Customer Reviews

Desperate Highway

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Desperate Highway
This book is an amazing true story of a man that didn't believe in anything or anyone. He lived his life in a manner that became challenging just to get through the day without the prospect of being locked up or worse. God put him through the ultimate test that would easily break any normal human being. This man is a true inspiration to anyone that is facing tough times; whether it be incarceration or otherwise. Props to the author, Jesse Stretch. Awesome read! Should be made into a movie!

Desperate Highway
by Jesse Stretch

From the book: Jeff Andrews didn't just scam people; he ripped them off for everything they were worth. He took their homes, cars, planes, boats, even their girlfriends, and spent the money on booze, guns, coke, and limousines.

My Review:

Jeff Andrews was a bad guy, a crook, drug addict, thief, womanizer, and all around jerk. He stole from anyone and everyone and didn't care. He was so self-focused that he only cared about his own needs and wants. He spent time in 25 jails and correctional facilities. Desperate Highway tells the story of a young man who makes one bad decision after another until his is a full-blown habitual crook.

The book chronicles the years he spent stealing and losing whole fortunes at a time. His life of criminal behavior left him on the run and always fearing detection. He was a hopeless waste of life - until he met the one person who could change his heart and make him someone of worth. While in prison he opened a Gideon Bible, and finally heard the truth about what was important in life, and gave him the one thing he didn't have - love. Desperate Highway clearly explains that even the worst of the worst have value in God's eyes, and redemption is always in their reach.

This is an excellent book with an important message. I appreciated the appendixes in the back of the book with information on Jeff Andrews' ministries. I would have liked to know more about his transition into the ministries, but that does not take away from the importance of the book and the message. Jeff's life begins where the book ends. According to the book and his website, he is involved with prison ministries and mentoring those just out of prison. Mr. Stretch had done a nice job in capturing the important messages in this book.

Desperate Highway is a rare find - a unique opportunity to view the world of temptation, greed and excess - with a finish that leads you motivated to enrich your own life and that of others. It becomes a quick read - never knowing what lies ahead (or behind)in the next city. The overall experience gives anyone hope... at any stage of life...that a tremendous future is one change away. Two thumbs up.

Desperate Highway is exciting! It's a biography that reads like a thriller novel. The message is important for young and old, rich and poor, honest and crook! The ending really isn't a surprise, the road getting there is. It is a must read.

This is an intriguing book that is very good on some levels and less so on others.

It is basically a biography of a career criminal who had a life changing experience and became a Christian. The outcome is very good. I am less impressed with the way that the story is told in the book.

There is some focus in portraying this as a Christian testimony. There is a little bit of that, but it is presented as kind of an afterthought. The first 250 pages of this volume seem to glorify Andrews' criminal lifestyle. A few pages toward the end he discusses his conversion experience, but it is really minimized.

Another problem is that the author claims that he "was diagnosed as a 'criminal genius'". There is no such disorder. I am fairly familiar with the DSM-IV and I have never seen that one. It seems like rather than presenting his former life as a shameful thing, he revels in it. This bragging about having a non-existent personality disorder is just one example of that.

I think it is commendable that Mr. Andrews has evidently turned his life around and made a commitment to Christ. In spite of that, the presentation of his story leaves a bit to be desired.

This is really about two things: the biography and the testimony. The personal story is rather entertaining, albeit a bit distasteful due to the braggadocio. The testimony is too sparse and does not receive enough attention in my opinion.

What an outstanding read! I found Jeff's story to be completely fascinating. I was so engrossed that I discovered it was impossible to put the book down! This story has fully reinforced my faith in God and His ability to transform the lives of even the most hardened and wayward of individuals.

I applaud Jeff and his courage for telling this story. I'm certain it was difficult for him to rehash his painful past in order to bring forth this excellent novel of trials, tribulations, and the ultimate power and hope found in God's love. I don't know of anyone who could have pulled off what Mr. Andrews did as a criminal mastermind. He was given a wonderful gift that was used for good once he had found God and fully gave himself over to Him.

Jeff's book captured and held my attention from cover to cover. The book's purpose and ultimate message of..."God can change a life"..was so powerfully and brilliantly conveyed that I would recommend this book for anyone; especially for those who believe that there is no hope for change or redemption in themselves.

Jeff Andrews didn't bother purchasing a captains jacket from a garment store to pretend he was a pilot, he would just walk up and steal the plane!

This is the story of a man who starts off with a small time scam and very quickly dives into the life of a con man with bigger and bolder ideas to make money at every stop along the way. His desperate highway eventually leads to some tough decisions on the life he wants to lead but the depths it takes to get there is staggering.

Well written by the author and a great read. I couldn't put this book down - 5*!

Reviewed by Rocky Marrin: I have just finished Desperate Highways and am sorry the book ran out of pages! This book is written in such a way that it gives a sense of being right there beside Jeff during his entire journey! To think that someone could conduct their life in such a manner and then give it all up to God is absolutely amazing. His Power, His Love and His Grace has no equal. May God continue to bless you, your family and the Desperate Highway Ministries.

This book is a definite must read. The author does and outstanding job of balancing between maintaining your interest and teaching you a life changing experience. This book will hit the best seller list soon.

Do.not.miss.this.book!
Stark, cruel, twisted...like watching a train wreck where all you see is destruction, death and pain but you just can't avert your eyes. That was my experience reading this book. With each chapter, Jack's criminal exploits drag him deeper into darkness and evil but what transpires is truly miraculous! Turns out, this is really the story of healing, hope and redemption through the Person of Jesus Christ.