I recently read two books by author TK Chapin that were absolutely wonderful. Amongst the Flames and Out of the Ashes are worth your time and reading eyes. The first tells the story of a dedicated firefighter who is so dedicated to his job and fellow firemen, he doesn’t even realize there is trouble at home until his wife leaves. I appreciated that the author took the time to show how this story could play out in real life, not storybook life. It makes it more relatable. The second tells the story of a fellow fireman who has a pretty wild past but understands there is a need for change. It shows how he deals with tragedy in a realistic way. Both books reminded me the need to keep God at the center of my life. See my reviews below:
Amongst the Flames
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. Meet Cole, a dedicated fireman who puts his life on the line to save others. He is not afraid to go into a burning building, and enjoys spending time with with fireman friends. Meet Megan, Cole’s wife who is homemaker to two young boys. When Cole gets injured and has to stay home for awhile, he gets a little glimpse of what Megan goes through in daily life. But when Megan takes the boys to visit her sister in Seattle without warning, Cole is a little worried. A visit with Megan’s parents tells Cole that maybe things are worse than he thought. When something tragic happens and Cole flies to Seattle to tell Megan in person will it bring them closer together, or will he learn a secret that will tear them apart? You’ll have to read it to find out!
This book was well written, and showed the emotions of each character in a way I could connect with. I got a picture of each fireman and what their background was. I enjoyed how Cole struggled with God in a way that was real and relatable. Even the secret that Megan had, and her running from her marriage shows that we are all imperfect people. We go through struggles and sometimes make the wrong choice. But God is good and can always lead us in the right direction.
Out of the Ashes
So glad to be back reading about firefighter Kane McCormick at fire station 9. Kane is young and likes to have a good time. It only takes one bar mishap to change his life’s direction. After being jailed by an officer with a grudge, Kane is suspended from the fire station. The timing, however, couldn’t be better as he has just learned that it is only a matter of time before his mother will pass away. A nice visit to her encourages him to offer to look after his nephew.
When the power goes out Kane resorts to outdoor activity to keep his nephew Christopher occupied. This lead to a chance encounter with a lovely Christian woman named Kristen. Will Kristen be the one to make Kane change his ways? I enjoyed reading the back and forth between Kane and Kristen in the first two-thirds of the story. It showed that some things are not going to happen right away, and that you have to wait for Gods perfect timing. When tragedy strikes, Kane finds himself relying on alcohol rather than the Lord, but a visit from fellow firefighter Cole could lead him to the right path. Will he continue down the worldly path, or turn over everything to God? And what happens when Kane and his sister find out their mother has been harboring a secret their entire lives?
I felt this was a great story about the power of faith and forgiveness. The author did a wonderful job showing how a mother tries to help her children, both spiritually and physically. Kane’s change throughout the book reminds us that God can change anyone. It doesn’t matter how far away you are, if you are serious He will send the Holy Spirit to guide you. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out!