Customer Reviews

The Surrogate: A Novel

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book breaks new ground on a number of fronts. The author goes into an area that many authors in the Christian market consider a "third rail". Speaking as a Christian and someone who went through years of struggle before my second child was born, it was great to read a compelling story that dealt realistically with that emotional roller-coaster.

The Surrogate is a thrilling book that will captivate you from beginning to end. The writing is superb! The writing style allows the reader to feel the emotions right along with the characters. There were moments in the book when the actions of one of the characters frustrated and angered me like crazy! However, Ms. Mackel does an excellent job of fully developing the characters, giving the reader enough information to sympathize with even the meanest and most irresponsible character. There wasn't a dull moment in the entire book. It was a fast paced book full of awesome twists.

The book had several wonderful themes. It illustrated how God always works for the good of those who love Him. Good can come out of even the worst situations. Also, the ending of the book is an excellent example of the impact being loving and compassionate could have on others, even when it's undeserved.

If you're looking for a suspenseful, well-written, page-turner with an excellent message, this book is perfect!

From the moment I picked up this book I just couldn't put it down. Not only did it grip you with the suspense it tells how God really is the center of everything. Real life situations are illustrated and how believers realy on the creator to guide them. So many twists and turns, ups and downs. Isn't that life? Yet God is there with us. That's what this story tells us. Mrs. Mackel is just an amazing writer with an uncanny ability to tell a story and yet she always gets the point across who is in charge and who we should count on. Read this book. You won't be able to put it down

In "The Surrogate", Kathryn Mackel balances a tight, suspensful plot with compelling characters and a graceful handling of a sensitive subject. Not only is this book a great can't-put-it-down thriller, it also is a thoughtful depiction of how faith plays out in painful, terrifying circumstances. Can't wait for the next one!

I was riveted by The Surrogate! What a different concept, a Christian "chiller" that is scary. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I'm eager to The Departed when it comes out!

I couldn't put it down. Wish there were more great christian thrillers like this. I would highly recommend this book.

The authors handling of very human and believable characters in a desperate situation made for fast paced reading. This reader really got to know the main characters and empathize with the challenges faced by each of them, challenges that bring them into conflict with each other.

With a well built plot, the novel becomes compelling as the story unfolds. A few twists and turns kept me actively involved in the lives of the characters and eager to learn the outcome of each of them.

The Surrogate is a very engrossing novel with intriguing characters and a strong plot. Unlike most suspense novels, this one actually kept me guessing and I loved the twists and turns along the way. This story was not predictable and sometimes it raised the hair on the back of my neck. So if you are looking for a story that will give you the willies and keep you on the edge of your seat praying for the safety of the characters, then you must read this book.

Kathryn Mackel's Surrogate is like a delicious onion. As I read, I kept peeling it back, layer by layer. It was a gripping read and very timely. And I like onions! So don't knock my metaphor!!!

As a friend and writing colleague of Kathy Mackel, I am privileged to have read all of her books. She is a gifted writer and storyteller who deserves a wide audience, and The Surrogate provides ample evidence of that fact. You can expect a thoughtful treatment of a sensitive subject, presented in a well-plotted and page-turning style from a writer who shows true Christian compassion and decency in all her work. So read the book, chew your fingernails, and try to guess the ending.