Customer Reviews

Rift in Time (The Livingstone Chronicles #1)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Don't read this book, unless you have time to devote to it. It will put a huge rift in your personal time ... because it is one of those books that you simply can not put down! You find yourself lost in its characters ... and its theories and ideas. From its central characters to the new-age villains, you are entrapped in a world of discovery, suspense, and even a touch of romance. I loved it, and can't wait to read more of Michael Phillips works!

A wonderful story about the finding of Noah's Ark and the search for the Garden of Eden. I was totally enthralled and found it hard to put down, even very late at night when I should have been sleeping. It will make you stop and think about God, and you'll find yourself looking items up in your bible to really try to understand the theories this book is proposing. With a dash of romance to keep you smiling, this book is a must read that you will really enjoy. I'm looking forward to the release of the next book in the series.

Like most readers, I found the theories embodied in this book concerning the location of the Garden of Eden and its connection with Mt. Sinai/Horeb to be fascinating and somewhat plausible. The reflowering of the Garden of Eden in the end days? Well--kind of a stretch, but I won't say it couldn't happen. I did appreciate a little different take on the end times chronology. What I found hard to swallow centers around two different areas.

1. The author seems to subscibe to a conspiracy theory which traces all evildoings on the world scene back to a small group of people. Whether you call them the Illuminati, the Trilateral Commission, or whatever, I have a hard time believing that a gathering of 12 new-age wackos have all the power. I used to be a conspiracy buff, but I think the "new-age agenda", if you want to call it that, is much more disorganized and chaotic than is portrayed, even with the one loose cannon that causes the most trouble in the novel. It makes for exciting reading to have such an open, frontal attack on the archaeologist and his team, but I think the devil works in much more subtle ways, through discrediting the discoveries, for example. I don't believe that the discovery of Noah's Ark or the Garden of Eden would bring a massive religious revival, anyway. Some won't believe even with the evidence staring them in the face.

2. Adam Livingstone, the main character in the novel, puzzled me somewhat. Livingstone, before he gets saved (I don't think I'm giving anything away, it's obvious that will happen from the beginning, and, hey, this is a book for the Christian market, after all) seems to have a curious interest in proving the Bible accounts are true, even before he believes them himself. In addition, for such a swashbuckling, debonair, single world-wide celebrity he seems to live a squeaky-clean, wholesome life, even keeping his girlfriend at arms' length (It's pretty clear there was no hanky-panky going on). It was not too big a turnaround, it seems, for him to become a Christian, he acted like one practically through the whole book. I guess the Christian market prefers blatant, sinister evil wrapped up in a new-age package to simple hedonism. Plus, the idea of a celebrity archaeologist is peculiar. How many people can name even one modern archaeologist?

This is not to say the book is not a good read, because it is. It is exciting and tense, and would make a better movie, in the right hands, than the lame "Omega Code". Genesis fascinates me more than the book of Revelation, anyway, and there is a lot concerning ancient world here. So I give it a thumbs up, with reservations.

An excellent book that looks at interesting theories of locations of Mt Horeb and The Garden of Eden. I found this book to be absolutely captivating. The story line grabs you, and I couldn't put it down. It is soundly biblically based. It is obvious that there is much research and thought put into this book.

This is so good I am tempted to reveal the plotline(s) and tell the story to every reader. I hate that. I'll let it lay and just say what I would tell. ADVENTURE...Got It. SUSPENSE...Got It. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT...Got It.SPIRITUAL REALIZATION...Yep. There are adversaries, allies and innocents in this work. This is a story; in some places we fall in the middle of a line , in others we are there from inception. Having read the LEFT BEHIND series of books , this one shot at me from an entirely different angle. There was no attempt to disprove the conjecture of hard science that the world is an ancient place , ancient beyond millions of years. Accept this as you will or not. I do. My brothers and sisters, there is room for dreamers and farseekers in the Kingdom!!! I find myself a skeptic in some of the author's opinions of certain well and trusted earthside organizations, but they are part of an overall excellent work. This is one of the few and far spread works of fiction that deal with the field of Archeology without cloying to boring old texts and footnotes. Without revealing the plot, the characters or the cause , I ask you to read this book. I sent it to my Mom and Dad. Come on. Would I do that for a bad read?

I would love to spend a day with the author just to discuss his work, his insights and methods. I can't say enough about this novel. Another look at an emerging vision of the end times, "Transfer-the end of the beginning" (Jerry Furland)depicts an America where absolute power and unrestricted social engineering is becoming a reality. In it's never ending quest for "strict accounting and control" (Lenin's favorite dictum) and empowered by the imposition of a digital paperless economy and cutting edge technology, the Government embarks on a quest for Utopia. These books will profoundly affect Christian and non-Christian alike.

This book is not only captivating, it is truly inspired by the Holy Spirit. I loved it so much that I have been passing it around my church for others to read. They all come away from it with the same feeling that they have had a special message from our Lord. Amazing. All have agreed it would make a wonderful movie. Keep up the great work!

This story is one with a unique twist to the usual shoot em up, solve the mystery, or crime drama. Although set with a religious genre, most readers will enjoy the good vs. evil ideas, will identify with mr. phillips ideas and revel in the thoughts of the devil getting his just rewards. In this day and age of war and strife, of never having quite enough money, its nice to know that the discovery of noah's ark could possibly lead to wonderful things happening --uh wakeup from the dream. seriously though, this is an enjoyable book full of terroism, romance, archaeology, and wonderful thoughts of ..if it only was true. gave me shivers, didn't want it to end!!!

This book was one of those that you really need a little Bible knowledge to make it as intriguing as it is meant to be. I found the theories mind-boggling. I've never really stopped to ask the questions " Is the arc still there?" and "Where is it located? ". If you are one of those "seeing is believing" type of people maybe this book would provoke your curiosities enough to seek out THE TRUTH. Phillips did a wonderful job of exploring some incredible possibilities of our Biblical pasts. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to the believer and non-believer alike.

After discovering Noah's Ark, Adam Livingstone is now on a quest to find the Garden of Eden-or more specifically the Tree. But enemies constantly surround him looking for every opportunity to stop him.
This book has it all- mystery,danger,even romance.Once you start this book you will not want to put it down.