by: Vickie McDonough

Dancing Word Reviewer

Title: Heart of A Lion

Author: Gilbert Morris

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

ISBN: 0-7642-2681-9

Genre: Biblical/Fiction

Master storyteller, Gilbert Morris, well known for his House of Winslow and his Chaney DuVall, M.D. series has broken new ground with his latest series. Heart of A Lion is the premiere book in Morris’s Lions of Judah series, an exciting fictional account of the ancestry of Jesus of Nazareth.

Like all young men, Noah struggles with the temptations of a beautiful woman and the thrill of worldly pleasures. How he deals with those temptations will shape his life for centuries to come. When he meets Lomeen, a lovely young woman from a neighboring village, Noah is sorely tempted to give in to his desires. During a visit to Lomeen’s village, Noah is exposed to the heinous pagan rituals of the worshipers of Ur Baal. Stunned and grieving over the events that occurred during his stay, Noah flees home, determined to remain faithful to The Strong One.

The dark events follow Noah, keeping him in torment. He struggles to hear the voice of God and falls into a deep depression when a Nephilim, one of the vicious giants that inhabit the land, kills his brother. Many years pass before Noah finally hears the voice of The Strong One. But the message he receives terrifies him more than his past experiences. Will Noah have the Heart of A Lion and the courage to obey or will he give in to his doubts and fears?

I was a bit skeptical how someone could write an extensive fictional account of a Biblical character, yet Gilbert Morris succeeds masterfully. He deftly paints a picture of Noah, a man who was called by God to perform a task that seems humanly impossible. Mr. Morris’s detailed characterizations push the envelope of emotions. Though this was a long book, I was never bored and eagerly looked forward to seeing what happened next. Romance lovers will be delighted with the three heart-tugging romance stories in Heart of A Lion. Rapid, smooth pacing draws you in and carries you to a moving conclusion. Heart of ALion is a gripping story with powerful writing that will bring Noah to life, right before your eyes. Be sure to watch for the sequel, No Woman So Fair, coming in 2003.