The Reluctant Prophet: A Novel (The Reluctant Prophet Series) [Paperback]

Nancy Rue (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2010 | Series: The Reluctant Prophet Series

At age forty-two, Allison Chamberlain is still making a half-hearted attempt to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. Although she has been a pew-sitting member of a church for seven years, “prophet” has never been on the short list of possible careers.

Then one Sunday Allison senses a divine nudge to buy a Harley motorcycle and go wherever it takes her. Soon she is wondering if she is called to present the reality of Christ to one of society’s darkest corners—and challenge her own church to look beyond their fears.

The first in a brave trilogy from seasoned writer Nancy Rue, The Reluctant Prophet shows how one person’s response to God’s call can change a community forever.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nancy Rue is the author of over 100 books for adults and teens, including Healing Waters, which was a 2009 Women of Faith Novel of the Year, and has recently been named an ECPA 2010 Christian Book Award Finalist.

Nancy travels extensively—at times on the back of a Harley Davidson—speaking and teaching to groups of ‘tween girls and their moms and mentoring aspiring Christian authors. She lives on a lake in Tennessee with her Harley-ridin’ husband Jim and their two yellow labs (without whom writing would be difficult.)
 

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (October 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1434764966
• ISBN-13: 978-1434764966
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.3 x 8.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #661,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nancy Rue is the author of 113 books, including 10 novels for adults, 17 for teens, and 60 for tween readers, as well as 2 parenting books, 33 non-fiction books for tweens and teens, and the features for the FaithGirlz Bible. Her Lily Series, published by Zondervan, has sold well over one million copies. Her ability to relate to a wide audience has made her a popular radio and television guest and an in-demand speaker and teacher for writer's conferences across the country. She has been a regular keynoter for The Young Writer's Institute and Virtuous Reality Ministries, and now anchors Zondervan's Beauty of Believing Tour for FaithGirlz, which draws thousands of tween girls and their moms. Nancy is also the founder of the "Writing for the Ages Conference" in Glen Eyrie, Colorado, for those interested in writing for the youth audience. Her latest titles include the Christy Award winning Reluctant Prophet trilogy for adult readers (David C. Cook) The Whole Guy Thing (Zondervan) for teens, and the brand new versions of Here's Lily and The Beauty Book for tweens (Tommy Nelson). A student of the Academy for Spiritual Formation, sponsored by the Upper Room, Nancy continues her own spiritual journey even as she writes and speaks for mothers, daughters, and would-be writers about theirs. For more information, visit her website at www.nancyrue.com. Nancy is also on Facebook with two pages. For adult readers @nnrue, and for the younger teen readers @nnrueforteens.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Thought-Provoking Novel About Social Justice Christianity August 28, 2010

By Mayflower Girl TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Allison Chamberlain has been a Christian for seven years. She has a group of comitted friends whom she meets regularly with for fellowship and Bible study. She has a church home. Everything is relatively good until she feels that God calls her to buy a Harley Davidson. That one purchase starts her on a path that she could have never guessed. Away from "easy" Christianity to trying to live like Jesus did live--and help others... not just "the right kind" but drug addicts, prostitutes, etc.

Without giving away too much, I really enjoyed this book. Perhaps it's because it takes place in St. Augustine, and I lived in Jacksonville for so long. Perhaps because it introduced me to Harley owners... and I'd never met any. Perhaps because it exemplifies the type of Christianity that could truly change the world--yet we so rarely see today in the United States.

Allison is very changed by her purchase of her Harley--as it introduces her to Chief, Hank, and Eddie... and a whole host of people who come into her life to change it for the better. There's a side plot about her family and family's business that really isn't well explained until the end. Still, things do get tied together near the end.

The book is fast paced and kept me interested until the very end. In fact, I read it over the course of two days--I couldn't put it down. This book has the potential to change you, though, be warned. If you are very comfortable in your "right" Church with the "right" believers--you may not be after that. It reminds me of Francis Chan's "Crazy Love" and the work of the Soujourners bought to life (well fiction).

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Challenge Words from an Unlikely Source September 14, 2010

By Deborah VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I know nothing about motorcycles. I have no desire to ride one at all. I have nothing against people who do ride motorcycles though. I enjoyed the movies Born to Be Wild and Wild Hogs. I just could never see myself buying one, much less riding one. Therefore this book was really interesting because Allison does exactly that. She buys and rides a Harley because she felt a nudge from God telling her to do so.

The story started off a little slow for me. I felt that there was too much dialogue and not enough action and it dragged a little bit. Also Allison has no idea what she's doing and so the first part merely deals with her learning how to ride her new bike. However once Allison met up with Geneve and brought her and Desmond into her house, the story picked up and was a quick read after that. Most of the book deals with Allison helping former prostitutes start a new way of life. She takes them into her home, helps them get into NA meetings, and learn to start to living in society again . These women have been used to living out on the streets, selling their bodies and depending on drugs to get through their day. It's an eyeopening read as it's a subject that isn't normally touched upon in Christian fiction. Part of the story also deals with Allison's growing relationship with Geneve's son Desmond. The two form an unlikely bond as Geneve is not in any condition to take care of the son and Allison reluctantly takes over. This is also strengthened by her relationship with Chief, a motorcycle riding lawyer, who shares an attraction to Allison but also helps her out in time of need.

The most interesting part of the book is how Allison challenges her church and their way of thinking. The pastor and most of the other members of her church seem to want to keep their church "safe". They are fine with growing their numbers but only with the types of people they deem worth of saving They condemn Allison for what she is doing because she is helping out prostitutes and drug users instead of preaching them to turn or burn. Allison risks her friendships to challenge them about their beliefs and who really is justified. There is also a minor subplot involving Allison's background which I felt, while interesting, seemed to not be as important as the rest of the story.

The book is explicitly Christian fiction so expect faith threads and God talk to be present throughout the book. However it is not the stereotypical Christian fiction that people might think of. In fact, as I've mentioned, the author has Allison challenging the rigid and narrow minded thinking that her church and other Christians out there do share. It's a thought provoking read that reaches out into places most Christians won't touch. I enjoyed it very much and I am looking forward to more adventures of Allison, her Hurley and her unorthodox prophet-ing ways.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Topic I Was Glad to See in Fiction February 10, 2011

By Roxanne Mchenry TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I love the premise in this book and that this is an established Christian author who can really do justice to a fiction story on the prophetic. The title and book cover are enticing and well done. Author Nancy Rue writes in a clear, straightforward voice that's easy to read and fits the main character. All good things.

However, the story started a bit slow for me, but I stayed in because I wanted to see what happens. I love the protagonist Allison and seeing how she processes this "nudge" as she calls it to buy a Harley and then take the next step. Because this has some basis in a true story, I'm not sure how much of the novel was based on the true story (and so maybe the plot had to fit that). There was conflict but not in a way that drove the story forward. I felt like I was Allison waiting for the "big thing" to happen next so the story has somewhere to go.

The secondary characters also felt like something was missing. For example, "Chief" is nice, he comes out and announces he's filling the role to help Allison, but I found the mystery surrounding him (who is he, why is his real motive, he seems so all-knowing and without flaws) made the character superficial.

I actually felt empathy for Geneveve, the drug addict Allison helps and her son. But even they are superficial and wander in and out of the story. For example, why did they end up on Allison's doorstep out of the blue? (So what if she promised the dying dad to help them -- there's a disconnect there in the storyline).

Allison floats along and the characters go with her, no ground rules, no opportunity for a real transformation.

I really wanted to like this book more, but I think the plot needs a rework. I appreciate the perspective and an honest attempt to present a story about someone who hears from God and takes action. I hope to see more fiction stories on the topic of the prophetic in Christianity.