This is my first book by James and it won’t be my last. It took me awhile to get into this story but once I did it grew on me.

I like James Rubart's books because they make you examine yourself on a deeply spiritual level. This one was hard to read because I live it on a daily basis. I like how he shows you that God can change you, if you allow him to. I would recommend any of his books.

I loved the premise of the book, a retelling of Jekyll and Hyde, but the book didn't live upto my expectations.

It started out really good...what happened to this angry football player 9 months ago. Then it just starts to fade away. Just not worth it to keep reading to the end to know that it was GOD who did it all along.

This story was very different. If I had to write a summary, I would say it had me from the beginning. Then...things got weird. As in, really really weird. I ended up not liking it at all, despite the encouraging beginning. That's the short version. To say more...Toren grew up with an extremely physically abusive father. He abused Toren, his younger brother and their mother with both his words and physical strength. Toren began to dream of the day that he could be big enough, strong enough to take the belt away from his father and use it on him. Eventually, that day came and along with it came a fury that stayed with Toren and emerged when he became upset. He married Sloane and they had two children, a son and a daughter.
Toren played with the NFL and his anger was the result of him being let go. Once that happened, his anger showed up other places, such as at home. Previously, it was only on the field and never with his wife and children. They became terrified of him.
Then, Toren disappeared for eight months. His family believed him to be dead and they finally had moved on. His wife was dating another man whom she cared very much for. Suddenly, Toren reappears. He has no memory of the months that he was gone. He woke up in a hotel room not knowing how he got there. His wife fainted when he showed up at their home. His children were scared, angry and didn't want to see him.
Sounds like a good story, right? I thought so, too. Then, the weirdness began. Strangers are showing up in his life attempting to give him direction in cryptic messages. Then, he was taken to the 'octagon.' He desperately wanted to beat the dragon inside him and kill the anger forever. When he first returned, he believed something magical had been done to him to rid him of the fury inside him. But, it slowly emerged in certain upsetting circumstances. He believed the 'octagon' would forever rid him of the anger that dominated him. So many things in the story are not sound doctrine, but I do realize this is fiction. I just could not get into the octagon and all that came with it.
I was given a free ecopy of this by the publisher, Thomas Nelson and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Jim's uses a bit of the sci-fi genre as a backdrop for exploring our spiritual lives. I spent a lot of the book asking, what is Jim trying to say?

The setup that the MC disappeared makes for a great story opening where he reappears in the lives of his loved ones. The emotions are palpable, though at times confusing as we try to make sense of the story world.

Once again, the author makes readers think, or perhaps rethink is the better wording. He explores dying to one's self and what that truly means. There are a few villains in this story, and they are formidable. I could relate with the hero's battles, and I believe readers will see themselves in the story to some degree. And the resolution will leave readers pondering. The final message is strong and clarifying.

The opening confused me. He's free, but he continues to battle his demons. The many questions I had at the beginning kept me reading, and the book read fast.

The main character regrets bullying his family. He himself was bullied as a child. The cycle continues. I think readers will find this believable and possibly relatable. I liked Quinn. He was a good ally. And the portrayal of his friendship with the MC was well-written.

Overall, I recommend this novel. It's "outside the box" as are Jim's other novels. And it'll get you thinking.

How is it possible that I have not discovered this amazing author long before now? My favorite type of Christian fiction is not the sweet stories of Christians living out their faith, although those are wonderful; rather my favorite type of Christian fiction is the type whose stories open my heart and mind to the truth of God’s Word in a way that I have not seen it before. Ted Dekker and Francine Rivers, two very different types of writers, but both quite skillful at teaching God’s truth, are among the best, and now I know James Rubart to be that type of writer as well.
In The Man He Never Was Rubart addresses what it means to truly be crucified with Christ, the essence of God’s love, and what it means for perfect love to cast out all fear. He does this by allowing us to join Toren Daniels through an abusive childhood into an out-of-control adulthood. As readers we get to watch Toren’s struggle to gain control, to do the right things, and to win back the family he drove away. Stalked by someone from his middle and high school years, aided by a group of mysterious strangers, Toren is torn between darkness and light, between desires for peace and for an outlet for his anger, between love and hate. Warren Wiersbe wrote that Satan’s philosophy is glory without suffering, and God’s philosophy is suffering transformed into glory. Toren was certainly torn between choosing the philosophy that would determine which mountain he would end up climbing in his effort to be the man he wanted to be.
Not long into The Man He Never Was I was already wanting to share this book with many of my friends and family. It is one of those books that I will want to give a permanent spot in my home library, frequently revisiting the pages I’ve highlighted, of which there are many. It will be necessary to delete the copy that NetGalley and Thomas Nelson kindly provided in exchange for an honest review, but it will be worth purchasing a copy to transfer my highlighting to. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review. It was fueled with the hope that others will be moved to read this moving and enlightening book.

The first chapter or so of this book threw me. The author made it clear that the main character, Toren, had in some way had his behavior severely altered, during a period of time that he does not remember; it appeared that I might end up reading a fantasy book where suddenly he was completely changed and he skips off happily to a land filled with rainbows and unicorns. Ouch, huh? I’ve never known life to improve without work, and I felt a bit shortchanged thinking that’s how the book was going to be.

From there the book becomes more reality based, and Rubart does an amazing job of skillfully showing how Toren’s past behavior affected his entire family, and sadly how they had moved on after he vanished—somewhat grateful not to have to live with him anymore. The Jekyll/Hyde connection to Toren was apparent throughout.

After this, Toren’s search for help to get “fixed” again, sends him down another rabbit hole back into the fantasy world. There were parts I really appreciated because they were so well-written and other's that left me wishing the story was either based on reality or fantasy, but not both.

How do you fight yourself? How can you become the person you were meant to be? How can you truely love others and youself?
This metaphorical novel tries to give answers to these questions.
In the beginning it seems to be esoteric, but don't give up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to have a free digital ARC of this book.

Toren is a professional football player who deals with major anger issues that stemmed from his childhood. His anger went through the roof when he stopped playing football and had no where else to let go of his anger. His anger affected his two children and his once wonderful marriage. One day Toren wakes up in a hotel and realizes that he's lost about 9 months of his life. He has no memory of what happened in those 9 months. When he goes home, his wife faints and his children are in shock. They had already had a funeral for him because he was presumed dead! The rest of the book focuses on Toren's search for what happened to him during the lost 9 months as well as emotional and spiritual healing that he never would have dreamed possible.

I enjoyed this book. It was part mystery and drama. I loved the connection that this book has with the classic works of Jekyll and Hyde as well as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Much of the struggle that Toren has in this book is a metaphor of the struggle each Christian faces with the old man and the new man. There were times right before the climax of the book where I was about to stop reading it because it got a little bit too "out there". However, I am glad I kept reading, because the resolution brought wonderful spiritual truths that I will probably remember for a long time.

Wow. James Rubart never disappoints. His stories are always a smidge of mind-bending mixed with a bit of heart-wrenching and a lot of soul-searching. The Man He Never Was combines all of these into one gripping tale.
He’s obviously a keen observer of human nature. In this book, Rubart has created a group of characters that are at once fresh and familiar; no one I may actually know, but I can see reflections of myself and others I do know so easily in each of these characters, that it’s almost like he’s been taking notes as he observes my life. Okay, not really, but he has done a marvelous job of illustrating the battle that Paul the Apostle noted we all face: what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do (Romans 7:15).
This is one you definitely want to read. Grab a copy as soon as it hits the shelves on the 20th of February. 🙂
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

Another winner by James L Rubart...Amazing. Thought provoking. Memorable. Five stars.

James Rubart has been one of my favorite Christian authors for a long time, and his latest, The Man He Never Was, does not disappoint. This is not just “a modern re imagining of Jekyll and Hyde,” it is a story of one man’s radical journey to discover what true love really looks like and the freedom we find through redemption.

Torren Daniels is a regular guy pursuing the career of his dreams. A football star with a loving family and everything to lose. He lives for the game, taking out his anger and frustration like most guys on the football field, through the game. But one day when he goes to far, his perfect life and career fall apart and he is left with nothing but his anger, frustration and rage at himself and his family.

Fast forward eight months, Torren has disappeared and everyone, including his wife and family, believe he is dead. Until one day he shows up in a hotel room with nothing but his wallet, the clothes on his back, and no memory of his life for the past eight months. But one thing he does know, he has come back different. More different than he has ever been before. The anger and frustration he has dealt with all of his life, seems to be gone. Instead being replaced with love, patience, and kindness, but are these changes truly real or are they simply an illusion?

What follows in the preceding days, is not only a physical journey to discover what happened to him, but a spiritual one that reveals the struggle of good and evil we all face inside ourselves and the redemptive freedom we can experience when Christ’s true love is set free within us.

Rubart’s story telling gets down to the issues in a fast-paced way that does not dwell on flourishes and world building, as much as it does on character development. Torren is not a likable character especially at the beginning of the book, but as the book progresses, and he goes on this journey, we see how the other relationships in his life, shape how his character responds. The other character’s in the book likewise are shaped by, and changed b,y how his character responds to them, especially Torren’s wife.

Rubart’s story is highly complex, and as the story unfolds and the layers are peeled back, we see the struggle that is really going on inside Torren. Rubart approaches issues such as broken relationships, anger, loss, forgiveness, and abandonment in a way that is both realistic and extremely relate able. These issues and how they shape his character’s lives, also help shape the timber and tone of the overall story and come to a head in the conclusion of the story in an important and life changing way.

Rubart’s stories have always been complex and interesting. But one of the things I have always loved about him as an author and continue to love about him, evident in this book and the others I have read, is the way he has a way of presenting spiritual truths in a highly complex and original way but within the real world and in a way that is not overbearing, and is extremely relate able. The Man He Never Was, does not just present an updated version of the story of Jekyll and Hyde but takes the story and makes it real in a way that I never considered or imagined. Rubart takes the characters of Jekyll and Hyde and presents them as allegories as he explores the battle of good versus evil that is constantly going on inside each one of us.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an E-Arc of this book for review. This book is out February 20 but you can put it on your to read list today.

I love books that are too hard to put down. Also, i love books in which you can see a movie playing in your mind as you read the book. Well, that is what James' book was like. It totally could be made into a movie that would really connect with all types of people from all walks of life. And right in the middle of the book I highlighted my favorite part of the book that says, "but while in one way God is such a consuming fire that no man can stand against it, He is also a place of such radical, unquenchable love that you'll long to float as a speck in that ocean of love forever." He is not safe, but God is good. Toren wants to become the man that God desires him to be, but in order to become that man, Toren must come face to face with himself. There are two parts of us that our battling it out, the soul vs the flesh...one is strong and the other is weak, but which one wins in the end? The one who is fed the most. Toren has to figure this out and so must we, it is why this book is so good. It is a story of each one of us. You really should read this book if you would like to know more about the love of God in the midst of our brokenness. Toren will quickly become your best friend in this story.

4 1/2 Stars

Another winner from my favorite Christian Author!! A story of morality, good versus evil, and facing the demons of your past. With a very intriguing writing style, Rubart keeps us on edge throughout the entire book and delivers a complex story filled with spiritual truths. A story that will have you rooting for Toren until the very last page!!

Rubart's latest is a complex, contemplative look at the two sides of everyone — the light and the dark — and their war with each other. Toren is not a very likable character, although many may identify with his inability to contain his temper. It seems like it takes him forever to work through his issues, but this is incredibly realistic and mirrors real-life situations. The unpeeling of the layers of Toren's life and its relation to the reader's life is what makes this book so captivating and elevates it above others. The unique perspectives and fantasy situations give stunning realizations about life and spiritual truth. This is a novel that begs to be read more than once and discussed with others to get the full impact of its meaning.

Toren Daniels disappears one September and wakes up eight months later with no memory of where he was during that time. His wife and children think he is dead and have moved on with their lives, as Toren was someone they had begun to fear when his uncontrollable temper took over more often than not. All Toren knows now is that he is a completely new man — his anger has disappeared. His family is not so willing to accept that he has changed, so he sets out proving it to them. Yet little by little, he feels the old feelings creeping back in. He is determined to discover where he was during his missing time so he can go back and fix it once and for all. However, things aren't as simple as it seems on the surface.

I give The Man He Never Was 3 stars. I just do not think this was a read for me.

I have read a good chunk of James Rubart's novels. While fantasy is okay with certain books, I don't mind them in Rubart's novels. He takes a concept from the Bible and have a hero learn to incorporate the concept into their life. Either from forgiveness to God's love to something deeper. Being familiar with his writing, I knew Rubart would take me for a ride inside the soul of the hero but would tear at my heart along the way.
The writing is clear and concise. I had no problem following Toren Daniels through his though process and watching him interact with the number of characters in the story. The setting is described just enough for me to visual what I need to focus on. When the setting was extremely important, Rubart would spend more time showing me what I needed to know to understand the room.
Toren Daniels is deeply hurting man. Just like a majority of the people in the world today. I really enjoy how the hero is the main character, well actually the only character in the story. Most novels are from the woman's perspective, and I really enjoyed how Toren dove into the deep emotions and struggles bubbling inside a male character. (Yes, I know Rubart is a male author, so he has a leg up on the women writers in this area.) I could relate to him pretty quickly and enjoyed watched his tale of transformation.
The plot is completely different than anything I have ever read before. I enjoyed watching Toren struggle with his problem over and over again. It shows the human side to him. Rubart didn't gloss over his issue with a quick fix. It kept rearing its head over and over. So realistic. But to seek redemption, he needs to rely on God and fully grasp the concept of God's love. While Rubart does a good job at showing how to understand this, I need to go back and re-read some parts of the story I highlighted and spend some time in prayer myself. He had me thinking of the concepts and wanted me to follow and learn like Toren did.
Overall, James Rubart's The Man He Never Was is an unique story and deeply moving. Rubart's story shows the importance of God's love in our lives and the ability to defeat darkness back with trusting God completely. This story gripped my mind and took me for a ride. I highly recommend The Man He Never Was for fans of non-fiction books who are always on the hunt for the next big step to learning something to draw them closer to God. Rubart's stories are written for readers like me who admire Max Lucado's concept but have a hard time enjoying a non-fiction story. I prefer to be entertained to learn a lesson.
I received a complimentary copy of The Man He Never Was by James Rubart from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

James Rubart has woven a tale that hits just a little too close to home in the story The Man He Never Was. It's a fascinating look at the good vs. evil that dwells in each of us and the path to discovering that true love casts out all fear. It kept me riveted to the end.

I was given an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley.

A man wakes up in a hotel room with no memory of how he got there, and soon discovers that his memory loss goes back 9 months. An intriguing premise to start with, but as I read further, the improbabilities began to pile up. How were Toren's memories suppressed? How were the people pulling the strings in the background able to insert themselves into his quest for the truth of what happened to him at the most opportune times?

Others' mileage may vary, but for me, this book couldn't seem to make up its mind whether it was reality- or fantasy-based. The realities were in places just too unbelievable for the reality realm, but the fantastical elements didn't go quite far enough to tip the story over into the fantasy realm.

The portions of the story that did work involved Toren's quest to reconnect and rebuild his relationships with his loved ones. Rebuilding trust when there is a substantial history of broken promises carries no guarantees of success, and the author didn't give the character any shortcuts.

Overall, I had mixed feelings about the book, and I was not quite sure what to make of it.