By The Book

Juggling motherhood and her job as a real-estate agent, Elizabeth Jordan wishes her husband could help more around the house. But Tony’s rising career as a pharmaceutical salesman demands more and more of his time. With a nice home in the suburbs and a lovely young daughter, they appear to have it all―yet they can’t seem to spend time together without fighting.

Hoping for a new listing, Elizabeth visits the home of Clara Williams, an elderly widow, and is both amused and uncomfortable when Clara starts asking pointed questions about her marriage and faith. But it’s Clara’s secret prayer room, with its walls covered in requests and answers, that has Elizabeth most intrigued . . . even if she’s not ready to take Clara’s suggestion that she create a prayer room of her own. As tensions at home escalate, though, Elizabeth begins to realize that her family is worth fighting for, and she can’t win this battle on her own. Stepping out in blind faith, putting her prayers for her family and their future in God’s hands, might be her only chance at regaining the life she was meant for.

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live! on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris’ novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, Not in the Heart, Borders of the Heart, and Every Waking Moment, have won three Christy Awards and an ECPA Christian Book Award, but it’s his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more.

He has also published more than 65 other books, including nonfiction and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and The Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR.

My Impressions:

War Room is the novelization of the movie by the same name set to release on August 28, 2015. Another creation from Alex and Stephen Kendrick of Fireproof and Courageous, War Room focuses on the power unleashed when God’s people turn to prayer. Following his novelization of The Song (read review HERE), talented author Chris Fabry has done an excellent job of translating images from the big screen to print.

War Room features Elizabeth and Tony Jordan, two high-achieving people who have let things of this world — money, status, and pride — get in the middle of their marriage. The distance and arguing have affected their only child as well, setting up a course of disaster for their future. Enter Miss Clara, a woman who has faced life’s battles on her knees. Through the power of prayer, lives are changed and hope is found.

Elizabeth and Tony are two very realistic characters. On the outside they look like they have it all — good careers, a beautiful home, a well-behaved child — yet they are dying inside. And they are Christians. But neglect of the most important relationship, that of God, has caused them to come to the edge of losing it all. This book is sure to touch a lot of chords with readers. So what can save us? Prayer. The character of Miss Clara is a great example of a life lived and breathed through prayer. Never a laundry a list of wants and needs, Clara’s prayer life is one of seeking and worshipping, allowing God to change minds and lives all the time bringing glory to Him. This book is a wake-up call to believers who are coasting through their spiritual lives.

It is very hard to successfully write a book based on a movie. The book is often just a series of images with one-dimensional characters. But Chris Fabry did an exceptional job of allowing the reader to conjure their own images. War Room never felt hurried or incomplete. It has made me anxious to see the movie. There is a Double Dutch competition described that will have to be seen to be believed. The book also includes pictures from the movie and discussion questions for personal or group study.

Another hit from both the Kendricks and Fabry, War Room is a recommended read.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to Tyndale for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

War Room Trailer

Tags: Chris Fabry, contemporary fiction

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise. Ephesians 5:15

Jed King’s life has been shaped by the songs and mistakes of his famous father. He wants to sing his own song, but the words and melody are elusive. Haunted by the scars inflicted by his broken family, Jed’s dreams of a successful music career seem out of reach . . . until he meets Rose.

As romance quickly blooms, Jed pens a new song and suddenly finds himself catapulted into stardom. But with this life of fame comes temptation, the same temptation that lured his father so many years ago.

Set in the fertile mid-South, this quest for success leads Jed and Rose on a journey that will force them to deal with the pain of loss, failure, and the desire to be who God created them to be.

Lyrical and deeply honest, The Song asks the hard questions of love and forgiveness. When even the wisest of men are fools in love, can true love persevere?

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live! on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris’ novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, Not in the Heart, Borders of the Heart, and his latest release, Every Waking Moment, have won three Christy Awards and an ECPA Christian Book Award, but it’s his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more.

He has also published more than 65 other books, including nonfiction and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and The Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR.

My Impressions:

The Song by Chris Fabry is a novelization of the movie by the same name. My experience with such books is usually disappointing. Many times authors follow so closely to the script that the books feel like a movie instead of a book. While I have not seen the film version of The Song, I can say that the book most definitely reads like a book. Those of you who care about such things will understand. Fabry is one of my favorite authors and he did an outstanding job. I found this novel deeply moving and personal, often speaking to and convicting my heart. Inspired by the life of King Solomon, this book is one I highly recommend.

Jed is the son of country music great David King. He has a lot to live up to and a lot to live down when it comes to his father. Determined to make his own way and music, Jed seeks wisdom and the heart of God. Unfortunately, fame, riches and and other temptations lure Jed from the family he loves and the God he first sought to serve.

The Song is a story of love, commitment, and marriage in the midst of life’s joys, griefs and temptations. The story of Jedediah King may be inspired by King Solomon, but it is one that everyone can relate to. Who doesn’t want the best for himself and his family? But when the pursuit of earthly things takes the place of God’s will, all becomes vanity. The contemporary setting of the novel really proves that there really isn’t anything new under the sun. And while Jed bears much of the blame for the decline of his family, it is easy to see that little foxes can be let in by both spouses. It is the lack of communication, the hurt feelings, and the separate lives and agendas, that most readers will identify with.

The Biblical allusions were a clever touch. Be on the lookout for those. My favorite was the name of Jed’s musical partner, Shelby Bales. In King Solomon’s life he allowed his many wives and concubines to keep their baals or idols. We may think we can manage the indiscretions of others, but they often lead to sin in our own lives.

Included in the book is an excerpt of a couple’s devotional also based on the movie. Be sure to check out this great resource as well.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults (especially couples).

(Thanks to Tyndale for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click HERE.

Tags: Chris Fabry, contemporary fiction

Desperate to escape haunting memories, J. D. Jessup travels from Nashville to Tucson and volunteers on an organic farm. The hardened landowner has one prevailing rule: If J. D. sees an “illegal,” call the border patrol. But when an early morning ride along the fence line leads him to a beautiful young woman named Maria, near death in the desert, his heart pulls him in another direction. Longing to atone for the choices that drove him to Tucson, J. D. hides her and unleashes a chain of deadly events he could never have imagined. Soon they are running from a killer and fighting for their lives. As secrets of their pasts emerge, J. D. realizes that saving Maria may be the only way to save himself.

Excerpt

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live! on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris’ novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, Not in the Heart, and his latest release, Borders of the Heart, have won two Christy Awards and an ECPA Christian Book Award, but it’s his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more.

He has also published more than 65 other books, including nonfiction and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and The Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR.

My Impressions:

From the first few pages, you know you are in for something special in a novel by Chris Fabry. There is an excellence in his writing style that draws the reader in. Fabry’s newest novel, Borders of The Heart is no exception. On the surface, Borders of The Heart is a great suspense novel. There is a lot there to please any thrill lover — drug cartels, fugitives, shootouts, and car chases. But Fabry doesn’t leave it at that. This novel looks into the souls of the grieving and offers real comfort and answers to the seemingly unexplainable tragedies of this world.

J.D. Jessup has escaped his life in Tennessee and landed on an organic farm in the desert of Arizona. He is not living, but just existing. But when he finds a near-death woman in the desert, J.D.’s world shifts. He is drawn to Maria, a complex and often mysterious woman determined to confront and thwart evil. And despite the danger J.D. finds at every turn, he realizes he wants to start living again, even if it means dying.

Borders of the Heart is a thrill ride, but not a book you want to rush along. If you do, you will miss the subtle changes the characters undergo. Fabry has written some wonderfully complex characters. You will find evil, nobility and deeps flaws mixed into the people you will meet in this book’s pages. The questions posed are those everyone faces — questions of death, grief and love. And when faced with hard choices, the heart of the characters determine which path they take.

Borders of The Heart would be ideal for book discussion groups. There is so much to discuss — why God allows horrible things to happen, how do we respond to people in need, what kind of love does God ask of us. So I recommend you put this at the top of your TBR list. And make sure you set enough time aside to savor all that Chris Fabry has written.

Highly Recommended.

(I received Borders of The Heart from Tyndale in return for an honest review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: Chris Fabry, contemporary fiction

Truman Wiley used to report news stories from around the world, but now the most troubling headlines are his own. He’s out of work, out of touch with his family, out of his home. But nothing dogs him more than his son’s failing heart.

With mounting hospital bills and Truman’s penchant for gambling his savings, the situation seems hopeless . . . until his estranged wife throws him a lifeline—the chance to write the story of a death row inmate, a man convicted of murder who wants to donate his heart to Truman’s son.

As the execution clock ticks down, Truman uncovers disturbing evidence that points to a different killer. For his son to live, must an innocent man die? Truman’s investigation draws him down a path that will change his life, his family, and the destinies of two men forever.

Excerpt

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live! on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris’ novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, and Not in the Heart, have won two Christy Awards and an ECPA Christian Book Award, but it’s his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more.

He has also published more than 65 other books, including nonfiction and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and The Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR.

My Impressions:

I thought Chris Fabry’s book Almost Heaven was great and it is, but Not In The Heart is out of the park good!  Truman Wiley is a TV journalist that once had it all — the best family, the best career, the best life — but now he is dodging collection agents, repo men and some very dangerous mobsters.  All of this is due to his gambling addiction that has cost him nearly everything in his life including his son who lays dying in a hospital bed.  He is just one step away from complete despair when a lifeline of sorts is thrown to him — the story of the man condemned to die who wants to give his heart to Truman’s son.  One thing Truman does well is to dig out a story, to uncover the truth of a situation, so he grabs ahold and follows the trail even when it threatens to end the transplant his son desperately needs.

Fabry has written a character in Truman Wiley that is at once despicable and sympathetic.  He is charming and funny and pathetic.   There were times while reading this book that I wanted to hit Truman upside his head and other times I wanted to wrap my arms around him.  Even in his darkest moments, I liked Truman — a brilliant life that once shined now almost completely wrapped in darkness.  Never knowing someone as deep into his addiction as Truman, I could nevertheless identify with him.  I have often battled with doing right when I wanted to do wrong or doing wrong when I knew the right thing.  Thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit that convicts and teaches us along the way.  But Truman did not have guidance, only an overwhelming urge to experience that next high, the urge to hit it big just one more time.

Mixed into Truman’s life is his wife and son who have found God, a daughter that wants to connect with him and the man condemned to death for a crime he says he didn’t commit.  Terrelle is in prison, but as Truman soon finds out he is freer than Truman could ever hope to be.  Also add a fascinating mystery and breath-holding suspense and you’ve got a novel that has it all.  Not In The Heart is definitely on my best of the best list for this year.

Highly Recommended.

(I received an ARC of Not In The Heart from Tyndale and B&B Media in return for an honest review.  The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: Chris Fabry, contemporary fiction