Willow By Ronie Kendig

WILLOW

by Ronie Kendig

Publisher: Task Force Press

Series: The Metcalfe's

ISBN: 978-0998136783

I was THRILLED and apprehensive to be part of this blog tour! I knew Willow was going to cover heavy topics, but I knew it was necessary. I received the book for review.

Summary:

To save her, he must become the evil he fights.

Aftercare specialist Willow Metcalfe joined Mission: Liberate Everyone to help trafficking survivors navigate the healing process. When MiLE’s Obiora Compound is attacked by the Nigerian mafia, she’s taken hostage. Against nightmarish odds, she and the victims attempt an escape—and are thwarted.
A decade after leaving his beloved homeland, Chijioke “Chiji” Okorie returns to find his sister and fight for his own country. Believing a global trafficking ring behind her abduction and a string of kidnappings across Nigeria, he goes undercover to find the head of the serpent and his sister. Chiji is stunned to discover among the hostages a familiar face—a friend’s sister, Willow. The woman he vowed years ago to marry.

The man who has interfered with her escape attempts seems … familiar, kind—but Willow knows better. He reeks of the warrior ethos that has devoured many a good man. Engaged in an impossible battle and losing at every turn, Chiji is determined to complete his missions—all of them. Even if it kills him.

My Review:

Willow is an absolute MUST READ for everyone. I realize some people have very sensitive hearts and I respect that, but we can't always turn away from the hard things that are in the world, especially as Christians. Human trafficking is a dark, disturbing reality in this world and the author plunges us into the depths of this depravity and shine a light into it. There's SO much to be said about this story that honestly, it's beyond all of the words I could piece together. 

I will warn readers that this isn't a light, fluffy read. You will be challenged with the words you read, yet what you're reading is a horrific reality for so many women and children around the world. We can NOT shy away from it. We get the perspective of Chiji as he joins a trafficking ring and Willow who is captured by them. From the time Willow and the group is captured my heart was breaking. The depravity that happens will enrage you just as it does Chiji and Willow.

The way Chiji and Willow are connected throughout the story is the one bright spot in the midst of the despair. The way Chiji tries to protect Willow is a beautiful representation of a God given love. The Truth he speaks to her even pierced my heart. She has spent her entire life feeling not needed and the way he shows her how important she is overwhelming. About halfway through the story, the way he explains how God is always working, even when we don't see Him, had a huge impact on me (and Willow). I loved seeing God trying to reach Willow's heart in every area of this story.

There is beauty in the ashes of this story. It is absolutely non-stop action from the start. I couldn't put it down because as hard as some of the scenes were, this story NEEDS to be read. I hope it will move many of us to do more. There's so much that we don't understand about God, such as why bad things happen, and there's a sliver of an answer in this story. One that we can at least take to heart.

I'm looking forward to Range's story next.

About the Author:

Ronie Kendig is a bestselling, award-winning author of over thirty books. She grew up an Army brat, and now she and her Army-veteran husband have returned to their beloved Texas after a nearly ten-year stint in the Northeast. They survive on Sonic runs, barbecue, and peach cobbler that they share--sometimes--with Benning the Stealth Golden. Ronie's degree in psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters. Visit Ronie online at www.roniekendig.com.