Book Review: Quest for the Nail Prints by Don Furr

quest for nail prints cover
Synopsis: Haven't we all dreamed of walking with Jesus? Wondered what it would be like to talk with Him as He peers into our eyes and tells us the secrets of why. Do you long to touch His face and callused hands, knowing full well that your only response could be nothing more than a trembling smile as He brushes away your tears and peers into your soul? Do you want to hold Him close and never let go? What if you could touch the scars and thank Him for what He did for you? For us all.  

Quest for the Nail Prints is the story of three ordinary people, chosen by God for an extraordinary opportunity. A journey so amazing, even they have a hard time believing that it is real. Through unrelated circumstances, Dr. Elizabeth Stewart, Reverend Paul Ryann and Professor Leonardo Van Eaton find themselves sharing a journey to the Holy Lands...when suddenly they are thrust back in time nearly two thousand years and find themselves face to face with the rugged radical Nazarene known throughout the region as Jesus of Nazareth.

With thousands of books on the market, what makes this one different?  
There is literally a hole punched through the entire book, from front to back.

Why the Hole?
"The idea of the nail hole surfaced during the first draft," said Don Furr. "From the very start, I knew the part the nails would play. From there, the process simply took its natural course. The idea quickly flourished into the nail prints marking every page, much in the same way I picture the nails touching every page of our lives. It only seemed natural that they should touch every page of the story."

About the Author: Don Furr is the owner of an exhibit design and manufacturing firm. One advantage that Furr has over fellow writers is his ability to market. With the distinctive nail hole in every book the displays that are in stores are very different. Each is shaped as a cross, with the books hanging from nails. He lives in the Memphis, Tennessee area with his wife, Karen

About the book he says: "Quest for the Nail Prints has been a dream come true for me! I have lived it, dreamed about it and even carried my laptop all over the world while writing it. From my home here in Tennessee to the icy waters of Alaska. From Mount Haleakala in Maui to Paris to London to Spain and Amsterdam. From the mountains of Romania to the dusty roads of Jerusalem-twice, even!" 
"This story has bits and pieces of all of those places intertwined within its pages, and yet, it's as if the story has only begun. In my heart I guess I'll never be finished with it, not completely, but for the sake of the reader, there is a final chapter. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I have." 

Review: This book came at just the right time in my reading sequence, as holy week will soon be upon us, so it lent the book a little lagniappe! I've always been a big fan of time travel books, IF they are done right. This one is definitely done right!  I wish I had 100 copies to give away! As it is I'll be passing this copy around for quite awhile I believe!

Furr has done an amazing thing- he has brought modernism to the bible story of the crucifiction and the events leading up to it, and brought the bible to LIFE in a way that I have never read before! I know that's saying a whole lot,but this book should be required reading in confirmation/Baptism classes. Furr has found a way to express human suspicions, beliefs and emotions on both side of the tale and woven them into a seemless description of the Christian faith itself. It is as if Furr's worldwide expereiences interwove themselves into the pages and help breathe life and belief as you read. It is a very odd feeling as you read the book, but you sense that the 3 characters are representing ALL of mankind and their actions/inactions will tell the inner truth of man. Heavy stuff, I know!

I think my favorite quote that explains God and man is: Elizabeth asks of Jesus "why is it that sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you see the truth? ...And then it seems like God opens the door?" Jesus replied "Do you not think the door was always open, and you just went about your own way to find it?"  To me that's the perfect example of God's love and patience, as a parent to mankind, that I've ever heard described! Think how much easier and less stressful our lives would be, if we just accepted this truth- that we all have our own paths that may lead in different directions, but all wind up at the same door?

But do not think the book is all heavy Christian faith! There is plenty of mystery! Will our time travelers attempt to change time? Will they inadvertently leave something behind and cause a bubble in time? Will they bring something back with them and destroy a section of time? AND primarily, will they ever get along as friends, and get back to the modern age?

This was a very enjoyable book, a quick read, and one that I will be recommending to EVERYONE. Please go buy it as an Easter present for the faithful among your friends and family. They will love you for it! AND let's beg Furr for a sequel! I do hope he has one, waiting to spring forth, from his font of creativity!




Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book for review purposes, free of charge, from Bostick Communications! No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about the book!




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