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Rating: 
Summary: The best so far!
Review: Another thrilling installment of the Zion Legacy series. The Thoene's have a gift for putting their readers in the middle of their novels' fast paced action, and Jerusalem's Heart is no exception. Everything- from the characters to the dialogue to the non-stop suspense is carefully crafted and well executed. Whether read as part of the series or as a stand alone book,Heart is not to be missed.
Rating:
Summary: Living Bravely
Review: I finished this book the same day the film "Uprising" premiered, and the similarities are striking. Once again, the Jews are outgunned, outmanned, and hungry. And once again, the Thoenes do honor to Jewish heritage and record little known stories--like that of the Jewish struggle in Warsaw--for a legacy of bravery. In this, book #3 of the series, the Jewish defenders try to hold the Old City, while the Jewish army tries desperately to give aid. It's classic Thoene, great action and passion, great writing, great material. The journey is everything. That's the shout from Warsaw, and that's the shout from this book. What stays with me are the words of a woman under siege in Jerusalem..."Life is the hardest thing...that's where real courage is. Not in dying bravely, but in living bravely."
Rating:
Summary: You Hold your Breath for the Outcome
Review: I love these series! I think they are even better than the "Left Behind" series, and I could not put those down! Again, the Thoenes do an excellent and captivating job of telling a great story and the history of the Israeal's beginnings at the same time. The characters' losses are your losses and their happiness is your happiness. For those of you who have read the other series though, the beginning of "Prague Counterpoint" involves events and characters in this series during this same time frame at a crucial moment. However, the event in question is not mentioned in this book (involving Jacov and Rabbi Leibovitz), and I am wondering if anyone else noticed that. The events in "Jerusalem's Heart" makes one wonder how the characters could accomplish the event in the prologue of the former book, unless the reader is to assume it was possible. Also, Jacob and Lori had no family members left in this series, but they both had younger brothers that escaped with Lori to England before WWII in "Warsaw Requiem". Do we ever find out what happened to them? Email me back if you also noticed it!
Rating:
Summary: You Hold your Breath for the Outcome
Review: I love these series! I think they are even better than the "Left Behind" series, and I could not put those down! Again, the Thoenes do an excellent and captivating job of telling a great story and the history of the Israeal's beginnings at the same time. The characters' losses are your losses and their happiness is your happiness. For those of you who have read the other series though, the beginning of "Prague Counterpoint" involves events and characters in this series during this same time frame at a crucial moment. However, the event in question is not mentioned in this book (involving Jacov and Rabbi Leibovitz), and I am wondering if anyone else noticed that. The events in "Jerusalem's Heart" makes one wonder how the characters could accomplish the event in the prologue of the former book, unless the reader is to assume it was possible. Also, Jacob and Lori had no family members left in this series, but they both had younger brothers that escaped with Lori to England before WWII in "Warsaw Requiem". Do we ever find out what happened to them? Email me back if you also noticed it!
Rating: 
Summary: The Thoenes Are Back
Review: Once upon a time, Bodie Thoene was my favorite fiction writer. After the publication of Shiloh Autumn, however, I found her subsequent books to be a bit dry and uninspiring. Even the first two books in this series, though good, lacked the passion and eloquence of the earlier Thoene writings. In Jerusalem's Heart, though, it would seem that the Thoenes of the Zion Chronicles, Zion Covenant, and Shiloh Autumn are back with us. This new book captures all the action, drama, spiritual depth, and character development of the authors' earlier novels. A wonderfully written and powerfully moving story, Jerusalem's Heart is a good read for anyone interested in middle east politics, good fiction, or vintage Thoene writing.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping Historical Fiction
Review: Picking up minutes after the last book in the series (THUNDER FROM JERUSALEM) ended, Israel is still at war. The Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem is fighting for it's very life, cut off from the rest of the world. They are rationing food and water, but only fairing a little better then the New City, also under siege. While the defenders try to hold out, their commander struggles to get back to the quarter from the Arab controlled area. And others try to break the Arab blockade keeping the entire city from getting fresh supplies. The more of the Thoenes' books you have read, the more you will enjoy this one. Many of the characters have appeared in previous series, specifically the Zion Chronicles and Zion Covenant series. I also found rereading the end of the last book helpful since this one starts immediately after. Of course, reading the Thoenes' novels is a pleasure because of their skill as storytellers. I enjoyed this book more than the previous two in the series because the action takes place in many different settings. It moves quickly, and the authors do a great job of balancing the large cast of characters. The characters are also well developed, especially considering the book is set during a war. As always, the history presented is accurate as well. This book is a must for any fans of the Thoenes' previous work and people interested in the time period presented. I highly recommend this novel.
Rating:
Summary: A Treat for Devoted Fans
Review: The Thoenes are quite a team. The amount of research and detail that Brock's research brings to Bodie's talented writing is amazing. The combination is enthralling for history and fiction buffs. This book, like the others in the series, races from start to finish with tight plotting and razor-thin scenes. If anything, it can be overwhelming at times. Don't try to stretch this book out over a few weeks; you'll have difficulty keeping things straight. This story is meant to be swallowed and digested quickly. Which is not to say that it's a fast-food diet. Bodie Thoene delivers rich metaphors here. From the Khamseen winds at the opening, to the Hurva at the heart of Jerusalem, this story strikes deep into the struggle for Israeli independence and the personal struggle for salvation through the Messiah. Without preaching, the Thoenes tell of powerful grace and love in the midst of horrific bloodshed. The message of valor and courage rings true in light of the terrors the Jews endured. If you're a fan of the series, this book is a must. It'll go down quick and easy, and still leave you satisfied with the sustenance of good writing. (As a side-note, don't turn to the maps for help in deciphering the story...some of the major settings aren't even listed, such as Latrun.) With the secrets still waiting to be revealed at the end of this story, I'm anxious to plunge into the next, "The Jerusalem Scrolls."
Rating:
Summary: A Treat for Devoted Fans
Review: The Thoenes are quite a team. The amount of research and detail that Brock's research brings to Bodie's talented writing is amazing. The combination is enthralling for history and fiction buffs. This book, like the others in the series, races from start to finish with tight plotting and razor-thin scenes. If anything, it can be overwhelming at times. Don't try to stretch this book out over a few weeks; you'll have difficulty keeping things straight. This story is meant to be swallowed and digested quickly. Which is not to say that it's a fast-food diet. Bodie Thoene delivers rich metaphors here. From the Khamseen winds at the opening, to the Hurva at the heart of Jerusalem, this story strikes deep into the struggle for Israeli independence and the personal struggle for salvation through the Messiah. Without preaching, the Thoenes tell of powerful grace and love in the midst of horrific bloodshed. The message of valor and courage rings true in light of the terrors the Jews endured. If you're a fan of the series, this book is a must. It'll go down quick and easy, and still leave you satisfied with the sustenance of good writing. (As a side-note, don't turn to the maps for help in deciphering the story...some of the major settings aren't even listed, such as Latrun.) With the secrets still waiting to be revealed at the end of this story, I'm anxious to plunge into the next, "The Jerusalem Scrolls."
Rating: 
Summary: Could have been better
Review: This is the first 'series' of books that I have read by these authors, and throughout all 3 of the books so far of this series there is one major flaw and drawback. While this story is about Jews fighting to preserve their newly created state of Israel, there is constant mention and pointing towards Christianity while Judaism is left in the background. These people might die because they are Jews, but to live they have to embrace the new testament. Now, I have no idea if the authors are Jewish or not, but one cannot seriously think that when a Jew is suffering and maybe dying (as there is a scene of in this book) while remember how his father and brother died, he would welcome the 'messiah' that gave his life to 'save the world' etc etc ad nauseum. Apparently all he lived for and fought for, including the fact that his father told him to live and survive, has been so that he would be converted to Christianity and 'see the light' when he is so close to death, please. Aside from all the Christ and Christian babble and rare sightings of Jesus himself throughout the three books, some of the fighting scenes are very well done, as well as other details and particulars throughout the book. But, all that Christian talk (not that I have anything against any other religion) simply does not belong in this series of books, and after I'm done with them, I doubt I'll be reading anything else by these authors.
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