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BOOK REVIEW: Mysterious Ways
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by: Vickie McDonough Dancing Word Reviewer
Title: Mysterious Ways Author: Terry Burns Publisher: River Oak ISBN: 1-589-19027-0 Genre: Inspirational/Historical/Fiction Amos Taylor is nothing but a low-down thief. He's so low that he doesn't even have second thoughts about stealing a country parson's black-frocked suit and shirt to use as a disguise. But his plans backfire when he rescues a group of people stranded after a stagecoach robbery—a robbery he committed. After he helps them back to town, the grateful townsfolk recruit him to preach the next Sunday. All Amos wants to do is hop on his horse and high-tail it out of town, but an old blind man named Joseph stops him. Joseph may be blind, but Amos can't pull the wool over his eyes. Joseph tells Amos that God told him to help Amos preach that sermon, and Joseph is not beyond blackmailing Amos to see that he does. As people begin to invite the new "parson" for fine dinners daily, Amos starts to think this is the perfect con. With Joseph's help, he can preach Sunday sermons, something he seems to be gifted in doing, and during the week he can pull scams in area towns. But as Amos studies the Bible and Joseph teaches him about the ways of God, Amos's heart begins to soften. And then there's Miss Judy Valentine. A beautiful gal who's wrapped herself around his heart. Can a lying, thieving scalawag find God and mend his ways? Mysterious Ways is the first book I've read by author Terry Burns, and I must say I was very impressed. Burns took a greedy con man and made me care about him. Amos is typical of many people today, carrying on deviously, and caring only about himself and not how his actions affect others. Mysterious Ways shows how God can use even the worst of sinners to get His message across. Burns took what some would look at as the least of characters, an old, blind black man, and made him an instrument of the Lord. Joseph is an inspiring character, stubborn and faithful to the Lord, even when what God asked of him seemed ridiculous. A powerful faith message is woven into this story through Amos's preaching and Joseph's teaching. Judy is a sweet young woman, who believes in Amos, even though he hasn't always treated her nicely. All the characters are very realistic, even the nefarious bad guys and the tough Texas Ranger. Readers who love a good western or a sweet romance are sure to be captivated with Mysterious Ways.
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