Do you know a book-loving dad who would appreciate some new summer reading material? I’ve got you covered!
My June Book Club pick, “Praying With The Enemy,” by Steven T. Collis, is just the ticket!
Collis, also author of my June 2021 book club choice, The Immortals, bases Praying With The Enemy on the touching true story of an American POW and a North Korean soldier who become unlikely allies united in their shared faith in God during a daring escape to freedom.
“COLLIS IS A LITERARY FORCE IN HISTORICAL FICTION. A mesmerizing story of faith and survival during the Korean War.” - Booklist, starred review. ”
”When pilot Captain Ward Millar is forced to eject over enemy territory in North Korea, the ejection explosion snaps both of his ankles. Unable to walk, he is easily captured by North Korean and Chinese soldiers who interrogate, threaten, and starve him for strategic wartime information. He feeds the enemy false information while plotting his escape. But it’s only a matter of time before they discover his lies. He knows it will take a miracle to gain his freedom, but his previous self-reliance on his own capabilities has never included appealing to a higher power. If only he had faith like his wife, Barbara, whose firm belief in God can move mountains.
North Korean soldier Kim Jae Pil was raised to believe in the power of prayer, but, knowing the Communist Party’s views on religious groups, Kim and his family must keep their Christian faith secret. He is desperate to escape the army, return to his family, and then flee to South Korea.
With Millar imprisoned and unable to walk, and the North Korean army increasingly suspicious of Kim’s actions, it seems impossible that either man will find the freedom they so desperately desire. But when these wartime foes cross paths, they find in each other an unlikely ally. Despite speaking different languages, Millar and Kim find common ground in their fragile faith and must rely on each other to undertake a daring escape.”
”Unlikely” friendships are my favorite kind of friendships! To me they mean that despite outward appearances, languages, traditions or customs practiced… people have far more in common than they have differences, and it’s those things that attract us to one another.
“Praying with the Enemy” is a story of courage, determination, unlikely friendship, and enduring faith.”
It’s a perfect read to take into a hammock while someone else mows the lawn! Find a copy for Dad (or yourself!) right here: