The Third Jihad by Michael Youssef

This book provides a very thorough and thoughtful history of Islam and its various groups.  It is very much a warning of what is happening in the world through the zeal of radical Islamists.  The author goes over significant happenings in the past and in news of recent years and builds a case for an ongoing plan of Islamic Extremists to take over the world and make it over in the image of Islam. This book is a must read for Christians, especially American Christians who have become complacent over the years. We need to understand the background and the thought processes of our Muslim neighbors so we know how to pray for them and how to interact with them. We need to understand what is happening in the world and the motivations of the extremists and be actively involved in opposing it. We do need to keep in mind, however, that, as Christians, our reason for being here is to tell the world about Jesus (the Great Commission). We must remember that every person is loved by God and it is His desire that they hear the Gospel. We need to be constant in prayer.  In fact, the final chapter is entitled “Don’t Be Afraid,” and encourages us to pray specifically and intentionally about these things.

I received a copy of this book for Tyndale in exchange for a review. 

The Unexpected Champion by Mary Connealy

This is the third and final installment of this series.  It doesn't disappoint!  Everything came to a satisfactory conclusion but there were a lot of bump in the road on the way.  The characters were really fun -- Penny, a spinstress who has been following her brother all over the West to Army outposts for several years and is very outdoor-savvy, and John McCall, a pinkerton agent who is very street and big city smart.  John has come to the West in search of Penny's nephew, having been hired by his grandparents to find him.  Penny is determined that her nephew will stay right where he is, away from those awful, grasping grandparents.  John is determined to fulfill his task.  But meantime, they are kidnapped together by the resident bad guys and after that ordeal are forced by the sheriff and his wife to marry (or they will hang John, who they suspect to be the kidnapper).  Hilarity ensues as John and Penny go in search of the real kidnappers and Penny learns all of John's Pinkerton tricks of the trade such as disguises and ferreting out information.  Mary Connealy is always one of my favorite authors because she always injects humor into the stories and I thrive on that kind of rhetoric.

 

I received a Kindle copy of this story through NetGalley for the purpose of making a review.  I would have gotten ahold of it anyway, no matter what, because I haven't missed one of Mary C's books yet and I'm not going to start now.  

The Last Second by Catherine Coutler and J.T. Ellison

This is the newest installment in a long series by Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison.  An it did not disappoint!  The series is about various FBI, CIA and other special agents working together on international cases.  In this story, a disgruntled astronaut that has struck out on her own has been planning for a long time to cause a nuclear event that will put the world back in the dark ages as far as communications and modern conveniences are concerned and become the leader of the world.  Time is of the essence for them to find her and halt her next move.


There is plenty of action and suspense in this story and a host of fun characters who manage to solve these crimes and enjoy each other in the process.  I received a free Kindle version of this book from NetGalley for the purpose of making this review.  Thoroughly enjoyed it -- highely recommmend!