The Samaritan’s Patient – A Review

About the Book

Book: The Samaritan’s Patient

Author: Chevron Ross

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Teen Christian Fiction

Release Date: January 25, 2024

Teenager Paige Abernathy awakens after a severe beating to find that she suffers from amnesia, and that everyone seems to hate her.

She has only flashes of memory until the night a grieving parent attacks her in her hospital room. Paige then remembers her role as creator of an online group where members talk about ways to commit suicide.

After recovering from the beating, Paige embarks on a journey of penance to atone for a disaster born of good intentions. Her odyssey launches her on a mission of mercy and into new danger.

The Samaritan’s Patient is a thought-provoking novel about navigating the treacherous waters of social media.

Click here to get your copy!

MY THOUGHTS

Chevron Ross, has recently released a book titled “The Samaritan’s Patient.” This book is based loosely on the parable of the good Samaritan found in the Bible. As an avid reader and a Christian myself, I was intrigued by the concept of this book and decided to give it a read. And I must say, I was not disappointed.

What sets Ross’ book apart from other fictional retellings of Biblical stories is his decision to not embellish on the original Biblical account. This approach may seem limiting to some, but I believe it is a refreshing change. In a world where fiction is often used to manipulate and distort the truth, Ross’ decision to stay true to the Biblical narrative while using it as the backdrop of the story is commendable.

The book follows the story of Paige Abernathy, a woman who wants to help people struggling with depression and anxiety. She created a website where people can share their thoughts and feelings anonymously. However, things take a turn for the worse when some users start sharing their plans of committing suicide on the site. Paige, with her good intentions, tries to help them by giving them Biblical references and encouraging words. But she soon realizes that her approach is not working for everyone.

This brings us to the central theme of the book – even our best intentions can sometimes lead to unintended consequences. Ross beautifully portrays the struggles and failures of Christians in this book. We may try to do good, but we are still human and prone to making mistakes. It is only through the grace of God that we can truly be good. This message is echoed throughout the book, reminding readers that our faith in God is what makes us truly good.

One of the most powerful messages conveyed in this book is the impact we can have on others, even if we may never know it. Paige’s website may have caused chaos and harm, but it also helped some individuals who were feeling hopeless. This is a reflection of real life – we may never see the impact we have on others, but that does not diminish its significance. Through this, Ross reminds us that our actions, no matter how small, can have a ripple effect in the lives of others.

The book also has a strong resemblance to the parable of the good Samaritan in the Bible. Just like the good Samaritan who helped a stranger in need, an anonymous person in the book comes to Paige’s rescue when she is brutally attacked. This person pays for her medical bills and remains anonymous, just like the good Samaritan in the Bible. This adds a layer of depth to the story and reinforces the message that kindness and compassion can come from unexpected sources.

In conclusion, ‘The Samaritan’s Patient” is an excellent book that stays true to the Biblical narrative while also addressing universal themes and struggles. Ross’ writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, making this book a must-read for both Christians and non-Christians alike. It serves as a reminder that we are all flawed, but through our faith in God, we can strive to do good and make a positive impact on others. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a meaningful and thought-provoking read.

I received a complimentary copy from the author through Celebrate Lit, for my honest opinion.

About the Author

Chevron Ross is a pseudonym for someone unimportant. He is not a writer, but God keeps putting ideas into his head that somehow turn into stories. If you like them, be sure to offer God a prayer of thanks.

More from Chevron

Behind the Scenes

This novel might never have been born had I not seen an interview on PBS with two New York Times writers, Megan Twohey and Gabriel Dance, on December 16, 2021.

These reporters did an extensive investigation into a website on which subscribers discussed committing suicide and shared methods for doing so. Most visitors to the site were thirty or younger. There were 1.2 million messages. At least forty-five suicides in multiple countries were linked to the site.

At the time of this broadcast, I had just completed my second novel, The Seven-Day Resurrection, and was wondering what to do next. The PBS interview was so shocking that I could not stop thinking about it. What motive could a person have for encouraging strangers to kill themselves? What could one possibly gain from such an endeavor? And what could provoke someone to throw away the gift of life at such a youthful age?

Each of my novels has been the result of an inspiration from God. Once He puts an idea into my head, it consumes my imagination until I cannot stop working. As you might imagine from the title, The Samaritan’s Patient is a blend of two stories: the famous parable of Jesus in the Bible, and a young person with good intentions who gets caught up in a social media nightmare.

God did all the work on this book. He created the character of Paige Abernathy and told me how to build the novel around the circumstances of her personal life—her parents, her friends, and most of all, her Christian faith. He also created the crisis that launches her on a journey of new experiences and personal growth.

I am amazed and grateful that God would choose someone so ordinary and unaccomplished as myself to do this work. Each novel God has written through me has been a great personal gift, and a reaffirmation that God has a plan for each of us. I pray that The Samaritan’s Patient will be as great a blessing to its readers as it has been to me.

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, March 9

By The Book, March 10 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 11

For the Love of Literature, March 12 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, March 13

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 14 (Author Interview)

Inspired by Fiction, March 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 15

Splashes of Joy, March 16 (Author Interview)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, March 16

Pause for Tales, March 17

Guild Master, March 18 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 19

A Reader’s Brain, March 20 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 21

Artistic Nobody, March 22 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Chevron is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2a555/the-samaritan-s-patient-celebration-tour-giveaway