Customer Reviews

Chosen

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dave Mitchell is the founder and outgoing CEO of DMI Ministry and, as CHOSEN by Patricia Haley opens, he has made a decision as to who will succeed him as the CEO. All thought his eldest son Don, a division Vice President within the ministry, would be his successor but Dave rocks his multi-million dollar ministry and the city of Detroit by naming his youngest son, Joel, the new CEO.

Don and Joel are half brothers. Twenty some odd years ago Dave left his wife and four children for a younger woman. Since then Dave's two families have bickered and fought and through it all, Dave found God and takes all of his issues to the Lord. He bases his decisions on what the Lord tells him. Madeline, Dave's first wife and Sheri, his second wife, are ruthless adversaries, however Madeline believes she holds the key to the future of the ministry because she is also a founder and major shareholder.

After the decision is made as to the CEO position, Don, dejected and hurt, leaves the country and relocates in South Africa and begins his own company. At peace with his new life, he moves on from the hurt. However, Madeline is hell-bent on making Don the CEO of DMI by exposing Joel as an inexperienced and incompetent leader. A shocking and untimely event takes place, which forces Don back to Detroit and all of the pain. The book progresses with the escalating antics between the two families.

The characters are ones you either like or dislike. The author exposes the good, the bad and the ugly of each. Several other characters are mentioned in the book and their stories are touched upon slightly, but not completely. The secondary characters' relationship to the main characters and the cause of their pain was pivotal for a complete understanding of this family. However, the true gist of their being is not explained thoroughly and it leaves a gaping hole within the story. The women portrayed run the gamut from insecure to needy, to strong-willed, overbearing and saviors.

Patrica Haley showcases how God's word can be misinterpreted with greed, lust and selfishness. Her reading guide forces you to highlight several parallels between the novel's characters and biblical characters. The character Dave and his strong religious belief system is unparalleled with the other characters within the book and this also forces you to wonder how this unyoked family survives the curves life throws them.

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

Author Patricia Haley takes sibling rivalry to another level in Chosen, as two half brothers, Joel and Don Mitchell, try to live with the last minute decision made by their father, Dave, to have Joel, rather than elder son Don, head a multi-million dollar ministry.

Don had been groomed by his father to some day head DMI, the ministry/business started by his parents. However, the divine decision made by the elder Mitchell, to appoint Joel as CEO, was one he knew God made as he dealt with his illness and choice to step down from the position himself. No matter, because his first wife, Madeline was not going to sit back quietly and accept her son being displaced without a fight; even if it meant sabotaging decisions made by Joel on behalf of the ministry.

Joel was not without help from his mother, Sherry, who believed that her husband made the right decision about the ministry and decided she would do all she could to support her son in spite of his lack of knowledge of the business.

The Mitchell family's problems did not begin with the decision made for the younger brother to lead the ministry over the elder brother. Their past history is tainted with infidelity, trust issues, parental neglect, and other things that caused drastic and life-changing events to occur within their family. Madeline refused to forgive and even after 25 years, was seeking ways to avenge the wrong done to her and her children.

Will Joel be able to walk in the way that God has chosen for him and take the family ministry to a global level? Or, will he falter in his weaknesses and allow the enemy to destroy what his father lovingly and prayerfully built over the years? Will there be forgiveness among the Mitchell family members, and can they find a way to accept each other and the decision that the elder Mitchell made?

I really enjoyed Chosen, especially how Author Haley shared how God does choose the most unlikely person for ministry when we think there is no way possible. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys reading about family drama, and all the issues that can come from an extended family situation.


Review by Sharel E. Gordon-Love
Apooo BookClub

Chosen depicts the life of King David and his son Solomon. The patriarch of the family, Dave, has an adulterous affair earlier in his life and the result is a divorce, new marriage, and ultimately two very separate families. Dave returns to a life of serving God but still has to deal with the fallout of his choices. Devastation ripped his first family apart; 2 sons end up dead and his only daughter has fled the country to get away from everyone. Joel, the child from the 2nd marriage is insecure and lonely, yet, secures the favor of his father, and seemingly the Father.

Before Dave's death, he recommends his youngest son, Joel, for the CEO position that his older son, Don, desired and had worked and been groomed for. Dejected, Don, sets out on another course while Joel sets out to prove his worth and legitimacy.

They both take a journey with the Lord learning, growing, and forgiving along the way. Only one ends on the Lord's side.

This is a great story line told in a contemporary way. Though compelling at times, it felt as though key pieces of history about the family and characters was missing. A true ending to the story is absent . . . meaning, you guessed it, a sequel (Destined is the title).

Would recommend borrowing the book as opposed to purchasing it.

The Mitchell family war all started when Dave Mitchell, the founder and CEO of a multimillion-dollar ministry, left his wife Madeline/business partner & their four children for his administrative assistent Sherry. Years later Dave appoints his and Sherry's only son a twenty-three-year-old Joel as CEO of the ministry instead of his son Don. Of which he mentored years before to take over the ministry when he would retire. Dave says that GOD has told him to appoint Joel as CEO instead of Don. Although his original plans were to appoint Don as CEO, his love for God overruled his plans once again. Madeline refuses to accept the decision of her ex-husband and vows not to rest until her son Don is the CEO of DMI. Feeling rejected once again by his father Don leaves the country looking to pursue his own business, meanwhile secretly pining away for his fathers assistent Abigail. Not knowing that back home she is secretly pinning for Joel.

Years later Joel is considered one of the most handsome, popular and prosperous business men in America. He is known for his wisdom and ability to make some of the toughest decision in the ministry. Madeline is still plotting ways to get rid of Joel. An Abigail has officially falling in love with him. Don is in his own business and is prospering. Joel is constantly praying and seeking GODS guidence, that is until Sheba Warden walks into his life. Although nothing romantic happens she sparked a lust that Joel did not have before. He than starts to not only seek different women but different God's has well.

Will Joel let his lust ruin his fathers ministry? Will Don ever come back home? Will the Mitchell family ever call a truce? This book is about seeking God's guidence and about how many wrong decisions may lead to someones ultimate demise. Definitely a page turner and will have you constantly wondering what's next.

Dave Mitchell opened a can of worms when he decided which of his two sons would succeed him as the CEO of the multi-million dollar ministry DMI.

Don is bitter after the decision is made and leaves for Africa, but not before being fired by his younger brother Joel. Joel is determined to see his father's vision through by allowing God to be his guide, until temptation intervenes. Madeline, Don's mother is already scorned behind the divorce from Dave cheating on her with the now current, but timid wife Sheri.

Not to give the story away, I would like to say that I enjoyed reading Chosen. I really loved Madeline if I had to pick a favorite character. I understood where Patricia was going with the story, however, it felt as if it took a long time getting to the point only to leave us hanging. I wished the family had been explored more to give us more insight on why things were as they were to make the story appear more cohesive.

I've already finished Destined and a lot of things were answered, but I will reserve my thoughts for that book on it's own review.

Wonderful book, I really enjoyed reading Chosen until the end. Chosen was part one of a three part series. I'm currently reading part 2 Destined and getting mad but I know I must complete the book before I reality what the author is trying to do. Patricia Haley is an excellent writing she knows how to keep you attention.

This is a excellence book. It is one of those books that you can't put down. Started and finished it in two days and immediately purchased her next book.

I really enjoyed this book. The author, Patricia Haley, is a very good writer. The writing flowed and was very easy to follow. I thought the book was fantastic. I finished the book while on my lunch break, put it down, grabbed my purse and ran down to the bookstore to purchase Destined. My book club group and I enjoyed both books tremedously and are waiting for Broken, which is the sequel to Destined, to come out in August of this year. I found both books to be a great read and highly recommend them.

Dave Mitchell a christian and head of a multi- million dollar ministry must choose a CEO to succeed him. Joel worked with his father for years and thought he would get the position but Dave said God told him to choose his younger son Don. Dave had strong christian beliefs but he didn't know how to be a loving or father. All of his children was in pain and he wait until he is dying to try fix something that a caring father would have taken of years ago. This was a good read but Dave was my least favorite character. I can't decide if I want a sequel.

I loved, loved, loved this book. The best part to me was that it bought me back to the Word to make sure my facts were straight. Patricia Haley left us hanging at the end, but I definitely do not mind. I am waiting to find out what will happen to the ministry now that Joel's steps are no longer ordered. We often want something so bad that when we no longer hear God's voice we start making excuses for ourselves. This book brings a modern day tone to a biblical event. Many are called but few are CHOSEN. This is a must read.