Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog: Steve Forbes calls #TheFirstHostage a “stunning, spine-tingling, steroid-paced” tale.

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog Steve Forbes calls #TheFirstHostage a “stunning, spine-tingling, steroid-paced” tale. Here’s his new review in Forbes magazine. by joelcrosenberg (Dallas, Texas) -- Just read the review of The First Hostage by Steve Forbes in the latest issue of FORBES magazine and I wanted to pass it along to you all. Thanks so much, Steve -- I'm  so glad you enjoyed the novel this much. I couldn't be more grateful! Now, let's get this thing turned into a major Hollywood blockbuster. ------------------ FORBES BOOK REVIEW The First Hostage -- by Joel Rosenberg (Tyndale House Publishers, $26.99). If you’re not already a fan of Joel Rosenberg, whose books–fiction and nonfiction–have sold more than 3 million copies worldwide, you’ll be one once you’ve read this latest novel. It combines Joel’s ability to spin stunning, spine-tingling, steroid-paced tales with his impressively deep knowledge of the Middle East. The First Hostage is the second in a new series of action thrillers whose main character is New York Times journalist J.B. Collins. Although this is an exciting stand-alone read, you might first want to dive into its precursor, The Third Target. These novels involve ISIS terrorist attacks; espionage, with a possible highly placed, pro-ISIS American mole; weapons of mass destruction; and intrigue galore. This book begins where the first left off: at a meeting in Amman, Jordan, where the king of Jordan, the U.S. President, Israel’s prime minister and the head of the Palestinian Authority are about to sign a historic peace agreement. ISIS launches a massive attack, and in the confusion the President goes missing. Collins is there covering the event but before long finds himself suspected of being a mole. There are many mind-boggling twists and plenty of suspense before the book ends. Joel Rosenberg, who in a previous life served as the director of research for my 2000 presidential campaign, knows his subject well. An evangelical Christian who lives in Israel with his wife and children, he has addressed audiences around the world; been interviewed for his insightful analyses on hundreds of TV and radio programs; and advised world leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Joel knows too much to ever share President Obama’s delusion that what’s unfolding in the Middle East isn’t much of a threat to the West. ————————– Order The First Hostage today — a new political thriller about ISIS launching a chemical weapons attack against Israel, Jordan and the United States — it’s now available in hardcover, e-book and audio formats. FACT SHEET: The Iranian leadership’s Apocalyptic Beliefs FACT SHEET: The Islamic State’s Apocalyptic Beliefs What the next US president will need to know about Iran and Islamic State.(my column in The Jerusalem Post) ——————- Subscribe (free) to the RSS feed (click here) and receive every new posting on this blog directly via email. Order THE THIRD TARGET today , the first in this new series — now out in paperback — the New York Times best-selling novel about ISIS capturing chemical weapons in Syria and plotting genocidal attacks. Make an investment in The Joshua Fund (www.joshuafund.net), our non-profit organization to help Christians care for Syrian refugees, educate and mobilize Christians to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, care for the poor and needy in Israel (both Jews and Arabs) with food and other humanitarian relief, care for Holocaust survivors, and strengthen the Church in the epicenter. Read our latest Donor Report, and make a tax deductible, secure, on-line contribution before the end of the year. Follow on Twitter — @joelcrosenberg joelcrosenberg | January 20, 2016 at 7:13 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL:http://wp.me/piWZ7-40i

Joel Rosenberg - #TheFirstHostage hits #13 on Publishers Weekly bestseller list. Today Show says it’s “fantastic.”

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

#TheFirstHostage hits #13 on Publishers Weekly bestseller list. Today Show says it’s “fantastic” and “just so prescient.” by joelcrosenberg (Washington, D.C.) -- We just got the news that The First Hostage has hit #13 on the Publishers Weekly hardcover fiction best-seller list. Given that we're up against the biggest novel writers of our time -- John Grisham, Stephen King, James Patterson, Nicholas Sparks, David Baldacci, Mitch Albom, Harper Lee, Dean Koontz, Janet Evanovich, and more -- I'm amazed we made the list at all! Thank you so much to all of my readers who've been so enthusiastic and supportive of this new one. Thanks, too, for all the word-of-mouth you've been doing, writing about and reviewing The First Hostage on Facebook, Twitter and all kinds of other social media. I couldn't be more grateful. and please keep it up! Also, in case you missed it, here's the video of my appearance on the Today Showon Friday morning with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb. It's brief, but I was so encouraged by how enthusiastic Kathie Lee was about The First Hostage and my ten other novels. She's read them all and wanted to introduce me to her audience. She and Hoda have been so kind -- love those two. Watch by clicking here -- or read the transcript: GIFFORD: Before we go, I want to introduce you to my friend, Joel C. Rosenberg. He's a New York Times best-selling author who has written a new book called, The First Hostage, the second in a series that is just so prescient. It's unbelievable! KOTB: You've been raving about his books, by the way, Kath. GIFFORD: I've read every one -- how many have you written? -- because I've read them all. ROSENBERG: This is the eleventh. GIFFORD: This is the eleventh, yeah. He sends them to me in galley form before they're out now because I want to know -- I can't wait. ROSENBERG: I didn't know until the last book that you even liked them, I didn't know. So -- or that you even read them. GIFFORD: I do. I read them and I love them because they're geopolitical, historical -- well, they're happening now kinda thing -- they're scenarios that could happen. ROSENBERG: They could happen -- ISIS captures chemical weapons, tries to assassinate or capture the President of the United States. These are the kind of things you do not want to happen, but they make for good fiction. KOTB: Well, you're very first one [The Last Jihad] was a best-seller, and they've all been since. GIFFORD: They've all been. KOTB: And I have a feeling this one will be, too. ROSENBERG: They have all been best-sellers, and that's crazy, right? GIFFORD: For our Joel! Thank you for coming by and being with us. KOTB: Thank you, Joel! GIFFORD: Fantastic book! ————– Order The First Hostage today — it’s now available in hardcover, e-book and audio formats. Read the first chapter of The First Hostage right now The first reviews of #TheFirstHostage are in: “one of the final must-read novels of 2015,” “impeccably crafted,” “I simply could not stop reading” ——————- Subscribe (free) to the RSS feed (click here) and receive every new posting on this blog directly via email. Order THE THIRD TARGET today , the first in this new series — now out in paperback — the New York Times best-selling novel about ISIS capturing chemical weapons in Syria and plotting genocidal attacks. Make an investment in The Joshua Fund (www.joshuafund.net), our non-profit organization to help Christians care for Syrian refugees, educate and mobilize Christians to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, care for the poor and needy in Israel (both Jews and Arabs) with food and other humanitarian relief, care for Holocaust survivors, and strengthen the Church in the epicenter. Read our latest Donor Report, and make a tax deductible, secure, on-line contribution before the end of the year. Follow on Twitter — @joelcrosenberg joelcrosenberg | January 9, 2016 at 1:09 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL:http://wp.me/piWZ7-3Nx

Joel Rosenberg - #TheFirstHostage is now available in hardcover, e-book & audio formats!

#TheFirstHostage is now available in hardcover, e-book & audio formats! (And here are details of the book tour.) by joelcrosenberg

What if the leaders of the world were blind-sided by a catastrophic attack by an Apocalyptic Islamic terror group they didn't see coming?

What if the Islamic State (aka, ISIS) launched a massive, carefully-coordinated plot to assassinate or capture the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Israel, the President of Egypt and the King of Jordan, in the hopes to trigger a war that would bring about the End of Days?

How might such a war unfold? What would happen next? How would the world respond?

I pray to God such a chilling scenario never comes to pass, but this is the premise of my latest novel -- THE FIRST HOSTAGE -- which picks up six seconds after the end of The Third Target.

The novel was launched this morning in hardcover and audio in North America. You can buy it at any of your favorite general market or Christian bookstores. You can also download it immediately starting today in e-book formats (like Nook and Kindle) in North America and all over the globe.

Where are you reading THE FIRST HOSTAGE? Already, we're getting messages from readers in Thailand, Canada, Holland, Israel and beyond. Please Tweet me or post a message on our "Epicenter Team Page" on Facebook and let me know. Also, please post a review on Facebook and other social media the moment you finish the book.

For the next two weeks, I'll be doing interviews, writing articles and blogging about the novel from here in Israel. But in early January, we'll launch a month-long media and speaking tour throughout the United States. Dates, cities and locations are below. We'll post more details about each event as needed as we get closer.

Please make plans to join us at one of these events. We'll usually be doing book signings, and at some locations we'll be doing Q&A. I would be honored to meet you and your friends, and I'm so grateful for your enthusiastic support for this new thriller.

BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:

• Tuesday, December 29 -- The First Hostage is available in hardcover and e-book in all of your favorite bookstores and through online retailers. You can also listen to the unabridged version on CD (click here or here or here) or by downloading it to your mobile phone or laptop through Audible (click here).
• Tues, Dec 29 through Mon, Jan 11 -- Radio/TV/digital/print interviews and book reviews.
  • Listen to the audio of the interview about the novel that I did with Tony Perkins (broadcast on 12/28)
  • Read great review published by "The Real Book Spy" blog, which reviews thrillers and spy novels.
  • Read wonderful review published by BookReporter.com.
• Tuesday, January 12 -- Appear on Christian Broadcasting Network's "700 Club," tape other CBN interviews, and speak at CBN headquarters in Virginia Beach.
• Sunday, Jan 17 -- Join Pastor Greg Laurie and address Harvest Christian Fellowship Orange County and Harvest Riverside (all morning services, both campuses) in southern California
• Tuesday, Jan 19 -- Speak at luncheon for Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas
• Wednesday, Jan 20 -- Speak at evening event at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas
• Thursday, Jan 21 -- Speak at evening event at Life Austin Church in Austin, Texas
• Saturday/Sunday, Jan 23-24 -- Preach at all weekend services at Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dallas/Plano, Texas
• Wednesday, Jan 27 --
  • Speak to National Day of Prayer leadership event, Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) headquarters, Kissimmee, Florida (morning)
  • Preach at First Assembly of God Church Ft. Myers (evening service), Ft. Myers, Florida
• Radio/TV/digital/print media -- TBD

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• Order The First Hostage today -- it's now available in hardcover, e-book and audio formats.
• Read the first chapter of The First Hostage right now
• Eerie front-page NYT story examines ISIS prophecies about an apocalyptic showdown in Syrian town of Dabiq. (Story looks ripped from THE FIRST HOSTAGE, my forthcoming novel about a showdown over Dabiq.)

——————-

• Subscribe (free) to the RSS feed (click here) and receive every new posting on this blog directly via email.
• Order THE THIRD TARGET today , the first in this new series — now out in paperback — the New York Times best-selling novel about ISIS capturing chemical weapons in Syria and plotting genocidal attacks.
• Order Implosion: Can American Recover From Its Economic & Spiritual Challenges In Time?
• Make a year-end investment in The Joshua Fund (www.joshuafund.net), our non-profit organization to help Christians care for Syrian refugees, educate and mobilize Christians to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, care for the poor and needy in Israel (both Jews and Arabs) with food and other humanitarian relief, care for Holocaust survivors, and strengthen the Church in the epicenter. Read our latest Donor Report, and make a tax deductible, secure, on-line contribution before the end of the year.
• Follow on Twitter — @joelcrosenbergReceive every blog post automatically via the RSS feed.

joelcrosenberg | December 29, 2015 at 1:34 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL:http://wp.me/piWZ7-3B2

New post on Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

The first reviews of #TheFirstHostage are in: “one of the final must-read novels of 2015,” “impeccably crafted,” “I simply could not stop reading” by joelcrosenberg The first reviews of The First Hostage are in..... "The First Hostage is one of the final must-read novels of 2015, and a rip-roaring thriller that dares you set it down because it knows you won’t be able to. I absolutely loved this book, refusing to go to sleep until I had it finished....Rosenberg keeps the reader engaged with excellent pacing and an explosive story. Just when you think you have things figured out, he leads you down another path in a totally different direction. Everything leads to a fascinating final quarter of the novel that puts J.B Collins, and the reader, on the front lines of the battle against ISIS." -- excerpt from the "Book Spy" review "With an uncanny ability to evaluate current world events and create a story based on what might happen next, Rosenberg’s thrillers are always impeccably crafted and compelling reads. THE FIRST HOSTAGE is the second in the J. B. Collins series, following the equally exciting events of THE THIRD TARGET. I recommend that you get your hands on both books and settle in for an enthralling reading experience." -- excerpt from the "BookReporter.com" review "Wow. Joel C. Rosenberg’s The First Hostage has no shortage of fast-paced action, thrills, and suspense....I simply could not stop reading until I knew what would happen in the end...The First Hostage is a fascinating political read." -- excerpt from the "Book By Book" review -------------- READ THIS BOOK BY THE GUY WHO HAD THE ISLAMIC STATE FIGURED OUT BEFORE ANYONE ELSE (Here's the full review from the "Book Spy" blog, minus some spoilers, which I have removed, though you can read them by clicking here): In many interviews, author Brad Thor has quoted his friend (and fellow author) Brad Meltzer by saying “a thriller writer’s job is to beat the headlines.” While both Brad Thor and Brad Meltzer have been fantastic at beating headlines in their own bestselling novels over the years, I would argue that nobody has been a better headliner-beater than author Joel C Rosenberg. Back in 2002, Rosenberg opened his debut novel, The Last Jihad, with a scene where Muslim extremists use an airplane in a kamikaze attack on the President of the United States. Incredibly, Rosenberg actually wrote that scene before 9/11. It was for headline-beating scenarios like this that U.S. News and World Report coined Rosenberg a “modern day Nostradamus.” But the incredible predictions in his novels didn’t stop there. Part of the central plot to The Last Jihad is Israel’s newfound discovery of oil. at the time, that idea seemed outlandish. Yet recently we’ve seen headlines such as “Potentially game-changing oil reserves discovered in Israel” from Fox News and other media outlets alike. In his second novel series, beginning with The Twelfth Imam (2010), Rosenberg – who has written several nonfiction books as well – tells a story about a young CIA operative who uncovers a shocking truth about Iran’s nuclear capabilities. That series, which spans over three books, (The Twelfth Imam, The Tehran Initiative, and Damascus Countdown) deals with the realities and dangers that a nuclear Iran poses to both Israel, and America. Most of the questions surrounding the central plot to that series, such as: should Israel launch a preemptive strike on Iran, are currently being analyzed by talk show hosts across the country. It’s debated in congress too, as part of the nuclear agreement America has entered into with Iran. Rosenberg had already proven to have his finger firmly on the pulse of world events and geopolitics long before this year’s book came out. Yet in January, with the release of The Third Target, Rosenberg once again seems to have peered into his crystal ball and seen events before they actually happened. The Third Target (released in January of 2015) was the first novel in Rosenberg’s new series about a New York Times reporter who chases a story about ISIS. J.B. Collins sets out to confirm a rumor he’s heard suggesting that the terrorist group smuggled weapons of mass destruction out of Syria, and he’ll stop at nothing to get the scoop – including sneaking into Syria to meet with the leaders of The Islamic State.... The First Hostage picks up just seconds after where The Third Target ends, thank goodness, thrusting the reader into immediate nonstop-action. Collins in on the ground in Jordan talking to his editor, giving him a rundown of everything that’s just happened since the surprise attack by ISIS. From there, J.B. is invited by the King of Jordan into a secure military bunker, where he’s given exclusive access to cover all the events as they unfold, including the search for the American president. Collins soon discovers that he doesn’t quite have the freedom to report on whatever he wants, as he’s subjected to censorship from the Jordanian government. While not a fan of censorship, he makes do with what he has. That is until a twist in the story flips things upside down, shaking Collins to his very core. Rosenberg keeps the reader engaged with excellent pacing and an explosive story. Just when you think you have things figured out, he leads you down another path in a totally different direction. Everything leads to a fascinating final quarter of the novel that puts J.B Collins, and the reader, on the front lines of the battle against ISIS. The First Hostage is one of the final must-read novels of 2015, and a rip-roaring thriller that dares you set it down because it knows you won’t be able to. I absolutely loved this book, refusing to go to sleep until I had it finished.... With his history of beating headlines, if you want an idea of what future attacks from ISIS might look like, read this book from the guy who had The Islamic State figured out before anyone else -- Joel Rosenberg! ————– Order The First Hostage today — it’s now available in hardcover, e-book and audio formats. Read the first chapter of The First Hostage right now Eerie front-page NYT story examines ISIS prophecies about an apocalyptic showdown in Syrian town of Dabiq. (Story looks ripped from THE FIRST HOSTAGE, my forthcoming novel about a showdown over Dabiq.) ——————- Subscribe (free) to the RSS feed (click here) and receive every new posting on this blog directly via email. Order THE THIRD TARGET today , the first in this new series — now out in paperback — the New York Times best-selling novel about ISIS capturing chemical weapons in Syria and plotting genocidal attacks. Order Implosion: Can American Recover From Its Economic & Spiritual Challenges In Time? Make a year-end investment in The Joshua Fund (www.joshuafund.net), our non-profit organization to help Christians care for Syrian refugees, educate and mobilize Christians to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, care for the poor and needy in Israel (both Jews and Arabs) with food and other humanitarian relief, care for Holocaust survivors, and strengthen the Church in the epicenter. Read our latest Donor Report, and make a tax deductible, secure, on-line contribution before the end of the year. Follow on Twitter — @joelcrosenbergReceive every blog post automatically via the RSS feed. joelcrosenberg | December 29, 2015 at 2:18 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL:http://wp.me/piWZ7-3Dw