On 2/6/2017, New Hope Publisher's published Jana Kelly's Christian Missional Fiction:  "Door to Freedom: A Contemporary Novel". This is an outstanding standalone book, that takes place a year after JK'S earlier "Side by Side, A Novel".

     Christians in the USA are so blessed to have Religious Liberties. This isn't the case for Christians living in strict Muslim countries under Islamic Law. Mia is an American Wife & Mother in Khartoum, Sudan; whose husband works for a secular Aid Organization. Will Mia truly lay down her fears at Jesus feet, to minister "freely" to her Muslim neighbors, even through persecution & possible physical loss?

     16 year old Rania turned to Drawing to cope with the loss of her beloved sister. As a newly converted Christian, she left Rania her Gospel of John.

     Rania dreams of studying Art in college; but her strict Sudanese father moves to arrange her marriage, to bring honor to her family & neighborhood. How does Rania reconnect to her sister, through Mia?

     Raina's art finds it's ultimate inspiration as she repeatedly reads John's Gospel. Will Raina convert to Jesus as her Savior & Peace-giver? How does Rania bless Mia?

     JK engagingly describes what daily life is like in a strict Islamic household. She masterfully drew me into the lives & emotions of Mia & Rania. She inspired me to be more diligent in praying for my Christian brothers & sisters living in Muslim countries! I highly recommend you read this great hope filled story.

     I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley, & voluntarily chose to review it.

Door to Freedom is a very educational book with a lot of insight into the Muslim faith and life in Sudan. To get the most out of this book, it would be beneficial to read the Prequel Side by Side first. But it can be read as a standalone. Door to Freedom picks up where Side by Side stops. They are very similar writing styles. Those who have read and liked Side by Side will also enjoy Door to Freedom.
Through both of these books, a lot of information is presented regarding the lifestyle of the Sudan people. It also offers an insight in the Muslim faith and way of thinking. Through the characters of this story, the reader experiences the difficulties of living a Christian life in a country where it is illegal to convert away from Muslim. It opens the mind to the persecution that exists for Christians in a Muslim country. And it broaches the homesickness that comes with living In a different country, with a different language , and a completely unfamiliar culture. Door to Freedom is based on real-life events. Although the characters were not missionaries, this book is a great look at the missionary life and finding ways to share the gospel of Christ in a country that rejects Him. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What an amazing book. Feet on the ground in a country apposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a great read to put you prayerfully in touch with life lived for the sole purpose to share the gospel in the situation you have been placed in. I love the open door for the gospel parts! This read kept me reading and reflecting on what was to come next. It made me want to keep reading to know how it continues to work out for this family in this place. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I also look forward to reading more like this in the future.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Door To Freedom

The Door to Freedom is actually the second instalment in a series but read fine as a standalone as I haven't read the first one.

This is a book about the work of Mia and her husband. They live in Sudan, trying to pass on the 'word of God, Jesus and Christianity' in a country which is predominantly Islamic. I picked this book as delving into different religions and cultures fascinate me, and knowing it is based on real life events makes it all the more interesting.

The Door to Freedom is told from two perspectives, Mia, an American Christian who lives in Sudan with her family. They are to all intents and purposes missionaries, they are proud of their faith and want to pass on the words of their God. The other protagonist is Rania, a Sudanese Arab girl who is Muslim, but wrestling with her conflicting thoughts and beliefs, while dealing with her sister having 'disappeared' because of her belief in Isa (Jesus).

I didn't find this too preachy, I wouldn't have continued reading it if I had. It's a great documentation of how some people never waiver in their religious beliefs, and how some ask questions and even change their beliefs. I enjoyed this book a lot, 4*.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher.

This is the first book I've read from the author. I did not read Side by Side (the first book in the series), but it was not necessary to read the first book to understand this one.

The author did a remarkable job describing Sudan and its culture, customs, and food. The precarious balance of living out Christian faith while working with a humanitarian organization in a Muslim country was clearly portrayed through the book.

The dialogue and narration in the book were somewhat stilted. The timeline and time frame of Mia's story and Rania's story did not seem to match up or run parallel so I needed to reorient myself whenever the storyline switched. The ending seemed a bit contrived, a bit anticlimactic, and very open-ended, but perhaps that was on purpose so that the next book could pick up where this one left off.

As for the characters, I really liked Rania and her spirit. She's a gifted artist with a tender heart who loves her family. But she's a girl of principles. She's intelligent and wants to find out for herself what true faith is. Mia was less likable. She is the typical American - whiny at times, too stubborn at other times, somewhat selfish with a privileged attitude, and self-righteous.
Despite the fact that Michael, Mia's husband, is a major character in the story, I didn't feel like I knew him well when I finished the book. Third person narrative of the book should have allowed more development of Michael's character but the book flowed more like first person narrative with focus only on Mia and Rania.

Overall, it was an interesting book that allowed me to experience Sudan through a Christian's eyes.

I received a digital advance copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to give a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

Door to Freedom is the sequel to Side by Side, but can easily be read as a standalone. If you read Side by Side and enjoyed it, then I’ve no doubt you’ll enjoy Door to Freedom as well. If you felt there were some writing and characterisation issues, with Side by Side, then I suspect you’ll see those same issues in Door to Freedom.

Both books centre on the Weston family, living in Sudan while husband Michael works with a secular aid organisation, the Kellar Hope Foundation, doing we never find out what. Most of the story is told from the viewpoint of his wife, Mia, the stay-at-home mother to their three children. The remainder of the story is told from the viewpoint of Raina, a teenage Muslim girl from an upper-class family … whose sister converted to Christianity in Side by Side.

I was initially confused, as I thought Mia and her family were serving in Sudan as missionaries, yet her early behaviour didn’t seem very missionary-like (meaning, when it became apparent that they might have to leave Sudan, her first reaction was closer to whine than prayer). My error: Sudan is under Sharia law, so Christians have enough problems working with secular aid organisations, let alone actively working as Christian missionaries.

Having said that, Mia and Michael are both Christians, and they do experience a growth in their faith that brings them closer together and encourages them to attempt to share their faith. At the same time, it opens them to opportunities and threats from Muslims and Christians alike as they make opportunities to share their faith with friends and colleagues. There are some interesting insights into Muslim beliefs and practices. Despite this, I found the Mia scenes slow and the dialogue wooden.

I found the Raina scenes far more interesting. Raina is sixteen, and wants to study art at college, not get married. Especially not to some man old enough to be her father (as happens to one of her school friends), or some random cousin. She also wants to investigate that book her sister left behind … Raina’s scenes gave an insight into the mind of a teenage Muslim female living under Sharia law. She has more freedom than I might have assumed, but that doesn’t change the fact that all the big decisions in her life will be made by her father or her husband.

There were a lot of typos, but I was reading the unedited review edition so hopefully these have been fixed in the final print version. The writing ranged from below average with added Christianese (“this was a good time for Mia to extend some grace”) to excellent:

Mia and her family loved living in Sudan. Even when they hated it. It was wonderful and terrible all mixed up in one giant ball of confusion.

That pretty much describes Door to Freedom. Overall, my impression was that the writing style was best suited to middle grade students or early teens, but the subject matter more appropriate for older teens or adults. Recommended for those looking for an insight into Islamic beliefs or life in an Islamic country. Not recommended for children, despite the writing style.

Thanks to New Hope Publishers, Litfuse Publicity, and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

While this book is a sequel, it is quite capable of standing alone. The author presents the reader with a story line in process, but give the reader enough background to set up the novel without bogging down the story overall. Set in Sudan, this book further chronicles the life of Mia and her family after her husband has taken a job with a health care organization that works with refugees. In this book, Mia and her husband further develop their personal philosophy of missions and outreach and consequently begin to experience some persecution themselves. Mia's point of view of how persecution has affected her female friends and her own family draws the reader into the story. The author does an excellent job of portraying the (sometimes brutal) reality of women under Islam while remaining sensitive to their beliefs. I found myself putting the book down a few times, unable to read more...only to pick it back up again in a couple of hours because I couldn't stand not knowing what happened to the characters.

My only criticism of the book comes in how Mia and Beth (Mia's husband's supervisor at work) handled Mia's husband being detained by the police for a day. Beth counseled Mia to not contact the American Embassy. I have a family member who has worked as the American Liaison at US embassies in several countries, including Islamic countries. Contacting the embassy should have been the FIRST thing they did as soon as Mia suspected her husband had been detained. I found Beth's advice to be short-sighted and even dangerous. The situation resolved quickly, so things did not escalate far. But I wondered what it would take for Beth to consent to calling the embassy.

Overall, this book is a gentle introduction to very difficult subjects of women under Islam and persecution. I look forward to reading more along these lines. I applaud the publisher for introducing this much-needed, global-focused genre into Christian fiction.

I gratefully received an eARC from the author, publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

This novel is a sequel to Side by Side. In this story, Mia and her husband are in north Sudan. Michael has been working for a humanitarian organization in the country for two years. Mia has been getting to know her Muslim neighbors while raising their three children. Another major character in the novel is Rania, the young daughter of a Sudanese Arab. She misses her older sister who suddenly disappeared, leaving her a small book Rania keeps hidden.

This is a great novel about the life of Christian humanitarian workers and Muslims in Sudan. It is a land of Sharia law but those Mia knows are kind and friendly. The novel reveals some of the struggles and dilemmas Christian workers face when living in a Muslim country where proselytizing is often illegal.

This is another powerful novel from Kelley. She spent thirteen years in Africa and the Middle East and her novels are based on actual events. This one reveals the fragile nature of having a humanitarian organization in a hostile environment. It also portrays the plight of women in a predominately Muslim country.

The novel reveals the pain humanitarian workers inexperience while being so far away from their families back in the U.S. Yet it also reveals the joy those same workers experience knowing they are exactly where God wants them to be.

I recommend this novel to those who want to get a good picture of what it is like to be a Christian in a foreign and hostile environment.

I received as complimentary egalley of this book through Litfuse. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Door to Freedom

by Jana Kelley

New Hope Publishers



Christian

Pub Date 03 Mar 2017

I am voluntarily reviewing Door to Freedom through the publisher and Netgalley:

Mia and Michael Weston have spent the last two years raising their family in North Sudan. The Weston's are Christians living in a Muslim country.

Rania the daughter of a wealthy Sudanese Arab is trying to figure out what happened to her sister, why she suddenly just vanished.

Raina's friend Amal commits suicide by ingesting Henna Ink.

During the month of Ramadan Raina secretly begins reading the book of John.

When a warning comes on about all from Western nations residing in Sudan to be diligent the danger becomes even more real.

This is the story of two women finding their ways to freedom.

I give Door to Freedom five out of five stars.

Happy Reading

Door To Freedom by Jana Kelley is an amazing contemporary Christian novel showing what life is like for Christians living in the predominately Muslim Sudan. It is a powerful novel that highlights the dangers of life. Things that we take for granted, such as our religious freedom can spell death.
Door To Freedom continues where Side By Side left off. The reader has the chance to catch up with familiar characters.
The novel has the theme of God being sovereign. It is in Him that one needs to put ones trust. The novel shows how Americans Michael and Mia try to live out their faith as the first century church did in Acts. They risk persecution but must stand firm and trust God.
Door To Freedom shows the impossible situation Muslims face if they convert to Christianity. "The only thing that will bring honour back to our family name is her blood." For a westerner this seems horrendous but it is a very real possibility that is faced.
The novel reveals that Christianity is not 'safe.' It is impossible to follow Jesus and remain a Muslim. A choice must be made. Jesus is faithful and He is good but the cost of following Him in the Sudan is anything but 'safe.'
There is the role of women shown in the novel. Men are superior in every way in the Sudan. A male child's opinion is sought above that of a grown woman. Girls are to obey their fathers. "She would stay home and obey father." Women had to obey their husbands. Disobedience could spell death.
Life for teenagers who want to break free from the traditional mould is shown to be hard. Difficult choices and deception are faced. Escaping tradition is virtually impossible.
There is the theme of forgiveness. This is never easy but we forgive because Jesus told us to.
Jana Kelley has painted a very realistic picture of life in northern Sudan. Through her words, the sights and smells can be experienced, as well as the oppressive heat and atmosphere.
Door To Freedom was a powerful read. It opened my eyes to the cost of following Jesus in Muslim countries. We take our freedoms for granted but others are not so fortunate.
I can highly recommend Door To Freedom and its predecessor Side By Side. Your eyes and hearts will be opened to the plight of others.
So powerful.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.