Mel's Shelves: Blog Tour/Review: The Man He Never Was: A Modern Reimagining of Jekyll and Hyde by James L. Rubart

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Blog Tour/Review: The Man He Never Was: A Modern Reimagining of Jekyll and Hyde by James L. Rubart

The Man He Never Was: A Modern Reimagining of Jekyll and Hyde, by James L. Rubart
2018, 384p, Christian Fiction
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy via TLC Book Tours, which did not affect my review in any way

What if You Woke up One Morning and the Darkest Parts of Yourself Were Gone?

Toren Daniels vanished eight months back, and his wife and kids have moved on--with more than a little relief. Toren was a good man but carried a raging temper that often exploded without warning. So when he shows up on their doorstep out of the blue, they're shocked to see him alive. But more shocked to see he's changed. Radically.

His anger is gone. He's oddly patient. Kind. Fun. The man he always wanted to be. Toren has no clue where he's been but knows he's been utterly transformed. He focuses on three things: Finding out where he's been. Finding out how it happened. And winning back his family.

But then shards of his old self start to rise from deep inside--like the man kicked out of the NFL for his fury--and Toren must face the supreme battle of his life.

In this fresh take on the classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, James L. Rubart explores the war between the good and evil within each of us--and one man's only chance to overcome the greatest divide of the soul.

"Rubart will leave readers inspired . . ." --Publishers Weekly STARRED review for The Long Journey to Jake Palmer

I like a good mystery and this book hooked me from the beginning! Toren wakes up in a hotel room and quickly realizes that he has no memory of the past eight months. He disappeared without a trace and everyone presumes he is dead. He's a former NFL player who is battling with inner demons and hasn't always treated his family well. His wife is stunned, and not too pleased, to realize he is still alive. Toren discovers that he doesn't have the rage issues he used to. His first order of business is to find out where he was and what happened to him.

I enjoyed how this story unfolded. We got bits and pieces as Toren started to figure things out. There were people who could have easily given him all the answers he needed, but they didn't, so I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next. It was good to meet Toren after he had made some changes since that made him easier to like and root for. He wasn't completely healed so he had some more work to do.

This is Christian fiction and there are references to God and prayer. I liked the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde aspect to this book. Toren had to fight the evil within himself to become the man he was meant to be. There were times that it got a little weird but I enjoyed the overall message. It's a book that definitely made me think and one I would enjoy reading again!

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About James Rubart

James L. Rubart is a professional marketer, speaker, and writer. He serves on the board of the Northwest Christian Writers Association and lives with his wife and sons in the Pacific Northwest.

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