Finding Home: Book one in the Lost And Found series

by Jesse Birkey, Lydia Blain (Editor)

John Rister and Alice Baker are both running from the same demons even though they are strangers living in different parts of the country. A dark fog of pain and despair stalks them at every turn, but something deep inside them is screaming to live. After the tragic loss of his family, John tries to turn his back on God and his childhood faith, but an encounter with a mystical stranger makes him reconsider. Can John break through the trauma of his past and the lifelong pain in his heart to connect with God once again? "Home" for Alice was a suffocating prison of sex and drugs until a suicide attempt took her to Redwood, New York. A new relationship with Jesus resurrected the dead ashes of her life, but memories of her childhood still plague her, leaving a void that nothing can fill. Can a surprising move and a chance at love finally bring light to the darkness?

294 pages, Paperback

First published July 24, 2015

About the author

Jesse grew up in a Christian home. His father was a Mennonite Pastor and Mother a nurse. He grew up with the knowledge of God but denied the power of God to change his life. This led to a desperate search for worth, which brought hardship as he embraced the comforts of the world. He completed college at Hesston Mennonite with an associate's degree in business. At 21 Jesse had been hired as a firefighter/paramedic, married Kara and bought their first house together. A year later their son was born followed by their daughter two years after that. Jesse was 26 when the power of God's love finally broke through his hard heart. Everything in his life began to change as he pursued God with passion and zeal. God began to direct Jesse through seasons of spiritual change, bringing encouragement and correction as He sought to mature him in the things of His heart. Jesse began to recognize that God wanted to be a part of his work life and began to see miracles as he ministered the love of God in the back of his ambulance ranging from the dead raised to self hate being destroyed as the perfect love of God washed through. God began to show him that God wants to use ordinary people in extraordinary ways. It was Jesse's passion for others to know this, and the testimonies God had built in and through him, that led him to write Life Resurrected, Extraordinary Miracles through Ordinary People. Jesse's passion is to be like Jesus and continues to minister as led daily.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Finding Home, a debut novel by Jesse Birkey, follows the story of John after the tragic loss of his beloved wife and family in a car accident. Angry at God and at the hand that life has dealt him, he flees his home town and moves to a tiny town in Arizona, where he spends the next 10 years trying to drown his sorrows in bars, babes and booze.

Until he meets a mysterious stranger, J.C., and a beautiful woman, Ashley, who change the course of his life.

Meanwhile, after her rescue from the hard streets of New York City, young Alice is struggling to remember her previous life. With a new faith in God and friends to help her, she moves to Ohio, uncertain of the plan that God has for her there. What follows is a beautiful story of God’s redemption for Alice, John and their friends.

Birkey does a wonderful job of weaving the lives of the characters with powerful lessons about the character of God. While this book is reminiscent of The Shack, it is much more plot driven so that the reader is carried along by the story’s flow. Birkey provides great insight into difficult questions without becoming “preachy.” The ending leaves the reader with hope in their heart and tears in their eyes. In addition, the ending promises more books to follow, which I certainly anticipate!

4.5 stars for a couple of minor issues, rounded up to 5 stars for GR.

[C.H.E. Sadaphal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bottom line: A strong theological proclamation in a character-driven work of fiction.

Christian fiction can often be a mixed bag because sound Biblical principles can be lost in the pursuit of a strong narrative. Conversely, too much theology may overwhelm the reader looking for a lighter story.
Finding Home strikes a well-constructed balance and locates the reader who searches for timeless principles to be revealed in the context of everyday, relatable characters who have everyday and relatable struggles.

Subsequently, this book ... http://www.chesadaphal.com/finding-ho...

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging and well-written book with plenty of twists.
The descriptive writing and the realistic characters drew me into this story of tragedy, love and hope.

I didn't find the book at all 'preachy', although to me, some parts of the book seemed to be bordering on fantasy.

I received a copy/an eCopy of Finding Home from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.