Feast for Thieves by Marcus Brotherton, and a giveaway

Sergeant Rowdy Slater is the most skilled-and most incorrigible-soldier in Dog Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne, an elite group of paratroopers fighting for the world's freedom in World War II.

Through a bizarre set of circumstances, Rowdy returns to the States after the war, turns his life around, and falls into the only job he can find-preacher at the sparsely populated community church in Cut Eye, Texas, a dusty highway town situated at the midpoint of nowhere and emptiness.

The town's lawman, suspicious that Rowdy has changed his ways only as a cover up, gives an ultimatum: Rowdy must survive one complete year as Cut Eye's new minister or end up in jail.

At first Rowdy thinks the job will be easy, particularly because he's taking over for a young female missionary who's held the church together while the men were at war. But when a dark-hearted acquaintance from Rowdy's past shows up with a plan to make some quick cash, Rowdy becomes ensnared due to an irrevocable favor, and life turns decidedly difficult.

Rowdy's a man used to solving problems one of two ways: with his rifle or with his fists. Will he be able to thwart his old friend's evil schemes while remaining true to his new higher calling?

This is a wild ride of a book bursting with a bank robbery, kidnapping, desperate prayers, and barroom brawls. Before the smoke clears, all sides just might end up getting exactly what they want.

My review:
   This was one of those books that sounded good, but after I got it, I wasn't so sure. I let it sit on my shelf until the dates it needed reviewed by got a little closer, and then I started reading it. I wasn't very far into the book before I realized that this was going to be an entertaining read, and it was.

  The main character is Rowdy Slater, a man very much down on his luck. He becomes a bank robber to get himself out of bad trouble, but develops a conscience, which gets him a job he didn't want: pastoring a church. The idea of a former bank robber suddenly becoming the pastor of a church is amusing, and the author does a great job of making it even funnier.

  Rowdy becomes pastor without having a conversion, and unless I missed it, never had a conversion in the book, though it is obvious by the end of the book that he has some kind of relationship with God. I wish that had been made plainer, but other than that, I loved the book. It is highly entertaining and amusing, and paints a picture of a man who is determined to do right, even though his past keeps catching up with him. This book leans more towards being men's fiction, but women will enjoy it too.

 The book is subtitled "A Rowdy Slater Novel", so I assume this is the first in a series, and I hope so. Marcus Brotherton's first forage into Christian fiction is a very good start. Great debut novel.

About the author:

Marcus Brotherton is a journalist and professional writer known internationally for his books and literary collaborations with high-profile public figures, humanitarians, inspirational leaders, and military personnel. He has authored or coauthored more than 25 books. Notable works include We Who Are Alive and Remain, a New York Times bestseller, A Company of Heroes, which ranked No. 1 in the country among World War II/Western Front books, and the widely-acclaimed Shifty’s War. Marcus’ books have been praised by theWall Street Journal, CNN, MSNBC, Entertainment Weekly, Associated Press, Booklist, Publishers Weeklyand more. Critics have called Marcus’s books “…fascinating…” “…brilliantly arranged…” “…magical…” and “…refreshingly frank…”

Collaborative works include projects with Lt. Buck Compton (one of the original Band of Brothers), apologist Dr. Ravi Zacharias, NFL quarterback Colt McCoy, psychologist Dr. Nancy Heche, fashion journalist Lauren Scruggs, Austin Stone pastor Matt Carter, Bronze Star winner Colonel Susan Luz, Alabama restaurateur Martha Hawkins, humanitarian Susan Scott Krabacher, speaker Dr. Bruce Wilkinson, youth ministry expert Doug Fields, radio show host Steven Arterburn, First Place weight loss program CEO Carole Lewis, musician Tommy Walker, youth speaker Ryan Dobson, university chancellor Rev. Wayne Cordeiro, and more.

Feast for Thieves is available from River North, an imprint of Moody Publishing.

Thanks to Side Door Communications for the review and giveaway copies.

Giveaway:

Courtesy of Side Door Communications, I have one copy of Feast of Thieves to give away.

To enter, simply comment on this book review/blog post.

Two weeks from today, on September 22, I will pick a winner using Random.org