‘A Short Life Well Lived’ by Tom Sullivan – Book Review

I have been familiar with the multi-talented raconteur Tom Sullivan for decades, and have admired him greatly. I had the opportunity to read his latest novel, ‘A Short Life Well Lived,’ and knew I couldn’t pass it up!

Here is the synopsis of this novel:

“A tumor?” I repeated, my voice shaking. With those two words, doting father Brian O’Connor is plunged into the deepest nightmare he can imagine. All his baseball-loving son, Tommy, did was break his arm when pitching…and then doctors saw a malignant growth in the eleven-year-old. Now father and son must tread an uncharted road full of frustration and fear.

Brian had never faced a foe he couldn’t overcome or outmaneuver. Blind since birth, he’s blown down every obstacle in his path. Now a happily married father of two, and a successful prosecutor in the district attorney’s office, he must confront the possibility of death – an enemy maddeningly tricky to fight.

As the battle to save Tommy’s life stretches his family’s stamina to the limits, it will take all of Brian’s resources – including a patient minister who challenges his faithlessness – to help Tommy endure treatment and a frightening prognosis.

In this powerfully moving novel, bestselling author Tom Sullivan, a blind father himself, sensitively takes readers on a journey of discovery. There is pain, yes, but also hope; understanding the ways of God sometimes intervenes in life’s crises and learning how to keep faith when He doesn’t. You will leave the story enlightened, moved, and grateful – and perhaps with a strengthened faith of your own.

Here is the biography of this author:

Tom Sullivan, known to many as an actor, singer, entertainer, author, and producer, lives and works by "Sullivan's Rules". Born prematurely in 1947, Tom was given too much oxygen while in an incubator. Though it saved his life, it cost him his eyesight. The "inconvenience" of being blind has never kept Tom Sullivan from competing in a world where he realized that to be equal, for him, meant that he must be better. 

Over the years he's made a number of guest-starring appearances in shows such as Designing Women, Highway to Heaven, Fame, M.A.S.H., Mork & Mindy, and WKRP in Cincinnati. To create the characters and fulfill the role of a blind man on prime time, he also helped write and develop many of these stories. He gained popularity on daytime TV as a regular on Search For Tomorrow and was awarded the 1984 Governors Committee Award for his role. Tome has also been nominated twice for Emmy Awards. As a special correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America, Tom has become a regular morning fixture in millions of American homes. his touching and insightful reports give many that "you can do it" bit of inspiration to start their day. Whether it was snow skiing with his son in Colorado, or interviewing the legendary Jack Nicklaus over a few holes of golf, his reporting is memorable. He is now writing and producing for television and film. He is a bestselling author of fiction, non-fiction, and children's books. His autobiography, If You Could See What I Hear, was adapted into a major motion picture. Tom is now writing and producing for television and film.

Here is a video biography of Tom, narrated by Betty White. What an inspirational man!:

For someone who has completed many marathons and half marathons over the last three years – and also has an interest in what happens after this life - I was captivated by page one of this book. Here is how Mr. Sullivan opens the Prologue:

I’ve heard it said that life is a marathon – a race to the finish twenty-six miles and three hundred and eighty-five yards long. Our mile markers are the years – five, tens, twenty, fifty, seventy-five – and the finish line is death…or is that just the starting line? Is the marathon of our lives only the beginning of eternity? Who can know? And what if you’re forced, due to injury or illness, to drop out of the race early, to end the competition long before expected?

I’m Brian O’Connor, a husband, a father, a lawyer, and a man who happens to be blind. On this pristine Monday in April, I stand in Hopkinton, a small suburb of Boston, at the start of the Boston Marathon. Thousands and thousands of people’s lives will be changed forever as they snake their way to downtown Boston. The first twelve miles are downhill, and then they will face Heartbreak Hill, which is actually five hills, as they struggle to reach the top and hear the cheers from the coeds of Wellesley College. (p. 1)

Those first two paragraphs captivated my attention immediately!

A little later on, Brian shares where his faith lies, as well as the faith of his wife, Bridgette:

Having been raised in a strict Catholic household and attended Boston College with a Jesuit education, I grew up respecting priests and honoring the mantle of Father. But over the years, I had lapsed in my faith. While Bridgette and I were doing a good job raising our children as Catholics and I did attend Sunday mass, the role of God in my life was hazy at best. I can’t say I actively lived a spiritual existence. (p. 16)

Their son, Tommy, was experiencing a health crisis, and Brian and Bridgette handled the situation differently, due to their different faith journeys. Here are Brian’s observations as they prayed in the hospital chapel:

Thought it was nondenominational, the chapel did have a central altar, and we knelt at it, two people coming from very different places regarding faith.

Bridgette was intense, ardent in her prayers. I could tell, listening to the sincerity of her whispers as her lips moved, entreating God, begging Him to make Tommy okay.

My prayer was much simpler because my faith was much less committed. I hoped God was on our side, but I wasn’t the kind of person who counted on any form of divine intervention. Maybe my blindness has made me too self-reliant. I wasn’t sure, but prayer had never been a critical part of my life. I was sure that it wasn’t something you could turn on because you need it, so my minimalist prayer was in support of my wife’s remarkable faith. (p. 63)

The hospital’s chaplain, Reverend McRae, grew close to Brian, as his spiritual advisor and running partner. Here he is explaining what his hope was for Brian:

“Brian,” McRae went on, insistent, “I believe that whatever happens to Tommy, if you have faith in God, if you will trust his life to Christ – if you will trust your own life to Christ – trust in His redemption, His resurrection, and in the power of prayer, you will be provided with the grace to cope.”

After a while, I asked, “So what is grace? You keep talking about God’s grace, but what is it?”

“Undeserved love,” he said quietly. “Grace is God’s unmerited love for us. Look, we’ve all screwed up. We don’t deserve anything good from God. That’s why the Bible talks about redemption – Jesus becoming the God-man as our Redeemer. Through Jesus, God promises us redemption. And His singular desire is to provide us with the grace necessary to complete our journey. We don’t deserve God’s grace, but it’s His gift to us.” (pp. 143-144)

This is an incredible book, as is the author himself! I was so touched by the love of this family, as well as the incredible faith of Reverend McRae. This would be a terrific book for someone who is struggling with a difficult time in his/her life. Mr. Sullivan very adeptly shares the salvation message, and provides a blueprint for enduring a struggle. I thank him for writing such a valuable and powerful book.

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Howard Books and provided by Glass Road Public Relations for review purposes.

‘The Fine Art of Insincerity’ by Angela Hunt – Book Review

One of the pleasures of book reviewing has been being able to read novels from authors that I have not read before. This pleasure came to me again with the latest book on my checked-off list, ‘The Fine Art of Insincerity’ by Angela Hunt.

Here is the synopsis of this novel:

Three Southern sisters with nine marriages among them – and more looming on the horizon – travel to St. Simons Island to empty their late grandmother’s home. Ginger, the eldest, wonders if she’s the only one who hasn’t inherited what their family calls “the Grandma Gene” – the tendency to enjoy the casualness of courtship more than the intimacy of marriage. Could it be that her sisters are fated to serially marry, just like their seven-times-wed grandmother, Lillian Irene Harper Winslow Goldstein Carey James Bobrinski Gordon George?

Marital frustrations collide with poignant memories when the sisters gather to close up Grandma’s treasured beach house for the last time. One sister faces her husband’s infidelity, one plots the end of her life in pursuit of love, and one toys with the idea of leaving her loving but dull husband as the task at hand reminds them of their grandmother’s love and life lessons. This “girls only” weekend forces them to finally unpack their family baggage, examine their relationship DNA, and discover the true legacy their much-marrying grandmother left behind.  

Here is the biography of this author:

With nearly 4 million copies of her books sold worldwide, Angela Elwell Hunt is the bestselling author of more than one hundred books, including The Tale of Three Trees, Don’t Bet Against Me!, The Note, and The Nativity Story. Hunt is one of the most sought-after collaborators in the publishing industry. Her nonfiction book Don’t Bet Against Me!, written with Deanna Favre, spent several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Angela’s novel The Note was filmed as the Hallmark Channel’s Christmas movie for 2007 and proved to be the highest rated television movie in the channel’s history. She often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences. She and her husband make their home in Florida.

Here is the book trailer for this novel:

Lately, I have been reading books in which the characters are close to me in age (not deliberately; it’s just been working out that way). Such is the case with the three sisters in this book. By the time one reaches this age, one has been through a myriad of triumphs and trials. Such is the case with these ladies – Ginger, Rosemary, and Penny. Each chapter is seen from the point of view of one of the sisters. We get a insider’s perspective on each one, seeing how she ticks. It took me a little while to distinguish between the three of them. It was hard to believe that they had the same parents, so different were each of them! But God makes each of us in our own unique way. These characters prove to me – and should to anyone who reads this book – that God is the Great Designer of each of us.

Only one of the sisters professed faith in Christ, and it took a while for her to acknowledge her faith (actually, it was more a matter of church attendance than an actual relationship). This book, although published by Howard Books, the Christian imprint from Simon and Schuster, is not overtly Christian. However, each sister seems to be closer to her Lord at the end than she was a beginning. The reason for that is the lesson that they learned from reflecting on the life of their grandmother, Lillian.

Rosemary is the sister who is contemplating ending her life, under the incorrect assumption that those she left behind would be better off without her. I found her perspective to be interesting; I recall having a similar mindset several decades ago:

Still, if the dead can yearn for things they knew before, I will miss nature. I’ll miss birdsong, and the way soaring live oaks draw my gaze to the limitless arc of sky. I’ll miss my animals: the light in my dog’s eyes and the caress of a horse’s velvet muzzle against my palm. (p. 111)

One of the items they discovered when the sisters were clearing out their grandmother’s cottage was a tape recorder and some cassette tapes from their grandmother. I loved this prayer/piece of wisdom directed at her beloved granddaughters:

Overcome with a need to hear our grandmother’s voice, I pull the tape recorder closer. A cassette sits in the machine, so I plug the cord into the wall, then hold my breath and press play. I hear the hiss of static, a quiet chuckle, and then my grandmother’s crackling voice: “Dear Lord, how I pray for my girls. Be with young Rosie, Father, and keep her safe. Be with Penny, and let her feel your tender love. And Lord, bless my sweet Gingerbread. Teach her how to lean on you instead of trying to carry her on her own shoulders. Show her how to love. And help her be the guiding light that draws her family close.” (p. 296)

I love reading books that are set in a scenic location. Such is the case with this book - St. Simons Island in Georgia. Although the setting was ancillary to the storyline, it still sounded like a beautiful place to live/visit! 

I think this would be a great book to read with a girlfriend or two (or a group). There are insightful discussion questions in the back of the book. I loved Question # 6.:

6. At dinner on Sunday night, the granddaughters discuss what love is. How would you define it? Which of them comes closest to a good definition for love? Do you think any of these definitions have changed by the end of the novel? Whose?

In addition, there is an interesting question and answer session with Ms. Hunt.

I enjoyed reading this book! This book addresses some of the big issues in life: marriage, divorce, faith, love, relationships, etc…. I have to admit that each of the sisters drove me a little crazy at one point or another, but I was cheering for happiness and love in each one of their lives as I discovered more and more about them. I love the lessons of forgiveness and love that came through at the end of the book in each life. I know these are fictional characters, but I hope they all have lasting peace in their individual situations.

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Howard Books and provided by Glass Road Public Relations for review purposes.

‘The God Hater’ by Bill Myers – Book Review

I enjoy being transported to a different time and place when I read a novel. I was transported to a real and a ‘virtual’ place in ‘The God Hater’ by Bill Myers.

Here is the synopsis of this riveting novel:

A cranky, atheistic philosophy professor loves to shred the faith of incoming freshmen. He is chosen by a group of scientists to create a philosophy for a computer-generated world exactly like ours. Much to his frustration every model he introduces—from Darwinism, to Existentialism, to Relativism, to Buddhism—fails. The only way to preserve the computer world is to introduce laws from outside their system through a Law Giver. Of course this goes against everything he's ever believed, and he hates it. But even that doesn't completely work because the citizens of that world become legalists and completely miss the spirit behind the Law. The only way to save them is to create a computer character like himself to personally live and explain it. He does. So now there are two of him—the one in our world and the one in the computer world. Unfortunately a rival has introduced a virus into the computer world. Things grow worse until our computer-world professor sees the only way to save his world is to personally absorb the virus and the penalty for breaking the Law. Of course, it's clear to all, including our real-world professor, that this act of selfless love has become a reenactment of the Gospel. It is the only possible choice to save their computer world and, as he finally understands, our own.

Here is the biography of this author:

Bill Myers holds a degree in Theater Arts from the University of Washington and an honorary doctorate from the Theological Institute of Nimes, France, where he taught. As author/screenwriter/director his work has won over 50 national and international awards, including the C.S. Lewis Honor Award. His DVDs and books have sold 8 million copies. His children's DVD and book series, McGee and Me, has sold 4.5 million copies, has won 40 Gold and Platinum awards, and has been aired on ABC as well as in 80 countries. His My Life As… series has sold 2.1 million copies. He has written, directed, and done voice work for Focus on the Family's Adventures in Odyssey radio series and is the voice of Jesus in Zondervan's NIV Audio Bible. As an author, nearly all of his children's series have made the bestseller list, as well as 7 of his adult novels. He has been interviewed for Good Morning America and ABC Nightly News. Several of his novels are currently under option for motion pictures, including Blood of Heaven, Threshold, Eli, Fire of Heaven, When the Last Leaf Falls, and Forbidden Doors. The motion picture, The Wager, starring Randy Travis and based on Myers's novel by the same name, was released in 2009.

The Author’s Note prepares his readers for this story:

        

        The following is fiction.

I’ve tried to make the science and theology reasonably accurate. But just as I’m sure I’ve made scientific blunders in the writing, I’m equally positive I’ve stepped on theological land mines. Then there’s that whole pesky issue of allegories. They only capture pieces of truth, and are way too slippery to do much more. So, just as I would encourage you not to base your science upon this science, the same should go for your theology. As I said in my novel Eli, which in many ways is the flip side of this project, if something doesn’t sound right or sticks in your throat, don’t waste your time reading this. Go to the original Source and see what it says. (p. IX)

The main characters in this interesting novel are Dr. Nicholas Mackenzie, a philosophy professor at The University of California – Santa Barbara, and his colleague, Dr. Annie Brooks. Another main character is Dr. Mackenzie’s brother, Travis, who is a genius in the field of Computer Science.

Annie is a woman of faith; she has difficulty with the strident atheism of her colleague. Here are her thoughts on a debate that Dr. Mackenzie engaged in on a TV program called God Talk:

He’d done it again. Her colleague and friend – if Dr. Nicholas Mackenzie could be said to have any friends – had shredded another person of faith. This time a Christian, some megachurch pastor hawking his latest book. Next time it could just as easily be a Jew or Muslim or Buddhist. The point was that Nicholas hated religion. And heaven help anyone who tried to defend it. (p. 6)

That sounds like the description of many professors in our public universities.

Dr. Mackenzie shares the reason why he likes to appear on that program:

…Nicholas was a frequent guest on God Talk. Despite his reclusive lifestyle, not to mention his general disdain for people, he always accepted the producer’s invitation. Few things gave him more pleasure than exposing toxic nature of religion. Besides, these outings provided a nice change of pace. Instead of the usual stripping away of naïve college students’ faith in his classroom, the TV guests occasionally provided a challenge.

Occasionally. (p. 7)

We also get a glimpse into his world view:

He had abandoned society long ago. Or rather, it had abandoned him. Not that there was any love lost. Today’s culture was an intellectual wasteland - a world of prechewed ideas, politically correct causes, sound-bite news coverage, and novels that were nothing more than comic books. (He’d given up on movies and television long ago.) Why waste his time on such pabulum when he could surround himself with Sartre, Hegel, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche – men whose work would provide more meaningful companionship in one evening than most people could in a lifetime? (p. 8)

Dr. Brooks, a biology professor, shared a revelation with her Molecular Biology 201 students that surprised them:

“Now, for nearly fifty years, origin-of-life experts have pretty much rejected the concept of life forming in our planet by random chance.”

She turned back to the class. Those who were awake frowned as if they’d misheard. Good, she’d finally gotten their attention. In fact, a young Asian near the center of the auditorium actually raised her hand.

“Yes?” Annie nodded.

“Is that true?”

“Absolutely. And it’s been true since the 1960s. Every origin-of-life expert worth his or her salt has rejected the concept that life formed by random chance.”

The girl’s frown deepened and Annie answered the unasked question.

“You didn’t learn this in your high school biology class because it’s an inconvenient truth.” With a smile she added, “One of our dirty little secrets. But if you plan to pursue biology and want to play with the big kids, it’s a paradox you’ll have to accept.” (p.22)

She then went on to share scientific evidence to explain and support her assertions.

Annie had a precocious young son named Russell, nicknamed Rusty. We learn what brought her and Dr. Mackenzie together. We learn she became pregnant outside of marriage, and was abandoned by most:

And who helped her through those next months? Certainly not her friends, not from either side of the moral aisle. After all, she was a college professor, an advocate of the faith, a role model to young women. So, while her nonreligious friends secretly gloated, her religious ones subtly evaporated. It was only Dr. Nicholas Mackenzie, the curmudgeon she publicly debated on campus, who stayed at her side. Never once did he point out her hypocrisy. Never once did he do anything but offer help. A surprising paradox, for the crank that both faculty and students went out of their way to avoid. (p. 29)

This book is full of interesting computing and scientific data – but nothing that is too hard for the amateur to understand. Here is a fascinating section on how they created the virtual community that is based on our society:

        “What’s in here?” she [Annie] asked.

        “Nanobots.”

“Miniature robots,” Annie said, looking at the cylinder. “People have been hypothesizing about their use for years.”

“Yes. Each is the size of a single human blood cell. When injected into the circulatory system, they perform whatever task we design them for. They can track down and destroy disease, repair tissue---”

“But in the future,” Annie corrected. “Sometime in the future.”

Agapoff shook her head. “As early as 2003 a researcher from the University of Illinois designed a batch he injected into rats to cure their type one diabetes.” (p. 107)

They used that technology to create a virtual person in their new computer community.

In the virtual community, the individuals – who had free will, just as we do – fell victim to the same temptations found in our world, included unlimited knowledge for any and all takers, aka the Internet:

        Nicholas turned to Travis.“The rest of the community was drawn to this?”

        “Like moths to a flame.” 

He pushed up his glasses and scowled. “Our instructions weren’t good enough for them.”

Travis shook his head. “Now everybody wants to know why. Why they have to follow authority, why they have to treat each other as sacred, why not this way, why not that way. Now they all want to experiment on their own, to do it their own way.”

Annie softly quoted, “Each doing whatever is right in their own eyes.”

“Regardless of the long-term consequences?” Nicholas asked.

“That’s right.”

“So, we’ve come full circle.”

“Short-term gratification equals selfish ambition equals self-destruction,” Travis said. “Just like old times.” (pp. 136-137)

This book uses the life of Jesus Christ and many of its elements in an allegorical fashion. Included in different variations are the Sermon on the Mount, the woman caught in adultery, the Pharisees and Sadducees, Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin, spiritual warfare, sacrificial death and resurrection, etc...

To be honest, when I first read the title of this novel – ‘The God Hater’ – I was taken aback. How can a title like that be considered a Christian novel? After reading it, my opinion is that ‘you can’t judge a book by its title’! I think this presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ in an amazingly interesting way. It will reach believers and non-believers alike; it puts a spin on the Good News that will resonate with the scientifically/technically inclined. I was pleasantly surprised! This is the first novel I have read from Bill Myers, and it makes me want to read more from his creative and prolific mind. I give this book my highest recommendation.

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Howard Book and provided by the CSFF Blog Tour; I am happy to be participating with these other bloggers.

Winner of 'The Black Madonna' by Davis Bunn is....

The Random Number Generator has done its job again, and chosen a winner for 'The Black Madonna,' the exciting and fast-paced novel by Davis Bunn. 


And that winner is.....


Ann Lee Miller!


Congratulations, Ann Lee! I will be making contact with you this morning to get your address.


Thanks to all who entered. There are a lot of John Cusack fans out there; great casting choice!


Thanks also to Rebeca at Glass Roads PR, who made this giveaway possible!


For those of you who didn't win, you can order your copy here!


Please come back soon for other giveaways!

‘The Black Madonna’ by Davis Bunn – Book Review and Giveaway

There is often nothing better than a well-written thriller. Davis Bunn has a terrific new book that takes you away – ‘The Black Madonna.’

Here is the synopsis of this novel:

Following the international acclaimed Gold of Kings, Storm Syrrell returns in the compelling story of The Black Madonna.

Antiques expert Storm Syrrell heads to Europe to investigate the clandestine trade in religious artifacts. She dismisses superstitious tales of miraculous healings and divine omens. Yet when an obsessive Russian oligarch calls – just as her friend Harry Bennett vanishes – all assumptions must be cast aside. Storm seeks answers in a medieval monastery. There, the scarred visage of an icon provokes even more startling questions. Is she prepared to confront both earthly and spiritual powers? Storm remains haunted by lessons in love and betrayal that lie just outside her grasp. But hesitation now holds mortal consequences.

Here is the biography of the author:

Davis Bunn is an award-winning author, recognized for literary excellence in genres as diverse as historical sagas, contemporary thrillers, and inspirational gift books. His novels have sold more than six million copies in sixteen languages.

Davis has received numerous accolades, including three Christy Awards for excellence in fiction. He currently serves as writer in residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University. He divides his time between England and Florida, and lectures internationally on the craft of writing.

I have read one other book by this author – ‘The Hidden Flame,’ co-written with Janette Oke (you can read my review here). He is an amazing writer!

The book opens with one of the primary characters, Harry Bennett, a treasure hunter, getting into some trouble in Hebron on the West Bank in Israel. That area has been historically renowned in terms of biblical people:

After sunset, the Hebron air cooled at a grudging pace. Harry watched as the city square filled with people and traffic and shadows. The café became crowded with people who avoided looking Harry’s way. Across the plaza, the Tomb of the Patriarchs shone pearl white. Beside the cave complex stood the Mosque of Abraham, a mammoth structure dating back seven hundred years.

The caves had been bought by the patriarch Abraham for four hundred coins, such an astronomical sum that the previous owner had offered to throw in the entire village. But Abraham had insisted upon overpaying so that his rightful ownership would never be questioned. He had wanted the caves as his family’s burial site because supposedly they were also where Adam and Eve had been laid to rest. Besides Abraham himself, the caves also held the remains of his wife, Sarah, along with Rebecca, Isaac, and Jacob. (pp. 5-6)

Harry had an unusual mission this time:

After nearly three years of roiling conflict, the Israeli Antiquities Authority had basically lost control of smuggling in the West Bank. In the past, the IAA had nabbed about ninety thieves each year for pilfering tombs, ruined cities, palaces, and forts. Since the latest political trouble began, however, arrests had slumped to almost nothing. The IAA knew without question that the worst culprits were getting away. The international arts market was being flooded with ancient Hebrew treasures. What was more, a growing number of these items were bogus. Extremely well crafted, their workmanship often able to fool museum directors and other supposed experts, but phony just the same.

The Israeli government had needed someone with Harry Bennett’s credentials, known throughout the world as a dedicated treasure dog. Somebody capable of infiltrating the system and identifying the source of the fake artifacts. (p. 11)

The main character, Storm Syrrell, finds herself in the midst of the aftermath of the thievery of Bernie Madoff – a slice of real life in this fictional book:

Not even Manalapan’s [a city in Florida] superrich had managed to escape the Madoff plague. Bernie Madoff had wintered in Palm Beach. His clientele had included many of Palm Beach’s finest. There were some streets on Palm Beach Island where every family faced bankruptcy, every multimillion-dollar home awaited the auctioneer’s hammer, every bank account was wiped clean. The locals called these areas Bernievilles, after the depression-era Hoovervilles that had infested U.S. cities.

Needless to say, it was not ideal timing for a lady to establish herself in the Palm Beach antiques and treasures trade. (p. 17)

Storm did obtain a new client, Raphael Danton, who was in the business of provided exemplary service to his wealthy clients, doing whatever they needed to have done. Storm’s friend, Emma Webb, employed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, was able to give Storm some information on him before she had the opportunity to meet him in person:

“This guy is hot. Not to mention rich. And he’s single. There must be something seriously wrong here. I’m thinking some secret wasting disease.”

          “His attitude is about the worst I’ve come across.”

          “Honey, a rich single hunk isn’t allowed to have a personality. It’s the law.”

          “He’s really a hunk?”

“Let me put it this way. When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s kid grows up, he’s going to look like armadillo roadkill beside your new client.”

“Why does Homeland Security have a file on him?”

“Probably because he’s so hot. I can imagine some lonely chief investigator spotting this guy in line somewhere and ordering her crew to find his home address.” (pp. 31-32)

 Storm and Emma ended up seeing Mr. Danton in person for the first time together:

Storm tightened her grip on her purse as Raphael Danton crossed the tarmac, climbed the stairs, and entered the terminal. Even the two ladies behind the counter stopped their conversation.

He wore a suede jacket the color of sand that probably cost more than Emma’s entire wardrobe. A gold watch blinked on his tanned wrist. His eyes were more copper than brown. His jaw was straight from a movie by Cecil B. DeMille. Wavy hair to match his eyes. Long and strong body. Gorgeous tan. (p. 90)

One of the main plot points in this harrowing novel is the acquisition of religious artifacts by a mystery person. One of the items sought after is the Black Madonna of Czestochowa. A gentleman named Antonin Tarka and a Polish priest named Father Gregor explains to Storm:

“The Black Madonna of Czestochowa is a painting of Mary holding the baby Jesus. According to tradition, this icon was painted by Saint Luke himself. The painting was completed while Mary told Luke of Jesus’ life. Luke then incorporated these stories and teachings into his Gospel. He painted the Black Madonna upon a cypress tabletop made by Mary’s mother, Joseph.”

….Father Gregor went on, “The picture remained in Jerusalem until the year 326, when it was gifted to Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine. She brought it back to her son’s new capital, where it was housed in the city’s cathedral. When the eastern Roman Empire fell to the Ottomans, the picture was first taken to Belz, then brought to its current home in 1382. The painting is called the Black Madonna because of the soot residue that discolors the figures, caused by centuries of votive candles and incense.”

…”There have been almost two thousand years of miracles associated with this painting,” Father Gregor continued. “Spontaneous healings, the repulsion of invaders – the list is endless.”

Tarka said, “What you must understand, Ms. Syrrell, is that the painting’s importance goes far beyond any particular miracle. The Black Madonna of Czestochowa represents Poland’s ability to survive as a nation.”  (pp. 159-160)

I did not read the previous book featuring Storm Syrrell, ‘Gold of Kings.’ If it’s anything like this, I think I will have to backtrack into Mr. Bunn’s catalog to read that one, and look forward to the continuing exploits of Ms. Syrrell. I am interested in seeing where her love life takes her (you will have to read this book to find out which of the many fascinating gentleman in this book capture her heart!).  

I really enjoyed this book. It’s great escapist reading, well-written, and could be converted into a terrific movie! Mr. Bunn is skilled at writing with a fashionable and classy flair. He certainly sent me all over the world – Israel, England, Switzerland – and all with excitement and intrigue.

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Howard/Touchstone, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, and provided by Glass Road Public Relations for review and giveaway purposes.

_____________________________________________________________

I have a copy of this fast-paced book that I would love to send along to one winner (thanks, Rebeca!)! 

There are several ways to gain entry:

1) Leave a comment here on the blog, sharing with us who you think would be the perfect casting choice for the character of Raphael Danton in a movie adaptation of this book. Please make sure to leave your email address in this format – sample [at]gmail[dot]com.

2) Follow me on Twitter; I will more than likely follow you back!  If you are already a Twitter follower, that counts, too!  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

3) Follow me as a Google Friend on this blog; if you are already a Friend, that counts, too!  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

4) Become my Facebook friend.  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

5) Follow this blog as a NetWorked Blog Follower after you’ve become my Facebook friend.  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

So there are five chances to enter!  Please limit one entry per option.

This giveaway is for U.S. residents only.  The deadline for entry is Monday, October 4, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST.  A winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 and will be contacted via email.  The best to all of you!