Book Spotlight - The Ambition by Lee Strobel

The Ambition: A Novel by Lee Strobel
Zondervan, May 2011
Hardcover, 288 pages

Before you dive into The Ambition: A Novel, the new thriller by noted author Lee Strobel, make sure you've got some time set aside -- you're not going to be able to put it down! I recently received a copy of the novel from Strobel's publisher, Zondervan, for review. The book is the first work of fiction by Lee Strobel, who has been described in the Washington Post as "one of the evangelical community's most popular apologists".

This is actually the first of Strobel's books I've had the pleasure of reading. I found it to be a fascinating novel, filled with intrigue, unforeseen plot twists and characters that get under your skin quickly. Although written from a faith-based perspective and with many characters whose beliefs define them, Strobel's evangelical voice is never heavy handed. He gives us characters who, like ourselves and the people in the pews next to us, make mistakes, go through periods of spiritual dryness, and sometimes question their beliefs.

From my Catholic perspective, my only disappointment with The Ambition was that the few fleeting mentions of Catholicism come in the context of characters who are former Catholics, no longer actively practicing their faith. I think it would have been easy, and actually refreshing, for Strobel to have written at least on of these characters with a storyline that permitted them to re-embrace the traditions of their Catholic roots rather than abandoning them in favor of a new evangelical Christian faith home. That being said, Strobel's writing is respectful of Catholicism and never takes some of the swipes at the Catholic Church I've seen in other Christian novels.

The story that unfolds in The Ambition is relevant in today's world of political ambition and megachurches. You'll quickly be caught up in the action, but you'll also be inspired and entertained along the way. I hope that Lee Strobel will soon follow up with another novel - I loved this one and can't wait to share it with friends.

About the Book:
A corrupt judge in a mob murder case. A disillusioned pastor, hungry for power. A cynical reporter, sniffing for a scandal. A gambling addict whose secret tape threatens the lives of everyone who hears it. New York Times bestselling author Lee Strobel weaves these edgy characters into an intricate thriller set in a gleaming, suburban megachurch, a big-city newspaper struggling for survival, and the shadowy corridors of political intrigue. The unexpected climax is as gripping as the contract killing that punctuates the opening scene.

Thanks to Lee Strobel's publisher, Zondervan, we have two copies of The Ambition to give away to our readers. To enter, leave a comment below by midnight Pacific time on Thursday, May 26th. Only entrants in the United States and Canada are eligible to win.

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