When Simon Mason, the world’s best-known televangelist, receives threats from Muslim terrorists, he hires Taylor Pasbury, a beautiful former Secret Service agent, to take charge of his security. Taylor is thrilled to receive the high-profile assignment, but she has no idea that Simon already knows more about her than she could imagine.
When the terrorists strike, making a demand of the pastor that would shake the most steadfast saint, Taylor draws on all of her hard-knock toughness and training as she fights to save Simon and his daughter. Along the way, she discovers that she is not the only one who has done things she would like to forget—and she is not the only one who understands that some things are more important than living.
"James David Jordan pens a fascinating tale that is more than a suspense novel. An intimate exploration of the soul’s need for acceptance and belonging, it touches the nerves of some of our most sensitive fears and longings. Forsaken is a moving and relevant saga of faith on a collision course with the brutalities of our world."
Endorsements:
"James David Jordan pens a fascinating tale that is more than a suspense novel. An intimate exploration of the soul’s need for acceptance and belonging, it touches the nerves of some of our most sensitive fears and longings. Forsaken is a moving and relevant saga of faith on a collision course with the brutalities of our world."
—Jill Elizabeth Nelson, author of Reluctant Burglar and Reluctant Smuggler
"Entertaining, action packed, and thought provoking. I couldn’t put it down. Forsaken is a must read."
—Patricia Rushford, author of Deadly Aim and As Good as Dead
"With more twists and turns than a rip-roaring rollercoaster ride, Forsaken will keep you guessing right to final page. You’ll find no easy answers here but many to consider."
—Ken Abraham, New York Times bestselling author
"I have read many enthralling suspense novels, meaningful love stories, and books that challenged my thinking and purpose, but never has a novel combined all three elements with such adeptness as Forsaken."
This is not your usual contemporary read. It's not full of romance, or sugary scenes. There's lots of tough issues and events that happen throughout. Overall, it's a powerful book.
So why three stars? Well, basically because as a suspense, I never felt on edge. Probably just me ;) But scenes where I expected to feel frightened or worried, I just didn't get into the action. I think the show vs. tell comes into play as well.
I'm curious to see what the next book will be like and where things will progress with Taylor. The last spin at the end of the book didn't shock me...not because I guessed it, but because it's very typical.
But I stil would recommend this because there's so many lessons and encouragements to believers struggling to make the right choices. I really sympathized with Simon and his choice with the kidnapping.
I found this book at a library sale ~ This is multilayered emotional and was glad it kept me on the edge of my seat I loved Simon's attitude and he helped Taylor become a better person. Taylor learned some hard lessons. A good redemption story that I enjoyed.
When I was asked to review this book, I almost passed. Suspense novels aren't usually my choice of reading material and I don't know why I chose to read this one. However, I really enjoyed it. The story is told by Taylor Pasbury, a former Secret Service agent who now does private security work. She was hired to protect Simon Mason, a famous televangelist, who has been the subject of terroist threats. Simon's daughter is kidnapped, and the rasom demanded is that he deny Christ on national television. Simon has to decide whether to "pay" the ransom or allow his daughter to be killed. In the rest of the book he has to live with the consequences of this choice.
The book wa a page-turner and because the central conflict was having to choose between family and Christ, the religous content was at the forefront. However it wasn't a preachy novel. My only complaint about the religous aspects of the book is that at one point Simon goes to Lebanon and is helped by Christians there. Those Christians are not outsiders, but very involved in the power structure in Lebanon. While the precise nature of their Christianity is not discussed, I find it hard to believe than Maronite Catholics or Greek Orthodox Christians (who make up the overwhelming majority of Christians in Lebanon) would have invited and supported a Protestant evangelist.
I really loved this book at the time of reading. It kept me very engaged and was yet another I finished in a very short amount of time. The ending left you with a cliffhanger, so you will definitely want to have book two ready!
I’m not sure about writing this review. I read the book in two days. But I did a lot of speed reading. I was interested in what was going on and what would happen. And it was good, but maybe not good enough. But I did finish it and I have the second book, Double Cross, and I’m intrigued enough to start reading it also.
The characters were relatable and they weren’t perfect, but were striving to do the right thing with their relationship with God. The story seemed to end midway, and another plot took its place. Then it ended. I’ll read book two and see where it goes. I feel like I’m invested in it now and can’t quit, but looking at all the other books I have to read, I wish I’d skipped this one. Oh well. It was decent enough, just kinda different. I would give it 3.5 stars, but since I can’t do that I guess I’ll give it 3 stars. It’s not a book I’d want to read again.
The character's are interesting and I was intreged enough by them to finish the book and order the next by this writer but the book seemed to have no beginning or end and the middle disappointed me. This evangelist had the perfect opertunity to witness to the female lead and missed it. If you are going to write a book about faith you really need to know your subject and not just throw it in as a side issue. I'm half way through the second book and hoping the writer brings it all together by the ending.
Jordan did great with the plot. The final punch line was at the very end. It kept you interested and reading, could not put it down. Taylor is a fine heroine, looking forward to the next book.
Wow!! I found myself holding my breath at the end of the book. I couldn't read the suspenseful story that was unfolding fast enough. It was definitely a page turner and something I had to finish before I went on with anything else that day. I have to tell you that from the start I was reluctant to read this story because it was about a televangelist. I didn't know where James Jordan would go with this story, and I was not sure I wanted to find out. I gave the story a shot and it immediately grabbed me as I got to know Taylor Pasbury and how she become a Secret Agent. The story is action packed but also full of deep relational issues. I loved that about this moving story. It was exciting but very deep and contemporary. I loved that the author made the televangelist have a heart and that he struggled with the right thing to do in the present, as well as with past decisions he had made in life. It wasn't all about the money or the show being on TV. I also loved that this story was told through the eyes of Taylor Pasbury, a woman struggling with life and someone that away from the bible. She watched everything the church people did. I found it quite interesting and a refreshing twist.
Taylor Pasbuy says this "..Dad had told me that the best battle plans weren't worth the paper they were written on once the shooting started. I guess he was right. There is nothing worse than being alone. Nothing. Just for once in my life I want to be good enough. That's all I want is to be good enough." That was her struggle along with many other things.
This story got my attention and never let it go. I definitely wanted to read more by James David Jordan - luckily I can (and so can you). His first book is called "Something that Lasts". I'm sure it's just as good. I loved this story and the heart of the story teller. This is a story worth checking out.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
James David Jordan’s FORSAKEN is hands down the best book I’ve read this year. On a day filled with my own projects and deadlines, when I had to be disciplined with my time, I found myself picking it up again and again, rationalizing the time I was sacrificing to read more about Taylor and Simon.
FORSAKEN introduces us to Taylor Pasbury, a former Secret Service agent that has been hired by Simon Mason, a dynamic televangelist when he receives threats from Muslim extremists. Taylor has had her own share of publicity, some good and some bad. She’s had a difficult past and a somewhat checkered reputation. When she is contacted by Simon Mason, she gets the sense that she’s not the right fit for the job, but is willing to at least meet with him. From there, the pace of the story never once lets down. When Simon Mason’s world is turned upside down by the kidnapping of his 20-year old daughter, renouncing his faith is all that is needed to insure her release. But how can he? How can he forsake the God he serves with his whole heart?
Taylor sees the demand as an easy one and can’t understand the struggle Mason is facing. But soon, she learns there is more to Simon then the media hype around him. She finds him human, a man with faults, a man with past sins. She even wishes for possibly something more than friendship between them, even though she knows that will never happen. The way Simon lives his life out in front of her, challenges her to reevaluate her own life.
James David Jordan has created two totally captivating characters in Taylor and Simon. I loved Taylor’s tough-as-nails attitude, and the way Jordan wrote her with such sensitivity. And Simon’s even-keel personality makes for an intriguing duo. The highs and lows of the story drew such emotion from me as a reader, at times I had to put it down just so I could take a breath. But I needed to read on. I needed to know how things would end. The secondary characters Jordan created enhance the story without taking the focus away from Taylor and Simon. The symmetry of the story is what keeps you reading on.
I could say so much more about FORSAKEN but I fear I would give too much of the story away. I will be picking up SOMETHING THAT LASTS, Jordan’s first book immediately. And I will be waiting anxiously for the release of DOUBLE CROSS, the sequel to FORSAKEN next fall.
I can only say wow. I'm so amazed. In the first place I wanted to only start the book to get a feeling for it and I just couldn't stop. I was on the edge until the very end and I'm already looking forward to read the second book in the series.
The author managed several times to make me cry and laugh out loud within few sentences. I love his kind of humour and appreciated it very much it's a thriller / suspense novel you have to laugh so much (I laughed more than reading some of those so called humorous mysteries I love so much). This books is dealing with really heavy topics (major spoilers between) though mostly delivered in rather light but still respectful and realistic way. But please don't forget it's still fiction so the topics are dealt often on the surface so don't expect any deep scientific insight :-) I was still able to see some different ways how people can deal with the same situation or issue.
The other point you should be aware of it's a Christian novel so the Christian values and beliefs are set at the basis and even if often not mentioned explicitly - I could see it in the way some of the characters act and even here managed the author to show Christians are humans too with all the flaws and mistakes we all do and everyone expecting something else will be disappointed - sooner or later :-)
To sum it up: This great novel is a Christian suspense / thriller keeping you on the edge and dealing with pretty heavy stuff but still written in with so much wit and realism I would love to rate it six out of five stars (yes it's correct that way) and if you are able to deal with that kind of suspense and heavy topics and don't have aversion against Christian POV I would recommend this book most highly.
Wow. If I thought I knew how this book was going to end—and I admit I had all the relationships stereotyped from the beginning—that was all thrown out the window in the final chapters. I love these books in which the ending twist throws a completely new light on all the prior character interactions. Both Simon's "experience" in the Middle East and the letter Taylor received were a crazy dash of the unexpected which definitely upped my level of respect for the author. And the book was great all the way through. it was quite the page-turner, even without being completely crammed with action. Even though the story was narrated from a first-person perspective, we as the readers constantly learn more about Taylor with every new twist in the story (and there were many of those!). Everything was very dynamic and realistic; my only hang-up is that until after Kacey' s kidnapping it was very difficult to picture her as a twenty-year-old. The way she was talked about and portrayed, she seemed much younger, in her early or mid-teens. Also, it's extremely hard to get a handle on Taylor's age—is she in her midtwenties or in her thirties somewhere? Trying to understand her already-complicated relationships was further tangled by this confusion on my part. (Having now read the second book, i'm glad to see it was thoroughly clarified there.) However, the pros definitely outweighed any complaints I have. The writing was easy to connect to, the plot was fantastic, the characters were believable; the novel was very hard to put down. An excellent read: I will definitely be on the lookout for Double Cross.
"Forsaken" is a Christian general fiction novel with some suspense. It wasn't really what I expected. Though I fully agree that some things are worth dying for, I felt like the characters missed why Christ is worth dying for. The ending didn't inspire me like I think it was meant to.
The characters were varied, complex, and dealt with realistic struggles (alcoholism, adultery, kidnapping, etc.) in realistic ways. I think a lot of Christians would sympathize with the "human side" of this "great preacher." However, I didn't agree with his view that Peter and Paul (of the Bible) were so willing to suffer and die for Jesus because of profound guilt they felt over denying Jesus/persecuting Christians earlier. The preacher said he understood grace, but I don't think he really did. He had noble ideas, but he did them for the wrong reason (in my opinion, and--it seemed--the opinion of some of the characters in the book), and I found that sad.
The suspense was created mainly by physical danger to the main characters. The descriptions were vivid though not highly detailed.
Most of the characters were Christians, though some were more nominal and others more devout. The Christian faith was a major theme of the story, but the main character (and the reader) were never "preached" at. There were no sex scenes. There was a very minor amount of fake bad language. Overall, it was an interesting, well-written book.
What an intriguing story through former Secret Service now Private Security Personnel Taylor Pasbury's eyes. The entire novel is told in a recitation with bits of humor as if in a verbal report. As a huge Alias/spy-type fan this story was a great fit in genre for me. It is shocking that I had not found author James David Jordan's work before, and now that I have I plan to read much more. I'm especially excited that as soon as I finish this review, I can start reading the sequel to this novel "Forsaken" which is called "Double Cross".
Including some of the nit and gritty, this is a very realistic tale that brings to light the good and bad in people. Strength and forgiveness of ones-self are themes as well as terrorism plots and rescue attempts. This was one of those books where when I had to put it down to tend to something else I was amazed at how far I had already read. A page turner and a tool to delve into realism issues of the reader's own-self is only part of what makes this a great book. Highly recommended.
*Thanks to Julie of B&H Books for a copy to review.*
This was a great book and the first I've read in a long time not centered around a romantic relationship. It was a redemption story about a girl spinning out of control personally, while her professional life was doing great. She is assigned to protect a television evangelist and then his daughter gets captured by terrorists.
The climax of the story seemed to happen too early and then the rest of the book tried to build up to another climax that never occurred. It was a good book with a good story and I really enjoyed it. I loved the faith aspect and it didn't come off too cheesy or too perfect. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to read a really good Christian novel.
I found Forsaken to be exceptionally well written. Mr. Jordan portrays his female protagonist with a freshness and unique persona. His attention to details and observation of personal idiosyncrasies is evident as he paints an almost lifelike stage where he conducts the brilliant performance of his colorful characters.
I won't spoil the story by revealing too much about the plot except to say that a pivotal player is a world renowned evangelist who must make a soul wrenching decision that few people will ever be asked to make. There are spiritual overtones to Forsaken, but it does not loss any of the dramatic effect as an action packed thriller.
A friend of mine suggested this book to me. She knew I enjoy reading Christian Mysteries. This story does touch the emotions. I found myself sometimes cheering for a character and other times tearing-up. The undertone of Christians vs.Muslims was an interesting and thought moving theme for me. The author was new to me, but very enjoyable. I will keep my eyes open for more books written by this author.
Really, really good book! I paid a whopping 99 cents for it on sale, and I definitely got my money's worth! Hard to put down for the first half, then it lagged a small bit, and ended well. Didn't end the way that I expected, but I was ok with that. It definitely set it up at the end for another book, and I see that he has written one. I'll definitely look to find it on sale and read, liked the characters and his writing very very much! :)
As a rule, I'm a sucker for an ending that is not predictable. So the twists in the plot tickled my fancy from the get-go, and having more than one problem (an intricate plot) in a modern Christian novel is refreshing. Author drug it out a bit though in certain places that almost made me put down the book. Had to force myself to the last page...so many books, so little time ;-)
What would make a well-known TV evangalist forsake God? What is your daughter's life depended on it? This was a great read and really made me think about what I would do in such a situation. Lots of twists and surprises, all the way to the end. My only compliant, Taylor, the main character, was almost too tough for a woman.
Jordan has written a fast-paced book about terrorism, religion, and relationships. While a few details are questionable, the book is largely entertaining. The relationship between the two main characters is interesting and the twist at the end is one I didn't see coming. [return][return]Recommended.
Disappointment. This book was hardly about grace as it was "getting right with God." The reality is Jesus already took our iniquity to the cross and has already won our righteousness! There's nothing we can "do" to gain it. If there was, then he would have died needlessly. I didn't see the gospel in this book at all.
I enjoyed the nail-biting-don't-want-to-put-the-book-down suspense. Well-written with great insight into the characters' personalities. I was a bit disappointed with the ending as it left quite a few issues unresolved & seemed like the author just wanted to end it! Hopefully this means a sequel!
This was really a page turner of a book. I could hardly put it down. It kept me totally on edge and never knowing what would come up next. It surely makes the reader consider the depth of your own faith.
Not your typical Christian novel. It grabbed you from the get go and definitely was a page turner! It was on the violent side (it's about terrorism) so if you have trouble with killing to save Christians this is not the book for you. It wasn't predictable so read it in 24 hours! Enjoyed the book!