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brookefradd's review
4.0
I haven't read a romance novel in years, probably over a decade. (Insert some mushy comment about finding truly love in real life here.) But when presented with the opportunity to be on the launch team for Mountain Refuge, I jumped at the chance.
📚
I admit to having preconceived notions about Harlequin novels, but this book proved me wrong with each turn of the page. While l can't claim that the ending had me shocked, the meat of the book certainly did.
📚
I found myself truly interested in the characters, and the prior events of their lives which led them to who they are in the opening pages of the book.
📚
The "love inspired" books include faith-centered discussions, and again the author handled the subject without a bit of cheesiness. The conversations between the characters as well as their prayers are indications that Varland lives the faith she writes about.
📚
The book earns ever one of these:🌟🌟🌟🌟
The cover is gorgeous, and my hubby and I are contemplating getting copies for our rental cabins. (Think a serial killer in the mountains would scare our guests?)
I also want to buy copies of Varland's other books. Looks like I've found a new must-read author!
📚
I received an advanced copy of this book for the purpose of writing an honest review. All opinions are my own, my integrity is worth more than the price of a book.
📚
I admit to having preconceived notions about Harlequin novels, but this book proved me wrong with each turn of the page. While l can't claim that the ending had me shocked, the meat of the book certainly did.
📚
I found myself truly interested in the characters, and the prior events of their lives which led them to who they are in the opening pages of the book.
📚
The "love inspired" books include faith-centered discussions, and again the author handled the subject without a bit of cheesiness. The conversations between the characters as well as their prayers are indications that Varland lives the faith she writes about.
📚
The book earns ever one of these:🌟🌟🌟🌟
The cover is gorgeous, and my hubby and I are contemplating getting copies for our rental cabins. (Think a serial killer in the mountains would scare our guests?)
I also want to buy copies of Varland's other books. Looks like I've found a new must-read author!
📚
I received an advanced copy of this book for the purpose of writing an honest review. All opinions are my own, my integrity is worth more than the price of a book.
tomberly's review
4.0
I love and SHIP Summer and Clay!!! Great romantic suspense book you could read in a day!!!
soulwinds's review
2.0
1.5 or 2 stars, I can't decide...
How am I the only one who has problems with this book?
I had a series of little problems with this book that was promptly wiped out with my major issue with the ending.
This entire review may turn into a ranting spoiler. You are warned.
Minor issues:
Clay's insta-love with Summer
Summer's near insta-love with Clay
The brothers warning Clay off
How everyone in Summer's family treats Summer
If she's roughly 28, where are the parents? No one actually mentions them...it's just her siblings if I remember correctly...
Who is Clay to Tyler? They are supposed to be....friends?
Why is Clay in this tiny Alaskan town? For a job. How did he find out and get offered this job? His friend Tyler...? How does he know Tyler??? No answer.
Summer being like "I don't care for Clay that way" and the sudden flip flop
Why would the killer paint the outside of the Lodge around Summer's window and not make an attempt on her only to come back and do it later once security is heightened?
Why would they stop to build a fire when there is a killer with a gun running after them?!?!?!?!?!?
How does stopping to warm up so they can run some more make any sense? Am I the only one who gets warm running? (and refer to the question above why it yet again makes no sense)
Who thought the family cabin was a good idea when they live in a small town where everyone knows everyone's business?
How are Summer and Clay not arrested for interfering with a police investigation when they go and talk to victims families on an open case?
What is up with the sudden Touch By An Angel like moment they each have as we near the end of the book. We went from Summer not talking to god at all, to only talking to him to beg for their lives while they are in imminent danger. To her having a huge spiritual moment while hiking to the 'safe house' that isn't safe at all. And her brother is police chief...ugh!!!
So they knock the bad guy out cold, but they only shove him in a helicopter to take him straight to jail? Please. Now if they took him to the city to be looked over by a doctor, then questioned for hours on end about all the other murders, that'd be believable.
Okay, pet peeve rant time.
My MAJOR issue is: How the hell did we go from them not even talking about starting a relationship and only just kissing just before the climax of the book to Clay asking Summer to marry him???? They have known each other for MERE DAYS!!! Are they crazy?!??!?!
Days. Only days. Let me say it again, they have know each other for days! Not weeks, not months, days. DAYS!!! Summer calls herself broken and no good for any man. She didn't even want Clay to waste his time trying to date her. She hadn't dated since Christopher because she hastily ran off with him and everything that came with that. Now she's accepting Clay's proposal mere hours after one of the most traumatic events of her life??? uhuh. That's believable.
Where is her brother while all of this is happening???
The only reason why I gave this book 1.5-2 stars is because, for the most part, I liked Clay. I liked him standing up for Summer, not losing his temper and keeping his cool. That is why up until that last chapter I was fully on board the train "Clay is awesome!" I also, for the most part, enjoyed Summer though the "Summer is awesome" train derailed much earlier in the book for me. Still...
Conclusion
All I want in a christian suspense romance is a believable plot line. Make the danger believable. Make the romance believable. Quit tying everything up in a pretty but unbelievable bow cause you think the readers are all reading this for a marriage proposal at the end (and I mean this in general for most christian romance novels everywhere). How about you just have them agree to start dating in earnest?
I don't need a hasty proposal that flies in the face of common sense. I don't need a wedding. I need the potential of a happily ever after that is started with the agreement to start a healthy relationship. That's all.
End rant.
How am I the only one who has problems with this book?
I had a series of little problems with this book that was promptly wiped out with my major issue with the ending.
This entire review may turn into a ranting spoiler. You are warned.
Minor issues:
Clay's insta-love with Summer
Summer's near insta-love with Clay
The brothers warning Clay off
How everyone in Summer's family treats Summer
If she's roughly 28, where are the parents? No one actually mentions them...it's just her siblings if I remember correctly...
Who is Clay to Tyler? They are supposed to be....friends?
Why is Clay in this tiny Alaskan town? For a job. How did he find out and get offered this job? His friend Tyler...? How does he know Tyler??? No answer.
Summer being like "I don't care for Clay that way" and the sudden flip flop
Why would the killer paint the outside of the Lodge around Summer's window and not make an attempt on her only to come back and do it later once security is heightened?
Why would they stop to build a fire when there is a killer with a gun running after them?!?!?!?!?!?
How does stopping to warm up so they can run some more make any sense? Am I the only one who gets warm running? (and refer to the question above why it yet again makes no sense)
Who thought the family cabin was a good idea when they live in a small town where everyone knows everyone's business?
How are Summer and Clay not arrested for interfering with a police investigation when they go and talk to victims families on an open case?
What is up with the sudden Touch By An Angel like moment they each have as we near the end of the book. We went from Summer not talking to god at all, to only talking to him to beg for their lives while they are in imminent danger. To her having a huge spiritual moment while hiking to the 'safe house' that isn't safe at all. And her brother is police chief...ugh!!!
So they knock the bad guy out cold, but they only shove him in a helicopter to take him straight to jail? Please. Now if they took him to the city to be looked over by a doctor, then questioned for hours on end about all the other murders, that'd be believable.
Okay, pet peeve rant time.
My MAJOR issue is: How the hell did we go from them not even talking about starting a relationship and only just kissing just before the climax of the book to Clay asking Summer to marry him???? They have known each other for MERE DAYS!!! Are they crazy?!??!?!
Days. Only days. Let me say it again, they have know each other for days! Not weeks, not months, days. DAYS!!! Summer calls herself broken and no good for any man. She didn't even want Clay to waste his time trying to date her. She hadn't dated since Christopher because she hastily ran off with him and everything that came with that. Now she's accepting Clay's proposal mere hours after one of the most traumatic events of her life??? uhuh. That's believable.
Where is her brother while all of this is happening???
The only reason why I gave this book 1.5-2 stars is because, for the most part, I liked Clay. I liked him standing up for Summer, not losing his temper and keeping his cool. That is why up until that last chapter I was fully on board the train "Clay is awesome!" I also, for the most part, enjoyed Summer though the "Summer is awesome" train derailed much earlier in the book for me. Still...
Conclusion
All I want in a christian suspense romance is a believable plot line. Make the danger believable. Make the romance believable. Quit tying everything up in a pretty but unbelievable bow cause you think the readers are all reading this for a marriage proposal at the end (and I mean this in general for most christian romance novels everywhere). How about you just have them agree to start dating in earnest?
I don't need a hasty proposal that flies in the face of common sense. I don't need a wedding. I need the potential of a happily ever after that is started with the agreement to start a healthy relationship. That's all.
End rant.
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