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In 27 Days by Alison Gervais

July 19, 2017 by Suzie Waltner 1 Comment

In 27 Days Alison Gervais — Click on the book cover to order your copy

Hadley Jamison is shocked when she hears that her classmate, Archer Morales, has committed suicide. She didn’t know the quiet, reserved guy very well, but that doesn’t stop her from feeling there was something she could have done to help him.

Hoping to find some sense of closure, Hadley attends Archer’s funeral. There, Hadley is approached by a man who calls himself Death and offers her a deal. If Hadley accepts, she will be sent back 27 days in time to prevent Archer from killing himself. But when Hadley agrees to Death’s terms and goes back to right the past, she quickly learns her mission is harder than she ever could have known.

Hadley soon discovers Archer’s reasons for being alone, and Archer realizes that having someone to confide in isn’t as bad as he’d always thought. But when a series of dangerous accidents starts pushing them apart, Hadley must decide whether she is ready to risk everything – including her life – to keep Archer safe.

Unfolding by Jonathan Friesen

January 14, 2017 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

I’ve read a couple books by Jonathan Friesen in the past, but Unfolding (available everywhere from Blink and Zondervan January 31, 2017) just might be his best yet.

In Gullary, Oklahoma, Jonah wishes he were whole. His life is filled with pain from a debilitating physical condition and seizures steal moments from his life. What Jonah wants more than anything is his best friend and neighbor, Stormi. But he doesn’t believe he’s worthy of her. Besides, Stormi has her own secrets and a seeming ability to sense the future.

Yet when Stormi needs him, Jonah’s there. As the two are swept into an adventure that reveals secrets about their small town and reveals things about Stormi’s past, their relationship begins to change. Stormi begins to change, to disappear from herself.

Friesen’s story is both captivating and engaging. While slow in a few parts, the mystery and adventure quickly picked up and kept me engaged. Jonah’s condition is written in a beautiful way, giving readers a glimpse into Jonah’s pain and frustration at his limitations. A wonderfully written story for adults and teens alike that will sweep you away for a few hours.

Disclosure statement: Thanks to BookLook Bloggers, I received a copy of Unfolding and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

Both of Me by Jonathan Friesen

December 25, 2014 by Suzie Waltner 1 Comment

As I sit here after finishing this book, my mind won’t quit reliving this story. It’s a book that will most definitely be getting a second read from me, a book I will be telling others about, a book that resonates.

Clara is running when she meets Elias Phinn on an airplane. A boy she’s never met before but who seems to know her darkest secrets. How can he know these things about her? When she realizes Elias has taken her bag instead of his, she searches him out. The boy who answers the door is not the same one she met on the plane. In fact, the one who meets her at the door doesn’t remember ever meeting her at all. Clara is immersed in Elias’s world–his two worlds. One Elias–the one who seems normal, the one she likes–will disappear and another takes his place–the Elias she has dubbed The Other One, the one who does not live in reality but in a place called Salem. Clara is determined to learn what The Other One knows about her past and agrees to help him on his journey to find what he’s seeking.

And yes I’m being vague in my description of this book because I don’t want to give anything away. This story is one of hope, of love, of mystery, of heartache, of forgiveness, and finally, of acceptance. Through Elias, Clara learns how to love, how to become selfless, how to feel again. And through Clara, readers will be taken on a journey they won’t soon forget.

You can pick up a copy now from your local bookstore or pick up your copy here or here.

****Booklook Bloggers and Zondervan Fiction provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.