Jerry Jenkins

Dear Readers, 

I belong to several different publisher blogsites where you can request a book in exchange for a review of their book.  I do this because it forces me to read books that I would normally not read.  The Brotherhood by Jerry Jenkins is one of these books that I received from Tyndale publishers.

Several years ago I fell in love with Jerry Jenkins'  writing and it had nothing to do with the Left Behind series. (Which I thought were very well written, but I didn't really care to read that many of them.)  It had to do with a little book called Though None Go With Me.  If you haven't read it, it is worth tracking down a copy and reading it.  Last I heard it was out of print, but I can check that out for you.  Just let me know.  He has also written a couple of other books I have enjoyed, but the last two of his I have read I haven't been overly impressed with, so I wasn't sure I was even going to read this one.  I will admit one of them was a re-release of an older book of his, but still... 

I am going to admit I liked this book in spite of myself.  I kept thinking I wouldn't like it and yet I enjoyed the story.  It is mostly a story of a man recovering from one of the most devestating things that could happen to him.  The lost of his wife and child.  The first 2/3's of the book are the story of Boone and how he is trying to put a life alone together without having anything else hurt him.  He works hard to keep control of everything he can and yet work towards healing. 

His faith is tested once again when he is brought up on brutality charges.  He could lose the last thing important to him.  It is a crisis of faith that forces his hand on deciding whom he will choose to serve. 

The last 1/3 of the story is where I actually started really enjoying it.  It is where the organized crime/gangs get involved.  It is a bit more high suspense and what I actually hoped for from the book.  Jerry is good at writing an emotional story, but he also can write a good action story.  This book has both and even though that didn't really bother me and I enjoyed both storylines, I wish he had done one or the other.  I felt like there were gaps in the story that we were left to conclude on our own.  We jump ahead about a year and half with little warning.  It just seemed to me that the story was forced to move quickly so we could get to the next storyline. 

]I do recommend this book, but go in knowing it isn't action packed from start to finish.  It only took me two days to read so it isn't a long book or one that I wanted to slow down and enjoy. 

Happy Reading

P.S. If you are interested in a chance to win a free copy of The Brotherhood.  Post a comment to this post and the drawing will be the week of the 21st.