Customer Reviews

Forsaken

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Raised by her father, a Special Forces veteran, Taylor always knew she was different. Practical rather than perfect, beautiful yet unaffected with a plethora of survival skills most adults never master, Taylor's soul is still scarred when evil comes calling on her. As a result, Taylor throws herself in to her studies and into a career protecting others, with a tenacity and ferocity rarely seen in a woman. Taylor serves her country well, despite controversy, in the Secret Service before opening her own Security company, Pasbury Security.

Under pressure from his devoted staff, following threats from Muslim extremists, Simon Mason, the world's most revered televangelist reluctantly agrees to a security detail and hand picks Taylor Pasbury. Fighting an attraction to this surprisingly understated man, Taylor implements security changes but is unable to prevent Simon's daughter Kacey from kidnappers who demand Simon make an unthinkable choice if he wants to see Kacey again.

Simon, Taylor and Kacey find themselves caught up in life threatening events that may exact a price higher than death.

I have read many enthralling suspense novels, enjoyed meaningful love stories and delved into books that challenge my thinking and purpose but never has a novel combined all three elements, and with such adeptness, as Forsaken. James David Jordan's Taylor Pasbury is a complex woman with burdens from her past, unimaginable to most, yet is genuinely intriguing. Simon Mason is a man who wields great power yet is grounded in his beliefs and compassion, but still has demons from his past to battle. When the unbearable testing of his soul and spirit occurs, you will not be left untouched and as I did, will contemplate the choice you might make in Simon's shoes. Although the conclusion is satisfying, I was left feeling there was a depth to the characters that remained unexplored so I was thrilled to learn Taylor's story does not end with this book. A fascinating and emotional read, Forsaken will keep you up late, even when the last page is read, pondering your faith, the intricacies of love in all its forms and God's unforeseen purposes in this world.

Truth be told, regardless of the challenging thoughts it leaves you with, Forsaken is one excellent ride, complete with unexpected twists and turns, that neither men or women should miss!

When Simon Mason, a widowed, world-famous televangelist gets death threats from Muslim extremists, he hires former Secret Services agent, Taylor Swift, who runs her own security business, for protection. Simon's twenty-year-old daughter is soon kidnapped and he's forced to choose between honoring his faith or saving his daughter.

Told in first person through the eyes of Taylor, we get this tale of pressure, danger, finding love in unexpected places and counting the cost of being a Christian.

Although some parts of this suspense novel were gripping, the abundance of foreshadowing killed some of the tension for me, but that's a personal feeling. Some readers are hooked by it and like it, but I've always had a disdain for it because I don't like to be told what's going to happen before it does. A little bit is fine, but every other chapter or so is too much for my liking. I almost wanted to skip the last few paragraphs of each chapter so I'd avoid those thrill robbers. The last third of the book alludes to how things will end, so when it unfolded exactly the way I assumed it would, the potential, heart-wrenching ride for me was somewhat constrained. I liked that the author saved one shocker for the end and how the final threads wrapped up.

That said, I did get misty in a few spots, and I felt James David Jordan did an excellent job of delving into Taylor's inner demons and agony over being single and alone. This work is also a strong testament of true faith and courage. Any Christian would be blessed and encouraged by its message of redemption and sacrifice.

Taylor is a former secret service agent who's been called to protect the world's most famous televangelist. She's had a past that calls for her to take this job very seriously. Simon has received threats from terrorists telling him to step down from his ministry or else him and his family will be in harm's way. When the unthinkable happens, Simon has to make a choice that will change everyone who has been affected by him forever.

Reading this book was like watching an episode of 24 in book format. This book was heart thumping non stop action from the first page. It's very gritty, not for the faint hearted. I love how the main character is a female who doesn't need to rely on others to take care of herself. Reading about Taylor's past and how it affected her life and career choice was great buildup for the story. This is honestly one of the best suspense novels I have ever read, in both secular and Christian fiction. With plot twists and good character development, this book was hard to put down. The story is very realistic, one could easily see the news headlines actually happening. It's actually scary to think that there could be someone out there who is plotting this exact scenario. The choice that Simon had to make was extremely difficult. It is a situation that one hopes NEVER to have to be in. It really makes you think about what is the most important thing in your life and exactly how strong your faith really is. The ending is rather interesting and I'm looking forward to seeing how that storyline is played out. I'm highly anticipating the next book in the series. This is one book that you could easily pass on to guys who claim to hate reading. It will definitely grab their attention. HIGHLY recommended.

Taylor Pasbury has made quite a name for herself despite her tragic past. After a successful career with the Secret Service she starts her own private security firm in Dallas. Taylor excels in her job, but her personal life is in shambles. She has found herself in a sick cycle of drinking binges and one night stands as she tries to numb the pain from her past.

Out of the blue the world's most famous evangelist, Simon Mason, contacts her to work security for him because of threats against him from a Muslim terrorist group. After a shocking turn of events Taylor finds herself involved in a father's worst nightmare. Simon desperately needs her help, and soon Taylor will discover just how much she needs Simon.

Every once in a great while I find myself wonderfully surprised by a book that was way off my radar. James David Jordan's Forsaken has been stuck in the middle of my reading stack for awhile now, mostly because I had no idea who he was. After flying through the first one hundred pages I began to realize that I had been missing out on something special.

Forsaken is written in the first person from Taylor's point of view and throughout this story I had to remind myself that the author is a man. Jordan does a masterful job of placing us into Taylor's turbulent world full of struggles and questions. When it's done right the first person narrative is my favorite storytelling device. This is no doubt some of the best first person I've read in some time.

I really appreciate the way Jordan gives us flawed characters that actually resemble real people. Taylor's vices are explored very effectively and as we get to know the "world's most famous Christian" we find out that even Simon Mason is as human as you and I. This really made his faith seem more real to me throughout the story and I'm thrilled Jordan didn't feel the need to paint this character with a squeaky clean brush.

Forsaken isn't the best novel I've read this year, but it may just be the most surprising. Jordan treats us with just the right mix of action, mystery, suspense, and hope to keep us churning the pages. The next time a James David Jordan book crosses my path I'll be sure to find a place at the top of my reading pile.

"Forsaken" is a Christian general fiction novel with some suspense. It wasn't really what I expected. Though I fully agree that some things are worth dying for, I felt like the characters missed why Christ is worth dying for. The ending didn't inspire me like I think it was meant to.

The characters were varied, complex, and dealt with realistic struggles (alcoholism, adultery, kidnapping, etc.) in realistic ways. I think a lot of Christians would sympathize with the "human side" of this "great preacher." However, I didn't agree with his view that Peter and Paul (of the Bible) were so willing to suffer and die for Jesus because of profound guilt they felt over denying Jesus/persecuting Christians earlier. The preacher said he understood grace, but I don't think he really did. He had noble ideas, but he did them for the wrong reason (in my opinion, and--it seemed--the opinion of some of the characters in the book), and I found that sad.

The suspense was created mainly by physical danger to the main characters. The descriptions were vivid though not highly detailed.

Most of the characters were Christians, though some were more nominal and others more devout. The Christian faith was a major theme of the story, but the main character (and the reader) were never "preached" at. There were no sex scenes. There was a very minor amount of fake bad language. Overall, it was an interesting, well-written book.

I've read many first novels from different authors. Initially I was skeptical about FORSAKEN from reading the back cover. A man, James David Jordan is writing through the first-person eyes of former Secret Service agent Taylor Pasbury (a woman).

From the first page, I forgot about my skepticism and plunged into a fascinating story. Other reviews have described the plot but it's filled with plenty of twists and unexpected turns to keep you turning the pages. FORSAKEN is a winner and recommended.

In "Forsaken", James David Jordan weaves an exciting, page-turning tale about a troubled young woman with a tragic past, Taylor, hired as a security officer by a televangelist, Simon, after he receives threats from Muslim extremists. The story is told from Taylor's perspective as she becomes intricately involved in the lives of Simon and his young-adult daughter, Kacey. Almost immediately, Taylor becomes a integral part of this small family, caught up in the seemingly endless task of protecting Simon and Kacey against a bombing, a kidnapping, an attack from a crazed, religious fanatic and more terrorist threats.

Jordan is an eloquent writer, skillfully painting his characters with spunk and humor. "Forsaken" moved along quickly, with nary a lag in the plot. While this was a good book, however, I can't help but think that with practice Jordan will become an even better story-teller. This book had a great premise with lots of potential, but as I finished the last page, I felt a nagging disappointment in the book's overall impact.

Taylor, though immensely winsome and likable, doesn't develop much beyond her character's introduction. Even her battle with alcoholism feels like an entertaining and unnecessary side story, rather than a springboard for depth and insight. In fact, there were several sub-plots in "Forsaken" that did little to further the story's forward movement and fizzled out before Jordan brought them to fruition. In the end, it seemed as though Simon's influence in Taylor's life was more superficial than spiritual.

In addition, it was hard for me to forgive and forget the silly, nonsense notion that terrorists would perform a sterile, surgical procedure, complete with general anesthesia, to cut someone's finger off. Terrorists are brutal, inhumane, radical, and violent...hardly the type of people to worry about a hostage's pain level and risk of infection enough to hire a surgical team. And since the missing finger was a recurring topic, I was repeatedly reminded of this ridiculous detail.

"Forsaken" was entertaining enough that I look forward to watching Jordan develop as an author. He has the ability to tell an engaging story full of action, humor, and suspense as he keeps his reader wondering what will happen next. His characters are colorful, yet mysterious, and the story was both exciting and thought-provoking.

James David Jordan's FORSAKEN is hands down the best book I've read this year. On a day filled with my own projects and deadlines, when I had to be disciplined with my time, I found myself picking it up again and again, rationalizing the time I was sacrificing to read more about Taylor and Simon.
FORSAKEN introduces us to Taylor Pasbury, a former Secret Service agent that has been hired by Simon Mason, a dynamic televangelist when he receives threats from Muslim extremists. Taylor has had her own share of publicity, some good and some bad. She's had a difficult past and a somewhat checkered reputation. When she is contacted by Simon Mason, she gets the sense that she's not the right fit for the job, but is willing to at least meet with him. From there, the pace of the story never once lets down. When Simon Mason's world is turned upside down by the kidnapping of his 20-year old daughter, renouncing his faith is all that is needed to insure her release. But how can he? How can he forsake the God he serves with his whole heart?
Taylor sees the demand as an easy one and can't understand the struggle Mason is facing. But soon, she learns there is more to Simon then the media hype around him. She finds him human, a man with faults, a man with past sins. She even wishes for possibly something more than friendship between them, even though she knows that will never happen. The way Simon lives his life out in front of her, challenges her to reevaluate her own life.
James David Jordan has created two totally captivating characters in Taylor and Simon. I loved Taylor's tough-as-nails attitude, and the way Jordan wrote her with such sensitivity. And Simon's even-keel personality makes for an intriguing duo. The highs and lows of the story drew such emotion from me as a reader, at times I had to put it down just so I could take a breath. But I needed to read on. I needed to know how things would end. The secondary characters Jordan created enhance the story without taking the focus away from Taylor and Simon. The symmetry of the story is what keeps you reading on.
I could say so much more about FORSAKEN but I fear I would give too much of the story away. I will be picking up SOMETHING THAT LASTS, Jordan's first book immediately. And I will be waiting anxiously for the release of DOUBLE CROSS, the sequel to FORSAKEN next fall.

While Forsaken sounds at first glance like a typical terrorist/suspense novel, it is so much more than what it seems. Well deserving of the suspense genre label, it moves at an intense and engrossing pace through the first two-thirds of the book, only to slow into a more thoughtful, reflective later portion. Readers are treated to what amounts to two stories within one cover, skillfully blended. A tale of nerve-wracking uncertainty and action combined with the story of one man's faith and spiritual journey.

Jordan's novel enthralled me. Forsaken possesses a special quality that refuses to let the reader set the book down for long. Far from being rote, the story of Kacey's capture and the difficult decision her father faced were captivating. The characters are realistic, flawed and uncommonly personable. Mason is true to life in his vulnerability, failings and foibles. Pasbury, a woman with a difficult, tainted past is gritty, wounded, and loveable. The author has succeeded in writing both male and female characters that resonate in the heart of the reader.

Exploring far more than the themes of inter-religious tensions and terrorism, Jordan dips his characters into loneliness, evangelism, love, the bonds of family and God's grace. A surprising depth is created through the drawing together of seemingly disparate threads of story - the lines between past and present.

Jordan does introduce some threads that are left dangling by this story's end. Readers looking for a single title read may feel disappointed that these avenues have been left open. Those looking forward to future adventures with Taylor Pasbury will be delighted by the prospect of a sequel. Double-Cross is scheduled for release in October 2009.

A balanced perspective on the actions of Muslim terrorist groups is also woven into this novel. Far from condemning all followers of Islam as dangerous radicals, it is made clear that the purpose of such radicals is rarely religious, but more often power based. Moderate followers of Islam are treated with respect and dignity without minimizing the need to share the gospel with them.

Certainly a well-written suspense novel, Forsaken is so much more than I expected; deeper, truer, touching and surprising. Come for the thrill, adrenaline and addictive compulsion to keep reading. Stay for the lingering reflection, insight and first steps on the path to healing.

Wow!! I found myself holding my breath at the end of the book. I couldn't read the suspenseful story that was unfolding fast enough. It was definitely a page turner and something I had to finish before I went on with anything else that day. I have to tell you that from the start I was reluctant to read this story because it was about a televangelist. I didn't know where James Jordan would go with this story, and I was not sure I wanted to find out. I gave the story a shot and it immediately grabbed me as I got to know Taylor Pasbury and how she become a Secret Agent. The story is action packed but also full of deep relational issues. I loved that about this moving story. It was exciting but very deep and contemporary. I loved that the author made the televangelist have a heart and that he struggled with the right thing to do in the present, as well as with past decisions he had made in life. It wasn't all about the money or the show being on TV. I also loved that this story was told through the eyes of Taylor Pasbury, a woman struggling with life and someone that away from the bible. She watched everything the church people did. I found it quite interesting and a refreshing twist.

Taylor Pasbuy says this "..Dad had told me that the best battle plans weren't worth the paper they were written on once the shooting started. I guess he was right. There is nothing worse than being alone. Nothing. Just for once in my life I want to be good enough. That's all I want is to be good enough." That was her struggle along with many other things.

This story got my attention and never let it go. I definitely wanted to read more by James David Jordan - luckily I can (and so can you). His first book is called "Something that Lasts". I'm sure it's just as good. I loved this story and the heart of the story teller. This is a story worth checking out.

Nora St.Laurent
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