The Gift of Knowledge (The Gifts Book 2)

Praise for

THE GIFT OF LIGHT

By

Jen Gentry

5.0 out of 5 stars
The Gift of Light
, February 21, 2013

By 

Pam
This review is from: The Gift of Light (The Gifts) (Kindle Edition)

I loved this book and I can't wait for the second book in "the Gift" series. I didn't want to put it down so I have to admit I'm tired this because I stayed up way too late to finish. It is truly wonderful to read about light and darkness in such a different way and what a great story line. Loved it!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting and moving
, February 18, 2013

By 

Sandra B. Linebaugh
This review is from: The Gift of Light (The Gifts) (Kindle Edition)

"The Gift of Light" was an exciting and moving book. At times, the hairs on my arms were standing up! I had my Kindle on text to speech and was listening while I was driving....I found myself gripping the steering wheel as the action heated up. I can't wait to read the next in the series "The Gift of Knowledge".

5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully done!
, August 7, 2013

By 

cminiaci
This review is from: The Gift of Light (The Gifts) (Kindle Edition)

This grabbed my imagination from the beginning! Great plot! This was fun to read. I was caught by surprise at the smooth presentation of salvation, coupled with the intercession and warfare education. I have often gagged on novelists attempts to integrate Biblical truths into the plot because they are so clumsy and forced. This was amazingly natural and I am cheering for the next books in the series

THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE

Copyright © Jen Gentry 2013

All rights reserved. This book or parts

thereof may not be reproduced

in any form without written

permission from the author

Visit Jen’s website at

www.JenGentrysBooks.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places,

and incidents either are a product of the author’s

imagination or are used fictitiously, and any

resemblance to actual persons, living or dead,

business establishments, events or

locals is entirely coincidental

Edited by: Kim Shaw Bussey

Book Cover Design by Fury Cover Design

www.furycoverdesign.com

For Jesus, who was tortured to death, so I could live.

He, alone, is worthy to be praised. 

THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE

Book Two of

The Gifts Series

By

Jen Gentry

Chapter One

"Can you fathom
the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?  They are higher
than the heavens
--what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave
--what can you know?
  Their measure
is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

Job 11:7-12 (New International Version)

     Rain poured onto the Brazilian airstrip as Dr. Ethan McGowan loaded his carry-on luggage into the overhead storage bins of the crowded airplane. He dreaded the long flight into New York, but he really had no other choice. His irritation at making this trip showed clearly on his strong, masculine features. When the flight attendant said the flight would be delayed until the torrential rains passed, making one more thing to add to his growing list of aggravations, he glared at the poor woman. He needed to resume the search for what may prove to be his most profitable dig yet. This was it. His goals, long unattainable, were very close to being in his grasp.
      Only twenty-nine, Dr. McGowan was a man with a mission. He possessed an intense desire to reach his ultimate goal that only steely determination and unwavering focus could match. Family and friends referred to him as simply driven. Considered to be a genius by any standard, he entered Yale and exited with two doctorates: one in Archaeology, and one in Biblical Theology.
     Sturdy and tall, he looked more like a world-class athlete than the genius scholar that he was. He could be so serious that he appeared obtuse to others around him, yet many co-ed females had considered him a 'hottie' with dark brown curls and golden-brown eyes.
     If the driving need to obtain his goals ever allowed him to actually pay attention to members of the opposite sex, his perfectly shaped smile could melt the coldest-hearted woman. Yet, he remained clueless to the effect he could have on women. He found their constant attempts to gain his attention merely irritating and distracting.
     His parents and grandparents brought him up in a loving Christian environment, but as a child he always had his doubts. He needed proof that the Bible was more than just 'fairy stories.' His analytical mind deducted that if the Bible told the truth about the fallen angels, who procreated the giants with the daughters of man, then somewhere on this earth there must be some kind of physical proof. He needed to see that proof. Moreover, he needed to be the one who actually found that proof. He needed to find his 'Goliath.'
    Today, Dr. McGowan was on a flight back to the states from a worksite in the Amazon. He had many years of 'digs' under his belt for one so young, as he'd spent days, weeks, and summers working with teams of archaeologist all over the world uncovering ancient civilizations, most notably Greece, Italy, Egypt, and Syria. Many of the sites he'd worked were in dangerous countries. He and his team had become quite adept at protecting themselves. Still, many times they had been run off their dig sites by either gun toting guerrillas or hostile locals.
     His search in the Amazon had come to an abrupt halt for nothing more than a lack of knowledge. It would take more than local folklore to find the site he searched for. He needed maps from much earlier explorations of the area. With every expert he spoke to in his peer groups, one name kept coming up, Miles Perry. Mr. Perry was purported to have in his possession maps of the Amazon carefully written and illustrated by Spanish explorers from the sixteenth century. The maps, included in journals written in old world Spanish, pointed the way to ancient cave sites where the Spaniards allegedly found skeletal remains of giants. Some of them were reported to be eighteen feet long, with the skulls being as large as a man was tall. The problem was that Miles Perry passed away almost two years ago.
     Ethan spent the last two months conversing by email with the granddaughter of Miles Perry, Emily Bell. He’d tried to bully her into turning over the maps and journals to him by way of courier, but the woman proved to be downright stubborn. She refused to part with the information in such a way, and would not sell the documents at any price. The only quarter she would give was to let him view the documents in her home.
     This was not what Ethan wanted. He did not like it when he didn’t get his way.
‘That stubborn woman, what a waste of my time. Here I am onto possibly the most important find in the history of man, and she will not cooperate’.
Ethan gritted his teeth and steeled his jaw at the thought of what an irritation Emily Bell was turning out to be. In his mind she was only slowing him down, holding him back. He decided to try using charm to get what he wanted from her. After all, he could be most persuasive if need be, as he proved when dealing with the many wealthy financial backers to his projects. It should be easy to dazzle one old woman to get what he needed.
     As he leaned his seat into the reclining position, he let some of his irritation subside. The long flight to New York would provide a chance for some sleep, now that he felt confident he would have no problems dealing with an eccentric old woman.

***

     The plane touched down in New York City just after three in the morning. Ethan hadn’t slept well and wasn’t in a mood to be trifled with. He still had a long drive ahead of him to reach Perry House in Hook Pond. After waiting for what seemed an eternity to gather his luggage and get into a rented car, he was finally on his way. He knew the directions to the Hamptons well, due to numerous visits to project supporters for their customary updates. With any luck he wouldn’t have any trouble finding Perry House.
     It was March, and early spring was blooming in New York. The morning air still held a winter chill. Ethan, having just come from the hot and humid climate in the Amazon, wasn’t prepared for the change in temperature. Used to working in adverse weather and different climates, he shrugged off the cold chill and in his usual manner just kept going. He made a mental note to himself to take the time to shop for more appropriate clothing while in New York, because khaki shorts and tee-shirts weren’t going to cut it. This was just another thing that would slow him down and one more reason to raise his growing irritation towards Emily Bell for dragging him all the way up here.
     He gave himself a once over in the mirror of a gas station restroom and realized his appearance resembled that of a bedraggled vagabond. This simply wouldn’t do. There appeared to be no choice but to delay his meeting with Ms. Bell and check into a motel for a shower, and some rest. He didn’t want to scare the old lady into a heart attack at the mere sight of him.
     A full twenty-four hours later, Ethan found himself pulling into the long driveway at Perry House. Wearing the new slacks, Polo shirt, and grey pull over shirt purchased this morning, he now felt capable of charming his nemesis. He’d actually slept, showered and even eaten a quick meal in there somewhere. At last, the highly coveted maps and journals seemed almost in his grasp.
     Exiting the car, he took a moment to take in the vast Perry House Estate. Spring flowers were starting to bloom, and several cherry trees were in full blossom across the carefully cared for landscape. But it was the white French Villa styled mansion trimmed in blue that reigned as the crowning centerpiece of the estate.