Ascent from Darkness by Michael Leehan

Michael Leehan lived and worked for satan for 20 years of his life.  His book relates his encounters and enslavement to the powers of the darkness.  Michael shares his struggles with spiritual warfare, addiction, depression and hopelessness.  Michael Leehan also shares his ventures into ritualistic cuttings, blood sacfifices, jail time, job loss, isolation from friends and family and his assignments from satan.

WOW! This book drew me in yet I found I could only read it in small doses.  Michael's willingness to be honest about what is kept in the dark is to be applauded.  To God be the Glory!

Ascent from Darkness showed how easily satan works and some of his methods.  This book reinforced my need to be praying for lost souls, my need to be in the WORD, in fellowship and to be held accountable. 

I hope there will be a sequel that shares more about his journey since becoming a Christian.  I highly recommend this book but I also encourage you to pray before and during and after your time of reading it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. 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.”

Sunrise on the Battery

Mary Lynn and Jackson Scoville are former small town people. Having arrived, they are now living the life they've always wanted while continuing to climb the social ladder.  Ultimately, they desire to give their three daughters a life far better than they had growing up, at least materialistically speaking.

A surprise encounter leads Mary Lynn back to the God of her youth and yet, she is unable to share her newfound faith with Jackson. On the precipice of getting into the highest of social circles, Jackson experiences a Damascus Road experience, which causes him to commit social suicide.

Can their marriage survive the new Jackson and his change of priorities for his family?

I found the beginning of this book to be slow, picking up momentum in the middle and racing at the end.  While the book did tie up the various parts of the story, I feel it ended too soon, that there was more to explore.

This book provided me with self-exploring questions, such as, what if one of my family members became totally sold out to God?  How would I react?  Would it test my comfort levels? 

What if I totally sold myself out to God?  Could I sell my home and give away all that I owned to follow Jesus?

While I enjoyed the concept, I did not enjoy, what I consider, an abrupt ending.

Would I recommend this book?  Yes but not highly.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. 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.”

One Call Away by Brenda Warner

Brenda Warner shares her life of faith in her book "One Call Away".  Brenda found herself living through any woman's nightmare: a healthy baby tragically injured, an end to a career she loved, betrayal by her spouse, divorce, poverty, death of her parents, all as the result of one shattering phone call at a time.

Not really knowing anything about Brenda Warner, I figured this would be a fairy tale romance, after all, she married Kurt Warner, but I was quite surprised.  I was captivated by her love story and I am not talking about her love for Kurt.  I am talking about her love for God.  Even when she was not living as God would have liked, she had no doubt that God would take care of her and her family.

Brenda's story evoked questions as I read, such as why, with such a strong faith, she made choices that went against God's Word, i.e., sex before marriage. It is those questions about her choices and her faith that kept me reading.  Brenda allows herself to be real in her story.  There were times I wanted to shake her, when I thought she was being too self-centered and then there were times, like the death of her parents, when I wanted to reach through the pages and hug her.

Can this book encourage you in your faith? Yes.  Can it help you get off the fence if you are undecided about accepting Jesus as your savior? Yes.  Can it make you laugh?  Yes.  Can it make you cry?  Yes. 


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. 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.”