I first became acquainted with Chris Well's novels when I picked up his debut release, Forgiving Solomon Long, in a store. It was a crime novel with a Christian message. I thought, this ought to be interesting. I love writers that think outside the box. Who would've ever dreamed you could combine Godfathers with Christ? I read that debut novel and have been hooked ever since.

Sometime back I started hearing about his 2007 release Tribulation House. I knew this would be a novel I didn't want to miss. Do not let the title fool you. This is no LaHaye/Jenkins end-times tale. Far from it. This is a tale about the choices we make and their consequences.

Mark Hogan has a problem. He has everything anyone could ever want. A great job. A great family. A position of some esteem at his local church. The only thing missing is a boat. Mark doesn't want just any boat. Oh, no. He wants the more-expensive-than-some-cars kind of boat. The kind most of us would need to make a living with to justify the purchase of this kind of boat. Add to that the fact that his pastor, Reverend Daniel Glory, has just made public his assertion that Jesus is returning on a certain date, at a certain time and Mark's anxiety over not having this boat ramps up in spades.

As the time of Christ's return draws closer, the disciples of Reverend Glory begin to loose their focus. All over town people put a halt on their everyday lives believing the hour is upon them. Mark decides he must have a boat. So he does what any man would do in his shoes. He borrows the money to make the purchase. Why not? Jesus is returning. He won't have to pay it back. Right?

Thing is, if Mark had known his Bible he'd have realized that even Jesus doesn't know the hour of his return. The day after Christ was to have returned, Mark finds himself owning a lot of cash. Did I forget to mention he borrowed the funds from the mob? Needless to say, they aren't interested in Mark's theology.

Chris Well has given as all a cautionary tell. One that tells us to look for Christ's return. It could be at anytime. However, don't drop the ball on your life. One is born again to live for Christ, not shut down and wait for his return. He does this with great wit. Written in both First and Third Person I thought I'd be confused. However, Chris's mastery of his craft allows for a seamless transition. I got so wrapped up in this tale of quirky characters and messed up world views that I'd literally forget I was reading a novel. I rarely do that. When a author can pull that off, they are well worth paying attention to. We read fiction to be placed in another world, to escape our lives for a while. Chris Well has done that with Tribulation House. I can not recommend this book highly enough. Buy it! You'll love it! ( )