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Jerry Jenkins is an okay author but not a great one. The plot is interesting but not captivating. ( )

In this futuristic tale, California, victim of a seventeen-year drought, wildfires, and one too many earthquakes, has been declared uninhabitable and its citizens are forced to relocate. The Holdouts are a small group of Californians who remain at their own risk, believing God calls them to minister to the stragglers. Their lives aren’t easy, but they persevere. And then, the leader of The Holdouts becomes convinced that God is speaking directly to him.

Character-driven and short on action, this semi-dystopian, end-of-times tale in the vein of the “Left Behind” stories has, at times, a tendency to fall into “preachiness,” the result of which is to pull the reader out of the narrative. Despite its Christian theme and Biblical references, readers may be disappointed with the blandness and predictability of this tale. ( )

A group of survivors living in the forbidden wasteland that was California trying to share the gospel and survive. ( )

I found The Valley of Dry Bones engaging. It is quasi-dystopian christian fiction. Life in California is almost unsurvivable. Most people have fled the state. For those remaining their “world” is desolate, dangerous, hot, and seriously lacking in water. Life throughout the rest of the United States and the world is as it always has been. The Valley of Dry Bones has the feel of Water World meets Mad Max meets missions. Water is a hot commodity and everyone is desperate for it. This commodity creates opportunity for the unscrupulous. Yet a remnant remain. Sixteen believers, who call themselves the Holdouts, stay behind to provide aid and to share the Savior with the people who were unable to leave and with those who try to extort them for everything they have.

California becomes a microcosm within the United States where we are shown a utopian ideal within a dystopian time and place. The Holdouts create a community that is specifically engineered for the environment. It sounds pretty incredible. Their lives are rather easy compared to the other California residents. Their secure compound meets all of their physical needs while helping others but all believers experience persecution and so even though these believers have willingly chosen to stay persecution is inevitable. The beauty of the story is the truth shared that persecution engenders true faith.

“Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”

My favorite character is Sasha. Sasha is an example of a teen unplugged. A teen with the space, quiet, and time to seek and to serve God. She reminds us to be thankful, even for tough assignments from God.

The Valley of Dry Bones is a story of tribulation. A story of redemption. A story of forgiveness. A story of salvation. A story of faith.

Raw life, tragedy, and horrific sin is penned along with the one and only answer to the pain. The painful, humiliating, selfless sacrifice of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. The Valley of Dry Bones is well worth reading.

I received a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. My thanks to the author and publisher.

For all of my reviews visit my blog at http://www.blessedandbewildered.com ( )