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The Kingdom Chronicles #2
The Force
Someone is murdering the world’s most beautiful women—over and over...
When Jarrod and Joshua Sinclair are called in to consult with the FBI about the Hollywood Starlet murders, they immediately suspect their old nemesis, Josef Helmick, of creating clones for a visiting Saudi prince. Wasting no time, they hire retired detective Fred Kowalski to uncover Josef’s base of operations and build a case against him.
Soon Fred discovers that Helmick is harboring a secret much darker than human trafficking. Now he and the Sinclairs must stop Helmick before Josef resurrects an ancient, diabolical Force in order to bring the entire world under his control.
When Jarrod and Joshua Sinclair are called in to consult with the FBI about the Hollywood Starlet murders, they immediately suspect their old nemesis, Josef Helmick, of creating clones for a visiting Saudi prince. Wasting no time, they hire retired detective Fred Kowalski to uncover Josef’s base of operations and build a case against him.
Soon Fred discovers that Helmick is harboring a secret much darker than human trafficking. Now he and the Sinclairs must stop Helmick before Josef resurrects an ancient, diabolical Force in order to bring the entire world under his control.
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First published October 1, 2013
21 people are currently reading
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About the author
Alexandra Swann
22 books85 followersIn 1986, Alexandra Swann graduated at fifteen years of age with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Brigham Young University and a GPA of 3.85. The following year, when she was sixteen, she received a Master’s Degree in History from California State University. After graduation, she taught history and English as a second language for four years at El Paso Community College. In 1989, her book, "No Regrets: How Homeschooling Earned me a Master’s Degree at Age Sixteen", was published, in which she details her experiences with homeschooling.
For fifteen years, from 1998-2013, Alexandra was self-employed in the financial services industry in El Paso, Texas. As a small business owner who was active in the community and on various civic boards, she learned first-hand the challenges that excessive regulations create for small businesses. In 2012 she received the SBA’s Regional Minority Small Business Champion of the Year award. In 2014 she moved to Dallas where she works in financial services and is active in the community through various industry organizations and committees.
In 2010, Alexandra and her mother incorporated Frontier 2000 Media Group to produce clean, wholesome, inspirational entertainment for families. She re-released "No Regrets" with a new foreword to the twentieth anniversary edition of the book updating readers on what her family is doing today. She is also co-author of five Christian fiction novels including "The Fourth Kingdom" which was selected as one of four finalists in the Christianity Today 2011 Christian Fiction Book Awards. Her newest book, "The Invitation", [co-authored with Joyce}, is book one of their series Kinsman. "The Invitation" was published on Christmas Eve of 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 2, 2013
This is a captivating story for adult readers. The subject matter is disturbing at times, dealing with violent deaths, but there is nothing graphic or explicit. I enjoyed the story because the characters were very tangible and likeable. They had background and real thoughts and responses. The Christian perspective is uplifting; a breath of fresh air and far more relevant, time tested and true to life than stories of vampires, dwarfs or space aliens.
I received notice that this story was available for free under a Kindle promotion. I was out the evening the promotion expired, forgot the name of the book and the author. I remembered it was described as a Christian thriller. Looking up the genre on my Kindle (I had it with me, ...obviously) I was surprised at the many titles under the genre. If I were a faster reader and had more time I would be looking into this genre much more.
I give this four stars because I am reading another title by Joyce Swan and need to give that a higher rating.
I received notice that this story was available for free under a Kindle promotion. I was out the evening the promotion expired, forgot the name of the book and the author. I remembered it was described as a Christian thriller. Looking up the genre on my Kindle (I had it with me, ...obviously) I was surprised at the many titles under the genre. If I were a faster reader and had more time I would be looking into this genre much more.
I give this four stars because I am reading another title by Joyce Swan and need to give that a higher rating.
September 5, 2020
A greater force
Wow! I very much enjoyed this series. I pray that I will have Joshua’s boldness if God calls me to do something like that. The devil plans to harm us, but God’s plans are greater. He is the greater force always. Very well done!
Wow! I very much enjoyed this series. I pray that I will have Joshua’s boldness if God calls me to do something like that. The devil plans to harm us, but God’s plans are greater. He is the greater force always. Very well done!
March 2, 2023
A very good read
I don't remember getting this book and did not expect much when I started reading it. I was pleasantly surprised that it was a real page turner with a subtle Christian message.
I don't remember getting this book and did not expect much when I started reading it. I was pleasantly surprised that it was a real page turner with a subtle Christian message.
November 20, 2013
When I picked up the books by the Swanns, I was drawn into the story right away. They were interesting. I finished both The Fourth Kingdom and The Force within a short time of each other. The Force is the sequel to The Fourth Kingdom but they are stand alone books. There is enough background information given in the second book to not have to read the first. I anticipate that those who read The Force and enjoy it will want to read The Fourth Kingdom.
The summary at the top of this review gives a good, short list of those most prominent in the book. Honestly, Jarrod and Joshua have less of a role in this book than I thought they would. My review will give you all that I didn't like, what I thought was okay, and what I really enjoyed; in that order. I don't want to leave on a negative note {wink}.
What I did not like: this book is so dark. It has evil at its core and while reading it, it is obvious. I was hooked with the book right off the bat but there were so many times I thought, 'ugh, I don't want to read this anymore.' The writing is done well though; the gorier scenes are so mild, I know. So with that said, that I think this book is very dark in nature, there is something that is mixed throughout -no, not mixed but rather covering and weaving itself in between- and that's goodness. But since this is a Christian book, it isn't just 'goodness', it's God's goodness. I still struggled with the darkness of the book but I understand why it was written that way {I think}. Life, real life, isn't all puppy dogs and kittens; it's venomous snakes and murderers sometimes. Through all of life however, there is God. Whether one believes in Him or not.
What I thought was 'okay'/could have been improved: some of the dialogue and writing were...not so much under developed but perhaps over developed. People say not to compare but honestly who doesn't? We all have authors that we love, for whatever reason, and we measure others by that favorite author. While I may not have a favorite author, I do have a prefered style of writing and all books are measured to that. This book did not measure to that standard through the entirety of the book. I will say I found the dialogue much better than the first book. It was and still is hard to put my finger on why it bothered me when reading but it did and had a lasting impression.
There were fillers; too many fillers. There were some situations that were mentioned in the book that, since they were mentioned at one point they had to be dealt with later in the book. Or did they really? There was one or two that I'd forgotten about by the second mention of them and had to flip back some pages to refresh my memory. Probably faulty reading on my part. The other one that I can recall just seemed to be too far off the main point of the book. It was a good inclusion but it didn't really feel like it actually fit in the book.
Finally, I loved the inclusion of God in this book. It is throughout the book. If it weren't for that, this would not be a book I would feel good about recommending. It seems to me that quite a few of the "Christian" books I've read skirt around God but still try to retain that "Christian" tag on their book. I really liked the way the Swanns were able to portray the strength of the main characters' resolve {Jarrod and Joshua}.
The writing style {with the exception of what I've mentioned previously} is good and it hooks right away. It kept me reading, on the edge of my seat you might say. I enjoyed the scene descriptions for the most part and could place the characters in the scene. And as twisted as some parts were, I could imagine it actually taking place. There are twists that I did not see coming- that's always a good thing in a suspense book!
Those who like more suspense and action books, with a hope of good prevailing over evil- perhaps Ted Dekker books?- might like this book.
The summary at the top of this review gives a good, short list of those most prominent in the book. Honestly, Jarrod and Joshua have less of a role in this book than I thought they would. My review will give you all that I didn't like, what I thought was okay, and what I really enjoyed; in that order. I don't want to leave on a negative note {wink}.
What I did not like: this book is so dark. It has evil at its core and while reading it, it is obvious. I was hooked with the book right off the bat but there were so many times I thought, 'ugh, I don't want to read this anymore.' The writing is done well though; the gorier scenes are so mild, I know. So with that said, that I think this book is very dark in nature, there is something that is mixed throughout -no, not mixed but rather covering and weaving itself in between- and that's goodness. But since this is a Christian book, it isn't just 'goodness', it's God's goodness. I still struggled with the darkness of the book but I understand why it was written that way {I think}. Life, real life, isn't all puppy dogs and kittens; it's venomous snakes and murderers sometimes. Through all of life however, there is God. Whether one believes in Him or not.
What I thought was 'okay'/could have been improved: some of the dialogue and writing were...not so much under developed but perhaps over developed. People say not to compare but honestly who doesn't? We all have authors that we love, for whatever reason, and we measure others by that favorite author. While I may not have a favorite author, I do have a prefered style of writing and all books are measured to that. This book did not measure to that standard through the entirety of the book. I will say I found the dialogue much better than the first book. It was and still is hard to put my finger on why it bothered me when reading but it did and had a lasting impression.
There were fillers; too many fillers. There were some situations that were mentioned in the book that, since they were mentioned at one point they had to be dealt with later in the book. Or did they really? There was one or two that I'd forgotten about by the second mention of them and had to flip back some pages to refresh my memory. Probably faulty reading on my part. The other one that I can recall just seemed to be too far off the main point of the book. It was a good inclusion but it didn't really feel like it actually fit in the book.
Finally, I loved the inclusion of God in this book. It is throughout the book. If it weren't for that, this would not be a book I would feel good about recommending. It seems to me that quite a few of the "Christian" books I've read skirt around God but still try to retain that "Christian" tag on their book. I really liked the way the Swanns were able to portray the strength of the main characters' resolve {Jarrod and Joshua}.
The writing style {with the exception of what I've mentioned previously} is good and it hooks right away. It kept me reading, on the edge of my seat you might say. I enjoyed the scene descriptions for the most part and could place the characters in the scene. And as twisted as some parts were, I could imagine it actually taking place. There are twists that I did not see coming- that's always a good thing in a suspense book!
Those who like more suspense and action books, with a hope of good prevailing over evil- perhaps Ted Dekker books?- might like this book.
November 11, 2013
The Force opens with Alexander Sinclair (you can read more about him in The Fourth Kingdom) explaining the difference between power and force to his two young sons, Joshua and Jarrod. "God's power is unlimited. He created everything there is in heaven and on earth. He has the power to protect us and to help us in every situation... but the devil is different. He cannot create anything... he has never created one single thing because force cannot create." Satan may have a great deal of force but that is nothing when compared with the great power of God. As Joshua and Jarrod grow up they experience this for themselves when they face their adversary Josef Helmick.
The Force, and it's prequel The Fourth Kingdom, are both overtly Christian novels that focus on current events in the scientific community. Remember Dolly, the cloned sheep? Well, that's what you're going to find here (but not with sheep of course!) as well as a terrifying bad guy, trustworthy hero, and many other characters. You'll also be reading a book that deals with current scientific exploration from a decidedly Christian point-of-view.
The book begins with a few mysterious deaths that are ultimately traced back to one man, Josef Helmick. Joshua and Jarrod Sinclair know that it will be difficult to locate Helmick and bring him to justice so they hire recently retired detective Fred Kowalski to discover his whereabouts. The story moves back and forth between Fred and Helmick (other characters are introduced throughout the novel as well) and the ultimate showdown between good and evil.
Both The Fourth Kingdom and The Force are good reads though I'll confess that I did enjoy The Force more than the prequel. While I liked the characters well enough in the first novel I felt that they were a little "too-good-to-be-true". I felt the characters were more well-developed in this second book. The antagonist, Josef Helmick, is truly a terrifying character. He is completely without morals but has a brilliant mind and a lust for power, certainly not a safe combination for the rest of the world. My guess is that there will be a third book in the series (maybe!). The storyline does completely wrap-up but the way the book ends certainly leaves the door open for a follow-up.
This series falls into the Christian mystery/thriller genre so, if you like that style of novel give this one a try!
The Force, and it's prequel The Fourth Kingdom, are both overtly Christian novels that focus on current events in the scientific community. Remember Dolly, the cloned sheep? Well, that's what you're going to find here (but not with sheep of course!) as well as a terrifying bad guy, trustworthy hero, and many other characters. You'll also be reading a book that deals with current scientific exploration from a decidedly Christian point-of-view.
The book begins with a few mysterious deaths that are ultimately traced back to one man, Josef Helmick. Joshua and Jarrod Sinclair know that it will be difficult to locate Helmick and bring him to justice so they hire recently retired detective Fred Kowalski to discover his whereabouts. The story moves back and forth between Fred and Helmick (other characters are introduced throughout the novel as well) and the ultimate showdown between good and evil.
Both The Fourth Kingdom and The Force are good reads though I'll confess that I did enjoy The Force more than the prequel. While I liked the characters well enough in the first novel I felt that they were a little "too-good-to-be-true". I felt the characters were more well-developed in this second book. The antagonist, Josef Helmick, is truly a terrifying character. He is completely without morals but has a brilliant mind and a lust for power, certainly not a safe combination for the rest of the world. My guess is that there will be a third book in the series (maybe!). The storyline does completely wrap-up but the way the book ends certainly leaves the door open for a follow-up.
This series falls into the Christian mystery/thriller genre so, if you like that style of novel give this one a try!
November 30, 2013
I just finished reading The Force by Alexandra and Joyce Swann, and I can tell you that none of it unfolded the way I thought it would! The Force explores the stories of four men and the forces that drive them. Jarrod and Joshua Sinclair and Fred Kowalski believe that the power of God will triumph over any evil and that good will come out of the darkest of tragedies. Josef Helmick chooses to worship no god but himself, and in so doing, worships the force that wages war against God and the good He works in the lives of men. The Force is also a story of murder, of mysterious cults, and about the desire to rule the world.
I’m not generally a reader of thrillers. I can only read them if I have complete confidence that good will triumph over evil in the end. I knew from the beginning of this book that good would win. Still, I began the book with a bit of nervousness and trepidation. How could a story that begins with someone murdering the world’s most beautiful women over and over again also show truth triumphing? Within only a few chapters, I was completely reeled in. I needed to know what would happen next, and I kept turning page after page to find out. In the end good does indeed win, though it is not without cost. Fred and the Sinclairs battle not only external threats but internal conflicts as well.
What I liked about The Force: an incredible beginning, the truth of God and His Presence woven into the book, and the fact that the story was set in the near future. The heroes were people I wanted to know more about and spend time with.
What I wasn’t passionate about: At times, I felt like evil held center stage for too long. I wanted to know what the “good guys” were doing in more detail, and I wanted to be reminded that the Light was still shining. At times the story seemed to move too quickly between characters’ points of view, and there was a large number of minor characters whose stories did not continue throughout the book. I felt like I was just getting to know them when their part in the story was ended.
I thought The Force was a good story, and I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to be a part of Alexandra and Joyce Swann’s launch team for this novel. And in case you are wondering, the ending does leave room for a sequel . . .
I’m not generally a reader of thrillers. I can only read them if I have complete confidence that good will triumph over evil in the end. I knew from the beginning of this book that good would win. Still, I began the book with a bit of nervousness and trepidation. How could a story that begins with someone murdering the world’s most beautiful women over and over again also show truth triumphing? Within only a few chapters, I was completely reeled in. I needed to know what would happen next, and I kept turning page after page to find out. In the end good does indeed win, though it is not without cost. Fred and the Sinclairs battle not only external threats but internal conflicts as well.
What I liked about The Force: an incredible beginning, the truth of God and His Presence woven into the book, and the fact that the story was set in the near future. The heroes were people I wanted to know more about and spend time with.
What I wasn’t passionate about: At times, I felt like evil held center stage for too long. I wanted to know what the “good guys” were doing in more detail, and I wanted to be reminded that the Light was still shining. At times the story seemed to move too quickly between characters’ points of view, and there was a large number of minor characters whose stories did not continue throughout the book. I felt like I was just getting to know them when their part in the story was ended.
I thought The Force was a good story, and I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to be a part of Alexandra and Joyce Swann’s launch team for this novel. And in case you are wondering, the ending does leave room for a sequel . . .
November 20, 2013
The Force
By: Alexandra and Joyce Swann
I loved The Force! From the first page I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading. Power, intrigue, mystery, suspense, thriller, and God’s grace and forgiveness permeate throughout this story. If you like a book filled with twists and suspense, this is the book for you. Read this latest Christian medical thriller from the Swanns!
Alexander Sinclair taught his twin sons, Joshua and Jarrod, that there is a difference between force and power. The Devil has force; God has power—power to create, power to protect, and power to help us in every situation. Fred Kowalski retired from the New York City Police Department and then comes across the greatest case of his career. He will need God’s power as he comes against the force of Josef Helmick.
Hollywood sex symbol clones are turning up dead. Even their DNA matches the dead movie stars, like Marilynn Monroe, Sophie Lauren, and Audrey Hepburn. Where are they coming from? Helmick supplies them to wealthy men to use them as sex slaves, or to torture and murder. The Sinclairs consult for GenCEN—the Genetic Crimes Enforcement Network, which is an international police force that ensures all genetic research and innovation meet carefully-established international guidelines. They agree to consult on the case, and when they realize it can only involve Josef Helmick, they are ready to prove him guilty. Believing Helmick lured their parents to his father’s home and killed them, they hire Fred to track him down and get the proof to put him away. Along the way, Jarrod and Joshua must come to terms with their parents’ deaths and with Helmick’s involvement.
Helmick is using hypnosis to control everyone. He is in possession of a means to control the thoughts of billions of people to transform the world. Can Fred and the Sinclairs stop him? Why is he cloning these movie stars, and what is his ulterior motive in controlling the thoughts of billions of people? You’ll have to pick up this book to see!
The Force is the sequel to The Fourth Kingdom, but you don’t have to read it first to follow what is going on. For the best Christian medical thriller, check out the Swanns’ The Force!
By: Alexandra and Joyce Swann
I loved The Force! From the first page I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading. Power, intrigue, mystery, suspense, thriller, and God’s grace and forgiveness permeate throughout this story. If you like a book filled with twists and suspense, this is the book for you. Read this latest Christian medical thriller from the Swanns!
Alexander Sinclair taught his twin sons, Joshua and Jarrod, that there is a difference between force and power. The Devil has force; God has power—power to create, power to protect, and power to help us in every situation. Fred Kowalski retired from the New York City Police Department and then comes across the greatest case of his career. He will need God’s power as he comes against the force of Josef Helmick.
Hollywood sex symbol clones are turning up dead. Even their DNA matches the dead movie stars, like Marilynn Monroe, Sophie Lauren, and Audrey Hepburn. Where are they coming from? Helmick supplies them to wealthy men to use them as sex slaves, or to torture and murder. The Sinclairs consult for GenCEN—the Genetic Crimes Enforcement Network, which is an international police force that ensures all genetic research and innovation meet carefully-established international guidelines. They agree to consult on the case, and when they realize it can only involve Josef Helmick, they are ready to prove him guilty. Believing Helmick lured their parents to his father’s home and killed them, they hire Fred to track him down and get the proof to put him away. Along the way, Jarrod and Joshua must come to terms with their parents’ deaths and with Helmick’s involvement.
Helmick is using hypnosis to control everyone. He is in possession of a means to control the thoughts of billions of people to transform the world. Can Fred and the Sinclairs stop him? Why is he cloning these movie stars, and what is his ulterior motive in controlling the thoughts of billions of people? You’ll have to pick up this book to see!
The Force is the sequel to The Fourth Kingdom, but you don’t have to read it first to follow what is going on. For the best Christian medical thriller, check out the Swanns’ The Force!
October 6, 2014
I received the book 'The Force' by Alexandra & Joyce Swann in a First Reads giveaway sponsored by Goodreads.com. I was not aware of these authors until I received this new book written by them. At first, I thought it was simply a book about murders that had a strange pattern to them since all the victims were very beautiful young women. After reading further, clues started to indicate that not only were the victims young but also very familiar. After DNA and fingerprints were taken, the results were shocking. These women were clones of celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn and others. This was supposed to be the last case for Detective Fred Kowalski as he was retiring from the New York Police Department within one week. While it was difficult to walk away from a case such as this, nothing was going to interfere with his retirement and much needed change of pace. As events unfolded further, it was determined that similar murders were occurring within the eastern part of the United States and indications that there might even be some connection to Europe and the Middle East.
Fred Kowalski bid goodbye to the NYPD and left on the vacation with his wife to visit family in Chicago. His son, also a police detective was investigating a similar murder. Then the connections that seemed to include the Middle East were brought in as the final part of the puzzle which was truly weird and incredible by this point. The final piece to finding clues to these murders were presented by Jarrod and Joshua Sinclair, brothers and CEOs of a company entitled GenCen which specializes in genetic research. After this point, the story twists and turns in directions of global control and greed. It was difficult to put the book down by this point. I definitely want to read a book that was written before 'The Force' as it gives more background that would help me understand more about the machinations that a power hungry group wanted to set forth for global control that is not only chilling but biblical as well.
Fred Kowalski bid goodbye to the NYPD and left on the vacation with his wife to visit family in Chicago. His son, also a police detective was investigating a similar murder. Then the connections that seemed to include the Middle East were brought in as the final part of the puzzle which was truly weird and incredible by this point. The final piece to finding clues to these murders were presented by Jarrod and Joshua Sinclair, brothers and CEOs of a company entitled GenCen which specializes in genetic research. After this point, the story twists and turns in directions of global control and greed. It was difficult to put the book down by this point. I definitely want to read a book that was written before 'The Force' as it gives more background that would help me understand more about the machinations that a power hungry group wanted to set forth for global control that is not only chilling but biblical as well.
November 19, 2013
"The Force" is a chilling, heart-stopping look at the future where the clones of the sexiest and most beautiful women are being murdered. Jarrod and Joshua Sinclair, the founders of GenCen (Genetic Crimes Enforcement Network) have been called in to help investigate the killings which they suspect is the work of their unscrupulous enemy, Josef Helmick. With the help of retired detective, Fred Kowalski, they uncover a diabolical plot in Dubai not only to chemically control the earth's population but to unleash a dark and sinister force on an unsuspecting world. This is a story on par with Frank E. Peretti's, This Present Darkness, as it explores the darkness of men's souls; their fears, hunger for power and wealth, cruelty and callous disregard for human life that makes your heart tremble and gives you food for thought. But in the shadows of such bleakness, Alexandra Swann has woven elements of deliverance, hope, love and a message of faith that brings light.
The plot is well-developed , the threads of the subplots twisting and turning as they draw slowly to a climax that leaves more questions than answers. The characters add a complex dimension to a story that teems with suspense and intrigue; like Fred Kowalski, the dedicated, shrewd, diligent detective whose ever-present faith keeps the darkness at bay, Joshua and Jarrod Sinclair highly-intelligent, God-fearing, committed men and Walid the young self-sacrificing guide with a hunger for God. But it is the villains of the story that are terrifying with their heartless contempt for humanity, their disregard for the existing society, and their passion for a New World Order with all its evil trappings and the dark Force that waits to be unleashed.
"The Force" begins an end times trilogy where good and evil battle for the souls of humanity. It will keep a reader enthralled from the first page to the last. I enjoyed this book immensely and highly recommend it.
The plot is well-developed , the threads of the subplots twisting and turning as they draw slowly to a climax that leaves more questions than answers. The characters add a complex dimension to a story that teems with suspense and intrigue; like Fred Kowalski, the dedicated, shrewd, diligent detective whose ever-present faith keeps the darkness at bay, Joshua and Jarrod Sinclair highly-intelligent, God-fearing, committed men and Walid the young self-sacrificing guide with a hunger for God. But it is the villains of the story that are terrifying with their heartless contempt for humanity, their disregard for the existing society, and their passion for a New World Order with all its evil trappings and the dark Force that waits to be unleashed.
"The Force" begins an end times trilogy where good and evil battle for the souls of humanity. It will keep a reader enthralled from the first page to the last. I enjoyed this book immensely and highly recommend it.
November 11, 2013
I love a good book with bad characters. We all love it when the good character wins, right? They can’t do that without the bad guy! The Force by Alexandra and Joyce Swann lifts up their quintessential bad guy, Josef Helmick, and places him into the center of the action. Returning from book one, Josef continues where he left off. Where there is darkness in The Force, Josef is pulling the strings. Imposing and manipulative, Josef fluctuates between his plot for world domination and his recreational killing. His character and story line will quickly change the mind of anyone who thinks Christian fiction is either boring or sanitized. Heavy topics such as alternative religions, the quest for the ability to control humanity and eternity, and familiar science fiction/thriller themes are solidly rooted throughout the book so lovers of these types of books will be pleased.
The Force moves through multiple diabolical threads with a several subplots, all highlighting the concepts of good and evil. Without issuing spoilers, I was touched with a storyline surrounding the past of character Fred. We are reminded that our actions can have long-term and even eternal consequences even when we are unaware of the results.
The actual storyline may be a work of fiction, but the themes of good and evil, sin and salvation resonate with readers because they are apparent in our world no matter what we are dealing with in our own lives. The Swanns introduce into the story in a way that we see the light at the end of the tunnel. Several times stories of the power of redemption balance out the force of the darkness and remind us that salvation is always at hand.
The bottom line is this: I enjoyed The Force immensely.
The Force moves through multiple diabolical threads with a several subplots, all highlighting the concepts of good and evil. Without issuing spoilers, I was touched with a storyline surrounding the past of character Fred. We are reminded that our actions can have long-term and even eternal consequences even when we are unaware of the results.
The actual storyline may be a work of fiction, but the themes of good and evil, sin and salvation resonate with readers because they are apparent in our world no matter what we are dealing with in our own lives. The Swanns introduce into the story in a way that we see the light at the end of the tunnel. Several times stories of the power of redemption balance out the force of the darkness and remind us that salvation is always at hand.
The bottom line is this: I enjoyed The Force immensely.
November 14, 2013
Before reading The Force, I chose to read it's prequel, The Fourth Kingdom. Although The Force stands alone without an issue, The Fourth Kingdom does offer some back story that fills in a few details.
From the beginning, I was pulled into The Force. The intrigue and suspense of this book paired with the science fiction aspect reminded me a little of Michael Crichton, but with an obvious Christian Worldview. Mostly taking place in the year 2041, the story picks up with Jarrod and Joshua Sinclair. I loved this set of twins from The Fourth Kingdom and I was happy to see them again. In a different way, I was happy to see Josef Helmick because he's the kind of bad guy you love to hate. The clash of good and evil is very present throughout the entire story and really keeps you on the edge of your seat. Without giving away spoilers, I was intrigued by what appeared to be a setup for end-time events. I loved that it had me opening my Bible and looking up additional facts. The variety of characters with different background kept the plot moving and spinning. At times it felt a little complicated, but it all came together wonderfully in the end.
From the beginning, I was pulled into The Force. The intrigue and suspense of this book paired with the science fiction aspect reminded me a little of Michael Crichton, but with an obvious Christian Worldview. Mostly taking place in the year 2041, the story picks up with Jarrod and Joshua Sinclair. I loved this set of twins from The Fourth Kingdom and I was happy to see them again. In a different way, I was happy to see Josef Helmick because he's the kind of bad guy you love to hate. The clash of good and evil is very present throughout the entire story and really keeps you on the edge of your seat. Without giving away spoilers, I was intrigued by what appeared to be a setup for end-time events. I loved that it had me opening my Bible and looking up additional facts. The variety of characters with different background kept the plot moving and spinning. At times it felt a little complicated, but it all came together wonderfully in the end.
February 5, 2015
This was an amazon freebie. It's book 2 of the Kingdom Chronicles. If I had read book 1, it might have been easier to get the setting at the start. I didn't know I was reading something with a Christian message until a ways into the book. The premise was weird--copies of Marilyn Monroe were being found dead in various places. A retiring cop is intrigued when he encounters two of these and now can solve the mystery as a newly-retired policeman.
When Jarrod and Joshua Sinclair are called in to consult with the FBI about the Hollywood Starlet murders, they immediately suspect their old nemesis Josef Helmick of creating clones of famous women for a visiting Saudi prince. Wasting no time, they hire retired detective Fred Kowalski and send him to Dubai to uncover Josef’s base of operations and build a case against him for the murders.
But Fred soon discovers that Helmick is harboring a secret much darker than human trafficking. Fred must stop Josef before he resurrects an ancient, diabolical Force in order to bring the entire human race under his control.
I gave it 4 because I ended up getting involved with the story.
When Jarrod and Joshua Sinclair are called in to consult with the FBI about the Hollywood Starlet murders, they immediately suspect their old nemesis Josef Helmick of creating clones of famous women for a visiting Saudi prince. Wasting no time, they hire retired detective Fred Kowalski and send him to Dubai to uncover Josef’s base of operations and build a case against him for the murders.
But Fred soon discovers that Helmick is harboring a secret much darker than human trafficking. Fred must stop Josef before he resurrects an ancient, diabolical Force in order to bring the entire human race under his control.
I gave it 4 because I ended up getting involved with the story.
November 26, 2013
I have to give much credit to the wonderful Swann mother/daughter team. Wow! If you like sci-fi, murder mysteries, and great Christian books then you've found the right book!! This book flowed so nicely from The Fourth Kingdom (a must read first, but this book does stand on it's own if you don't have it) Again, another very hard book to put down! It was riveting and fast paced!! From Hollywood stars to clones, detectives to the FBI, princes to human trafficking. A definite must read for all you book lovers!!!
October 31, 2013
I am enjoying this book immensely. It's a well written, exciting, look into the future world of cloning with all the problems that go along with the very idea, and of course, some very good bad guys. An interesting tale of murder and intrigue in this fictional tale which comes off as a believable possibility. Now I'll have to go back and read the first from the series!!
August 12, 2014
Eerily Lifelike
Eerily Lifelike
Alexandria and Joyce Swann tell a haunting story. Not your typical good guys vs bad guys. The idea of cloning humans is certainly not a new one, but the twists and turns with these clones is disturbingly heinous. A good read with what I found to be an interesting and surprising ending.
Eerily Lifelike
Alexandria and Joyce Swann tell a haunting story. Not your typical good guys vs bad guys. The idea of cloning humans is certainly not a new one, but the twists and turns with these clones is disturbingly heinous. A good read with what I found to be an interesting and surprising ending.
September 7, 2014
This one started off as a cloning murder mystery then suddenly switched to a let's religiously convert everyone we meet and go over past potential conversions. It was so confusing, I could not finish.
March 3, 2014
This is the first book I've read by this author, and I was hooked immediately. I love the writing style, and everything flows smoothly. It kept me on my toes wondering what was going to happen, and can actually see mankind headed its direction, unfortunately.
November 20, 2013
Wow! I have yet to be disappointed in the Swann's. Great read. At the end I bowed my heart and gave praise to the Father for calling me into his kingdom.
April 18, 2015
I won this through Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.
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