Showing posts with label Rachelle Dekker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rachelle Dekker. Show all posts

Thursday, January 26, 2017

The Returning by Rachelle Dekker

About the Book
They say the Awakening is coming.
That she’s the key.
But can she find her identity in the light
Before she perishes in the dark?
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.

My Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books of this series and I was intrigued to see how this one would play out since it was taking place 20 years after the events at the end of The Calling. 
As the book opens we get to see Carrington and Remko, each still processing the loss of their daughter who was taken from them, though in different ways. I loved seeing how connected they still were even after twenty years, still just in love as ever.
Then we get to meet Elise and see the woman she became. Told all of her life that she was different and that her parents abandoned her because of it, she struggles with knowing who she is and what her purpose is. All that changes though when she meets Aaron and the Seers, who point her to the Father and help her discover who she is and Whose she is, unlocking the light that has always been inside her.
I really liked the characters that made up the chosen seven, they each had unique personalities and gifts and it was cool to see how they worked together to spread the light. In direct contrast the darkness in those standing against the Seers was a palpable evil that made your skin crawl. It was beautiful though to watch as the light overcame and defeated the darkness.
I won't give anymore away but I highly recommend this series to Dystopian lovers. Just make sure to read them in order otherwise you'll be a bit lost!

Meet the Author
The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through the avenue of storytelling. She writes full time from her home in Nashville, where she lives with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat Blair.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Tuesday, December 06, 2016

Top Four New to Me Authors I Read in 2016

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I've had a crazy busy year and haven't got nearly as much reading done as I'd like. So with limited reading time I wasn't as inclined to try out new authors. I did try these four and I absolutely loved Kara and Susan's books! Johnnie's and Rachelle's were very enjoyable too!

#1. Kara Issac


#2. Susan Anne Mason

#3. Johnnie Alexander

#4. Rachelle Dekker

Friday, March 18, 2016

The Calling by Rachelle Dekker

About the Book
Remko Brant had never been so sure of anything as escaping the Authority City with Carrington Hale. But bravado comes easy when you have nothing to lose. Now a husband, father, and the tactical leader of the Seers, Remko has never had so much at risk.
As he and his team execute increasingly dangerous rescue missions inside the city, they face growing peril from a new enemy. Recently appointed Authority President Damien Gold claims to be guiding a city shaken by rebellion into a peaceful, harmonious future. But appearances can be deceiving. In order to achieve his dangerous ambitions, Gold knows he must do more than catch the rebels―he must destroy the hope their message represents . . . from the inside out.
With dissension in his own camp―and the CityWatch soldiers closing in―Remko feels control slipping through his fingers. To protect those he loves, he must conquer his fears and defeat Gold . . . before one of them becomes his undoing.

My Thoughts
After loving the first book in this series I was excited to dive into this one, and it did not disappoint! While The Choosing was told primarily from Carrington's point of view, the author switched things up and made this book more about Remko. We enter the story eighteen months after the events that took place in The Choosing so there was a little catching up to do but the author did a great job of working it into the story without creating an information dump.
Remko has a lot of responsibility thrust onto his shoulders and he does the best he can but the fear of failing threatens to drown him. It's something we can all relate to (I know I can) and I loved the way the author brought Remko through it all till he realized and accepted that it's only when we let go and surrender to God that we can truly succeed and have peace. His journey to the truth was a hard and painful one but it was only when he was truly broken that he was able to hear the truth of who he was and Whose he was.
There were twists throughout and I never really knew what was going to happen next and the whole book moved along at a rather fast pace! The book ended with more questions than answers and I cannot wait for book three!


Meet the Author
The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through the avenue of storytelling. She writes full time from her home in Nashville, where she lives with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat Blair.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker

About the Book
Like all citizens since the Ruining, Carrington Hale knows the importance of this day. But she never expected the moment she’d spent a lifetime preparing for―her Choosing ceremony―to end in disaster. Ripped from her family, she’ll spend her days serving as a Lint, the lowest level of society. She knows it’s her duty to follow the true way of the Authority.
But as Carrington begins this nightmare, rumors of rebellion rattle her beliefs. Though the whispers contradict everything she’s been told, they resonate deep within.
Then Carrington is offered an unprecedented chance at the life she’s always dreamed of, yet she can’t shake the feeling that it may be an illusion. With a killer targeting Lints and corruption threatening the highest levels of the Authority, Carrington must uncover the truth before it destroys her.

My Thoughts
To be honest I almost ignored this book. I am not the biggest fan of Ted Dekker so I wasn't sure what to expect from his daughter. Thankfully the premise intrigued me too much and after hearing good things from fellow bloggers I knew that I had to give it a try. I loved it! Rachelle has a beautiful writing style and the dystopian world she created was well thought out and brilliantly executed.
I loved Carrington and Remko's characters (side note: I thought it was interesting how most of the characters first names were names more commonly used as surnames) and really enjoyed getting to know them through the course of this book. I would have liked to have a bit more to their romance since they really didn't have all that many interactions but that was mainly due to the rules of the society in which they lived and there was enough that it didn't seem too far-fetched.
The theme of finding your identity and value in who God says you are rather than who the world tells you to be was beautifully woven throughout the book and really shone through.
The villain was a bit creepy but not in an off-putting way and he was as well written as the rest of the characters. It was rather easy to deduce who he was but that didn't detract from the suspenseful aspect at all.
I honestly loved this book and it had me hooked from the very beginning! I'm actually kinda glad it took me a little while to read this because I didn't have to wait before starting book two! If you like dystopian novels definitely check this book out, you won't be sorry!

Meet the Author
The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through the avenue of storytelling. She writes full time from her home in Nashville, where she lives with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat Blair.

Wednesday, March 02, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday #202: The Calling

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're
eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Calling by Rachelle Dekker
Tyndale House-March 8, 2016

About the Book
Remko Brant had never been so sure of anything as escaping the Authority City with Carrington Hale. But bravado comes easy when you have nothing to lose. Now a husband, father, and the tactical leader of the Seers, Remko has never had so much at risk.
As he and his team execute increasingly dangerous rescue missions inside the city, they face growing peril from a new enemy. Recently appointed Authority President Damien Gold claims to be guiding a city shaken by rebellion into a peaceful, harmonious future. But appearances can be deceiving. In order to achieve his dangerous ambitions, Gold knows he must do more than catch the rebels―he must destroy the hope their message represents . . . from the inside out.
With dissension in his own camp―and the CityWatch soldiers closing in―Remko feels control slipping through his fingers. To protect those he loves, he must conquer his fears and defeat Gold . . . before one of them becomes his undoing.

Why I Want It
I am currently in the middle of the first book in this series and I'm really enjoying it so I'm looking forward to this one!

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Top Ten 2015 Releases I Meant To Get To But Didn't

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

#1. Married 'til Monday by Denise Hunter
#2. Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter
#3. The Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay
#4. Until the Dawn by Elizabeth Camden

#5. The Painter's Daughter by Julie Klassen
#6. The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker
#7. Tiffany Girl by Deeanne Gist

#8. Siren's Fury by Mary Weber
#9. Chance of Loving You by Terri Blackstock, Candace Calvert, & Susan May Warren

#10. Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #159: The Choosing

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're
eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker
Tyndale House-May 19, 2015

About the Book
Like all citizens since the Ruining, Carrington Hale knows the importance of this day. But she never expected the moment she’d spent a lifetime preparing for―her Choosing ceremony―to end in disaster. Ripped from her family, she’ll spend her days serving as a Lint, the lowest level of society. She knows it’s her duty to follow the true way of the Authority.
But as Carrington begins this nightmare, rumors of rebellion rattle her beliefs. Though the whispers contradict everything she’s been told, they resonate deep within.

Then Carrington is offered an unprecedented chance at the life she’s always dreamed of, yet she can’t shake the feeling that it may be an illusion. With a killer targeting Lints and corruption threatening the highest levels of the Authority, Carrington must uncover the truth before it destroys her.

Why I Want It
I am a big dystopian fan and this one sounds like it will be amazing!