An Affirmation of Everyday Hope

The message was unexpected but instantly recognizable. A voice resonated from a distance and somehow from within. Against all earthly logic, it carried a divine command.

And five very different people knew they were summoned to obey.

Obey they did—but these weren’t grandiose actions designed to call attention to themselves. Only later did they see a pattern emerge - one that linked their tasks together and began to challenge the cultural direction of the nation.

One small personal response linked with others and made a difference.

And their affirmation of everyday hope captures the attention of millions. 

But power and money are at stake. Malicious elements soon align themselves to counter the trend. To succeed they must also undermine its source.

Can we really believe that God speaks to people today? 

Davis Bunn’s new book, The Turning, proposes that very question. Five different people sense God’s calling on their life and actions, and they take the turning. Rather than continue with their placid, day-to-day existence, they take the first small step in obedience, and then they embark upon a journey they could not have predicted.

I was amazed at how Bunn balanced the disparate elements in this story—unique individuals each with their own situation—and how they became pieces of one grand story in my mind as I read. There was a temporary jolt as, in beginning chapters, we jumped from one individual to another, but Bunn wove one tapestry of these individual threads before I realized what was happening.

Davis Bunn always seems to have a finger on the pulse of the times; he senses the zeitgeist and clearly shows how the gospel message relates to this moment.

Davis Bunn’s message in the midst of today’s milieu is my favorite element of the book. 

He reminds, underscores, affirms for us that Hope is not dead. 

I received a complimentary copy of The Turning from River North Fiction in exchange for my honest review. 

Video trailer for THE TURNING, by best-selling author, DavisBunn.   

Davis Bunn talks about his novel, THE TURNING.

Visit Davis at davisbunn.com or theturningbook.com/

Facebook: facebook.com/davisbunnauthor

Twitter: @davisbunn

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/davisbunn

Strait of Hormuz goes straight to the heart.

Tuesday November 19, 2013

“Another book review?” you may be thinking.

“And it’s another Davis Bunn book!”

Oh, yes. If there’s anything I love, it’s reading, and talking about the books I’ve read is a close second. There are plans in the works for another blog in the future, and I plan to talk even more about books there.

Another Davis Bunn book? Of course.
He’s one of my favorite authors.

This book, Strait of Hormuz, is the third in the Marc Royce adventures and I can tell you, it does not disappoint. Recently I reviewed Unlimited, a book I really enjoyed. But this one is captivating. I don’t know how Davis has managed to hook me on books whose subjects are not my first love, but he has. My guess is it’s the creation of the protagonist, Marc Royce.

Royce is flawed, but strong. In Rare Earth, his decision to walk away from a young lady, Kitra, was heartbreaking and compelling. And now, in Strait of Hormuz, Royce finds himself knee-deep in a clandestine operation, only to discover that the Mossad has sent someone to keep an eye on him. And (as the book’s back cover says) it’s someone Royce knows…

The tension surrounding Marc and Kitra is engrossing, but as all of Davis Bunn's books, this one displays an even more compelling and thought-provoking theme. I never read a Bunn book without learning something, and this one opened my eyes even more to the missionary church movement.

To understand a little more about the book and its creator, take a peek inside this Davis Bunn Q&A:

Q: The first two books in the Marc Royce series have been bestsellers and also won praise from the critics. Lion of Babylon won the Library Journal’s Best Book of 2011 award, and Rare Earth won the 2013 Christy Award for Suspense Fiction. What do you see is behind this success?

Davis Bunn: The stories have certainly resonated with readers. I have tried to develop a strong sense of unfolding drama, combined with a unique spiritual theme. This moral structure plays out both in the story and the characters. My aim is to create an inspirational challenge that remains with the reader long after the book has been set down.

Q: This story includes two special components from your early life. Tell us about them.

DB: My mother worked as an antiques dealer. In truth, ‘work’ was not really the correct term, because this was a passion she inherited from her mother. They bonded while my mom was still a child, going to small eastern Carolina towns and hunting around junk stores for the sort of bargains that don’t exist anymore. Their first love was early Americana, a type of colonial furniture known as Jacobean that predated America’s nationhood. I never really shared this passion, but in two previous books I came to respect and admire those who do. And so I knew a great delight in re-entering this world in Strait of Hormuz, only this time at the very highest end. Strait takes place in the rarified world of multi-million dollar art, where the richest of collectors vie with museums and galleries for items that are no longer classed as antiques, but rather as treasures. The second special component was the location. I lived in Switzerland for almost five years, and many of the venues were places where I worked, and walked, and came to discover myself as an author.

Q: In what way is the setting important to this book?

DB: The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical waterways. Stretching between Iran and the Gulf States, the strait us home to two US fleets. More than a third of all the oil consumed worldwide pass through these waters. But the story actually begins in Switzerland, before traveling to the Sinai and then into the hotly-contested Strait of Hormuz.

Q: What spiritual theme is the focus of this story?

DB: One growing area of the missionary church movement is with displaced persons. More than five million Iranians have been expelled from their homeland, or been forced to flee the current regime. This includes virtually the entire Christian population. The missionary church movement has made enormous strides in bringing peace to these families and introducing Christ into the world of Muslims fleeing a Muslim government.

Q: What drew you to the missionary church movement as a theme?

DB: I came to faith in a missionary church. I was working as a consultant based in Germany. The year I accepted Christ, the Southern Baptist Mission Board founded a missionary church in Dusseldorf. I attended the church, I grew in the church, I studied under two amazing pastors, and one of them returned to Europe to marry us. It was also where I learned to write. Two weeks after coming to faith, I felt called to writing. I wrote for nine years and completed seven books before my first was accepted for publication. The church, its members, and the elders all played a critical role in bringing me to where I am now. I am living testimony to the vital role played by the missionary church.

Q: All three of the books in this series have given significant insight into the Muslim world, something critics have picked up on. What experience do you have with this region?

DB: For the four years prior to moving to Germany, I lived and worked in the Middle East. I was the only non-Muslim in the management structure of a family-owned company. They had three major arms: construction equipment, shipping, and pharmaceuticals. I rose to become Marketing Manager of the pharmaceutical division. One of the requirements of this job was to take instruction in the Koran and Islamic history from an imam who taught at the local university. I think this experience played a major role in my coming to Christ.

Q: How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website and blog are at www.davisbunn.com

Facebook Author Page: facebook.com/davisbunnauthor

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/davisbunn/ -- check out my “Strait of Hormuz” board at http://www.pinterest.com/davisbunn/strait-of-hormuz/

Twitter: @davisbunn - http://twitter.com/davisbunn

I received a complimentary copy of Strait of Hormuz from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

And honestly, it’s compelling.

Interested? You can read chapters 1-3 of Strait of Hormuz free right here.

And one more thing. You can visit Davis Bunn’s Facebook page to enter an exciting sweepstakes giveaway.

I'd love to hear what you think.
Have you read any of Bunn's books before? Interested in this one?
Read those first three chapters and report back!

Happy reading,

Unlimited: The Book, the Movie, the Author

October 10, 2013

“Simon crawled away from his burning car, amazed that he was still alive.”

The opening line of Davis Bunn’s Unlimited pulls you in immediately.

Before you know what’s happening, you’re involved in a story that won’t let go.

Assassins, possible murder, suspense, an orphanage, and a hint of romance…there’s something for everyone.


And at Unlimited’s center is a broken man.

Simon has been disappointed and he has disappointed those close to him; forgiving himself and opening up again are daily challenges.

Add an orphanage bursting with children and believers who surround him with love and compassion, and slowly, gradually, Simon’s unlimited potential is coaxed to the surface. As Simon opens up to others and to the One who loves him most, he finds a peace he never thought he could know.

The movie, Unlimited, is in limited release, so look for it near you. The book has some stunning visual images that, on the big screen, should be intriguing.

Davis Bunn has long been one of my favorite authors. I’d be hard pressed to name a book of his I haven’t read. (And I’m looking forward to the next one!) Always kind and humble, willing to help, advise, and encourage new authors, Davis builds a following with his genuine nature and his incredible talent.

Look for the book, the movie, and check out the giveaway hosted by Davis.

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from B&H Publishing in exchange for my honest review. (Thanks, B&H!)

The Story Crept Up on Me

Tuesday July 24, 2012


Author Davis Bunn did it again.

He drew me into a story I knew nothing of. The story crept up on me and, before I knew it, I was hooked.

It’s no secret I’m a big Davis Bunn fan. I think I’ve read all of his books. Some of my favorites were his historical fiction, so I’m not a hard reader to hook in that genre.

Rare Earth, however, is set in contemporary times. Although it is Book 2 in the Marc Royce series, it's a stand-alone novel that can be read with no knowledge of Book 1. Bunn’s main character, Marc Royce, seems to me a real man’s man. He’s the strong, silent type who always gets the job done. He’s introspective, though, and compassionate; he proves the adage that still waters run deep. He’s together in so many ways, but he’s running, too. All of this makes him a very complex, interesting character.

The settings of Rare Earth are not familiar to me, and I love it when I learn something from fiction. (A given with Davis Bunn’s books.) I was compelled to learn more about believers in Kenya and driven to understand the mystery that is Marc Royce. The stakes were high in this book in several ways; I cared about the characters and the situations. So I couldn’t stop reading.

And when it was over? I was sorry I’d reached the end…and am looking forward to Book 3.

(I also highly recommend Lion of Babylon, Book 1 of the Marc Royce series. I just downloaded it from iTunes for my husband to enjoy while driving. I'd give both books five stars!)

Here’s a little more about the author and book, from Davis Bunn himself.

What can readers expect to find in Rare Earth?

All my books hold to one key aim—to create a story that carries a moral, and together result in an impact or challenge or inspiration or comforting assurance that remains long after the book is set down. That, to me, defines a worthy effort.

What kind of character is Marc Royce?

He carries his faith into a world that likes to think Jesus no longer plays a role. He sees himself as the ultimate outsider, wounded by the loss of his wife, searching for a place he can call home, and an ideal worth living for—or giving his life for.

Tell us about one or two other key characters.

Like the book that launched this series, Rare Earth is a story about the missionary church. Many of the other characters are Kenyan, and reveal the amazing role that believers play in this nation.

What type of research did you do for this series?

I worked in Africa for four years early in my adult life. I was not a believer at that time. I came to faith four years later. I taught in Kenya last year, the first time I had been back to sub-Sahara Africa in almost twenty years. Going back to Africa now, as a believer, has opened my eyes to many things. Seeing with the compassion of sharing faith and seeking to serve means that I do not merely observe, I share with them. I hope this comes across in my story.

Research is a huge component of all of my stories. But with Lion of Babylon and Rare Earth, the situation was quite different. In both these Royce novels, I was combining knowledge gained in my previous business life with the perspective gained from my walk in faith. It has been quite a fulfilling experience, personally, to revisit these lands and see them through the eyes of our compassionate God.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website and blog are at http://www.davisbunn.com/

Sign up for my e-newsletter (for subscriber-only giveaways and advance notice of my upcoming novels): http://www.davisbunn.com/news.htm

Facebook Author Page: facebook.com/davisbunnauthor

Twitter: @davisbunn - http://twitter.com/davisbunn

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/davisbunn/

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Bethany House Publishers. 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.

Happy reading!

Books, Love, Faith: Friday's Fave Five

June 25, 2010Time to look back at the blessings of the week. Thanks to Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for hosting this each week. Be sure to visit Susanne if you’d like to join in.

1. Fathers. I miss my dad, but he left me so much. I’m so thankful for him. Then there’s my boys’ father -- that would be my sweet hubby. He’s a wonderful husband and an awesome dad. I wrote about him in this post. We celebrated him on Father’s Day! So thankful for these guys!

2. Another good book. I know, I sound like a broken record. But what can I say – I’m a bibliophile! Davis Bunn is one of my favorite contemporary Christian authors, and I read The Centurion’s Daughter last week. I’m finishing The Hidden Flame, its sequel, this week. Love both of them!

3. An anniversary. It’s been a few years, and still I’m crazy about this man. (That would be the guy in number 1.) We had a special evening out, and I’m thankful for all those years. I wrote about marriage and writing here, if you'd like to check it out.

4. Travel. I do love it, and we’re going to do some in the coming weeks. I look forward to seeing family, experiencing God’s creation, and enjoying some quiet, relaxing time. That puts me in mind of a G.K. Chesterton quote:

The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see.

May I always be a traveler, seeing all there is around me, taking it all in whether it’s my destination or not.

5. A quote about faith as a way of life. Rebecca at Wonders Never Cease introduced me to a fascinating book this week, An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor.

"In a world of too much information about almost everything, bodily practices can provide great relief. To make bread or love, to dig in the earth, to feed an animal or cook for a stranger – these activities require no extensive commentary, no lucid theology. All they require is someone willing to bend, reach, chop , stir…and yet these are the same activities that change lives, sometimes all at once or sometimes more slowly, the way dripping water changes stone. In a world where faith is often construed as a way of thinking, bodily practices remind the willing that faith is a way of life."

Bend, reach, chop, stir – don’t those sound like activities we women perform every day? Faith, as a way of life.

Wishing you a wonderful week!

This Week's Blessings: Friday's Fave Five

Friday February 26, 2010

Can you name five blessings from your week? Susanne from Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday’s Fave Five each week. Jump over and see her if you’d like to join in!

Here are my faves from this week.

1. A mother’s tale – I started writing a novel this past November, and it has pretty much sat dormant since then. It’s a mother’s tale, so it’s dear to my heart. Next week I’ll be attending a writers conference and I’m taking the manuscript with me for critique. So I dug it out this week and revisited it, and it still brings a lump to my throat. Who knows if it will affect anyone else that way or not, but I do love telling it.

2. An author visit – One of my favorite Christian authors, Davis Bunn, visited our school this week. He taught several writing seminars and had lunch with us, and it was a great day. He’s such a great writer with a humble heart, and is so willing to lend his expertise to help others!

3. A college visit – One of my sons is visiting a university this weekend as part of a scholarship competition. I’m praying for him and excited for him!

4. A gathering of friends – At the writers conference this week, I get to connect with a bunch of writer friends who share my love for words and the Word. I’ve been thinking about it all week, and I can’t wait!

5. A bouquet of encouragement – Comments are so encouraging! I love reading my readers’ comments and hearing from friends I work with who visit my blog as well. One of my school friends who has signed up for my Monday newsletter said the other day, “I just love what you send on Mondays. It’s so encouraging and just what I need to hear.” Who cares about numbers when you hear that something you wrote encouraged someone? What a blessing! Thanks for encouraging words, friends.

Now it’s your turn – share your blessings with us.

Have a great weekend!