Exiled Heart by Jennifer Haynie Book Review

As a colonel in the Saudi Arabian National Guard, Ziad al-Kazim has it all: a beautiful wife and four sons, a satisfying career, and a religion he loves. When his unit busts a drug ring in Jeddah, the drug runners murder his family in retribution and frame him for the crime. While his best friend, FBI Special Agent Ben Evans, helps to clear his name, his freedom comes at a price. He must go into exile.

Flight nurse Claire Montgomery has seen her share of tragedy, including an honor killing she witnessed years before. When her sister marries Ben, she’s paired with Ziad for the wedding. Her prejudices battle against her budding friendship with him, and their clashes reignite issues she wants to deny.

Though Ziad begins adapting to his new life in Charleston, South Carolina, he faces challenges from all sides. Starting over from the bottom. A loss of status. Prejudice from people. And the spread of the drug he thought he’d routed in Jeddah. Now, he must vanquish the demons of his past before they destroy his future and those he loves.

My Thoughts: 

This is a revamping of Jennifer Haynie’s first edition of Exiled Heart which happened to be her first book as an author in November of 2012. I didn’t read the 1^st edition. The author reworked this current edition to her current style as an author. All the while still keeping the characters and plot the same.

I love it when author’s has a cast of characters in books. It helps me keep track of who’s who when I first get started in a book with a complex cast of characters. Not to mention she has a section of Notes and Glossary that gives you a bit of background information on the topics in the story and the Arabic words translations.

The action starts from the first page and keeps you captivating with twist and turns and even a few surprises. I like it when I’m surprised in a book. I love faith based stories that are unique. Jennifer has a unique style as an author and isn’t afraid to step out of the box as Christian author and yet the books are clean. I think that is what makes the characters so real and believable. The characters have a lot of depth to them. There are lots of different stories that weave throughout the story with many characters.

The plot is relevant today and makes the story believable.  I like stories that show you another culture in a way that isn’t dogmatic. Yet at the same time you see the other side of the prejudice they face.

Ziad is an interesting character that comes to America with a lot of pride, an unbeliever, and has lost everything. His friend Ben and his fiancé help Ziad get settled in a job and a life in America.

Claire is a strong woman that sees that a relationship can’t be unequally yoked, and yet at the same time she has a lot to work through with her relationship with Ziad. She has to trust God to unfold the future. 

This is an excellent story and well written. Well done Jennifer Haynie. I look forward to exploring more of her books.

I received a free ARC copy of this product in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this information accordance with the FTC Regulations.