The Deliverer by Kathi Macias

Though physically free of her prior life as a sex slave, Mara still struggles to leave behind the mental and emotional bondage of the past. Jonathan, the young man who rescued her from human trafficking, has spoken and written to her of a loving God who can free her of all the evil of the past. Mara desires this ultimate freedom, but doesn't believe it could truly happen for her. Mara's search for freedom will lead her through an examination of her feelings towards the family who sold her into slavery, her uncle who oversaw the entire operation, and the God who allowed it all to happen. Will Mara be able to move beyond her past? And if she could, would her growing affection for Jonathan blossom? Before anything else, she must learn to trust the One who knows her intimately and longs to bring healing and freedom.

The Deliverer by Kathi Macias is the third book in the Freedom Series. I highly recommend reading these books in order although some back story is given. I had expected this to be the final book in the series. However, there may be another book forthcoming as certain situations with some characters were left open at the end. The plot of this story is far more complex than a small synopsis can provide and that is one of the beauties of Macias' writing. Like the prior two books in the series, I was challenged by the topics presented in the book, but still enjoyed reading the characters' stories, particularly Mara's. It is far too easy to ignore or forget that human trafficking does exist and this series is a wake-up call for Christians to arise and fight the evil that is far closer to home than most of us realize. I recommend this book to any mature reader because it does deal with dark, though not overly explicit, topics.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Special Delivery by Kathi Macias

Two years ago Jonathan Flannery stumbled onto a human trafficking operation and rescued the beautiful, abused Mara. Mara's testimony against her uncle, the leader of the operation, put him in prison and gave her freedom from sexual slavery. When Jonathan returns from Bible college for the summer and their paths cross, Mara finds herself longing for him, though she swore off all men long ago. Intentionally discounting her sudden affection for Jonathan, Mara focuses on her waitressing job until a man and young girl appear one day. Mara is certain that they are involved in human trafficking but feels lost as to what to do. More than anything, she wants to stay far away from her past. Adding to her distress, Mara suspects she is being followed by someone hired to exact her uncle's revenge.

Special Delivery by Kathi Macias is the second book in the Freedom Series. I highly recommend reading Deliver Me From Evil, the first book, prior to reading Special Delivery. The story could stand alone, but reading the books in order makes for a more meaningful reading experience. A well-written story with heart-gripping characters, Special Delivery catches and retains the reader's attention from the very beginning. Macias handles the subject of human trafficking by providing a hefty dose of reality coupled with gentleness towards its victims.

I highly recommend this series to any adult, as it is probably not appropriate for younger readers. It is Christian fiction. However, I think everyone should be aware that such atrocities do happen in America and ignoring reality only leads to more victims.

Click here to read the first two chapters of Special Delivery by Kathi Macias.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author via Pump Up Your Book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Deliver Me From Evil by Kathi Macias

Though Jonathan and Mara live and work in San Diego, California, their worlds are far apart. As a high school senior in a idyllic middle class family, Jonathan's biggest concern is accepting that baseball won't be his career and that Bible college is the next step in the path of life. Mara's world is filled with physical torture, sexual slavery, and the ever-present threat of death. One night, as Jonathan delivers a pizza to a shady hotel, their worlds intersect in way that changes both of them. Jonathan can't forget the half-naked girls and Mara can't forget the kindness in the mysterious young man's eyes. Torn by a desire to help the girls and a desire to forget the incident, Jonathan engages in a struggle that will eventually draw him to the God he professes to serve. Through circumstances, Jonathan and his family become involved in supporting a local abolitionist movement again sexual slavery. However, drawn by a desire deeper than his own, Jonathan returns to the motel time and again. When the stakes become intensely personal, Jonathan must make a life or death choice to trust the plans of the God who loves not only him, but also every person trapped in sexual slavery.

Due to the difficult issues and gritty content in Deliver Me From Evil by Kathi Macias, the story is not an easy read and I would not recommend it to young readers. That being said, I do recommend it to mature readers. There is nothing overly explicit in the novel, but given that it is about sexual slavery, it does have some descriptive content. Macias' balances the darkness of the topic with light from those who seek its end, preventing the novel from depressing the reader. The characters are believable and well-developed. On a personal note, I cried several times while reading this novel because the characters and their situations gripped my heart.

Deliver Me From Evil addresses how quickly we are to dismiss the idea of sexual slavery in America and then issues a call to the reader to stand against this horrendous evil. The novel's message that sexual slavery does exist and that it's victims are in need of deliverance and healing needs to be heard by all in America. I await the next installment in the series.

Click here to listen to a podcast in which Kathi Macias discusses Deliver Me From Evil and the research that led to its production.

Read the prologue of Deliver Me From Evil at the home page of the blog tour.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free via PumpUpYourBook. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."