More than Conquerers by Kathi Macias
Reviewed by Lori Twichell, Radiant Lit
Genre: religious fiction
Publisher: New Hope Publishers
Publication Dates: April 5, 2010

Hector Rodriguez is a pastor of a small church in the tourist town of Tijuana, Mexico. Surrounded by poverty and violence, Hector knows what it means to sacrifice. Driven to share the gospel in the more remote areas of Mexico, he delivers Bibles to people who have never heard the gospel. On one of these trips, his mother accompanies him and though Hector wants to minister to these people, he can’t say he’s really happy that his mother decides she’s going to stay.

Hector’s mother, Victoria, has more than just poverty and difficult living conditions to deal with in her mission. Mayan beliefs are deeply embedded in the people around her and daily she faces terrified people convinced that the only way to bring peace to their land is to remove the threat. Victoria knows the depths of their beliefs but hers run just as deep. God wants her in San Juan Chamula and that’s where she’ll stay.

When his mother doesn’t respond to letters or phone calls, Hector begins to worry. On top of this is a broken relationship with his father and a young man who needs guidance and mentoring as well.

With this, the second book in her Extreme Devotion series, Macias once again weaves a tale of sacrifice and passionate devotion to God and His plan. Hector’s struggles are down to Earth, real and filled with touchpoints that will bring the reader into the plotline as surely as if they were a part of it. Victoria’s faith as she stays where God placed her and Hector’s father’s final moments are all powerful, emotional and incredibly detailed. Kathi weaves together the separate stories with a deft hand, pulling strings from one story to tug them into an intricate design with the other, much the way God calls each of us. The plot moves quickly and decisively. It plays out much like life, often leaving you to catch your breath and wonder where the time flew.

With vivid descriptions and beautiful characters, this second outing in the Extreme Devotion series continues the power packed tradition begun in No Greater Love. Though the read went quickly for me, it was by no means easy or light. Macias does not mince words or make things easy for the reader to ignore. Reading her books is more than just entertaining – it’s life changing. You’ll look at the world around you in a completely new way and the news will suddenly be not so black and white.

*Rated R – It’s got those heavy moments that are difficult to handle emotionally – along with some tough situations. Not an easy read by any stretch, but beautiful beyond measure and well worth the time!

*Review copy provided by Kathi Macias.