often throughout this book he utilizes the analogy of Clark Kent who forgets that he has the ability and power of Superman and so spends a vast part of his life living in the darkness of who he could be.

Much like us as believers we find ourselves trapped into getting so immersed in the world and what is going on that we forget that as believers in Yeshus, we are merely passing through hoping to make this world a better place and remind other of His love. This isn't getting all caught up in religious dogmas of various religions but in understand who we are as sons and daughters of Yeshua and what power we have once we realize that. We don't have to be bound by the standards of the world. When we learn to let go of the worldly and embrace our spiritual awareness we can be free to love as Yeshua loved even his enemies. It is why most people don't understand the very nature of who Jesus was and the life He lived when he was with us. This book helps believers to understand that somethings what happens in this life, is not what God sees. We need to change our spiritual perspective in order to deal with life here on earth. Perhaps my favorite quote in the entire book is simply, "Remember, what you believe about yourself never defines you' only what your Father believes about you truly defines you. Your beliefs and perceptions, however, do define the experience you have in this world."

I received The Forgotten Way by Ted Dekker as a self purchase and was not required to give a favorable review. However being such a fan of his literary works and how much novels like A.D. 30 and A.D. 33 along with the Outlaw Chronicles series like Hacker, Identity and Water Walker, have created a spiritual awakening, I knew I wanted more. It's like getting inside a brilliant man's mind to see what makes it tick and you might be surprised at what you'll find when you do. For me the journey is just begin but now I am wide awake, with eyes wide open and aware of whom I am in Yeshua. Can't wait to go back now and reread not only the Forgotten Way but these other books I've mentioned. Great minds when synced up think alike not only spiritually but on a different conscious level and this the reason I'd rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. Currently this book is not available for sale at this time but may become available at a later date.

For more information about The Forgotten Way, Ted Dekker or where you can join a Facebook study group, please click on the links below:

The Forgotten Way by Ted Dekker

You can find Ted Dekker on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels and projects.

The Forgotten Way on Facebook to join in the conversation about the book. 

A. D. 33

WOW! Three simple letters that define how blown my mind is by Ted Dekker's latest novel. It quite literally goes beyond what the human mind can comprehend or even begin to put into words. Perhaps the best part of this novel is the disclaimer that Ted offers to readers that this is a fictional novel written using various portions of Scripture from the Bible to transport readers back in time to a pivotal moment in history that has forever changed the world.

A.D. 33 is the sequel to Dekker's previous novel A.D. 30 in which the queen of the desert known as Maviah finds herself questioning the very experience of Yeshua whom she encountered in the city of Petra. She now finds herself in great opposition in defending that very faith for the lives not only of the Bedouin people, but also the life of the orphan boy, Talya, she is raising since the death of her own child, at the hands of those that defy Yeshua and His teachings. As she attempts to reconcile the recent kidnapping of the love of her life, Judah, she finds she must search within herself and resolve the very identity she believes defines her and those around her.

As a woman in the culture of the Middle East, she carries as much weight as those considered outcasts by society. She struggles with knowing how to apply the power she has found in her faith in Yeshua, but like all of us, when pushed to the breaking point, realizes that her faith is much like that of seed scattered among the rocks, when adversity comes, it withers. As those she truly cares for and loves is brought under the tyranny of those in power, she wonders how those who follow Yeshua keep their faith. Not until she meets up with Him once again, does she realize that they will all follow away until they realize what Yeshua means to take up your cross and follow me. One by one as they follow Yeshua up to the point of being betrayed and crucified, the realization of all His teachings won't be understood until they accept His way over the way of the world.

I received A.D. 33 by Ted Dekker compliments of Center Street Publishers, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest opinion. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review, aside from a free copy of this novel, and the opinions contained here are my honest and personal ones. There are simply so many great take aways from this novel I never understood til I walk through this with Maviah's character and truly felt the impact of Yeshua's wisdom from the Bible. For those of you looking for a wonderfully powerful biblical historical fictional novel, pick up not only this novel but A.D. 30 as well to gain the full impact of Maviah's story of finding her faith and understanding it as never before. In my opinion, one of THE best novels of 2015 and well worth all 5 out of 5 stars. Well done Mr. Dekker, well done!

For more information about A.D. 33, Ted Dekker or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A.D. 33 by Ted Dekker

You can find Ted Dekker on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on A.D. 33, please visit Center Street's website. 

A.D. 30

I've been a huge fan of anything written by Ted Dekker. In fact, there hasn't been anything I've read that I haven't loved. Now whenever I get a request to review any novels from him, I don't even have to read the synopsis because I am already so excited to get my hands on another of his exciting series. His latest novel A.D. 30, was inspired by his wife, whom he references as Maviah, the main character in this novel. She has to utilize all her strength going beyond what she feels and pulls from an invisible source to deal with what life hands her throughout this novel.

But it wasn't so much the story that captivated me as much as Ted's chapter "My Journey into A.D. 30" at the beginning of the novel that really hit home for me as a believer. I too have struggled in my life as a believer so many times, when adversity hits home and we struggle to find that strength in Christ to measure up and move forward often times failing worse than a non believer might. It's a brutal honesty of his heart that resounded with me and made me want to venture into my own personal search in reading this novel. "What about you? You're saved in the next life as a matter of sound doctrine, but do you often feel powerless and lost in this life? Without a doubt, the answer for me and I am sure plenty of other readers will be a huge "Yes!"

Ted references Jesus in this novel as Yesua, the name He was called in His day. He takes readers into the search through this novel to discover "His Way through the lens of a foreigner - a Bedouin women who is cast out of her lofty position in the deep Arabian desert by terrible tragedy. Her epic, unnerving journey forces her to the land of Israel, where she encounters the radical teachings of Yeshua, which once again turn the world upside down." (5). As the alliances in which Maviah's people has broken down and betrayal runs rampant, she is the last hope, much like Esther was to her own people, to find salvation and restoration in meeting with Herod to broker an agreement that might save her father as well as her town of Dumah.

Along the way, her loyalty will be tested, her beliefs in the gods of Ancient Egypt will be questioned, and the faith and unconditional love she finds when she encounters Yeshua is bound to affect you in a remarkable way. It truly is a story of sacrifice for those you love and how far you might be willing to go, what the costs of revenge truly are, and how we can find strength in the midst of the darkest places in our life. Now I can't wait for the next novel A.D. 33 to come out. What an amazing novel that will impact you long after you finish the final page.

I received A.D. 30 by Ted Dekker compliments of Shelton Interactive and Center Street Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Groups,  for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained in this review are strictly my own unless otherwise notated. I absolutely love the richness of the details in this novel. I actually felt like I was part of Maviah's small caravan as she and her companions headed out across the desert oasis relying on the stars and the sand to help navigate the way to Sepphoris to reach King Herod before she is hunted down by the Thamud who are trying to stop her. It truly allowed me as a believer to experience the Way of Jesus as I never had until reading this novel. I love the interaction between Yeshua and Maviah and how she conveys how He literally saw not only her but through her to the deepest places of pain in her life, much as I would expect Yeshua would if we encountered Him. Well done again Ted Dekker, and now I wait anxiously for A.D. 33 in anticipation!!! Hands down a 5 out of 5 star novel!

For more information about A.D. 30, Ted Dekker or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A.D. 30: A Novel by Ted Dekker

You can find Ted Dekker on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on A.D. 30, please visit Center Street Publishings website. 

Outlaw

Ted Dekker writes some pretty amazing novels. Stuff you don't even think about or consider but by the time you reach the end, you realize you've gone through something pretty amazing. Such is the case for the novel Outlaw. It defines the foundation for his series, the Outlaw Chronicles through even more novels. You need to understand the issues of what makes one an true outlaw. This is the real "Survivor" story and not like the reality series!(Spoiler alert below:)

The story behind Outlaw is one that Ted elaborates on in the conclusion of the novel where he shared his own experiences being the son of a missionaries. He traveled to some pretty remote locations where some tribal people that came upon didn't even speak the same language and their cultural differences allowed him some unusual insight to share with the reader. The main character Julian Carter grew up in Atlanta, Georgia in a prominent and wealthy family in t 1933. Servants were still employed and Julian grew up understanding how her parents treated them as such. Even though they were treated well, they were still considered hired help and had their place in society as well.

She dealt with life as best as she could being pressured by her parents to marry into a suitable family and bear her father a son to whom he could pass along his inheritance and wealth. During this time, Julian was plagued by dreams that she was in a jungle flying high over the tree tops being drawn to someone through a song. She never understood the significance but was puzzled by its meaning. After finally giving birth to a son that she loved more than life, her parents both passed away and her husband feel into a deep depression. When a group of missionaries can to her church sharing the news of their trips to remote locations to share the gospel. Julian felt compelled to go. Little did she realize how much her life would change after that.

Setting sail on board a small sailboat, Julian along with her young 2-year-old son, Stephen, get caught in an unexpected violent storm that threatens their very lives. After witnessing their captain attempt to save the boat and fall overboard, she now realizes it is up to her to save their lives. She hopes and prays that God will answer her prayers to keep them both alive until the storm passes. But the ship capsizes and Julian is injured. When she wakes, she finds herself floating among the debris and her son is no where to be found. Realizing her loss, she is captured by a tribe known as the Tulim who believe that all women are sub-species of pigs and treat them as such unless they can bear children. Now Julian's nightmare truly begins.

I received Outlaw from Ted Dekker compliments of Center Street Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I love the direction that Ted took this novel and like all of his books in a great series, you have to really get to the meat of the meaning behind them all. Outlaw does just that.. You learn about the meaning behind "deditio," Latin for unconditional surrender and how the corresponds to the life of Jesus Christ for believers. You realize as well that we are all outlaws in comparison to the world's views and are often treated as such by society that doesn't like that we uphold God's law and belief in the Bible as the absolute truth. We're not perfect, but when we can see things from that perspective it makes things so much easier to deal with when faced with persecution of any kind. I easily rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Outlaw, Ted Dekker, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Outlaw by Ted Dekker

You can Ted Dekker on Facebook to keep up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Outlaw, please visit Center Street Publishing's website. 

Blink of An Eye

Imagine if you had the unique ability of precognition besides an IQ that was virtually higher than any human being had recorded, but in your mind you simply saw yourself as the average nerdy kind of guy that found college boring and were looking for something more out of this life? Then you would be describing Seth Borders, who maintains an IQ of 193, Einsteins was estimated to be 163 and only 1 percent of humans even have an IQ of 135, so you can see how Seth would be simply bored by most things. He simply thought ahead of what most people thought and can see things others can't. He has been offered a job at the National Security Association or NSA and can either be a huge asset or a huge threat depending on who's side of the fence Seth is interested in working with.

Just when he thought life couldn't get any more exciting, he encounters, Miriam, a beautiful Middle Eastern princess who is running for her life. He sees her a few minutes before even encountering her and knows that if he fails to act, she will die in the future he has seen earlier. Not knowing how or why he has received this uncanny ability to see into the future along with hundreds of possible outcomes, he is willing to take that risk and it is one that will forever alter both of their lives.

Miriam is running for her life quite literally, because she knew if she stayed in Saudi Arabia, she would be forced into a marriage to a man named Omar bin Khalid. He is one of the most powerful men in Saudi Arabia and he has plans to upset the balance of power in Saudi Arabia by staging a coup and providing a son of royal birth through Miriam which will ultimately give him the power to rule. But Omar is not without his faults and killing those who stand in his path of achieving his success is merely a fore thought. When he learns that Miriam has fled the country, he vows to punish her for making him look like a fool and will only keep her around long enough to provide a son to take over the existing throne in his country. Then she will not serve his purpose any longer and will be eliminated.

I received Blink of an Eye by best-selling author Ted Dekker compliments of Center Street Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. Ever since my first Ted Dekker book, I've been hooked by his unique writing style to draw you in from the very beginning and before you know it, you're holding your breath, reading as fast as you can flip pages, to find out just what will happen next. This one is no exception and I've loved being a part of Miriam and Seth's journey from beginning to end. It conveys to readers just how difficult life for a woman living in the Middle East truly is when she is treated like property and lacking all the basic rights of a human being. Her life simply isn't worth anything but a means to an end. I can easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to add this one to my growing Ted Dekker library collection!

For more information about Blink of an Eye, Ted Dekker or where to pick up a copy of this amazing novel, please click on the links below:

Blink of an Eye by Ted Dekker

You can also find Ted Dekker on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Blink of An Eye, please visit Center Street Publishing's website. 

Hacker

"One fragile moment - that's all it takes for a life to be unmade, to shatter into a million pieces that will never fit together the same way. Hard as you try to change it, you'll find - just as I did - that some things, once broken, can't be fixed.

Some things have to re-created completely.

Some people too.

The ancient book says that it took God seven days to create the world. It took him only three days to shatter my little life and remake it in a way that I would've never chosen for myself. It's always like that - one story ends; another one begins.

This is my story, and I couldn't have possibly known how hard it was going to be.

None of us could've known." (pg 1).

In the latest novel in the Outlaw Chronicles from best selling author Ted Dekker, Hacker takes readers where no one has imagined going. Inside the human brain. To say that Nyah Parks is your average seventeen-year-old would be a mistake. Nyah is far from ordinary. After losing her father and brother in a car accident that left her in the hospital with a tell tale scar, and her mother dying a slow death, she utilizes her unique talent for numbers and math to develop her ability to hack into virtually anything. It's the one thing that has enabled her to pay for her mother's ongoing medical expenses, hacking into companies and helping them find the loop holes in their cyber security.

There is only one option to save her mother and that is an experimental treatment that has shown some amazing results, and the only draw back is the need to gain $150,000 as soon as she can. Taking on one of the world's largest corporations BlakBox, she finds a way to infiltrate their system long enough to download a handful of files and then convince them to hire her for just that sum. The only drawback is that it will take working from inside the building and utilizing the talents of her accomplice known simply as Pixel. But it won't turn out half as easy as she expected when she realizes what she has uploaded and they are none to happy to have that happen.

I received Hacker by Ted Dekker compliments of Worthy Publishing for my honest review and received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. Being a huge Ted Dekker fan, I was hooked on this one from start to finish. I can honestly say this one takes hacking to a whole new level. Just when you think there is nothing left for him to dip into, he masterfully does it once again. The writing style is superb and will definitely keep young adult readers engaged. I can only hope that this one makes it to the big screen! It is pure adrenaline, heart-stopping action  from the very first page until the chilling end. Hands down for me a 5 out of 5 stars,  and one of my favorites from Ted Dekker. This is just one of the novels in the Outlaw Chronicles with Eyes Wide Open, Water Walker and Outlaw joining the bunch! Check out Ted Dekker's interview on Hacker below:

For more information about Hacker, Ted Dekker or where to pick up a copy of this novel , please click on the links below:

Hacker by Ted Dekker

You can also find Ted Dekker on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

To read more reviews on Hacker, please visit Worthy Publishing's website.

      1. Your main character in Hacker, Nyah, makes a living by cracking the firewalls of major corporations. What role does technology play in her development as a character?

TD:  Nyah roots a great deal of her identity in technology. In doing so she defines who she is by what she does. She even says so at the beginning of the book. I am a hacker. We all do this. For her, technology is what she knows, it’s what defines her, and provides the comfort zone. But it’s also her prison, which she comes to discover later.  

2.       2. How does personal loss affect Nyah’s view of God?

TD: When we meet Nyah, we find her in a place of great suffering especially for someone her age. That colors everything, just as it does for everyone else. For Nyah, the inescapable question is, “Why is there such suffering in the world?” Or more to the point, “Why is all of this happening to me?”  That offense, that feeling of injustice and unfairness, feeds her entire view of the world, including her view of God as a distant, uncaring creator.

  

      3. Why do you consider Hacker a modern-day parable?

TD: Parables are meant to re-frame the world differently so we can experience it again for the first time. Hacker takes a simple concept that many people already believe, that there’s another reality so near to us that we’re unaware of its presence most of the time, and puts it center stage. The story doesn’t have a moral or try to make a point per se, because that’s not what parables are for, but it does ask you to look at the world through new eyes—Nyah’s.

4.       4. The central question in each book in this series is, “Who am I?” What prompted you to explore that question?

TD: The question of identity is central to all of life and, in fact, most of my own striving and struggle can be traced back to it. We define ourselves, almost without thinking much of it, by what we do. I’m a mother, a father, a man, a woman, a writer, an accountant… The list is neverending. But strip that all away, as death will one day for all of us, and what remains? Are you, at your core, really a mother or a father or an accountant? Or are you something far more and we’ve only bought into the notion that this costume, which we call the body and our careers and talents, is really who we are?

5.       5. The series so far includes a 17-year-old who claims she has been buried alive, a 13-year-old orphan with no memory, and a 17-year-old genius computer hacker. What are the similarities between these characters?

TD: [Laughs.] You’ll have to read the books to find out for yourself. Ultimately, they are all forced to take a journey that begins in the valley of the shadow of death and ends on the other side of it.

6.       6. What role does the unseen play in your books?

TD: An enormous role, because that’s how it is in real life even in a literal way. Physicists tell us that the visible universe is a miniscule slice of what actually exists, we just can’t see the rest. But just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s non-existent.

7.       7. What makes your characters in this series “outlaws”?

TD: It’s their journeys, which lead them “out of the law” of death and suffering into the light. It’s the same journey we all get to take, and which we’re called to. 

8    8. You grew up as a missionary kid among cannibals in Indonesia. How do you think your unusual upbringing affects your writing and your faith today?

TD: My upbringing gives me a unique way of looking at the world. Understand, I grew up among people for whom spirituality was integral to life. It wasn’t tacked on or part of life… There was no separation. They believed in the unseen, they witnessed its powers, and lived as though the seen and the unseen were woven together in a beautiful, mysterious way.

 

Eyes Wide Open

First of all, if you're a Ted Dekker fan, you definitely want to pick this one up. If you've never heard of Ted Dekker, think of Stephen King and you get the picture. In this unique series Ted Dekker launched the first part of this four part book to those who had electronic readers for Free until the rest in the series launched. Now priced for a very limited time for $5.99 for all four, you won't lose out wait for the next part of the book to be released. That's when I jumped on board. I've been a fan of Ted Dekker's for quite some time and just reading the premise of the book was enough to make me want to pick this one up. See for yourself.

"Who am I? 

My name is Christy Snow. I’m seventeen and I’m about to die.

I’m buried in a coffin under tons of concrete. No one knows where I am. My heart sounds like a monster with clobber feet, running straight toward me. I’m lying on my back, soaked with sweat from the hair on my head to the soles of my feet. My hands and feet won’t stop shaking.

Some will say that I m not really here. Some will say I’m delusional. Some will say that I don t even exist. But who are they? I’m the one buried in a grave. \

My name is Christy Snow. I’m seventeen. I’m about to die.

So who are you? " (Excerpt from back cover).

When Christy Snow loses her silver locket in a storage shed behind St. Matthews Hospital, she discovers by accident a trap door in the floor that drops her into a concrete room with apparently no way out. When she located a shelf used for the transportation of alcohol during the prohibition era, she wedges herself inside to try the wood panel at the end. All she manages to do, it lock herself inside a coffin size area. Unable to call for help since her cell phone is dead, she panics and forces the wood panel to come lose.

She realizes she has probably found her way into the hospital basement and hopes she can find her way out. What she discovers is that she is now in the mental hospital wing and no matter how hard she tries to convince the doctors there she isn't a patient, with no identification on her, they believe she is suffering from a delusion and she isn't who she is claiming to be. Her only hope is the message she left for her friend Austin before her phone died. But when Austin shows up, he too is unable to convince the hospital staff he came for Christy and now they have both wound up lost beneath the hospital. Unfortunately when patient head counts come up two short, Austin and Christy soon begin to wonder if they aren't really crazy after all.

I won't spoil the remainder of the book, but trust me, you'll question what is the truth and what is merely an illusion in this latest book by Ted Dekker. Each book is divided into the mini books, Identity, Mirrors, Unseen and Seer, that you can purchase one at a time, but trust me, pick up the whole thing so you don't lose momentum in the storyline. True to Dekker's writing style, you will wind up in a different place then where you were headed and soon begin to feel as if you are part of the story itself. Great storyline but the ending for me, fell short from what I was anticipating. It's like it reached it's climax and then all the air was let out of the balloon, This does introduce the reader into a new series from Ted Dekker called the Outlaw Chronicles, with the first  book Water Walker coming out soon. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and would have rated it a 5 out of 5 but like I stated earlier the ending just fell flat for me. However the message behind the story is reason enough to pick this one up. For those of you with questions about your own self esteem, this is a must read novel for you! You might want to pick up Showdown before reading this one to see the connection at the end.

For more information about Eyes Wide Open, Ted Dekker or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Eyes Wide Open by Ted Dekker

You can also find Ted Dekker on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

Forbidden: The Books of Mortals

Fleeing pursuit, with only moments to live, a young man named Rom stumbles into possession of a vial of blood and a cryptic vellum. When consumed, the blood will bring him back to life; revive his emotions; when decoded, the message will lead him on a perilous journey that will require him to abandon everything he has ever known and awaken humanity to the transforming power of true life and love. But the blood will also resurrect hatred, ambition, and greed at terrible risk.

Set in a terrifying, medieval future, where grim pageantry masks death, this tale of passionate love and dark desires from master storytellers Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee peels back the layers of the heart for all who dare take the journey.



The Books of Mortals: Three thrillers. Two authors. One last chance for humanity. The Books of Mortals are three novels, each of which stand on their own, yet all seamlessly woven into one epic thriller. The journey begins September 2011 with Forbidden. Mortal will be published in September 2012 and Sovereign will be published in September 2013.

My Review:

Set in the very realistic future of our world, geneticists have been working on the DNA structure within the human brain to control which emotions we can feel. In order to create a perfect world capable of working together, humans have been given a retrovirus called Legion that wipes out all emotion from them except fear. When they can only feel fear, they will do whatever it takes to make sure that the world exists in a manufactured version of peace.

Rom is thrust into the discovery late one night when an old man in alley way tells him that his father was killed protecting the secret that could once more provide humanity with hope and restore order. Leaving Rom with nothing more than a cryptic message in a box, wrapped around a vial of blood with 5 measuring lines on the outside, he is forced to uncover what has been missing in his life that he never knew was ever there.

The Order wants nothing but to keep things the way it has been for the past 480 years and when they discover the secret of the blood exists, they will stop at nothing to make sure that all evidence of it is removed before they can undo the way people have been living their whole lives. Once more Chaos is on the verge of being thrown back into the world and the presence of good and evil once more will battle to restore humans back to the way their Maker designed.

I received Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee compliments of Center Street Publishers, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. Being a huge fan of all of Ted Dekker's written works, this was truly a delightful surprise when it arrived in my mail. Once more Mr. Dekker's works have kept me glue to his novel until the final page is turned. The only disappointment is always finishing much too soon, leaving me wanting more.

These two wonderfully talented writers have managed to tap into something no one else has bothered to think about. What if all our emotions to feel anything at all, were simply removed and the only thing we could comprehend was only fear? No love, no hope, no joy or even sorrow. This futuristic spin in this new compelling series will captivate you and leave you desperately wanting more. This one rates a stellar 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about this book, the author or even where to get a sneak peek into the book, then don't waste any time and click on the links below:

Forbidden: The Books of Mortals by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee

You can also follow Ted Dekker at his website by clicking here, or on Facebook by clicking here.

The Priest's Graveyard

Danny Hansen witnessed something as a boy that was so tragic it would alter his life so profoundly it would change the person he would grow up to become. Fleeing from Bosnia to America, he found a richness in becoming a priest. In his mind he felt that it would help him to repent of the horrors he fled from in Bosnia and restore his soul and faith in God.

Only somewhere along the way, something inside Danny snapped. Something that would allow him to justify every action as though he himself was appointed by God to rid the world of evil. This is where the story begins.

Renee Gilmore finds herself seeking confession with a priest. Only the confession she brings him isn't about her, it's about someone else who is seeking answers for his action he can't seem to find himself. Renee holds within her hands, Danny's handwritten confession. What the priest is about to read will make him question the vows he, himself, has taken as a man of God as well. What could be so horrible to drive a boy from his home in Bosnia? What role does Renee have in the confession of Danny Hansen? Who in this world is fit to judge the sins of any man?

In the latest book by Ted Dekker, The Priest's Graveyard, we find out the answers to this nightmare begin to unravel on the pages of this novel. Ted once more does a fine job at keeping the reader guessing so you never quite now what you will end up until the final page. Even then it makes you wonder if you really got it right in the end!

This book does a great job at showcasing how some people's actions may seem justified in their own eyes even though the world around them would see it as evil and criminal. In the end, the reader alone faces the judgment of Danny Hansen and Renee Gilmore. What your outcome of it all, will be left entirely up to you.

I received this book compliments of Hachette Book Groups and Center Street Publishing for my honest review. Being a huge Ted Dekker fan, this one was on my must read list. Finishing the book left me puzzled as though I wasn't quite sure what I just read. But after a good night sleep I could see the point in Dekker's unique ability to take the reader into the unknown places of the human mind. This book rates a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and is a definite must read for those that love criminal fiction books. This book is available in paperback, hard cover, audio and eBook Reader formats.

For even more information about the author, the book and where you can get a sneak peek into the book, you can click on the link below:

The Priest's Graveyard by Ted Dekker

You can also visit Ted on Facebook by clicking here.

Showdown

Along a dusty road, walks a stranger dressed in black. He's wearing a cowboy hat pulled down low over his eyes and aside from hearing his crunching of his boots on the gravel street, there isn't much else going on outside the town of Paradise.

Sitting on the only bench outside of the town's drinking establishment, Cecil Marshall watches the stranger walk into town. The only other person sitting with him on that unseasonably hot summer day is a Johnny Drake.

"Looks lost." Johnny says to Cecil, who merely nods his head towards Johnny. He can't speak since he's a mute some eighty-one years ago. He and Johnny alone are the only ones watching the man in black walk into town. Yet there is something there that tells them today is about to change in the lives of those living in Paradise, for better or worse remains unknown but Johnny and Cecil believe it to be worse. Is all hell about to break lose in Paradise?

I received the novel Showdown by Ted Dekker, one of my all time favorite authors from my husband Steve for my birthday and honestly couldn't wait to find time to enjoy and savor the flavor of this book. Within the first chapter, you suddenly realize that once more Ted Dekker has masterfully captured the very essence of evil as it strolls into Paradise and with every page that turns after that brings you closer to what lies in store for the citizens of Paradise. Hands down another award winning book by Ted Dekker. This one rates 5 out of 5 stars with a word of caution. Read it with the lights on!

For more information about this book, the author and where to get a copy of the book, click on the link below:

Showdown by Ted Dekker

You can also follow Ted Dekker on Facebook by clicking here.

Thr3e - Giveaway and Review

Ted Dekker is one of my favorite Christian writers. I have always loved the horror/ mystery genre, but it was always a struggle to find a Christian author that wrote for this genre. I was blessed to learn about Ted Dekker last year and began reading novel after novel by him, and each time I was intrigued at how the story ended, and he always left me wanting more! THR3E by Ted Dekker was no exception by any means. This is honestly a book you not only have to read, but experience for yourself.

The book opens with our main character, Kevin Parsons, who is enrolled in seminary school trying to become a pastor. Kevin has a very philosophic mind and has a real interest in human nature, sin, and the human capability for good and evil. One day on his way home from a deep discussion with his professor at seminary school, Kevin receives an eerie call on his cell phone from a man who calls himself "Slater". He claims to have some connection with Kevin and instructs him to solve this riddle in three minutes or else the car that he is currently driving will explode: "What falls but never breaks? What breaks but never falls?" Before ending the call, Slater tells Kevin that if Kevin confesses his "sin" the game ends and Kevin is free. There is only one problem; Kevin has no idea what it is that he is supposed to confess!

This riddle is just the beginning of a horrific chain of events involving the FBI, local police, and the love of his life Samantha who may or may not be in the same situation Kevin has found himself in. As far as Kevin is concerned, no one is safe. Over the course of only a few short days, Kevin tries to escape the clutches of this man called "Slater" and is forced to dig up a past that was meant to stay buried or else the game will never stop. "What falls but never breaks? What breaks but never falls"?

I received this book compliments of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review and once a fan of Ted Dekker, you become a lifelong fan! This one rocks with a 5 out of 5 stars! If you've never read any of Ted Dekker's books, trust me, read one and you'll be hooked and wanting more!

If you would love to know more about the book, the author, and where to get a first chapter sneak peek, click on the link below:

Thr3e by Ted Dekker

Thanks to the generous folks at Hachette Book Groups, they are offering 3 copies of this book to giveaway. Here are your guidelines:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. Be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address and No P.O. Boxes please.

3. I must have a way to contact you, so please include your email address along with your comment. You can use the words (at) or (dot) instead of the symbols.

4. Leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite Ted Dekker book is or why you'd love to win a copy of this one. The giveaway will end on December 19th.

Immanuel's Veins - Giveaway and Review

What is "sacrificial love"?

For some they would say that no matter what the cost, they would do anything for love including if necessary dying for the sake of the one they loved.

Some people fantasize about finding such a love like that in their lives. The kind of love that is unconditional. No rules or standards to follow. Just giving 100% of yourself to loving someone regardless if they ever love you back or even the same as them.

The kind of love that if your life were on the line, the one who loved you would be willing to step up and take your place rather than seeing you die.

This story is for everyone but not everyone is for this story.

It is a dangerous tale of times past. A love story full of deep seduction. A story of terrible longing and a bold sacrifice.

Then as now, evil begins it courtship cloaked in light. And the heart embraces what it should flee.

Forgetting it once had a truer lover.

With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul, and mind.

Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds.

Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction.

And blood will flow.

Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed.

For those desperate to drink deep from this fountain of life, enter.

But remember, not everyone is for this story.

In his latest book, Immanuel's Veins, Ted Dekker takes us on a new journey into the darkness and evil woven together with twisted love and desire, when Lucine Cantemir and her twin sister Natasha find themselves the center of attention in the latest of parties hosted by their mother at their castle.

Being complete opposites of one another yet both strikingly beautiful beyond words, one is a notorious flirt with all the men who attend, while Lucine believes deep in her heart that true love really does exist somewhere in the world for her. Not to mention that Catherine the Great has requested the service of two of her most admirable and honorable men to watch over the two sisters to protect them at all costs from the war currently taking place in their country.

Alex believes that unless he is out taking the lives of the enemies of this war, than babysitting two sisters in a castle, he is simply wasting his time. Yet Toma, the warrior and servant of Catherine the Great of Russia, believes in those lasting noble traits of honor and loyalty and sees a higher purpose in the protection of these two women.

It isn't until the Duke Vlad van Valerik arrives with his guests to the Summer Ball of Delights that things begin to grow darker than the war gripping the country of Russia. I received this book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. This one is completely off the scale for me. Way above the perfect 5 out of 5 stars for those of you looking for a great outstanding Christian Suspense book written by a master of storytelling. You will have to pick this one up for yourselves. It's a permanent in our home and a fan favorite of my oldest teen daughter as well.

For more information of the book, the author and even a first chapter glimpse, please read on, but a word of warning, once you start you won't want to stop til the end.

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Immanuel's Veins Thomas Nelson (September 7, 2010)

by Ted Dekker
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ted Dekker is a New York Times best-selling author of more than twenty novels. He is best known for stories which could be broadly described as suspense thrillers with major twists and unforgettable characters, though he has also made a name for himself among fantasy fans.

Early in his career he wrote a number of spiritual thrillers and his novels were lumped in with ‘Christian Fiction’ a surprisingly large category. His later novels are a mix of mainstream novels such as Adam, Thr3e, Skin, Obsessed and BoneMan’s Daughters, and fantasy thrillers that metaphorically explore faith. Best known among these is his Circle Series: Green, Black, Red, White and The Paradise Books: Showdown, Saint, and Sinner.

Dekker was born to missionaries who lived among the headhunter tribes of Indonesia. Because his parents’ work often included extended periods of time away from their children, Dekker describes his early life in a culture to which he was a stranger as both fascinating and lonely. It is this unique upbringing that forced him to rely on his own imagination to create a world in which he belonged.

After leaving Indonesia, Dekker graduated from a multi-cultural high school and took up permanent residence in the United States to study philosophy and religion. Upon earning his Bachelor’s Degree, he entered the corporate world and proceeded to climb the proverbial ladder. But his personal drive left him restless and, after many successful years, he traded corporate life for wide range of entrepreneurial pursuits that included buying and selling businesses, healthcare services, and marketing.

In the early nineties while visiting a friend who had just written a book, Dekker decided to pursue a long held desire to be a novelist. Over the course of two years he wrote two full length novels before starting from scratch and rewriting both. Now fully enamored by the the process and the stories, he realized that storytelling was in his blood and a new obsession to explore truth through story gripped him anew.

He sold his business, moved his family to the mountains of Western Colorado and began writing full-time on his third novel. Two years and three novels later his first novel, Heaven’s Wager, was published.

Now, Dekker’s novels had sold over 3.4 million copies worldwide. Two of his novels, Thr3e and House, have been made into movies with more in production. Dekker resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Lee Ann and two of their daughters.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Immanuel's Veins, go HERE.


I'd like to thank the folks of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and the publishers of the book Thomas Nelson for sponsoring this amazing giveaway of a "Spread the Love" T- Shirt for one lucky person who leaves a comment on this blog. Here are the guidelines:

1. Be a follower of my blog

2. You must reside in the US and No P.O. Boxes please!

3. I must have a way to reach you, so please include an email address in your comment. You can use (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols if you wish. I will be emailing the winner on September 20th. You will have 5 business days to respond or I will pick another winner.

4. Leave a comment telling me why you'd be interested in this book and what sacrificial love means to you! That's it. I will be emailing you for your mailing information and Adult T - Shirt size from S to 2XL.