Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Book Review & Giveaway

Take a trip into the Old West with this book!

Summary:

A good deed grants outlaw Whipley Langford early release from prison and a friendship with Chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman. Another good deed gets Whip framed for murder and looking at life through a hangman’s noose. John arrives just in time to reveal the true murderers and lead Whip to Christ.

A new man and a fast draw, Whip becomes Brockman’s deputy. Life is still fast and dangerous, and there’s a pretty lady Whip would like to get to know better too. Before he admits his love, Whip is shot in a bank robbery. Survival looks slim until he awakens to hear his lady confess her love. Weeks later, they are married.

Readers who are familiar with the Journeys of the Stranger and Angel of Mercy series reunite with well-loved characters John and Breanna Brockman. Western history buffs will enjoy a wholesome, fast-paced story where the Gospel is presented clearly. Christian readers will learn how to lean on the Lord in times of trial and non-Christians will have the opportunity to make Christ their Savior.

About The Authors:
Al Lacy is an evangelist and author of more than one hundred historical and western novels, including the Journeys of the Stranger, Angel of Mercy, and Mail Order Bride series, with more than three million books in print. JoAnna Lacy, Al’s wife and longtime collaborator, is a retired nurse. The Lacys have been married over forty years and live in the Colorado Rockies.

My Thoughts:
Books are as varied as the people who write them. . .and those who read them. This is a wholesome story of an outlaw-turned-marshal who, in spite of deciding to turn from his life of crime didn't see his need to turn to God in the process. This book picks up where the two previous (and very popular) series by Al Lacy left off. While I enjoyed the overall plot and message of the book, I felt that it was a bit too syrupy and unrealistic in its portrayal of the individuals for my particular taste. Even the children were perfectly well-behaved and spiritually mature in all of their conversations. I found myself longing for one of these Christians to have a grumpy or unkind moment! And in keeping with the "old-time" style of preaching and witnessing, U.S. Marshal John Brockman's attempts to win Whip to Christ were unrelenting and based solely on the threat of hell, which I felt were a little overbearing. Yet while I'm glad the pendulum has swung away from that extreme, I think folks would be prudent to give that a little more consideration in today's easy grace environment.


The publisher has graciously provided 2 copies of this book for me to give away here. Please leave a comment on this post by noon CST Thursday (2/19) and I will draw 2 winners. (Continental US residents only) I'll be eager to know your thoughts!


Happy Reading!

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7 comments:

Kim said...

Great, Linda! Please don't enter me in the drawing (you know why! :) )

I'll be reading and posting my own review soon. I'm a tad behind.

Xandra@Heart-of-Service said...

Yay! Another giveaway! Count me in...

Xandra

Michele Williams said...

Wow... cool... count me in! Thanks

Anonymous said...

I have read another book by him, but, darn it!, I can't remember what it was called...I remember the name because it's my maiden name!

Merry said...

I'd love a chance at this western. Thanks!
worthy2bpraised{at}gmail{dot}com

Kim said...

Linda,
Thanks for stopping by...I promise you, I felt like I had Alzheimer's reading this book! The authors said everything three times! I KNOW the bad guy is riding a white horse, wearing a red jacket and a black hat. Got it the first time! And the conversation was so mushy and unreal...I just thought I was reading a REALLY REALLY BAD western movie script. I never made it past page 75. I almost put it down when the hero told the little girl he saved in the stagecoach robbery..."I love you too!" GAG!!

I'll cut this writing duo a wide berth from now on. Not my style at all!

Can you tell I didn't connect with this one?? Sorry to ramble...just gives me the jitters to think about it. Brrrr!!

Xandra@Heart-of-Service said...

I decided to come back and re-read your review to see if you had the same thoughts about this book as I am having, and I was right! I'm having a hard time getting through this one, simply because the dialogue is so unrealistic, and nothing bad ever seems to happen to these people. Potentially bad situations always turn around for the good, and every one is always happy and praising God.

Now, I have nothing against praising God, and maybe we should do it a little more verbally ourselves, but this book is (as you put it) too syrupy!

Xandra