Top 10 Books of 2014

By Ian Acheson

Iola kicked us off with a great list on Friday. I'm in awe of Iola's reading speed and haven't read nearly the volume she has this past year. 

I read more non-fiction and Biblical reference/commentaries than I do fiction so have split my list in half, well thirds in fact.

In no particular order but I will start with 5 Fiction reads that had me spellbound.

The Legend of Sheba by Tosca Lee

A fictional account of the Queen of Sheba and the effect she had on King Solomon and his empire. 

You can read my review here: Sheba






Spirit Bridge (Book 3 of the Well Spring Series) by James L Rubart

This is a wonderful series that so powerfully demonstrates spiritual warfare in a fictional context that is uplifting, challenging and thrilling in its suspensefulness.

You can read my review here: Spirit Bridge





Stranger Things by Erin Healy

It has all the hallmarks of a Healy novel: gripping suspense, characters grappling with their external and internal worlds and an insider's perspective of the "thin places" where the natural and supernatural intersect.

You can read my review here: Stranger Things 





Hacker by Ted Dekker

Interesting that this also featured on Iola's list. 

This is classic Ted Dekker: exploring the visible and invisible as he takes the reader on a heart-pumping  thriller of a ride.

You can read my review here: Hacker



The Evolution of Serialisation 

One aspect of the ebook world I really enjoy is reading novels in a serialised form. I find it fascinating we've gone back to how people first read Dickens (weekly episodes in the newspaper) and the like except in a digital form. This may not work for the truly prolific reader who devours books in a few hours, however, the weekly addition of 70 to 100 pages works well for me.

I expect in time we'll see additional features to this concept such as imagery, video, etc to make it more appealing.

I read a number of novels both Christian and secular including Operation Zulu by Ronie Kendig, Chronicles of Steele: Raven by Pauline Creeden and The Fuhrer's Daughter by Joshua Graham.

Non-Fiction

I've been in a season of reading a lot on intimacy with God and prayer. I'm pleased to see an increasing number of books being released on these subjects. It's very easy in our busy lives to get distracted from the wonder and joy of communion with God.

I can mention lots of books here but I'll restrict myself to three:

A Diary of Private by John Baillie

This was first released in 1949 and it is a small book of 64 prayers, a morning and evening prayer for 31 days plus two for a Sunday. Yes, it is full of "thees' and 'thous' which we typically don't use in modern services. I've found saying these prayers a wonderful way of commencing my prayer times during a day as it helps me take my mind off myself and focus on Him.





Invitation to a Journey by M. Robert Mulholland, Jr.

This was a wonderful book that outlined how God in creating us all with different personalities expects our spiritual journeys will also vary. The author even explores how each broad personality type (think poor man's Myer Briggs) engages spiritually.

Mulholland challenges us to understand that holistic spirituality requires incorporating elements of the individual, corporate and social dimensions into our walks. I needed to read that as increasingly I've become frustrated with my "walk" but now realise that the personal dimension far outweighs the other two and hence, I have an imbalance which limits my growth.

Soul Keeping by John Ortberg

This beautifully written book helps the reader understand the soul's significance and how to care for it.

You can read my review here: Soul Keeping






Bible Reference/Commentary

I've read two fabulous commentaries that I wanted to mention.

The Book of Acts, a Commentary by C. Peter Wagner

At the time Wagner wrote this commentary there were 1,398 other books on Acts. So his one focuses on two particular aspects of Acts:

1. Power ministries, ie, supernatural acts of healing, prophecy, etc.
2. Missiological issues involved in the cross-cultural expansion of Christianity

It's not a verse-by-verse commentary but is still a hefty volume (circa 500 pages). It is written in layman's terms and does an excellent job relating Paul's epistles to his travels documented in Acts.

You can read my review here: Acts.

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Christ-Centred Expository Commentary) by Tony Merida (+David Platt & Daniel Akin)

For all intents and purposes is a verse-by-verse commentary and provides good explanations of each verse. It is geared to providing practical understanding and each chapter ends with a series of in-depth questions challenging the reader to further explore the concepts outlined and apply them to their life.

Ephesians is one of my favourite books of the Bible as Paul goes to great lengths to explain what we have as a result of Jesus living, being crucified and resurrected and then outlines how we should live. And it has that great series of verses near it's end on spiritual warfare!

What's not to love about it! 

I've read a few Ephesians commentaries that lack depth but this one in a relatively few number of pages (288) is both very challenging and readable. Merida does a good job bringing in other commentators work so the reader gets to hear from a number of extremely qualified voices.


Okay, that's me. I'm sure looking forward to the next in the series of Top 10s.

Wishing everyone in the ACW community a blessed Christmas and here's to a fun and invigorating 2015.

Ian Acheson is an author and strategy consultant based in Northern Sydney. Ian's first novel of speculative fiction, Angelguard, is now available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. You can find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter

Book Review: Stranger Things by Erin Healy

Erin Healy's website blurb

Serena’s career as a high school biology teacher ends just as it’s beginning, when an angry student accuses her of unthinkable behavior. Stunned and suspended, Serena retreats to the forest where she usually finds privacy and beauty. But on this day she encounters something even more unexpected than the end of her dreams: a killer, his prisoner, and a stranger who dies to save Serena’s life.

Christopher has spent a decade rescuing girls from the underworld of sex trafficking—starting with his sister Amber. Their tiny nonprofit protects girls from seduction, but their hearts’ desire is to bring down John Roman, the powerful criminal who first took Amber and has ruined thousands of young women since.

When Christopher’s colleagues suspect Serena of being in league with Roman, her life spirals out of control. How will she clear her name? Why did a stranger protect her with his life? And what is the meaning of the visions she sees whenever she visits the gutted house where he died?

The answers lie with her enemies, and with all the imprisoned women whose names she doesn’t even know yet.

STRANGER THINGS is a novel that invites readers to reconsider their perception of the world and the people who populate it, loved ones and strangers alike.

My Review

This has all the hallmarks of what we’ve come to expect from Healy: gripping suspense, characters grappling with their external world but also with what’s in their heart, and an insider’s perspective of the “thin places” where the natural and supernatural intersect. However, added to this novel is an especially powerful story line drawing the reader into the dark sinister world of human trafficking.

The novel starts fast and doesn’t let up. Healy’s descriptive powers make this novel a highly visual experience. We get multiple points of view which I enjoyed as it enlightened the experience in my mind.

The story demonstrates how human trafficking is able to proliferate due to systematic abuse, deceit and corruption. For much of the novel we’re not exactly sure whether the heroes are actually villains and vice-versa. As the story unfolds the layers gradually peel away to reveal some very courageous people and sinister bad guys.

Serena Diaz and Amber Larsen are two very gutsy women, both survivors of this heinous industry, and marvelously crafted. They are drawn together, coincidentally, by Amber’s brother, Christopher. Embedded in both ladies is his passion and energy to rescue those in need and shine light in the darkness of the industry that has played such a role in their lives since their youth.

The bad guys are creepy in their arrogance, abuse of power and complete disregard for the lives of the many they destroy. Healy reveals the far-reaching tentacles of structured corruption that pervades the industry.

This is an effortless read that was hard to put down and I was sad it ended.

Ian Acheson is an author and strategy consultant based in Northern Sydney. Ian's first novel of speculative fiction, Angelguard, is now available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. You can find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter

Book Review: Afloat by Erin Healy

I love a novel that stays in my mind long after finishing it. Afloat is one of those novels. I'm a long time fan of Erin Healy as she presents a unique perspective on the "thin places" (as she describes it) where the natural meets the supernatural. 

The blurb for "Afloat" goes something like this:

Architect Vance Nolan has crafted a marvel—shining apartments floating in the peaceful cove of a winding river. The project is partially occupied and about to make investors rich when a sinkhole gives way.

Torrential rains quickly flood the cove, leaving a handful of builders, investors, and residents cut off from the rest of the world.

The motley group is bitterly divided over how to survive.

Vance insists they wait for rescue. Developer Tony Dean wants to strike out into the darkness. And single-mom Danielle Clement, obligated to each man and desperate to protect her young son, Simeon, isn’t sure which one is wiser.

Power failure, an unnatural daytime darkness, explosions, and a murder expose hidden intentions and dark histories. Then Simeon spots something strange underwater—beautiful, shifting lights in the dark depths.

In this watery world, everyone’s secrets will eventually come to light. And deliverance may mean more than just getting out alive

Healy powerfully blends natural disaster, murder and the supernatural to craft a fascinating multi-layered story. Her mastery of the writing craft and ability to create intriguing multi-dimensional characters make Afloat a compelling read.

Even though the action commenced immediately, it took me a while to absorb the complexity surrounding the disaster and the introduction of many characters. I enjoyed this detail even though there were times when I found it challenging to visualize the full extent of the scene unfolding.

But once the survivors are thrown together the novel really takes off. Vance Nolan is a marvelous hero. He’s flawed with a troubled past, but selflessly courageous. Zeke, the blind man of faith, and a father figure, has invested years of love and wisdom in Vance and their relationship is a beautiful illustration of the power of committed friendship.

Most of the characters are complex. We see their foibles, inhibitions, hopes and fears. Developer Tony Dean is an excellent antagonist. Greed, power, lust, we see it everyday, but perhaps not so well portrayed in a fictional character like Tony Dean.

The reason this novel still lingers in my mind and why it is so special is there is so much to take away from it. Every reader will be grabbed by something different to ponder. And that is its’ magic. Whether it’s redemption, bad things do happen to good people, or sometimes faith involves staying put and waiting it out, there is so much in this novel. And I haven’t even mentioned the angelic intruders.

Ian Acheson is an author and strategy consultant based in Northern Sydney. Ian's first novel, Angelguard, is now available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. You can find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter