Tough Love

 

Tough Love: My Story of the things Worth Fighting For

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Recalling pivotal moments from her dynamic career on the front lines of American diplomacy and foreign policy, Susan E. Rice—National Security Advisor to President Barack Obama and US Ambassador to the United Nations—reveals her surprising story with unflinching candor in this New York Times bestseller.

Mother, wife, scholar, diplomat, and fierce champion of American interests and values, Susan Rice powerfully connects the personal and the professional. Taught early, with tough love, how to compete and excel as an African American woman in settings where people of color are few, Susan now shares the wisdom she learned along the way.

Laying bare the family struggles that shaped her early life in Washington, DC, she also examines the ancestral legacies that influenced her. Rice’s elders—immigrants on one side and descendants of slaves on the other—had high expectations that each generation would rise. And rise they did, but not without paying it forward—in uniform and in the pulpit, as educators, community leaders, and public servants.

Susan too rose rapidly. She served throughout the Clinton administration, becoming one of the nation’s youngest assistant secretaries of state and, later, one of President Obama’s most trusted advisors.

Rice provides an insider’s account of some of the most complex issues confronting the United States over three decades, ranging from “Black Hawk Down” in Somalia to the genocide in Rwanda and the East Africa embassy bombings in the late 1990s, and from conflicts in Libya and Syria to the Ebola epidemic, a secret channel to Iran, and the opening to Cuba during the Obama years. With unmatched insight and characteristic bluntness, she reveals previously untold stories behind recent national security challenges, including confrontations with Russia and China, the war against ISIS, the struggle to contain the fallout from Edward Snowden’s NSA leaks, the U.S. response to Russian interference in the 2016 election, and the surreal transition to the Trump administration.

Although you might think you know Susan Rice—whose name became synonymous with Benghazi following her Sunday news show appearances after the deadly 2012 terrorist attacks in Libya—now, through these pages, you truly will know her for the first time. Often mischaracterized by both political opponents and champions, Rice emerges as neither a villain nor a victim, but a strong, resilient, compassionate leader.

Intimate, sometimes humorous, but always candid, Tough Love makes an urgent appeal to the American public to bridge our dangerous domestic divides in order to preserve our democracy and sustain our global leadership.

The Regime

 

The Regime: Evil Advances / Before They Were Left Behind

book review of The Regime: Evil Advances (Before They Were Left Behind) by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins:

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The Regime: Evil Advances is the second book in the Before They Were Left Behind prequel series to the famous Left Behind novels. Set in the years leading up to the Rapture, it offers readers a deeper look at how key characters such as Nicolae Carpathia, Rayford Steele, and Buck Williams came into their own before the apocalyptic events that define the main series.

One of the greatest strengths of this novel lies in its exploration of character origins. Nicolae Carpathia, the future Antichrist, is revealed not as a fully formed political figure but as a dynamic, ambitious young man whose moral compass is warped by his thirst for power. Through his interactions with Leon Fortunato and his gradual consolidation of influence, we see how Carpathia’s charm, intelligence, and ruthless tactics begin laying the foundation for his terrifying rise. For readers familiar with the Left Behind series, this backstory adds new texture to a character whose later actions are central to Bible prophecy–inspired fiction.

Parallel to Carpathia’s arc is the narrative of Rayford Steele, a Pan-Con Airlines pilot whose life appears stable on the surface but is riddled with spiritual and relational tension. Rayford is portrayed as a man torn between worldly comfort and deeper meaning—a theme that resonates with many readers, especially those who have encountered spiritual struggles in their own lives. The contrast between Rayford and his wife Irene—whose newfound faith defines her choices—creates an emotional core to the story that is both engaging and, at times, painfully honest.

Another compelling subplot involves Buck Williams, whose early journalism career unfolds at an Ivy League school. Buck’s pursuit of excellence, his grappling with personal loss, and his eventual rise to prominence in the media add a grounded, human element to this largely theological and political narrative. His story serves as a bridge between the spiritual themes and the worldly ambitions that drive many events in the book.

Despite these strengths, the novel has drawn mixed reactions from readers. Many praise the book for its fast pace and intriguing shifts between perspectives, noting that it holds appeal for longtime fans of the Left Behind universe. The intertwining of personal faith journeys with the larger geopolitical setups makes it more than just a standard thriller.

However, some readers find fault with the sheer number of characters and viewpoints, feeling that it prevents deeper character development. Critics argue that the large cast can feel overwhelming and that some figures come across as one-dimensional. Others feel this installment doesn’t significantly expand on the main series’ events and may be less impactful for those not already invested in the Left Behind saga.

Stylistically, LaHaye and Jenkins maintain a clear, accessible prose that suits the genre and keeps the narrative moving. The novel blends political intrigue, personal conflict, and theological exploration in a way that will satisfy readers who enjoy Christian fiction with a prophetic bent.

Overall, The Regime: Evil Advances is a worthwhile addition to the Left Behind prequels, particularly for fans interested in the formative years of key characters. While not without flaws, it offers meaningful insights and sets the stage for the dramatic events that follow in this popular series.