Bulletproof Vestments: Father Jay Book 0 Kindle Edition

I really enjoyed this thought provoking story. My only complaint is that it was way too short. Once I connect with a story , it's personalities, and plot it is very frustrating to have it end so soon. Reading is an escape from my physical pain and the story must be gripping to allow me to escape. At the end of such a time away in the book it suddenly returns. I thank you for your effort in providing such a good book but ask for them to be longer. Father Jay is a real person. If more individuals could live in the world where their stories were known, the Catholic churches would be full and the world be a much better place. Alas, the church is a hospital for imperfect humans trying to redeem their souls and those without this understanding expect perfection and are always disappointed when seeking answers n their own lives. The church has the answers as Father Jay shows in his life. No one has sinned that the Lord can't forgive and tells the supplicant before Him in real words through the priest that their sins are truly forgiven. Hearing the spoken words are important in reinforcing belief that an individual has truly been forgiven and can start anew with a clean slate as Fr Jay did in his life. This story also shows forgiveness does not mean consequences are not earned for past actions and must be dealt with, but forgiveness may help in better choices in how this and other choices may be better chosen for improved results for yourself and others. Another plus for this story is the way the reader is shown the wider picture and how individual's actions or inactions are important as a sin and it really does impact the world and not just the one person committing the sin. This book is not preachy or boring but the flow of the action leads the reader to important conclusions for their own life. Of the many hundreds of books I have read I will not forget this one and recommend it to schools, bookcases, teens, adults and any thinking person. A recommendation I have rarely given.

I've never been a fan of short stories. If I'm going to invest emotionally in the hero of any story, I want to stay with that character and lose myself in his life and savor his plight for days on end, not for 15 measly minutes. But when I realized "Bulletproof Vestments" is the snappy little prequel of Jane Lebak's magnificent novel, "The Boys Upstairs" (which I LOVED!), I knew I had to read it. I'm so glad I did. Yes, it was short, and yes, after those delicious 15 minutes were up, my heart sank and I yearned to be able to turn that last page and find another chapter waiting for me, and of course there wasn't one. Nonetheless I came out of this heart-pounding little thriller feeling deeply satisfied and inspired. Yep, inspired. That's what Father Jay, the crippled gang-member-turned Catholic priest, does to you, every time. Inspires you beyond anything. He already stole my heart in "The Boys Upstairs," and he did it here again during his holy show-down with a member of his former gang.Lebak has a way of grabbing her readers from the first page. In "The Boys Upstairs," it was Jay's estranged brother Kevin finding himself at Jay's doorstep after not speaking to him for a year. I mean, you HAD to read on. "Bulletproof Vestments" starts with an even bigger bang. Literally. As Father Jay prays his rosary in the church, he suddenly finds a gun to his head. Try to put THAT down. You can't. And the tension keeps going all the way to the end.(One word of warning: there is some strong language, which normally you don't expect to find in a Christian book. It took me by surprise. But in this kind of story it did add to the realism.)Jane Lebak is an author of rare talent. I love her stories, and am very excited that her third Father Jay book is on the way.

Jane Lebak has created a perfect short story in which not a word is wasted and not a needed word is absent. The characterizations are superb. The situations/events are dramatic to say the least but also thoroughly believable in their setting, entwining past with present and moving toward a spiritually hopeful future. Fr. Jay displays courage and uses the full of his wit and people skills in dealing with his would-be assassin, but he is also afraid and not-at-all happy about the prospect of having his life abruptly terminated. The scene in which his congregation responds to his peril is stirring. The spiritual concepts are meaningful, insightful, and dead on target. To any reader who enjoys a cracking good, fulfilling tale, I say drop everything, buy this book, and read it. You are in for a treat.

Father Jay, priest who's a former gang member, finds his life threatened by the brother of the man convicted of carjacking after Jay identified him as the suspect. Now crippled after serving a tour of duty in the Middle East, Jay has returned to minister to street kids in the old neighborhood.Because this prequel will leave you wanting more, here's the rest of Father Jay's story: http://amzn.to/1TCNhvQWhat's next for Father Jay? I'm actually hoping for a pre-prequel!

This is a short story. It needs more character development; I found it difficult to care a lot about the characters. The general idea of the plot i really like, just need to be developed more

Interesting story about a priest who has been targeted by gang members. Jane tells a wonderful talke of moral strength in the face of physical threat. A good story for teens an adults, especially in today's unstable climate.

The story line reminds me of The Cross and the Switchblade. I like the character. He is a little too nice now, but maybe he thinks that he has to be. I wish that it was longer, as I'm left wanting to know more. I cant afford the next installment, and it's the mark of a good hook, that I WANT it, and almost hit that buy now button.

Short and concise, easy to read, and makes you curious about the past history and future of this beloved priest. Makes you want to purchase the next novel in the series "The Boys Upstairs"