Rachelle Dekker: The Returning

By Kelly Bridgewater

Twenty years have passed since Carrington and Remko Brant’s baby, Elise, was kidnapped and they were forced to leave her captive in the Authority City. Though they fled with the Seers far from Authority reach, they’ve never given up hope of rescuing their daughter from the man who betrayed them. Now Authority President, he’s ushered the city into a new era of “peace”―one where the Scientist Roth Reynard’s Genesis Serum has eradicated all memory of emotion or rebellion.

But the mysterious Aaron and his Seers are once again on the move, threatening the illusion the Authority has worked so hard to build. As the Seers send seven chosen warriors to rescue Elise and bring restoration to the Authority City, the lines are drawn for a final battle between light and darkness. The key to ultimate victory may rest within the strangely powerful girl who has felt forgotten but was never abandoned―a truth she’ll need to wage war against the powerful forces of evil.

From Amazon

My Review:

I have read both books in the A Seer Novel Series, and while I enjoyed the introduction to the series better than the second installment, the last book was okay. Being a futuristic novel with a world with no emotions, I had to go along with the author while she created this world around me. But even with any fantasy novel, I should be able to relate to the characters and feel comfortable in the setting. With Rachel Dekker's The Returning, I didn't feel that way.

Dekker does have a handle on clear and concise writing. She stayed in the point of view of the character who should be controlling the scenes. I was never taken out of the story because the wrong person was speaking alongside another character. I felt the emotions that Elise, Willis, and the other characters felt when I needed to. As for the setting, there really wasn't much description in this novel. Elise went to prison and sat in a chair in a number of rooms while a partially constructed building and a hospital waiting room played at the edges for a light conversion. Most of the setting was just dialogue while the characters roamed around.

While The Returning starts twenty years after the last novel ends, I finally get to see and observe Elise, Carrington and Remko's daughter. She has this ultimate power entitled the light where she can bring emotions back to the world and allow then to see the light of the Father. There really wasn't one hero in this edition of the series. It could be Willis. It could be Jesse. I wasn't sure who Dekker wanted me to side with. Both of these characters were pretty flat to me. The best part of Jesse was near the end of the novel as he fights internally between the dark and the light.

The Returning is a great metaphor for the light us Christians are supposed to bring to this dark and dying world we live in. Likewise, I enjoyed the story being an entire metaphor for the Christian faith. We are supposed to be the light and bring the truth to the unbelievers by showing them the truth they are desperately seeking.

As for the pace of the plot, I felt it moved slowly. There were a lot of repeat actions. Something would occur to Elise, than Dekker would go back to the same scene and show it again, but this time it would be from Willis or Jesse's perspective. I didn't understand why she did that. There were moments of chasing or running from things, but I still felt like there really wasn't anything hurrying the novel along. I wished for more action.

While this is an original and unpredictable novel for fans of any age, I would recommend this series to fans of Ted Dekker's latest creations or James Rubart's Well Springs series since it does include using spiritual gifts to bring others to Jesus.

In conclusion, I felt like Rachelle Dekker's The Returning was not as well-written as her first edition in the series, but it does feature some good spiritual lessons that could be taken from the story. I wanted more to the plot than repeated scenes over and over again.

I received a complimentary copy of Rachel Dekker's The Returning from Tyndale Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars 

Come back on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 where I will have interview questions with Rachelle and A GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Most Anticipated Books of 2017

By Kelly Bridgewater


 Here is a list of books that I can't wait to read in 2017:

 I would also like to read Firstborn by Tosca Lee and Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig. They have no cover images YET!

These are in no particular order. I had a hard time placing the images on this blog, so they are sitting where I could get them to stay. (All of the pictures came from Amazon unless noted!)

http://www.thomasnelson.com/portrait-of-vengeance

                                                              

www.goodreads.com

Kristi Hunter: An Uncommon Courtship

By Kelly Bridgewater

Life for Lady Adelaide Bell was easier if she hid in her older sister's shadow--which worked until her sister got married. Even with the pressure of her socially ambitious mother, the last thing she expected was a marriage of convenience to save her previously spotless reputation.

Lord Trent Hawthorne couldn't be happier that he is not the duke in the family. He's free to manage his small estate and take his time discovering the life he wants to lead, which includes grand plans of wooing and falling in love with the woman of his choice. When he finds himself honor bound to marry a woman he doesn't know, his dream of a marriage like his parents' seems lost forever.

Already starting their marriage on shaky ground, can Adelaide and Trent's relationship survive the pressures of London society?

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

This is my first introduction to Kristi Hunter's writing. I do enjoy Sarah E. Ladd's Regency writing and a couple of Julie Klassen's books, so I always give Regency writers a chance. With a Regency novel, I have come to know that the novel will be character driven. The plot isn't as important as the character's journey. With Hunter's last book in her Hawthorne House series, An Uncommon Courtship, I got exactly that.

The writing was great. I could picture the struggles and empathize with Adelaide and Trent and understood them as they worked on their marriage in London society. The research into bringing the early nineteenth century to life flowed well. I really enjoy novels where I don't feel like I'm reading a textbook, and Hunter does a good job at creating a story that takes me out of the present time and into the historical time period.

The characters and plot were completely predictable to the genre and had a struggle with learning how to deal with being married without learning how to court each other. The novel was slow paced and had many repeatable scenes. Drink tea. Go to a ball. Drive through town. Drink tea again. Go to a ball. Drive through town again. I read through the book, praying that the novel would pick up pace, but it really never did. The plot idea was pretty predictable for the genre. I was not surprised with anything that happened in the story.

A word of caution . . . there is an after marriage night scene that gets pretty in-depth that might not be suitable for younger readers. I would have a hard time allowing my daughter to read those thoughts from Adelaide and Trent. It would be something I would rather allow my sister to confront her daughter with not reading it from a novel.

In conclusion, Kristi Hunter's An Uncommon Courtship lives up to the Regency genre expectations and fans of Julie Klassen and Jane Austen will probably devour this novel and the previous two, but I had a hard time getting through the novel.

I received a complimentary copy of Kristi Hunter's An Uncommon Courtship from Bethany House Publishers and the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

What genre have you found that you enjoy certain authors, but then other authors in the same genre just didn't work for you? Dare to list some. Why?

Kelly's Favorite Books of 2016

By Kelly Bridgewater

During 2014, I have always wanted to find out how many books I read during the year. I read A LOT, but I have never kept a journal with the names and authors of whose books I read this year. During 2016, I had a hard time with the passing of my Daddy, dealing with my Daddy's final expenses and things while my family moved to another town. It has been a crazy and hectic year. I really didn't read as much as I usually do. Or write. Or research for my novel.

In 2014, I read 192 books. In 2015, 201 books, but for 2016, I only read 90 books. ALOT different than normal. That's okay. I hope during 2017, I read not as much either because I want to work on my novel.

But since this is the beginning of 2017, I want to inform you of my favorite books of 2016. (This list is just a listing of my favorite books in no particular order. Enjoy!)

So here goes:

Playing the Part by Jen Turano (All images are from Amazon unless noted!)

Sister Dear by Laura McNeil

 

Always Watching and Without Warning by Lynette Eason

 

The Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder and A Lesson in Love and Murder by Rachel McMillan

 

When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks

 

The Long Journey to Jake Palmer by James Rubart

 

Conspiracy of Silence by Ronie Kendig

 

Anchor in the Storm by Sarah Sundin

 

What were your favorite books from 2016? Have you read these books? Did you discover a new genre to read?

Colleen Coble: Because You're Mine

By Kelly Bridgewater



Alanna has been plagued by tragedy. So it should come as no surprise that in the beauty that surrounds Charleston, all is not as it seems.

When her husband is killed by a car bomb while their band is on tour in Charleston, Alanna doesn’t know where to turn. Her father-in-law is threatening to take custody of the baby she carries, but the one thing she knows for sure is that she can’t lose the last piece of Liam she has left.

Their manager offers her a marriage of convenience to gain her U.S. citizenship and allow her to escape her father-in-law’s control. It seems like the perfect solution . . . but her doubts begin almost as soon as she arrives at Barry’s family home, a decaying mansion surrounded by swamp.

To make matters worse, Liam’s best friend survived the car bomb. She’s never really liked Jesse and now she can’t seem to get away from him. When he takes Liam’s place in their band, it’s almost more than she can bear.

But then things start happening. Things that could easily cost Alanna her life—or the life of her unborn child. Are they merely coincidences? Or is there something much more sinister at work?

From Amazon

My Review:

Colleen Coble has written plenty of books in a number of genres: Contemporary romantic suspense, contemporary, historical,  and historical suspense. With that many novels published, Coble is guaranteed to have some books that hit it right out of the park and have some books that miss the target. I have found both of them in Coble's books.

Coble is a great writer who really understands how to write concise and clear. She stays in each individual character's perspective and staying there. She does not head hop. Coble really understands the emotions of the characters and portrays them accurately to the reader. I completely empathize with their personal and physical struggles. As for the setting, I could completely visualize this huge house in the middle of nowhere, hidden from the eyes of anyone. Just like Barry wanted. I really enjoyed the setting. Nice and secluded.

The characters of Alanna Connolly, Liam, and Barry were unique and different. From the start, I really enjoyed getting to know Alanna. She was different than most characters I have encountered in any book. She knew who she loved and wanted the best for their relationship. Barry, on the other hand, is a master at manipulation. He is a good husband who loves his wife, BUT he is controlling and doesn't allow Alanna to be completely herself.

While the characters were nice, I had a hard time with the plot. Probably because it was completely predictable and has been done a number of times. I pretty much had the ending figured out pretty early on in the story. Coble led me down the path to end at the result I believed pretty early on. There really wasn't that much suspense in the story, but I did enjoy the story and flew through the story.

I can't say if I remember if there was much spiritual elements in the story. A good story that anyone of any age could read. I recommend Because You're Mine to fans of Coble's other stories and fans of romantic suspense.

In conclusion, Coble's latest, Because You're Mine, is filled with characters you want to know and hang out with in person, a beautiful, secluded setting. While the plot has been overdone, I really had a hard time putting down the story because of Coble's ability to draw me with her writing. I recommend Because You're Mine.

I received a complimentary copy of Because You're Mine by Colleen Coble from Thomas Nelson publishing and the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 3.5  out of 5 Stars