The Gifted

by Terri Blackstock

Three friends whose lives needed a jolt...An earthquake that struck without warning...A supernatural gifting of mysterious powers...

The Gifted is one of Terri Blackstock's most intriguing novels. A massive natural disaster leads to an even more earth-shaking supernatural transformation in the lives of three friends who have no idea why they've been spared or infused with these distinct gifts.

One thing is certain...the earthquake was just the warm-up for what lies ahead.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Contemporary, Fantasy, Drama, Inspirational

140 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2002

About the author

Terri Blackstock is a New York Times best-seller, with over seven million books sold worldwide.. She has had over thirty years of success as a novelist.

Terri spent the first twelve years of her life traveling in a U.S. Air Force family. She lived in nine states and attended the first four years of school in The Netherlands. Because she was a perpetual “new kid,” her imagination became her closest friend. That, she believes, was the biggest factor in her becoming a novelist. She sold her first novel at the age of twenty-five, and has had a successful career ever since.

In 1994 Terri was writing romance novels under two pseudonyms for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin, Dell and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening prompted her to switch gears. At the time, she was reading more suspense than romance, and felt drawn to write thrillers about ordinary people in grave danger. Her newly awakened faith wove its way into the tapestry of her suspense novels, offering hope instead of despair. Her goal is to entertain with page-turning plots, while challenging her readers to think and grow. She hopes to remind them that they’re valued by God and that their trials have a purpose.

Reviews

[Lovely Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[Dylan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love Blackstock's work but this really just didn't sit well with me.

[Trish Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, sweet novella about miracles and representing the Lord to the people we meet. It felt more like a spiritual fable than a realistic story, and that's fine. It was uplifting, and sometimes we Christian readers need nothing more than a dose of spiritual uplifting, right?

[Randy Tramp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bree, Andy & Carl needs a jolt. An earthquake strikes without warning, leading to an earth-shaking supernatural transformation.

I was drawn into the story from the start when the earthquake hits. They faced death when buried in a fallen building. Feeling for the three friends, I wondered what change would happen in their lives. After all, when faced with the end of your life, something shifts.

This is a type of story that causes the reader to think. What if? I love being challenged. The Gifted did exactly that.

I love this example of how the entire church can work together. It's beautiful.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh boy. I just. Okay. Here’s how to fix this.
Don’t read it as a novel, read it as a tract. A tract explaining the body of Christ.

[April Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[kinley grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[annabeth ☼ · Rating 2 out of 5]

*1.5 stars

This book has a great idea, a great premise, and a great message, but unfortunately what it lacks is the actual story and characters.

Where the story is great in the base idea, it is badly unenjoyable in the storyline. By this, I mean that beyond the first few chapters where everything’s just happening and the base idea is being introduced, the rest of the book is incredibly repetitive and predictable. It is incredibly unfortunate, too, as I was really looking forward to seeing where this story could go based off the initial idea — and then that ended up being nowhere.

And, also, the characters just feel like names on a page. Not even like cardboard cutouts, just more like names of people that Blackstock used to carry this idea that she had and simply wanted to put out into the world without really caring about how she executed it.

Rated 1.5 instead of 1 because of the important message that it sends forth, as it is really important and special.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gifted is a Christian based book and helps the reader to see how we all can make a difference if we just pay attention to what we have been given to spread positivity in this world. Three co-workers meet to hold a bible study. A terrible earthquake happens and they are trapped under the rubble of the building they are in. Each of them it would seem had devastating injuries, however, the next day they wake up feeling as they did prior to the earthquake. Could it be a sign of divine interventions? They each begin to feel a higher power within them and use their new found gifts to better the lives of others. It is a nice story in many ways and helps us to remember that the goodness in our hearts should be used to spread positivity. It is a quick read and well written.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick read, but still in the style I've come to know of Terri Blackstock. Three young people are given supernatural gifts after being miraculously healed after an earthquake. They work together to find lost souls who need healing. After a couple of days have gone by, they realize that their "special" gifts are gone. But they soon realize that you don't need "special" and unusual gifts to serve our Lord. We are all gifted in one way or another, and we should use those gifts to bring others to Christ.

[Rebecca Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terri Blackstock has written the most inspirational Christian fiction I have ever read in her book, The Gifted! An earthquake demolishes an office building where Bree Harris, Carl Dennis and Andy Hendrix are at the time. What happens during and after the quake with God's help really hits me in the heart and gives me so much to ponder. A book everyone should read and use in their own life. If each one of us use their gift to help others, sure would be a better place!

[Heather Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple novel and a quick read. If its purpose is to have the reader think outside their ordinary life, to what it could be like if they surrendered their lives to Christ, and serve his people, no matter the inconvenience. It meets that goal.
It challenges the reader to actually stop and look at the people they encounter and consider their needs, and better still, how they can meet those needs.
It's an idealistic, quick story of what the Church could be.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reads more like a first draft and a complete work of fiction. No one or thing is fleshed out or adequately described. The town where this is happening has at least one three-story office building, but different, divergent neighborhoods are all within walking distance. The message is good, but the telling is incomplete.

[Addyson Huneke · Rating 2 out of 5]

The attitude towards evangelism in this really bugs me. As if you’re not doing your job if you’re not cornering strangers and making sure they know Jesus wherever you go. And as if most people aren’t going to roll their eyes at you and walk away if you try to open up deep conversations with people you’ve never met.

[Sasha Ivanova · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been something special. This read as a first draft, unfinished. The scene, characters, and plot were underdeveloped. I think the idea is there and could be amazing. Just wish that there was more. I had a really difficult time finishing this book. As a christian, I did like the amount of scripture included.

[Claudine Coe · Rating 5 out of 5]

inspiring

I recommend this book to every Christian who isn’t involved in any church ministry.We all are a part of a living church and all have gifts to share with others not just go to strive and leave the building without reaching out to others.
May this book inspire them to do more.

[Patti Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

inspiring

Even though I am leading a Bible study, this book has inspired me to study even more. I think one of the most important things that this book brings out is that each of us must find our gift and then use it. I will be recommending this book to my group and anyone I can get to listen to me to read the book. While it’s simple, it is also impactful.

[Ranee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this concept - so in tune with what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints incorporates in their ministering program. As a story, there was some excessive repetition of the same idea but I loved the way people's lives were touched & helped.

[Debbie Sandridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very quick read with a powerful message! We are God's hands and feet on this earth. We need to "see" people and use the gifts God has blessed us with. And WORK TOGETHER to accomplish His ultimate plan.

[Kalyn Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book is a Gift

Very impactful if you worry how you yourself can relate to others while trying to get up the courage to tell them about others. This may be a book of fiction but I felt like God was say, do what I ask and make disciples of the nation.

[Desiree Hagmayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually really enjoy Terri Blackstock's writing. This was not her typical book. I enjoyed the premise and the lesson behind it but the writing was almost elementary. And honestly the typos were distracting. Did no one proof read it?

[Holli Jorgensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Terri Blackstock, but I was a bit disappointed in the book. The characters were not very well developed in this edition. I don't know if it is edition or not. It is good basic evangelism. I think it is a little to basic.

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Terri Blackstock’s novels, but in this one everything is too perfect. Good scriptures are quoted for people learning about Jesus, but the story is weak.

[Sandra Priestino · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was not up to the level of most of her works

[Jill K Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific reminder to use the gifts God gave us.

[Tiffany Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a type of story that causes the reader to think. What if? It was the first one I read by her and I loved it.
Very creative story with good messages.

[R.K. Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok. The writing was well done and the story was good. But I found the characters to be a little bland.

[Nikolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

inspirational

Not the typical Blackstock novel. At time I felt it was a bit trite. Too simplified. But the last two chapters had better doctrine

[Val Gropp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short Novel about 3 people who could change the world with God's guidance!

[Ereynolds1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story! God is good! I loved it!