Dawn of Liberty

Secret of the Rose #4

by Michael R. Phillips

The year is 1992, and Matthew and Sabina return to a united Germany to attend an evangelism conference and to find a way to visit "Lebenhaus," the Dortmann estate. Meanwhile, their son, Tad, while researching a story for a world news organization, meets a young woman. He starts her thinking about the God she knew as a teenager and becomes embroiled in a conspiracy that threatens to destroy the newfound freedom of the Eastern Bloc nations.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Historical, Adult Fiction, Inspirational

605 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Librarian Note: there is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.

Michael Phillips has been writing in the Christian marketplace for 30 years. All told, he has written, co-written, and edited some 110 books. Phillips and his wife live in the U.S., and make their second home in Scotland.

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series was one of the best I've ever read. I like reading about the WWII era and this adds such a spiritual dimension it is awesome. I would definitely recommend reading te whole series.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The well-written story takes place in the 1990s, not long after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dismantling of the Soviet Union. It is the story of the New World Order, how it affected the now-abolished KGB in Russia, and how the hunters became the hunted. In the midst of this were the men who provided secret ways to lead men and women to freedom. The story includes danger, intrigue, mystery and romance.

[Kw · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am compulsive about completing series, so I read this tome.
I found it way too long (over 600 pages), and my eyes glazed over at the dry and lengthy descriptions and dialogue set in Russia and Berlin. I enjoyed learning more about this period in our history and appreciate the research done to convey that.

I thought the plot was good, but might have been condensed. Some of the prose is fabulous, but some of it seemed very flowery and superfluous.

The constant criticism (I'm sure the author considers it "discernment") of the Christian convention got old really fast. It seemed very judgmental and harsh, and I'm not sure what the point was. We are ALL on a journey and we don't always get it right, Mr. Phillips. Or maybe you do. Certainly the baron and his family were pretty much perfect, as were the martyrs and those who dared defy Communism, so that seemed to qualify at least one of them to condemn some who weren't even there bur wanted to help . . .

If I had it to do over, I would stop at the end of book #3.

[Sonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I put the book down many times, thinking it would be my last, I am glad that I finished it.
Like the other books in the series, there were extensive dialogues that could have been minimized yet still addressing the points discussed. Some of the people, especially those who had died, were viewed to worshipful, almost like an idol, although I recognize you would hang on to memories of parents and grandparents with special fondness.

I enjoyed the time period.
I did have trouble following all the people, with who they were and what they were doing, although Phillips gave enough contextual clues---if I could remember the people.

I enjoyed how he intertwined politics with what was happening with the Christians at that time.
I appreciated the critique of "normal" Christians throwing money at a problem to solve it, thinking that was enough...

I'm glad that I finished the series, (It was my mom's. And I felt I needed to.) although it wasn't a series that I normally would have pushed through and finished.

[Rachelle Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series. High stakes, deep spiritual lessons, and intriguing characters made it a captivating read! Although written in the overtly-Christian style that I usually try to avoid, I didn't at all mind the preachiness in these books. In fact, I can't count the times I looked up from the book and thought, "Wow. Just wow." An engaging story *and* Spirit-filled revelations? Priceless.

The reason it took me so long to read the whole series is that it is written in that '90s style that has a lot of head-hopping, strange speaker tags, and pages and pages of description. Though no longer as "current" in style as I might like, the story is still an intricately woven mystery with all the threads tightly tied at the end. I closed this book with a happy sigh this morning. :) Recommended for those who love the style of Janette Oke, mysteries, and historical intrigue, as there is quite a bit of WWII espionage contained in this series!

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first and last books in this series were truly my favourite! They both reflected the beauty of Michael R. Phillips writing. This book did an exceptional job of drawing all the individual stories together to bring the crisis to a head and then finding plausible resolution so that history was not effected by the political plots that were interwoven with the spiritual stories and the Secret of the Rose continuing heritage. I could read this series over and over and gain new insights each time!

[Karol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, as it focused on the political, economic, and spiritual aspects of the destruction of the Berlin wall. I felt the author did a good job, too, comparing the arrogance of the organized and showy western church with the intense faith and simple steadfastness of the eastern European church.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this historical fiction, the last of The Secret of the Rose series. The author is able to bring history right off the page, so that the reader experiences the story. This book in particular imparts a treasure of thought and theology. It is a book to slowly absorb. I’m very thankful to the author for his insight.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, as well as the other two in the series. I highly suggest it to anyone interested.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

boring-too much plotting and theology

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice to read a piece of historical fiction which bridged the gap between the Cold-War and the world I was actually born into.

[Katharyn Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic! Loved the whole series! Fantastic spiritual insights, interesting insights into human nature, it was a great series!

[Katharyn Roberts]

Fantastic!
I loved his insite into human nature and our Creator God.
This was a great story and I love how he interweaves history with novel.

[Brenda Fronsee · Rating 4 out of 5]

intriguing series

[Tessa Palmeri aka Tonya Preece · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author and this series.

[Suey Nordberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire series was thrilling! Written in 1995, this book starts from WW2 and progresses through the Fall of the Berlin Wall and beyond. It follows a family of Christians who shelter Jews during the War, neighbors who bow to the pressure of the Third Reich, KBG and Stati spies, the underground network of Christians who help persecuted people escape, all while also covering the politics and history of this entire time period. I love Michael Phillips books for their deep spirituality. This particular series is impacting me in new ways, I think because of our current political turmoil. It makes me realize that we do not know what we cannot see. There is so much that is hidden, so many plots, movements, objectives -- only God knows the future and where it all will lead. My job is to remain faithful to Him. I feel especially convicted by how easy it is to be a Christian, even now in an era where Christianity is out of vogue in America, compared to the people who had to choose life or death in order to follow God under Communism. One especially meaningful connection in the last book is the story of Sergei Kourdakov, a real person -- a Russian persecutor -- a modern Paul. I read his autobiography when I was a teen (The Persecutor) and was so amazed and surprised to find his story entwined in this book! Although many characters are fictional, their faith is real to me, and I thank God I get to share their journey, albeit a fictional one, as training to walk with God each day -- and hopefully to stand firm, should the tide ever turn and I have to choose to pay with my life to follow my Lord Jesus.

[LAMONT D · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE STORY ON THIS BOOK IS THAT MY NEPHEW GAVE THIS TO US YEARS AGO (HE WAS AND IS AN AVID READER) AND SINCE I WAS SICK AT HOME THIS WEEK I FINALLY GRABBED IT OFF OUR BOOKSHELF AND READ IT. I DO NOT RECALL READING ANY OF THE FIRST THREE BOOKS OF THIS 4-PART SERIES, BUT I BELIEVE THIS BOOK CAN STAND ALONE AND STILL BE ENJOYABLE WITHOUT THE BACKDROP FROM THE FIRST THREE IN THE SERIES. THE AUTHOR GIVES YOU SOME GREAT THEOLOGY AS OUR MAIN CHARACTERS WEAVE THEIR WAY THOUGH INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUE, POLITICS, ROMANCE AND SUSPENSE. THERE OBVIOUSLY IS ALOT OF ATTENTION GIVEN TO FAITH MATTERS AND ISSUES AND HE GOES INTO GREAT DETAIL TO DISCUSS THE CONCEPT OF DENYING SELF AND GRANTING FORGIVENESS. I WOULD SAY THAT THE CRETICAL OPINION HE EMPHASIZES THROUGHOUT THE BOOK THAT RAILS ON WESTERN CHRISTIANITY AND HOW IT EVANGILIZES THE WORLD IS ONE-SIDED AND BORDERS ON BEING TERRIBLY NARROW IN FOCUS WHICH I DID NOT APPREACIATE. IT IS A LENGHTY BOOK THAT GETS TEDIOUS AS WELL AT TIMES WITH LOTS OF BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE VARIOUS SCENES CREATED. BUT, IT HAD A HAPPY ENDING AND AN OVERALL GOOD MESSAGE WHILE DELVING INTO THE POLITICS OF EASTERN EUROPE AFTER THE COLD WAR.

[Patsy D Forsberg-young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawn of Liberty Review

Secret of the Rose book 4 Is a culmination of all four books. The intrigue and characters were brought together and kept your interest to keep you constantly wanting to continue reading. This book will definitely lift your spirits and increase your love for your Heavenly Father!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book which was hard for me to put down. Multiple plots were happening at the same time which were tied together in the end. The historical events occurred during my lifetime, but at a time when I was raising children. I remember when the Berlin wall came down, but didn't realize how complex the changes were for Eastern Europe. This was a great closing book for a series.

[Eunice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindof boring and a lot of politics for me, was not so keen on some of the characters. Though just realized this was book 4 in the series so maybe that is why it felt like I was missing a lot of information the whole time.

[nelson shinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read

This book completes the series. It brings back the original characters and adds a few new ones. But the plots keep coming, and Mr. Phillips sincere thoughts on God and religion made me wonder.Great series that I will read again.

[Linea Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The culmination of a wonderful series.