Thursday, January 2, 2014

Rapid Fire Action, Suspense, Intrigue, Faith and Romance All Included At No Extra Charge!

BEOWULF:  EXPLOSIVES DETECTION DOG

Beowulf.  The name says it all.  Named after the Scandinavian mythical hero who defeats a troll by tearing its arm from the socket, the brindle-haired beast exists for two things:  to detect explosives – specifically, chemical weapons of mass destruction – and to protect Timbrel Hogan, his handler.  In fact, the only person who was able to connect with “Beo” and train him for military service.

Beowulf has his hands – paws – full, when Tony “Candyman” VanAllen enters the picture.  Tony just can’t seem to take “NO!” for an answer when it comes to Timbrel, or defending those who can’t or won’t protect themselves.  Tony likens his service as a calling from God, and carries out that calling in true warrior fashion.  He also sees a relationship with Timbrel as a mission . . . and he’s up for it.

The third in Ronie Kendig’s “A Breed Apart” series crackles with the author’s characteristic energy, fast-paced action, intrigue, and suspense.  Throw in unexpected romance, and unfeigned devotion to a God who is not content with sitting on the sidelines, and you have all the ingredients for a book that you will not be able to put down.

Ronie has done her homework in researching the military battle sequences, as well as the Military Working Dog training and working scenes.  But, like every master craftsman, she’s left the tools in the shed and presents the reader with the finished product.

Since it is the third book in the series, the uninitiated reader may feel like they’ve “dropped into the middle of a conversation,” but this quickly passes and the book easily stands on its own.


5 stars for another “rapid-fire” work of fiction by Ronie Kendig!

RONIE KENDIG
ISBN 978-1-61626-639-4
Fiction/Christian/Romance
Barbour Publishing
316 pages
$12.99 U.S.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

EXPLORING CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY


I want to RE-SEND this review, and extend my apologies to Bethany House, and to the authors for the previous post.  I misunderstood the situation, and did not realize that this was part of a three-book set.  My previous concerns were with the brevity of the book, and the material that had been "left out" of this volume of systematic theology.  Having said that . . . 

What the authors of this book do, they do well.  With references and illustrations drawn from current technology and quotations from recent movies and books, this is a very readable book that engages the reader from page one.  Other welcome aspects of this book include tight outlines that provide a summary of the doctrine at hand, a brief history of that doctrine throughout the ages, distortions to be aware of and avoid, reading lists for further study, and a glossary of theological terms.  The authors have taken "dry and dusty" out of the study of theology, and have not only shown the relevance of a systematic study of the church, spiritual growth, and the end times . . . they have provided numerous examples for how it works out in real life . . . "where the rubber meets the road," so to speak.

I'm looking forward to the finished set.

5 stars for a systematic theology that motivates the reader to do something about it! 

EXPLORING CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
Nathan D. Holsteen & Michael J. Svigel
ISBN 978-0-7642-1129-4
Bethany House
251 pages
$16.99 (U.S.)