Some Blog Reviews:
CountryBookShelf
http://countrybookshelf.blogspot.com/2010/04/necessary-heartbreak.html
Wayne Hulbert
http://blogbusinessworld.blogspot.com/2010/04/necessary-heartbreak-by-michael-j.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BlogBusinessWorld+%28Blog+Business+World%29&utm_content=Feeds4All
An unexpected source gives a beautiful review:
http://singletitles.com/?p=3802
Is Heartbreak Really Necessary?by ReaderwriterBarb
Reader Rating:
See Detailed Ratings
March 28, 2010: Necessary Heartbreak by Mike J. Sullivan published by Gallery Books, copyright 2010 is a novel you can't miss. I couldn't put it down once I started reading, since I was hooked from the first chapter. The main characters are a single dad and his daughter, Michael and Elizabeth. Journey with them through life's obstacle course in the world, as we know it today, as well as through first-century Jerusalem. Michael losses two important women in his life, loves of his life, his mother and his wife. Left with his daughter to raise, he strives to do the best he can and vows never to leave her or allow anyone to hurt her. But, in Jerusalem, Roman soldiers threaten to overpower him, and one wants Elizabeth for his wife. She's only 14, not even allowed to kiss, so Michael is determined not to let this solider have his way with his daughter, but can he save her?
While helping the local church with food pantry items, Elizabeth finds a trap door and explores while Michael goes back upstairs for more items. He returns and follows his daughter through the hole in the basement floor to a world that's only existed in the pages of the Bible. After the loss of his mother and living on New York streets homeless, his faith is shaken, but he soon discovers Jesus is real when Jesus looks at him and says, "Heartbreak is necessary for one to understand how great God's gift of time truly is." He asks Michael if he's there to life his burden, or to help Jesus with his. Then, Jesus informs him that he shouldn't look too far, since his daughter can lift his burden.
Without the help of a beautiful green-eyed lady in Jerusalem, Leah, Michael and his daughter would have been easy prey for the Roman soldiers, but will her help be enough to save Elizabeth from marrying an unknown Roman soldier, or will she be forced to become his wife to save herself and her father?
A novel that truly mixes life's problems of today and blends them with history, this book will enrich your life and soul. It's a pleasurable read I started late on a Friday evening and completed on the following Sunday. And, it deciphers today's teens well, always in a hurry with earbuds tucked in their ears. Parents of today compete with Ipods, cell phones, and electronics for attention. But, Michael and Elizabeth are whisked back in time and history where no electronic gadgets can aid their rescue, and Liz, as she's called by her friends, has to learn to deal with life on a very humble level without her cell phone. She's grateful for her father and never wants him to leave her side. Will their world ever return to normal? If it does, will Leah be a part of it, or will they be forced to leave her to the Roman soldiers? Will heartbreak be necessary for all of them to survive?
In my honest and humble opinion, this novel is a must read, and one of the best books I've read since last summer when I read Lynn Austin's All She Ever Wanted.
Midwest Book Review
 A riveting and spiritual tale, February 11, 2009An almost entirely different world can have far reaching effects. "Necessary Heartbreak" is the first of Sullivan's trilogy, which opens with quite the proverbial bang. Michael and his daughter Elizabeth find themselves back in the first century after exploring a tunnel too deeply. They soon find biblical times are not the most friendly, dodging Roman soldiers who have plans for them that they don't agree with, and their only friend is a single woman named Leah. A riveting and spiritual tale, "Necessary Heartbreak" will make readers anticipate more to come.
Amazon Top 100 Reviewer
 Stands Above, November 21, 2008As a novelist, I get frequent requests to read and review other books. Most of these I turn down due to time constraints, but I decided to give "Necessary Heartbreak" a chance after seeing its Jerusalem connection. In fact, with my own Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy, I suspect this is what caused M.J. Sullivan to contact me in the first place.
The book arrived in the mail, and the first thing I noticed was the vibrant cover art and nice layout. In packaging alone, this stands above the other iUniverse books I've seen. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the writing, too, is superior to most books I've read from this format.
M.J. Sullivan draws us quickly into the story of a widower and his teen daughter. They love each other, but have shared and separate griefs that sometimes divide them. These issues are brought to the forefront and also given a chance to heal when the pair find themselves passing through a portal into Jerusalem during the days of Christ. There, they face lecherous and violent soldiers, a kind single woman, and even Judas on the night he betrays Jesus.
It sounds farfetched, yet Sullivan manages to provide detail and heart that make us want to believe. There is real emotion here, as well as genuine care for the characters. I don't always find that in the fiction I read, and I was impressed by the author's balance between the plot's forward motion and the character development. The dialogue trips up a few times, but works overall, and there's really no explanation for the portal's existence. In this rich setting, it seems there's a lot more to be explored, but a second book is in the works, and I can only assume it will take us back into the heart of the Holy Land.
I applaud M.J. Sullivan for bringing his story to life. He's obviously put forth a lot of effort to present a beautiful book, and I look forward to reading book two.
*Eric Wilson is a NY Times best selling author (Fireproof) |
Amazon Top 500 Reviewer
Time Tunnel to Ancient Jerusalem, November 17, 2008
This is book # 1 of the "When Time Forgets Trilogy"--a 145 page story, published in 2008. I begin by saying that I normally don't read fictional novels, but this storyline intrigued me.
Michael is a 40-year old single parent, caring for his 13 year-old daughter, Elizabeth (Lizzy). As a conservative, he cannot get past the current-day fashions of belly rings and tank tops, baggy pants and bare bellies. He is trying to raise his daughter right and she is at the age where she is starting to grow up fast. Vicki was her mother and Michael's wife, but Vicki is no longer in the picture, so Lizzy is all Michael has left, and he is completely devoted to her.
I like the use of the single father theme because there are many single parents today, with difficulties evident not only for the parent but also for the child. What an awesome book to bring these concepts into a spiritual-based story. The author quickly makes you feel you are "in the story" by referencing 2008 things you can relate to, such as iPods, earbuds, and Hannah Montana, among others. I also liked the way the author interwove Christ-time events with flashbacks of Michael's life with Vicki, Lizzy and others, such as Lizzy's birth, incidents of her growing up to the ripe old age of 13, even events from Michael's childhood and the love that he and Vicki shared. You get to know of the peace and tenderness the family members shared, as well as some of the less favorable experiences, all of which made them who they are today.
You don't have to wait long for the excitement to start. After some brief stage-setting remarks, Michael and Lizzy are helping out with a food drive at Lizzy's school/church when she and Michael stumble upon a door to a root cellar in the church basement. It turns out to be the door to a time tunnel, and a place they do not initially recognize. Thinking they have reached some other part of Long Island NY, where an Easter Passion Play is taking place, they are horrified to find out this is the real deal. They find themselves in 1st century Jerusalem during the last week of Christ's life. Lizzy's anxiousness to help a stranger who is being beaten, kicked, and spat upon leads father and daughter right into harms way and also into an incredible and unique adventure in a time and place of long ago. A new friend Leah helps them stay alive through this incredible ordeal while they try to find their way back home. Being trapped in ancient times forces Michael to take a good hard look at himself and some of his baggage.
Like I said, the adventure begins quickly and I found the book very difficult to put down. That is a rare experience for me. I am not normally a fast reader, but almost finished the entire book in one sitting. With Christianity and spiritual principles interwoven into the fast-paced storyline, it was a wonderful story. God bless the author for remembering Jesus in his book and for putting this wonderful work out there. Now, I am sitting on the edge of my chair waiting for books 2 and 3 of the trilogy.
Coffee Time Romance
For a review by Matilda from Coffee Time Romance, follow the link:
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/Necessaryheartbreak.html
Greatdad.com
For an article posted on Greatdad.com regarding the book and parenting, follow the link: http://www.greatdad.com/tertiary/47/3309/five-minutes-with-m-j-sullivan.html
Sam Hamm, screenwriter (Batman movies, TV Series M.A.N.T.I.S)
"For almost two decades I've known M.J. as one of the best sportswriters in the business. Now, after all this time, I find out he's a born novelist. Who knew? When Time Forgets is the product of a big talent and a mighty heart, and this entrancing tale of mysteries both temporal and spiritual is sure to take up residence under your skin."
Long Island Catholic
"I was sent a copy of this book by the author, who happens to be a fellow Long Island Catholic. I advised the author, M.J. Sullivan that I do not read fiction, something my wife, a former adjunct English Lit professor tells me I should do. I am glad he sent the book to me as I enjoyed it. This was a quick and interesting read about a Long Island father and daughter that find themselves in Israel at the time of Jesus. The story moves quickly and I found it was not easy to put the book down."
Send this to a friend:
|
