The Path of the Chosen Warriors Review

Posted by abakersp in Contemporary / 1 Comment

Genre: Christian Romantic Thriller
 
Release Date: November 16, 2016 
Synopsis
Staring into the eyes of the man she loved, Ruth knew coming home was where she would make her fondest memories with her beloved Joshua. She was looking forward to their journey together as man and wife. All their plans were interrupted when they were caught up in a terrible storm, and their boat crashed in an unknown area. Although they were lost, it seemed as if destiny had brought them to this unfamiliar territory, and until they discovered what it was and fulfilled it, their future together would be put on hold.

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My Perspective

Above anything, this book is a great testimony of the struggle Christians have today spiritually. I think we tend to forget that we are in the midst of a spiritual battle – mostly because we can’t “see” it, so it doesn’t seem real to us. But the truth is it is real. This story presents it in a fun and unique way. The message of the gospel is clear throughout the entire story. It is presented by testimony, prayer, bible quotations, and application. At times it felt like I was reading more about a missionary family then two people in a spiritual battle because of how much they shared the gospel. If you think about it though, we need to be sharing the gospel to help with our own spiritual battle so it was really quite fitting.

There were a couple of scenes that made me sort of look away for a moment. One was a blush worthy scene – not a bedroom getting naked kind of scene, but nonetheless a scene I don’t typically see in the books I read, nor do I prefer that. But that is just my own preference, some people don’t mind it at all. Spoiler alert – it didn’t go farther than kissing, it was just the location of the kiss that made me uncomfortable. But in the author’s defense, I can certainly understand why she chose to write this – to show the couple’s natural and physical attraction to each other. Let’s face it folks, we are not perfect. And physical attraction before marriage is very hard to resist. It’s real life and it happens, so while it maybe didn’t appeal to this reader personally, I can applaud the author for showing something that’s real. 

The other scenes that were disturbing were regarding the spiritual warfare. And it wasn’t written poorly, it was more like an eye opening to see just how much evil there really can be in the world. It bothered me because it scared me. It made me realize that it’s happening out there – not necessarily in this exact way, but it is there nonetheless. I would not recommend this book to those who easily get upset over stuff like this. But I would recommend it to those who can handle it, and just want a book to remind them that good can overpower evil, with God’s help of course.

Overall I thought this was an interesting story that certainly changed the way I think about spiritual warfare. I think I’m more aware and on the look out now. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

Guest Post
What is the purpose of writing?
Why do Christians pretend or want to pretend that they are perfect? How will we have the unsaved come to Christ if we present ourselves as a body that never makes mistakes? Maybe my questions have you a bit confused, but here is the reason for these questions and at the end of this post I hope you will share your own thoughts.
In this book- The Path of the Chosen Warriors, the two main characters Joshua and Ruth discovered they were meant for each other when Ruth came home after years of studying abroad. I wrote a scene showing the effect of them missing each other, as they sat at the pool and began to kiss. Somehow Joshua’s lips left Ruth’s lips in the heat of the moment and found its way down to the top of your breast (no she wasn’t naked, she was in a swimsuit), Ruth, however, stopped Joshua reminding him why they couldn’t.
The funny thing though, one person read the book and called that scene questionable or out of place for Christians, and missed the whole purpose of why it was added, to begin with. You see, I wanted to show readers that Christians are not perfect; that we face and experience the same temptations like the unsaved. I wanted readers to see that everyone experiences sexual temptations, even though Christians seem to be afraid to talk about such things.
For me, writing isn’t just to entertain readers, God called me to deliver readers out of struggles, and show them how through my characters. But how can I help someone going through something similar if I am ashamed to mention something of a sexual nature because we are scared to talk about it? If the Songs of Solomon can mention the word breasts, why should it be a bad thing to add it to your book if you want to get a point across? There is a difference between erotica and mentioning a bit about the body in regards to sex if you want to get a point across to readers. After all, how can someone relate to your characters if you paint them as perfect all the time?
Too many times people are going through stuff that they are ashamed of and because Christians always let the world, see them as perfect, the world can’t come to them without feeling judged. Even some Christians are scared or maybe ashamed to approach another because of that. Jesus said none is perfect- All have come short of the glory of God.
One thing I have learnt since The Lord called me to write is that while books entertain readers, they are to minister first. The same way a pastor’s job is to lead people to Christ through preaching- a writer’s job is to do the same through their books, whether it’s romance or mystery or another genre. We authors need to include prayers and scriptures, knowing that not everyone who reads our books is Christian.
 
So to answer the question. What is the purpose of writing?  Well, that’s easy-We are called to feed God’s sheep and in doing so lead them to salvation. We all have to give an account to God.



 About the Author 

Marshalee Patterson was born in Kingston, Jamaica. She has
loved reading since she could walk. Growing up without a television sparked in her a love for reading and the world of imagination. Some of her favorite novels were written by Charles Dickens, Jane Eyre and Victor Hugo, as she found
she liked the true to life stories that we all can relate to. She wrote her first novella-Predestined Love after travelling to Italy and wanted to write a romance novel about it, only she didn’t know that God had plans for her and that story, when he change the direction of what she originally had in mind.
 
It was then that she knew she was called to write stories to
uplift and inspire readers, showing them how to find God in their struggles and the faith to trust Him through it. She is a lover of nature and the tranquillity of it. She finds the outdoors refreshing and peaceful. Marshalee loves Spanish ballads and dances salsa very well.
 
Connect with Marshalee
My Website / Facebook Page / Facebook Group  
Twitter / Add to GoodReads / My Blog
 

              

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One response to “The Path of the Chosen Warriors Review”

  1. Marshalee Patterson

    Thank you so much, Jessica, for featuring me on your blog and for your favourable review. I love that it revealed or reminded you of so much. The book is definitely meant to open our eyes to the things around us that many Christians are forgetting about and in doing so allowing the devil to have too much foothold in their lives. It’s meant to awake us to our calling as soldiers for Christ. It was this book that brought me into a deeper relationship with God. Each character has influenced me in different situations. God has made me grow so much through this book. When the Lord gave me the vision for this story, it began with just a couple lost in a strange town and saw the crocodile spirit in the water. It was to open people’s awareness of the dreams and visions they receive that most don’t even think much of. I wasn’t sure how to bring it across either at first, but as I started to learn since then, that God is the author not me, I sat in front of the computer and prayed first and then the idea came of letting Ruth have the vision to help open readers awareness to the importance of dreams.