novel Archives - Nikole Hahn

Home by Harlan Coban #BookReviews

Home by Harlan Coban is like Rambo versus Hawaii Five-O with the tension occasionally broken by unexpected tender moments. However, compared to the last novel I read by him called, Fool Me Once, I thought Home was just okay. We’ll start with the story break down.

Ten years ago, two boys were kidnapped. No new leads were discovered until now. Win sees Patrick, now sixteen, standing in a place known for gay prostitution. Win suddenly becomes Rambo and takes out the three large men around Patrick. Patrick escapes and Win calls his friend, Myron, to come to London and help him find the two missing boys.

The realism portrayed in the grieving parents was riveting. With Patrick home, a new struggle ensues. Where is Rhys, the other boy who went missing, and why do the Moore’s have so many secrets?

Win, as a character, had very little to love about him. Both Myron and Win were difficult to connect with as a reader, except when Myron had those tender moments with his fiancee. Overall, I gave this novel three stars.

***Book given by publisher to review***

Respect Tradition and Explore Change

Our God is a creative God. If He created this world in all its wonderful strangeness, why wouldn’t He, for instance, create different kinds of ministries that use different, but not unbiblical methods, for reaching people for Christ?

It really depends on the culture of people you are trying to reach to decide which method to employ. You must, “respect tradition, explore change,” and allow for a ministry to grow, adopting different methods, but staying on the Biblical narrow path in your theology. Adjust to the people you are trying to reach and influence.

The words, “Respect tradition; explore change,” came from an old Nora Roberts murder mystery on a night when distraction became my solace. Like a pastor said at a church I worship at, I also look for good theology in things I enjoy.

In the novel, the character was talking about the wine business. This sentence applies also to ministry work. Social media and mobile technology, while not brand new, thinking of it as a missionary tool is new to the church. People take an “either/or” approach to ministry, and that’s extreme.

I don’t read Nora Roberts at all, except for this one novel. She’s too racy. I like good writing and good story. A couple of cuss words don’t bother me if it goes along with character. This particular novel gets the creative juices going when my writing feels dry. It helps to read almost every genre in order to understand how to tell story, especially to share the Gospel with unbelievers in a language they understand.