Jerusalem's Heart: A Novel of the Struggle for Jerusalem (The Zion Legacy, Book 3) (Paperback)

by Bodie Thoene (Author), Brock Thoene (Author) "The hot desert wind rose in the east with the sun..." (more)
Key Phrases: detonator box, pigeon stew, Arab Legion, Tel Aviv, Madame Rose (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
This third installment in the Zion's Legacy series continues the Thoenes' tradition of strong characters and fine historical research without succumbing to the embarrassing anti-Muslim stereotypes that so marred their first two novels. The scene is still Palestine of May 1948; war-weary Jewish refugees struggle to retain hold of Jerusalem's Old City, while Muslim forces squeeze the city from all sides, cutting off supplies. Just outside the city, other Jews attempt an Alamo-like last stand at the battle of Latrun, which ends disastrously, leaving them no road to resupply Jerusalem. Much of the ensuing suspense revolves around Jewish attempts to find, and then utilize, an ancient Roman path that will circumvent the Muslim armies and relieve the beleaguered forces in the Old City. The Thoenes' Christian message can sometimes be overstated: a mysterious Jesus figure appears disguised as an elderly gardener, and armies that oppose the Jews find themselves turned back by divinely whipped desert winds and angry hornets (per biblical promises to God's Chosen People). The authors capitalize on the poignant stories of the Jews who are fighting for their homeland. A Hasidic father whose son is the only one of his six children to survive the Holocaust loses his mind when the boy is killed by a grenade, and a Russian family that miraculously survived the Holocaust intact is not so fortunate in the Promised Land. For Christian fiction writers, the Thoenes allow a liberal amount of gory violence (this is war, after all) and present female characters with surprising chutzpah.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
Picking up where Thunder from Jerusalem left off on Sunday, May 23, 1948, Rachel Sachar and Lori Kalnar face the destruction left by the latest Muslim attack on the Old Quarter of Jerusalem. With dwindling supplies and almost nonexistent weapons, the newly formed Jewish nation will have to surrender soon or die. With the aid of a young Muslim boy, Daoud, who has adopted Dr. Baruch as a Jewish father, pilot David Meyer plans to bring relief through a hidden pass to save his friends and countrymen. The Thoenes continue their best-selling "Zion Legacy" series, yet because of the day-by-day layout of the chapters without recap of the previous titles, only collections containing the first two books in the series should consider for purchase.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (February 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142000388
• ISBN-13: 978-0142000380
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #115,439 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 3 in The Zion Legacy Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping Historical Fiction, April 26, 2001

By	Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Jerusalem's Heart (Zion Legacy, Bk 3) (Hardcover)

Picking up minutes after the last book in the series (THUNDER FROM JERUSALEM) ended, Israel is still at war. The Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem is fighting for it's very life, cut off from the rest of the world. They are rationing food and water, but only fairing a little better then the New City, also under siege. While the defenders try to hold out, their commander struggles to get back to the quarter from the Arab controlled area. And others try to break the Arab blockade keeping the entire city from getting fresh supplies.

The more of the Thoenes' books you have read, the more you will enjoy this one. Many of the characters have appeared in previous series, specifically the Zion Chronicles and Zion Covenant series. I also found rereading the end of the last book helpful since this one starts immediately after. Of course, reading the Thoenes' novels is a pleasure because of their skill as storytellers.

I enjoyed this book more than the previous two in the series because the action takes place in many different settings. It moves quickly, and the authors do a great job of balancing the large cast of characters. The characters are also well developed, especially considering the book is set during a war. As always, the history presented is accurate as well.

This book is a must for any fans of the Thoenes' previous work and people interested in the time period presented. I highly recommend this novel.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treat for Devoted Fans, February 4, 2002

By	Eric Wilson "novelist" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Jerusalem's Heart (Zion Legacy, Bk 3) (Hardcover)

The Thoenes are quite a team. The amount of research and detail that Brock's research brings to Bodie's talented writing is amazing. The combination is enthralling for history and fiction buffs. This book, like the others in the series, races from start to finish with tight plotting and razor-thin scenes. If anything, it can be overwhelming at times. Don't try to stretch this book out over a few weeks; you'll have difficulty keeping things straight. This story is meant to be swallowed and digested quickly.

Which is not to say that it's a fast-food diet. Bodie Thoene delivers rich metaphors here. From the Khamseen winds at the opening, to the Hurva at the heart of Jerusalem, this story strikes deep into the struggle for Israeli independence and the personal struggle for salvation through the Messiah. Without preaching, the Thoenes tell of powerful grace and love in the midst of horrific bloodshed. The message of valor and courage rings true in light of the terrors the Jews endured.

If you're a fan of the series, this book is a must. It'll go down quick and easy, and still leave you satisfied with the sustenance of good writing. (As a side-note, don't turn to the maps for help in deciphering the story...some of the major settings aren't even listed, such as Latrun.) With the secrets still waiting to be revealed at the end of this story, I'm anxious to plunge into the next, "The Jerusalem Scrolls."

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Thoenes Are Back, June 3, 2001

By	Holland L. Webb (Greenville, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jerusalem's Heart (Zion Legacy, Bk 3) (Hardcover)

Once upon a time, Bodie Thoene was my favorite fiction writer. After the publication of Shiloh Autumn, however, I found her subsequent books to be a bit dry and uninspiring. Even the first two books in this series, though good, lacked the passion and eloquence of the earlier Thoene writings. In Jerusalem's Heart, though, it would seem that the Thoenes of the Zion Chronicles, Zion Covenant, and Shiloh Autumn are back with us. This new book captures all the action, drama, spiritual depth, and character development of the authors' earlier novels. A wonderfully written and powerfully moving story, Jerusalem's Heart is a good read for anyone interested in middle east politics, good fiction, or vintage Thoene writing.