Always sucks to realize that either you, or the author you loved, or both have become different people over the years. That's why the library is so great, since it gives you a chance to try before you buy. If you read it and love it, grab a copy for yourself. If you start it and it's not what you hoped, hey, you're only out some time.

I've never read Lawhead, alas, so I can't say whether he's drifted around or not.