My Soul to Keep by author Davis Bunn: a David and Goliath story if I ever read one. Here's a group of Hollywood has-beens embarking on a faith-based indie film project while some of Hollywood's elite, with a competing project, are dead set on burying the indie venture alive. But the impossible little scheme that a group of fallen stars is scraping together shouldn't be even an ounce of a threat to the powerhouse of big names, big dollars, glittering talent, and cunning minds filming across the country.

Right?

A David and Goliath tale it is, but there's no smooth sailing here. This filmmaking battle rages both above and beneath the surface right up to the finish. There are a lot of moving parts: not just actors, of course, but directors, producers, the media, lawyers, pastors, friends—a conglomerate of players in a story that takes several angles.

I wasn't sure if I had a thriller on my hands, technically, but the intrigue certainly kept me turning the pages, and the motives and decisions of the principal characters, individuals chiseled and tempered by life, kept me engaged. A key scene or two did border on schmaltzy to me, and there were a couple times when perhaps I was supposed to be more amazed by some characters' presence or skill than I was.

Still, I was rather riveted right through to the ending—not a fairytale ending but one bearing its own triumph and something of more value than a fairy tale. ( )

This book deals with how our past experiences can color our take on current situations. Brent Stark has to convince himself that he can enjoy the perks of his former lifestyle without sliding back into the vices that enslaved him. Candace Chen learns that not every director is a back stabber. Celia Breach learns that she can trust a man who hurt her, trust him enough to love him. ( )

I enjoyed this book, but felt there was almost too much time spent on Shari Khan. I thought it might lead up to a big conversion or side change, but at least Celia came to Christ. There was a lot of interesting insight into the movie industry that we only see from the outside. It certainly motivates me to support indie Christian films as much as possible, but I usually don't find out about them until they're on DVD and some have gone straight to DVD. ( )

This well-crafted "David vs. Goliath" story was a satisfying read. Brent Stark is an actor who has found God in prison is contacted by a group of Christian business people who have a vision. That vision is to change the film industry by producing quality moral films outside of the Hollywood system. So the reader sees the contrast between the decadence of Hollywood and the religous integrity of the Christians, as well the battle between the two. And Brent has to face the demons of his past head on as well. It makes for a satisfying read if you like stories where the good guys win. ( )

NCLA Review -Brent Stark is an actor and an ex-con. He finds himself in the unusual role of someone wanting him for his acting and directing talents. Celia Breach had written a great movie many years before but was destroyed by a ruthless movie manager. Bobby Dupree and a group of Christian entreprenuers want to make Celia's movie. They all have faith in the project but no clue how to do it. Brent is asked to be the producer but first he must convince Celia to help with the script. Surprisingly she does. Shari Kahn wants to be successful at any cost. She makes it her personal mission to destroy the new movie company started by Bobby Depree. Can a bunch of has-beens and losers succeed in their mission? There are many twists and turns in this book but one thing is constant—faith in God! Rating: 3 —NP ( )