Customer Reviews

A Lever Long Enough

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In A Lever Long Enough, author Amy Deardon cleverly takes time travel into a new dimension: change history and shape the present not by altering the past but by disproving it.

The story's steadily brisk pace paradoxically slows for time travel sequences that take the breath away (the only time my page turning slowed during an up-all-night read). Deardon jettisons an Israeli two-man, two-woman team into vividly portrayed first century Israel and its dangers, while adeptly keeping stride with the unraveling espionage back at their base.

Characters and scenes nicely blend military rigor and the dominant action with a sprinkling of humanity's tender moments--and the romance which progressively motivates Colonel Benjamin Feinan, without compromising his drive for a successful mission and unwavering patriotism. His romantic interest, the competent "ice princess" Major Sara Levenson, is driven by her gripping search for truth to the point of vulnerability.

Magnificent and authentic depictions of ancient Jerusalem will fascinate the faithful, while details of science both true and fictional are sure to intrigue the analytical and the curious alike. This reader's only complaint is that Deardon's surprise ending leaves me hungry for the sequel she can't serve soon enough.

A Lever Long Enough
First-time author Amy Deardon does many things very well in "A Lever Long Enough." First and foremost, she puts a new spin on a familiar story. That one thing draws the reader into the story with fresh eyes. The plot of the story reads like an action flick. Think "Star Wars" meets "Quantum Leap" meets spy movie, only with a Christian theme and perspective!

When you read this novel, it's obvious that the author has spent hours on research. Because of the attention to detail, the story world comes alive on the page. From ancient Jerusalem to futuristic time machines, the realism is nothing less than amazing. There is a considerable amount of historical information in this book, but Deardon skillfully weaves in action to keep the information from becoming boring.

One of my favorite parts of "A Lever Long Enough" is the parallel that is drawn between opposition to Christ and His followers in the first century and the opposition that continues in the story world of the future. The followers of The Way in the futuristic part of the story had to operate in much the same way as the early followers of Christ.

Another thing Amy Deardon did exceptionally well is ending chapters so that the reader keeps turning the pages. The chapters are shorter than normal, which I really enjoyed and appreciated. There's something for everyone in this book--sci-fi, romance, history, and more!

A quick word of warning--this story will leave you wanting more!

Author Amy Deardon takes the old idea of time travel and gives it a new twist. Who wouldn't like to have been there when Jesus resurrected from the dead?

Israel is on the verge of signing a pact that could finally bring peace to the troubled nation. But The Way, a growing sect of Yeshua (Jesus) followers, is making things difficult. They need to be silenced with the truth. Seeking to debunk the account of Yeshua's resurrection, Benjamin Feinen leads a small team of military experts back in time to first century Jerusalem. Time travel is risky enough. Operation FlashBack becomes even more dangerous when a traitor works to sabotage the mission.

Benjamin Feinan's uncanny ability to accomplish near escapes has earned him the reputation for being invincible. As commander of the team executing Operation FlashBack he can handle danger, deception, and even death. Doubt moves in when he begins to have feelings for his second-in-command. Finding the truth behind Yeshua's empty tomb takes on a deeper significance.

Deardon's stunning debut novel dovetails the awe-inspiring history of the first century with the chilling technology of latter times for a fast-paced, action-packed suspense. I've read other novels that switch from one setting to another and have found myself preferring one over the other. Not so in A Lever Long Enough. Deardon's masterfully written past and present equally captivated me. The author's attention to detail in both setting and plot gave this reader an unforgettable experience. In fact, A Lever Long Enough would make a terrific movie. I look forward to seeing what Deardon has for us in the future.

Amy Deardon has penned an imaginative, fast-paced debut novel. The well-researched specifics of the different time periods, both the near future and the far distant past, breathe life into a story of suspense and action. Readers intrigued by first century history will be entralled with the author's comprehensive content. Readers interested in a great story will be equally satisfied with a novel that keeps them turning pages at an ever-increasing rate of speed. Ms. Deardon's blend of historical accuracy and tight storytelling makes this a read well worth the time investment.

I look forward with anticipation to more from Amy Deardon. Highly recommended!

Synopsis - An Israeli scientific/military team is sent back in time to find proof of the theft of the body of Jesus Christ from the tomb, and thereby discredit the story of the resurrection and in so doing discredit the faith of `followers' in an Israel set in the future.

An author's first book is always so interesting to me. It's almost like those annoying American Idol shows (not that I watch, but unless you've unplugged your TV, you've seen them) where they are listening to people for the first time. You might find a superstar, or you could find something painful and horrific.

Amy Deardon really impressed me. If I had read this, I would not have said that it was her first book. She has a main plot and sub plot, with references to historical events and it is a compelling page turner. The story covers a couple of different genres - a little sci-fi, with an historical action theme. She weaves the story arcs together with dexterity and subtlety. When I read the back cover I wondered how this book was going to play out. Amy confesses to being a `skeptic who came to faith', and I worried that I was about to read was more proselytizing than enjoyable.

Remarkably, she finds a very nice balance between the overall story and the faith that she is explaining. This alone impressed me, since in the hands of an experienced author this would be a tough balance to find, but for a `newbie' to nail this was quite the achievement.

The main characters in the story are well rounded, but a little more work on the supporting cast would have been a useful addition, but that's probably more my bias for complex and multi-faceted personae than any real criticism of this book.

To sum it up, it did keep me up at night longer than I wanted to be up, which for me is often the truest test of a book.

A great first book - I will definitely read her again.

A Lever Long Enough by Amy Deardon is a new entry in the growing genre of speculative Christian fiction. In a not too far future, much of the world has been united under a New World Order, except for Israel, where the third Temple has been built and daily sacrifices have been restarted. Israel is under two threats: they must sign a peace treaty to maintain their status as a country, and they must find a way to put down the resistance the treaty faces from the followers of The Way. Members of The Way follow Yeshua as Messiah and have infiltrated even the highest areas of Israel's military putting the entire country's safety at risk. To put down the movement once and for all, FlashBack, a unit of two men and two women, are traveling back in time for first century Jerusalem to film the theft of Yeshua's body from his tomb disproving his resurrection from the dead. Benjamin, David, Rebecca, and Sarah are the four selected for the elite assignment, and the story alternates between their story in the past and the manipulation in the present as General Gideon tries to sabotage the FlashBack mission from the inside without ever being caught as a traitor. Deardon takes an interesting look at the roots of Christianity with these characters attempting to disprove it. The dialogue is solid, but the action is a bit weak at times, especially in the climactic scene between Benjamin and Gideon. I had a difficult time visualizing it. The story is compelling and a real page turner. I did have two small complaints. The character of Rebecca isn't very well fleshed out, and I never quite grasped her motivations. Also, at the beginning of the novel, Benjamin gives his old wedding ring to a friend asking her to give them to Keren if he doesn't return, but Keren's identity is never revealed. Who is she? Deardon is a smart writer, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Amy Deardon's debut novel, A LEVER LONG ENOUGH, is a compelling time travel adventure that kept me turning pages till the wee hours. The modern day military hatch a plan called Operation FlashBack, which will send a team of four back in time to the crucification of Jesus. The Goal: Film the burial of Jesus. Bring back proof that friends of Jesus rolled away the stone and stole his body. The Motivation: The modern day followers of The Way, those who believe in the resurrection of Jesus, are growing in number and pose a threat to the signing of a Peace Treaty in Israel. The search for "truth" takes the reader on a non-stop, fast-paced ride that includes romance, sabotage, and enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. I cannot fathom how much historical research went into this novel! My favorite fiction always teaches me something; and Amy Deardon's attention to historical detail and accuracy added to the richness of her debut novel. This book begs to be a movie! I'm ready for her next novel. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Although A Lever Long Enough's title didn't grab me, once I turned the first page I was hooked! Amy's attention to both the scientific and human element were impeccable. Be prepared to nestle your behind in a comfortable place because you won't want to put this book down. I can't wait for book two!

I was unable to put this book down. The history and time elements were great and Amy did an awesome job in her quest to make a historically accurate story of the present going back in time travel to observe Israel just before and during the death of Jesus Christ. The mission is to video the occurrences and hopefully change present day circumstances. They need to prove one way or another that Jesus and his followers were telling the truth about his burial and resurrection. Benjamin and Sara are attempting to fulfill the mission against all odds despite the lack of trust among the crew and their mission support in the present earth time. The fight for truth extends in all directions. Amy has woven a powerful story of intrigue between her characters. I found myself relating to the "good guys" and "bad guys: in their quest to make things right for the Jesus followers of today.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves time travel stories.
I gave Amy five stars and can't wait to read her next story.

Paulette Harris
[...]

How many of you wish you could travel back in time to first century Jerusalem to investigate the death and resurrection of Jesus? I know I wish I could!

Amy Deardon ([...]) has written her debut novel, `A Lever Long Enough,' with that premise. Here is the description of the novel on the back of the book:

A small military team travels back in time to film the theft of Jesus' body from the tomb...
The Israeli team, led by Benjamin Feinan, has exactly seventy-two hours to collect the video evidence. Failure threatens the existence of Israel and may cause the world to slip into all-out war.
Drawn into a web of first-century deception and death, the only way to escape is for Benjamin to change the past.
In the present, a traitor attempts to sabotage the mission and seize control of the military complex. Only Benjamin can reveal him, but he is trapped two thousand years away.
Even with a time machine, time is running out...

When I read that description, my interest was piqued!

Amy's book was based on her own investigation of the circumstances of Jesus' resurrection. This is from her website ():

I took over a year on a personal quest to investigate the claims of Jesus' resurrection with the goal of destroying them. To do this I studied Biblical accounts of Jesus and numerous commentaries by believers and skeptics alike, listed the facts agreed upon, and began to explore scenarios that could explain what was known. To my surprise and considerable dismay, the evidence kept pointing away from naturalistic explanations and eventually formed a virtually certain case for the resurrection of Jesus. Finally I admitted defeat and became a Christian.

My first novel, A Lever Long Enough, combines my loves of technology and derring-do with the universal longing for transcendent truth. I believe there is a rational basis for this longing.

It is interesting how many people check into the facts, and come away as believers! I can think of two of renown - C.S. Lewis and Lee Strobel.

The title of the novel comes from this quotation from Archimedes of Syracuse, a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, investor and astronomer who lived 287 BC-212):

"Give me a lever long enough, and a place to stand, and single-handedly I can move the world."

The main character in this novel, Colonel Benjamin Feinan, is employed by the Israeli Defense Force in the near future. I am not sure exactly what date the book takes place, but I am assuming it is some time in the twenty-first century. The third Temple had been reconstructed and animal sacrifices were recommenced three years prior to the events of this novel. There was an interesting side effect of these events:

Arising close on the heels of the Orthodox, revival had been a groundswell of the followers of the Way, named for the term used by the first century followers of Yeshua. Benjamin didn't understand what precipitated it. Was it just a slingshot reaction, the other pole of religious extremism? The conversions seemed dramatic enough, though. These followers accepted Yeshua - Jesus - as their Messiah, and never missed an opportunity to challenge the nation to listen to their claims. (p. 9)

The world is a different place from the one in which we live:

Several years earlier, a worldwide depression had pulled most countries beneath an umbrella organization of the New World Order, initiated and held together by the charismatic United Nations leader Marc Raseac. (p. 12)

The followers of the Way were resistant to Raseac's leadership. Therefore, the FlashBack team's assignment was to go back to film the theft of Jesus' body from the tomb, to refute the resurrection once and for all.

Being a seminary student, I was particularly fascinated with the first-century Jerusalem aspect of the story. The four members of the FlashBack team - Colonel Benjamin Feinan, Major Sara Levenson, Captain Rebecca Sharett, and Major David Baum - visited the temple that had been built by Herod it was destroyed by the Roman Empire in 70 CE). That was a highlight to me. They also visited what was purportedly the tomb in which Jesus was interred.

An interesting aspect of the book is the concept of the Danan test. Here's its description:

The Danan test was a simple test designed to ferret out followers of the Way. It had been named for the professor who had discovered a unique weakness in followers that made them self-incriminate with little effort. (p. 31)

The test was never explained or administered, so I don't know what it entailed, but it sounded interesting!

One piece of the puzzle that I found fascinating was the actual time travel process. Amy, who has previously done bench science research and taught anatomy and physiology at the undergraduate level, goes into scientific detail to explain the process. Here's a small example:

...With infinite dense energy and immeasurable charge, the linear accelerators spun the superfine cosmic thread that acted like ultra-dense matter. The [time travel] pod stretched time-wise against the edge of the time-space solid. In orbit around the Earth, the satellite strained against the graviton lever... Benjamin felt himself thrown into a void where he seemed to be floating; then the gravity was terrific, pushing him down, down against the seat.
Space turned on its side to become time. (p. 70)

Mrs. Deardon did a fabulous job in providing a fascinating portrait of life in the time of Jesus and his followers' lives; she provided a lot of detail, which I appreciate! I could picture the scenes, and could place myself in the scenes if I wanted to go that far wit it! She also provided truths from the scripture of which the casual non-Christ follower who may read the book may not be aware, such as the secret trial in the middle of the night at the home of Caipaphas, the High Priest, and the excruciating pain from death on a cross (side note: the word is derived from the Latin word excruciare, from cruciare, to crucify; so it does literally mean "a pain like the pain of crucifixion"). Sara was wrestling with doubts about her doubts; she analyzed the facts analytically with her scientific mind (as the author, Amy, did in her own life). In addition, the characters dealt with deep issues, such as where one's soul goes when one lies. As Benjamin, the skeptic, observed: What a cruel trick this brief existence was anyway. (p. 159)

Mrs. Deardon explained how Yeshua shook up the Pharisees in His day:
The Jewish authorities, at the top of their own spiritual hierarchy, felt threatened. Not only had Yeshua damaged a major source of revenue for them, but he also had called them hypocrites and vipers in front of the people. He jeopardized their power and position; they wanted to eliminate this troublemaker, but didn't know how to do it. (p. 112)

I thought it was ironic that the present day state of Israel also felt threatened by Yeshua, going so far as to send a team to obtain evidence to refute His claims - just as the Jewish authorities did while He was walking among them.
The foursome's time in first century Jerusalem was very exciting - lots of adventures and intrigue. I thought Amy handled it very well. I was not as interested as the political and military intrigue taking place in the subplot, although it was also expertly handled. We all have our individual interests, and mine lean more toward the theological and philosophical than the militaristic and political (despite my bachelors degree in Political Science!).

Despite all of my praise above, I have to admit that I had certain expectations for this book. That being the case, when the book did not evolve as I'd expected it to, I was disappointed. That is not to say that I did not enjoy the book, or think it was not well-written. The truth is that Amy did not write the book as I would have written it! I am perhaps just a little too literal to have certain expectations from a speculative book of fiction. It is certainly not fair for me to `lower the grade' of this book for that reason. But I do admit that I was disappointed by some of the turns that the story took (I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so will leave out the details). In addition, the book ended rather abruptly. I have since learned that there are both a prequel and a sequel in the works. I hope that the time travelers make it to the right time period in one of those future novels!

This book was provided by Taegais Publishing for review purposes.

Reviewed by Andrea Schultz - Ponderings by Andrea - [...]