"The Gathering Storm" Book Review

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Gathering Storm Summerside Press (August 1, 2010)

by Bodie and Brock Thoene


MY REVIEW:
First off, when you want excellent historical fiction on WWII in Europe the Thoene's are the authors to go to. They have outstanding series already (The Zion Chronicles and The Zion Legacy books) and now this new series is filling in the gap between those two series. So we enter Europe in the early 1940's. How do you expound on the writings of the Thoenes? Their research is amazing, their characters are incredible, the settings are so well written that I fell like I'm there... Then there are the story lines. I was telling my husband about this one because I loved that it is the perspective of an American citizen who is stuck on the wrong side of the ocean and is witness to all of these horrible atrocities. The perspective is amazing. I only had one minor issue with this book, there is a legend that is introduced in the story that leads us to believe that the legend is true and it messed with my mind a little (I'll admit it certainly made me think and that's not all bad and I certainly spent a lot of time thinking about it in the days that followed finishing the book!) That was the only thing that seemed a little off to me. Outside of that, this book is another testament to the historical brilliance of Brock and Bodie Thoene.


ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Bodie and Brock Thoene (pronounced Tay-nee) have written over 50 works of historical fiction. Over twenty million of these best-selling novels are in print. Eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards affirms what millions of readers have already discovered—the Thoenes are not only master stylists but experts at capturing readers’ minds and hearts.



Bodie began her writing career as a teen journalist for her local newspaper. Eventually her byline appeared in prestigious periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report, The American West, and The Saturday Evening Post. She also worked for John Wayne’s Batjac Productions (she’s best known as author of The Fall Guy) and ABC Circle Films as a writer and researcher. John Wayne described her as “a writer with talent that captures the people and the times!” She has degrees in journalism and communications.



Brock has often been described by Bodie as “an essential half of this writing team.” With degrees in both history and education, Brock has, in his role as researcher and story-line consultant, added the vital dimension of historical accuracy. Due to such careful research, The Zion Covenant and The Zion Chronicles series are recognized by the American Library Association, as well as Zionist libraries around the world, as classic historical novels and are used to teach history in college classrooms.



Bodie and Brock have four grown children—Rachel, Jake, Luke, and Ellie—and seven grandchildren. Their sons, Jake and Luke, are carrying on the Thoene family talent as the next generation of writers, and Luke produces the Thoene audiobooks.



Bodie and Brock divide their time between London and Nevada.





ABOUT THE BOOK

As Nazi forces tighten the noose, Loralei Kepler, daughter of a German resistance leader, must flee her beloved Germany. But is any place safe from Adolf Hitler's evil grasp? Loralei's harrowing flight leads her into the arms of needy child refugees, who have sacrificed everything in exchange for their lives, and toward a mysterious figure, who closely guards an age-old secret.



Explore the romance, the passion, and the danger of the most anticipated series of the last twenty years.



Born from the highly acclaimed and best-loved novels of three generations of readers -- The Zion Covenant series and The Zion Chronicles series -- Zion Diaries ventures into the lives of the inspiring and intriguing characters who loved intensely, stood up for what was right, and fought boldly during Hitler's rise to power and the dark days of World War II.



If you would like to read the first chapter of The Gathering Storm, go HERE