No Greater Love by Kathi Macias
Reviewed by Lori Twichell, Radiant Lit
Genre: religious fiction
Publisher: New Hope Publishers
Publication Dates: April 5, 2010

Sixteen year old Chioma and her 15-year-old brother Masozi live in South Africa during the time of political upheaval just before Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. Chioma understands her role in needing to protect her brother now that her parents have been killed. Though she is frightened of what might come next, there’s hope when she and her brother get a job working on an Afrikaner farm. But Chioma’s life is far from finished with tragedy. Loss erupts around her in the worst ways possible and when she finds herself attracted to the Afrikaner’s son, she knows that she’s walked straight into dangerous waters.

Chioma soon must run again and this time, she lands in an ANC (African National Congress) rebel band, determined to find revenge for herself and her family. Struggling with the enormity of all of the tragedy and loss she’s endured, Chioma does whatever it takes to survive – even marrying a man that terrifies her and becoming a key member of the ANC group. Convinced she’s done with the life she left behind, she has no way of knowing that God’s got His fingers wrapped through the events of her life and He’s pulling her steadily closer.

In this opening installment to Macias’ Extreme Devotion series, we learn very quickly that Kathi pulls no punches and sugar coats nothing. She tackles the hard subjects and the most difficult moments in history with style and grace. As the title of the series would indicate, the devotion employed by the characters in Macias’ book experience everything in the extreme.

In a comfortable society like the United States where most people are comfortable, well fed and for the most part, civil, it’s sometimes hard to grasp that even within our lifetimes, people are dying for their faith. Kathi brings the reality of a life of sacrifice, devotion and upheaval into sharp focus. Readers will be drawn in and engaged in the story on a new level. No mere afternoon read, this story has the potential to change perspectives and make readers understand what the depths of faith and devotion truly entail.

As difficult as it was to read, I devoured this book and loved (and hated!) nearly every moment of the gorgeously woven tale. Give yourself this one book with Kathi and you’ll be hooked. Trust me.

*Rated R – Adult situations and heavy topics in this one. I’d recommend if there are teen readers that parents give it a read too so they’re able to answer any questions.

*Review copy provided by Kathi Macias!