Many Christians have political differences.Nobody expects to die over them. Kennedy’s pastor has always been outspoken. Maybe too outspoken. With his church under fire for its stance on women in leadership, Kennedy jumps at the chance to defend her friend and mentor.What she doesn’t realize is that by stating her opinion, she’s inviting attacks from extremists on both sides of the aisle …… opinion, she’s inviting attacks from extremists on both sides of the aisle …
Extremists willing to do anything to silence her voice.
No matter what the cost.
Just like you’ve come to expect from bestselling author Alana Terry, Abridged is a fast-paced, impossible-to-put-down read and book 7 in the Kennedy Stern Christian suspense series.
Buy your copy today … just be prepared to stay up late!
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This book brings out the issues of a men’s conference at her friend & pastor’s church & an article Kennedy wrote in a Harvard paper defending the choice of women to be a stay-at-home Mom (basically defending her & pastors wife). It also showed the unexpected attacks on her for her article-from Harvard’s other students & the staff alike. I like the way this book shows how Kennedy is truly growing in her walk with Christ. She is starting to take a stand for what she believes in. This stand does show how she (and any of us in the same position) can pay for her belief in walking as God expects! It show how our personal interpretation of scripture can be different than that of other believers and at the same time still be friends. The way we can have these differences is so true in all our lives today!! The way we choose to work through & defend our belief is shown so well through Kennedy and her friends. The way Alana shows this really made me stop and realize how important it is for us all to be able to show others why we believe the way we do!!
The way Sandy remained so strong through the time Carl was in the hospital was inspiring! Her faith was a tremendous witness to all. Any of us should strive to show our faith in such an amazing way!
The one thing I hope changes in this series (even though it is one of Kennedy’s trademarks) is that she GETS A NEW BATTERY for her phone!!!! 🙂
I would easily recommend this book to anyone!
From topics such as women’s rights to kidnapping to free speech, this story is filled with faith, action and thought provoking events. Each Kennedy Stern novel brings attention to today’s topics and gives the reader opportunity to understand ideas and actions of others. Great read. I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my personal honest opinion. No review was required.
Is silencing the opposition really the answer?
When one picks up an Alana Terry book one knows exactly what to expect…danger, today’s hot button issues, and the unexpected. And Abridged delivers just that! This time Alana Terry takes on two controversial topics, women’s rights and free speech, and through the eyes of young Kennedy Stern we see these issues play out through all sides of the argument.
One of the things that I really liked about Abridged is that Kennedy is starting to get her footing under her. She still has lots of questions but she also is beginning to formulate her own ideas and opinions, which is part of what gets her in hot water. Quite simply, like we’ve all had to, Kennedy is growing and maturing even though it isn’t always that fun or easy.
If you like grittier Christian fiction, if you like to be asked the hard questions, and if you would rather an author encourage prayerful thought about tough issues instead of trying to lead the reader’s thinking, you’ve got to check out the Kennedy Stern Christian Suspense series. You won’t be disappointed!
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Abridged is 7th in Alana Terry’s Kennedy Stearns series. Kennedy and her college roommate, Willow have begun a new year of classes at Harvard, and a new season of faith challenges. I continue to be mesmerized by Abridged as I was with earlier novels; it addresses at least two challenges that Christians of any age face today.
Kennedy and Willow were helping do setup at the church for a Truth Warriors Conference that Pastor Carl is instrumental in supporting. He and Nick, the youth pastor and Willow’s boyfriend, have vastly differing opinions regarding this conference and what Nick thinks the church is espousing by hosting. They have a very loud discussion at the church about it. Shortly afterwards, they find Carl bleeding and unconscious in his office. Kennedy accompanies his wife Sandy and their young son, Woong, when they go to the hospital.
Kennedy had written an opinion in her column in The Voice, a student paper at Harvard. Upon request, she then shared a longer piece supporting work-at-home moms, such as Sandy, whose calling is in their home. Sandy and Carl have fostered many children over the years in addition to raising their own. Unfortunately, there are people who do not feel Kennedy’s opinion reflects the values of the prestigious university who will go to any length to not allow conservative views to be tolerated – or in her special study program. Her career could be over before she even begins to practice.
Kennedy – and all the characters – are very well-defined, strong people, and most are people of faith. As this is very fast-paced, we learn the most through realistic dialog and how their continual action. It has been exciting to see Kennedy and Willow grow through their time as roommates, then as sisters in Christ! I also like Sandy and Pastor Carl, and understand how devastating his injury is to those who love him – and then when the unthinkable happens to Woong.
The plot is stunning, with twists and turns that would have floored most people, yet Sandy, a woman of deep faith, keeps trudging through, even driving to places she hasn’t been to get to her son. There is so much inspiration in this novel without a word of preaching; it is the kind of book that one could loan to others, showing that it isn’t just Kennedy who doesn’t know what to say or do in various situations. While one will find several points of inspiration throughout, the Lord is at the center of it. Kennedy doesn’t think or say anything that many of us haven’t thought at one time or another. The emotions throughout are intense, yet again, the Lord is at the center, and it is a courageous author to write about the topics in Abridged. The bad guy was a real surprise to me, and the end is satisfactory overall. I highly recommend this for older teens and adults of any age who enjoy good Christian suspense writing.
From a grateful heart: I was given this eBook by Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and here is my honest review.