Michael J. Sullivan (3) (1960–)

I am not a hundred percent sure if I should be reviewing this book, I didn't realize it had such spiritual, more specifically Christian, undertones. I will give it a try though and not let me own religious beliefs cloud my review.

The characters are dynamic, I can feel each and every single one of them and the writing of this author flows so well. I know the basics of Christianity and the Crucifixion and along those lines the research seemed well done. I really enjoy time travel fiction and this one is no exception. I liked this book a lot, knowing already the ending that Christ had, there are definitely some sad parts, loss of life in any form, especially in the way he died, is a sad thing. I definitely had a few tears going. I imagine someone of the same religion would feel the story much more deeply then I did.

My favorite line of the book: "Heartbreak is necessary for one to understand how great God's gift of time truly is" I think this sentence transcends most religions. I recommend you give this book a try, no matter your religious persuasion.… (mais)

This book grabs you very quickly and keeps you reading long into the night. I loved the story and how this book was written. Vivid detail, heart-felt emotion, and highly developed characters make this novel stand out, lending believability and vividness. I loved this novel and it is most definitely one of my all-time favorite books of all time. I highly recommend it!

Fantastic, powerful novel and I'm so thankful to M.J. Sullivan for providing me with the opportunity to read it the story was that powerful. The characters in a story exhibited every trait that I would strive to have when finding myself faced with the challenges they faced.

I was given this book by Christian Review of Book.… (mais)

What would you do if you found yourself transported completely by accident into the Biblical past, back to the time of Jesus' ministry just before the crucifixion? Well that is exactly what happens to Michael Stewart and his daughter, Elizabeth.

Having many struggles early on in his life, Michael now finds himself raising his daughter, Elizabeth on his own, having lost his wife, Vicki. Now Michael has turned his back on his faith in God and in a surprising turn of events, while helping out a food drive at the local church, Elizabeth disappears into the basement behind an ancient door in the floor. When Michael attempts to go after her, they find themselves transported into first-century Jerusalem during the last week of Jesus Christ's life.

Not exactly being dressed in local attire and coming to the aid of a man being severely beaten by Roman soldiers, Michael is arrested for interfering. He soon finds out the man he attempted to rescue was Barabbas, accused of murdering a Roman soldier. Now trapped within an ancient prison, all Michael wants to do is find Elizabeth and get back to their real home. Elizabeth finds herself the center of unwanted attention when one of the Roman soldiers, Marcus, sees a possible wife in finding her. Now she must remain hidden while the Passover feast begins and the city is swarming with soldiers and citizens. She finds shelter and security being taken in by a local woman named Leah, who knows Michael already. How is that possible if they just entered Jerusalem today?

When Michael is released from prison, he thinks it's because he's befriended by Marcus, only he is using Michael as bait to find Elizabeth. When Michael attempts to find Elizabeth in the busy city, he comes face to face with Jesus Christ as he is entering the city on Palm Sunday. Will Michael and Elizabeth ever find their way back home, or does God have bigger plans by transporting Michael back in the past to find his love for Christ again?

In the novel, Necessary Heartbreak by Michael J. Sullivan, the reader is given a great look into the historical world of ancient Jerusalem and how we might view this time in history through the eyes of Michael and Elizabeth. This is Michael Sullivan's debut novel and I was fortunate enough to read the sequel to this one first, Everybody's Daughter and immediately found the connection between the two stories. This is a fantastic series for anyone who loves Bible history and who would love to go back in time without the fear of being really trapped there like our characters from the story. I love how both characters view this opportunity to meet Jesus in this once in a lifetime moment.

I received this book compliments of Michael J. Sullivan for my honest review and once again have to applaud his talents as a writer. Even though this is his debut novel, it was well thought out and the story line is amazing. It truly holds the readers attention throughout and wonder just what the interactions will be during their trip into the past. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and if you love science fiction blended with a bit of history with a Christian twist, then this is the perfect book for you.… (mais)

NCLA Review - Michael Stewart lost his mother as a teenager. After his wife’s death he lost faith in a loving God and became bitter and withdrawn. His only joy was his fourteen year old daughter, Elizabeth, whom he adored. While volunteering at a church, he and his daughter discovered a tunnel. They emerged in “Alice in Wonderland” fashion into first century Jerusalem. Here they experienced horrible cruelty by the Roman soldiers and met a kind widow who protected them. They relived the last week of Jesus’ life in Jerusalem including the crucifixion. After returning home, Michael found he had learned to enjoy life without fear, with an open heart to Christ’s grace. This revelation enriched their lives but the reader is left with many unanswered questions. Rating: 3 —DM… (mais)