Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to have a digital ARC of this book. I was so excited to hear that my favorite Christian blogger had written a book. When I saw it was listed on NetGalley - I was thrilled!

This book did not disappoint. I you have ever read Jami Amerine's blogs, her book is true to her writing style - humorous, REAL, honest, and humorous some more. If you have never read her blog, I suggest you drop everything and go there right now - Sacred Ground and Sticky Floors. I honestly cannot remember how I came across this author, but I am glad I did.

In Stolen Jesus, Jami goes through many false "Jesuses" she thought she knew until she found the real deal. Actually, what happened was that all her life she was embracing a religion - not Jesus. When she, and anyone else, experiences the real Jesus, life will never be the same.

I am glad that I got a free digital copy of this book, but I may have to go out and buy a few copies to share with others.

Easy read, first person story, with humor and yet on point. Reasonably priced, and would be great Christmas gift for anyone who has a dislike of deep theological discussions. Will give out a few. Should generate discussions!

Title: Stolen Jesus
Author: Jami Amerine

Format: Each chapter chronicles a different Jesus the author was presented with on her search for Real Jesus. She tells how harmful these false Jesuses were to her life and faith.

What I liked: This book presented a lot of things I hadn't thought about, especially towards the end. I've always been told that Mormon Jesus and Catholic Jesus are wrong, but I saw reflections of myself and people I know in some of the other stories. It is also a quotable book.

What I didn't like: Some of the points got repetitive after awhile. Some of the stories felt recycled with just a slight twist.

It is difficult to explain why I liked this book as much as I did. I think that living and working in a country where Jesus isn't considered anything special had an effect on it because if you rely on a false image of Him you're going to lose your faith pretty quickly. I am recommending this book to other believers I know, particularly those who are currently abroad and might need a reminder of the truth.

4 stars

Jami is a very funny lady. I laughed out loud several times when I read her travails in Target, her favorite store. She is a brave and beautiful writer who is not afraid to show the gritty truth about the church and still choose Jesus after everything goes wrong.

Stolen Jesus is written in a memoir format, with each chapter a different description of what Jami believed to be true at the time. She writes about how Jesus looked different to her as a teen, a newlywed, a mama of littles, and a mature Christian. It took Jami a long time to find the Jesus who granted her grace, no matter what, even though he was waiting for her all along.

Jami is a talented comedienne. She hooks you with her brave, self-deprecating funny stories, then punches you in the gut with sometimes difficult truths. But you’re willing to receive the punches, because Jami is like a friend you admire because she isn’t afraid to tell it like it is.

My heart broke for her when she shared the rejection of her teen years, at the hands of other Christians. I ached for her in her struggles as a foster mom. My heart rejoiced with her when she finally accepted that God loves her unconditionally, without any effort on her part.

How this book is changing me:

- I’m thinking about how Jesus looked to me in the past.
- I am recognizing the lies that I’ve told myself.
- I’m considering how the church has both hurt and healed me at different times.

I received a free review copy of Stolen Jesus from Netgalley. Highly recommended read!

We have all dealt with the Jesus' menrtioned. The author has a whimsical writing style.

Oh my, this is book is so funny, so relatable, and so convicting. You know those days when nothing goes right? Going through it you’re pretty sure that it would be better if you could take up life in a hole on another planet, but once through it, you know you have the perfect material for a book or two. Well, Jamie Amerine lived through it and wrote that book. But it’s not just a book of hilarious and heartbreaking incidents. It’s a desperate search for Christ. Where was He? Why did He let this happen? Is He punishing me? Why? Why am I not good enough? What can I do? Well read it and find out.
Jamie tells us of both her brokenness and His victories. She opens up her heart and shows us how we let things, people, hurts, and fears hide Jesus and His love for us. We insert so many things between our Savior and ourselves. She pulls back the layers of lies and shows us a wonderful offer of freedom.
It’s not chronological. Rather, it’s a grab bag of memories that either influenced or illustrate her faith. Nor is it a book of biblical exposition. It’s just her personal experiences with both lies and truth.
I had never heard of Jamie Amerine before I read this book. I’d never read her blog. I still don’t know where she stands on a lot of Biblical doctrines, but I do know that she loves the Lord and wishes to be wholly surrendered to Him. Some things were mentioned that I was unsure of what she meant. For example, she mentions journaling, was she writing in her journal or getting private messages from Christ? It wasn’t explained or described so I’m not sure. There were several little things like that. It’s probably clearer if you're familiar with her other works.
Pet-peeve: I think every verse quoted was from a different translation. Well maybe not every verse, but there were so many translations used including the ‘Message’. I wish authors would stick to one translation through a book.
I received this book as a free ARC through NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers. A favorable review was not required. These are my honest opinions.