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Runaway Choices
Runaway Choices - A Christian Speculative Fiction Novel
Everyone runs from their past; Beck has it mastered. She’s been running for so long, stopping is a foreign concept. With her conning skills and wits at the ready, she's on a plane to London, free of charge.
Beck believes everything is going as planned, but when reality twists on its axis, she soon wonders whose plan? Teaming up with the gorgeous bellhop, Colin, is a no brainer, especially when they discover their connections are anything but accidental.
In their quest for answers, both are confronted with the demons of their pasts. Beck panics and does what comes naturally -- runs. However, she's not only running from herself, but from the superhuman who has made it his life's goal to track her down and either remove her from the equation or convince her to join him.
Everyone runs from their past; Beck has it mastered. She’s been running for so long, stopping is a foreign concept. With her conning skills and wits at the ready, she's on a plane to London, free of charge.
Beck believes everything is going as planned, but when reality twists on its axis, she soon wonders whose plan? Teaming up with the gorgeous bellhop, Colin, is a no brainer, especially when they discover their connections are anything but accidental.
In their quest for answers, both are confronted with the demons of their pasts. Beck panics and does what comes naturally -- runs. However, she's not only running from herself, but from the superhuman who has made it his life's goal to track her down and either remove her from the equation or convince her to join him.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2012
22 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Eisley Jacobs
12 books61 followersEisley Jacobs lives in Shingle Springs, California with her three children and husband. Eisley actively writes the characters that stroll through her head. The first YA Novel she completed was in high school, but somehow got lost in the shuffle into real life.
While studying at college, stories began to plague her mind and she tried her best to keep them at bay while she did more important things like... like... Who are we kidding? Her grades suffered because the voices wouldn't stop. So instead of going insane, she wrote.
In 2010, a blue dragon named Deglan interfered in her attempts to finish the final book in the YA series and thus the series starter for DRAGONS FOREVER, BORN TO BE A DRAGON, DRAGONS OF THE DEEP was hatched and has found a home in the hearts of many children.
Eisley's first YA Sci-Fantasy Thriller, PIECES OF ME is out. http://www.amazon.com/Pieces-of-Me-eb...
She also write Inspirational/Christian Fiction. RUNAWAY CHOICES http://www.amazon.com/Runaway-Choices... and the soon to be released UNSEEN CHRONICLES.
She also has the first book in a YA Fantasy Series she hopes to release in 2013. Details coming soon.
While studying at college, stories began to plague her mind and she tried her best to keep them at bay while she did more important things like... like... Who are we kidding? Her grades suffered because the voices wouldn't stop. So instead of going insane, she wrote.
In 2010, a blue dragon named Deglan interfered in her attempts to finish the final book in the YA series and thus the series starter for DRAGONS FOREVER, BORN TO BE A DRAGON, DRAGONS OF THE DEEP was hatched and has found a home in the hearts of many children.
Eisley's first YA Sci-Fantasy Thriller, PIECES OF ME is out. http://www.amazon.com/Pieces-of-Me-eb...
She also write Inspirational/Christian Fiction. RUNAWAY CHOICES http://www.amazon.com/Runaway-Choices... and the soon to be released UNSEEN CHRONICLES.
She also has the first book in a YA Fantasy Series she hopes to release in 2013. Details coming soon.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 23, 2012
Where I got the book: Kindle freebie. Eisley is an online friend.
Beck is running away from past hurts and involvements, and has decided to go in the direction of London. A random job offer on the plane leads to a mysterious sequence of events involving people who seem to know all about her, locations that disappear and reappear, a passport stamped in the future, and a mysterious object that seems to have unlimited powers. Added to that, Beck is being pursued by a man--or superman--she'd rather not have to face, and has walked smack into a new love interest.
I found it slow going getting into this novel; I'm not a speculative fiction reader for the most part (these genre adventures are certainly eye-opening!) and was not willing to suspend disbelief. In addition, there were some inaccuracies in the London scenes that bugged me, but they may soon be cleared up :)
Once Beck and hunky Colin got to Ireland and Scotland, though, I felt we were on much more solid ground. The action was fast, and reminded me somewhat of the novels of Charles Williams, or G.K. Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday in its dreamlike strangeness and unexpected shifts. The romance worked for me, and since this is a Christian novel matters stayed the right side of steamy.
At the outset there are no flags that this is a Christian novel, none of the "God bombs" so beloved of inspirational fiction (yippee!) There is a strong Christian message as the climax of the narrative begins, but I thought Jacobs handled it rather well - it was compelling rather than preachy, and not overly stressed as the story ended.
The writing got stronger as the novel progressed (I find this a lot in self-published debut novels), and my feeling is that the first section could perhaps have benefited from a rewrite to give it the fluidity of the later chapters. Still, this is an interesting story, and should attract the attention of readers who are interested in spiritual warfare or looking for something different in the way of hunt-the-clues style thrillers. Dare I mention Dan Brown fans?
Beck is running away from past hurts and involvements, and has decided to go in the direction of London. A random job offer on the plane leads to a mysterious sequence of events involving people who seem to know all about her, locations that disappear and reappear, a passport stamped in the future, and a mysterious object that seems to have unlimited powers. Added to that, Beck is being pursued by a man--or superman--she'd rather not have to face, and has walked smack into a new love interest.
I found it slow going getting into this novel; I'm not a speculative fiction reader for the most part (these genre adventures are certainly eye-opening!) and was not willing to suspend disbelief. In addition, there were some inaccuracies in the London scenes that bugged me, but they may soon be cleared up :)
Once Beck and hunky Colin got to Ireland and Scotland, though, I felt we were on much more solid ground. The action was fast, and reminded me somewhat of the novels of Charles Williams, or G.K. Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday in its dreamlike strangeness and unexpected shifts. The romance worked for me, and since this is a Christian novel matters stayed the right side of steamy.
At the outset there are no flags that this is a Christian novel, none of the "God bombs" so beloved of inspirational fiction (yippee!) There is a strong Christian message as the climax of the narrative begins, but I thought Jacobs handled it rather well - it was compelling rather than preachy, and not overly stressed as the story ended.
The writing got stronger as the novel progressed (I find this a lot in self-published debut novels), and my feeling is that the first section could perhaps have benefited from a rewrite to give it the fluidity of the later chapters. Still, this is an interesting story, and should attract the attention of readers who are interested in spiritual warfare or looking for something different in the way of hunt-the-clues style thrillers. Dare I mention Dan Brown fans?
April 8, 2012
I love Beck, our flawed heroine of this book. From the moment I met her I wanted to know her better, and to understand why she was so prickly and anxious to run away. I loved watching her grow and change.
I didn't know what to expect from this book, but that beautiful cover and the exquisite interior (yes I'm a geek when it comes to a good job on the typesetting) built up my expectations. I was not disappointed in the least. This was a book that I had to keep reading, and every twist and turn kept pushing me forward until I got to the end of the book. I was left wanting more, wanting to know what happened to these characters next (and yes I'm hoping for a sequel about Colin and what all happened to him in this book.)
Overall, I would recommend this book without hesitation. Well done!
I didn't know what to expect from this book, but that beautiful cover and the exquisite interior (yes I'm a geek when it comes to a good job on the typesetting) built up my expectations. I was not disappointed in the least. This was a book that I had to keep reading, and every twist and turn kept pushing me forward until I got to the end of the book. I was left wanting more, wanting to know what happened to these characters next (and yes I'm hoping for a sequel about Colin and what all happened to him in this book.)
Overall, I would recommend this book without hesitation. Well done!
May 26, 2012
Eisley Jacobs is best known for her middle grade "Dragons Forever" series, but with "Runaway Choices," she has really found her niche. She blends supernatural, fantasy, and romantic elements seamlessly into a fast-paced and surprisingly believable plot. But where Jacobs really excels is in her characterization and relationships, and for me, the fantasy/quest elements took a backseat to Beck's journey of self-discovery. (I didn't mind Beck's hot English partner-in-crime, Colin, either.) Fun, solid debut for the genre... I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author soon.
November 29, 2012
Wow. At first I couldn't really tell what I thought about this book; it seemed a little *too* strange, too difficult to get going. But I stuck with it, and I'm so glad I did! I went from being confused when I started it yesterday to feeling like I was reading an updated version of Frank Peretti's "Piercing the Darkness"....this book was wonderful, gripping, and just absolutely fantastic! Jacobs did a great job of not preaching, but weaving Truth throughout the story so that it had a greater impact than a sermon would have had. I loved it!
May 28, 2012
It starts off good. Really good, actually. But then the plot goes off in weird directions and leads to a not so satisfying conclusion, at least for me.
Beck is a troubled woman who conned her way onto a flight to London. She has no real plans except running from her past demons, and she strikes up a conversation with a person named Ben. Somehow Ben already knows her name, and after a tragedy Beck is on the run, a possessor of a mysterious necklace and even more mysterious stone. Someone is chasing her, and nothing makes sense any more. What is up with all the coincidences? And can Beck and her unwitting ally Colin escape a malicious pursuer bent on getting the necklace back?
The initial mystery is engaging and well done, but when she finally explains what the necklace is, it falls flat and becomes more of a discovery and chase book. It's all right, but then she explains the nature of her adversary, and then it gets disappointing. There's one more final explanation, and that is REALLY disappointing, because it feels like taking the easy way out. Spoilers prevent me from going into more depth, but I was expecting so much more.
Characterization is okay. Beck is a bit too fragile for the story's good, but she's a decent character who doesn't react superhumanly to a very weird situation. Collin is all right as well, and the romance is decent, if a bit truncated due to the nature of Christian fiction. There's some minor issues; would most places in Europe really take dollars all the time? There's a lot of coincidences, but these actually work well in the beginning to highlight how odd Beck's situation is: everything working right is as weird as everything working wrong. The powers of the MacGuffin also seem a bit arbitrary-in one sense, it can only affect things that are possible and realistic, but in the other it does magical things like hide thoughts and disappear into another thing. There's a reason why, but because of the mystery it doesn't seem clear enough.
It's a decent novel, and the beginning is well done, but the ending might turn you off.
Beck is a troubled woman who conned her way onto a flight to London. She has no real plans except running from her past demons, and she strikes up a conversation with a person named Ben. Somehow Ben already knows her name, and after a tragedy Beck is on the run, a possessor of a mysterious necklace and even more mysterious stone. Someone is chasing her, and nothing makes sense any more. What is up with all the coincidences? And can Beck and her unwitting ally Colin escape a malicious pursuer bent on getting the necklace back?
The initial mystery is engaging and well done, but when she finally explains what the necklace is, it falls flat and becomes more of a discovery and chase book. It's all right, but then she explains the nature of her adversary, and then it gets disappointing. There's one more final explanation, and that is REALLY disappointing, because it feels like taking the easy way out. Spoilers prevent me from going into more depth, but I was expecting so much more.
Characterization is okay. Beck is a bit too fragile for the story's good, but she's a decent character who doesn't react superhumanly to a very weird situation. Collin is all right as well, and the romance is decent, if a bit truncated due to the nature of Christian fiction. There's some minor issues; would most places in Europe really take dollars all the time? There's a lot of coincidences, but these actually work well in the beginning to highlight how odd Beck's situation is: everything working right is as weird as everything working wrong. The powers of the MacGuffin also seem a bit arbitrary-in one sense, it can only affect things that are possible and realistic, but in the other it does magical things like hide thoughts and disappear into another thing. There's a reason why, but because of the mystery it doesn't seem clear enough.
It's a decent novel, and the beginning is well done, but the ending might turn you off.
March 4, 2012
A nail biter of a ride filled with flawed characters you'll love and root for from the very beginning with some paranormal elements that keep you on your toes. Eisley Jacobs does an impressive job of not only writing a great thriller, but one filled with deep meaning, a message. She does all this without preaching, without hitting you over the head paragraph after paragraph with her message. It's a Christian story that can be enjoyed be anyone, Christian faith or not.
The story starts off smart and fast. Beck is running from her past and her life. She's not looking for a fresh start, but is just looking to run. From memories, from people, it doesn't matter. All that matters is she keeps moving. Some people might see her as snotty, rebellious, defiant. I saw her as scared out of her mind. She was scared of her past, of people, of making connections, of feeling, of being hurt and betrayed. I understood her. Parts of her are real enough that it feels like it comes from your own soul.
She comes from a very real place and that means even when it seems like she's being bratty, you can feel for her. You know why she's doing it. It makes you want to hug her, like you might hug the teenage version of yourself, and say Stop it. It's going to be okay, even as she thrashes and fights against you.
Without giving up too much, she runs into a stranger who wants to help her. And through a series of events that may end her life, she meets Colin. Ahh, Colin. Every book needs a romantic lead and he fits the build nicely. He's not perfect either and you start to see how even through his flaws he can help to heal Beck in ways she doesn't want. But she needs them. Just as much as needs to be healed too.
The story is fast paced, has alot of heart but story, suspense, and action isn't sacrificed for this. Instead all the elements come together for a kick butt story that will leave you thinking about it long after it's finished.
The story starts off smart and fast. Beck is running from her past and her life. She's not looking for a fresh start, but is just looking to run. From memories, from people, it doesn't matter. All that matters is she keeps moving. Some people might see her as snotty, rebellious, defiant. I saw her as scared out of her mind. She was scared of her past, of people, of making connections, of feeling, of being hurt and betrayed. I understood her. Parts of her are real enough that it feels like it comes from your own soul.
She comes from a very real place and that means even when it seems like she's being bratty, you can feel for her. You know why she's doing it. It makes you want to hug her, like you might hug the teenage version of yourself, and say Stop it. It's going to be okay, even as she thrashes and fights against you.
Without giving up too much, she runs into a stranger who wants to help her. And through a series of events that may end her life, she meets Colin. Ahh, Colin. Every book needs a romantic lead and he fits the build nicely. He's not perfect either and you start to see how even through his flaws he can help to heal Beck in ways she doesn't want. But she needs them. Just as much as needs to be healed too.
The story is fast paced, has alot of heart but story, suspense, and action isn't sacrificed for this. Instead all the elements come together for a kick butt story that will leave you thinking about it long after it's finished.
January 22, 2013
I loved the book!!! Very gripping. Reminded me a lot of Dan Brown's writing. The treasure is in us when start looking for it. Talk about a crazy adventure for someone that trust No one. Beck is running. Not for her life in the beginning of the book just running from life itself. Then a strange encounter on a plane to London changes everything. Now there are more choices to be made. There are people to meet, places to go and having to run for her life from a SuperHuman "McCreepy" and meeting a trustworthy companion on the way. Makes you wonder what your purpose is here in life. How do your choices affect others? In what way? Does your life and the way you live it help or hinder those around you?
May 9, 2012
I give this one a solid 3.5 stars
A good read, good pacing. My criticisms are nit-picky - like the way the female lead has a way of screaming or screeching out things - who does that? I also never really got a good picture of the necklace in my head - I just couldn't figure out what part was spinning, glowing, separating, etc. etc. Oh, and what the heck is "Christian Speculative Fiction" anyway? Still mulling that one over . . .
I did like, however, the bad guy (McCreepy); I somehow kept picturing Danny Huston in his 30 Days of Night getup.
A good read, good pacing. My criticisms are nit-picky - like the way the female lead has a way of screaming or screeching out things - who does that? I also never really got a good picture of the necklace in my head - I just couldn't figure out what part was spinning, glowing, separating, etc. etc. Oh, and what the heck is "Christian Speculative Fiction" anyway? Still mulling that one over . . .
I did like, however, the bad guy (McCreepy); I somehow kept picturing Danny Huston in his 30 Days of Night getup.
March 22, 2013
This is an awesome read. Part fantasy but with a strong moral fiber. The characters are far for perfect, but their flaws are used to show the power of love, not only for each other, but God's love for each of us. Highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good story with a Christian slant.
April 11, 2013
This was good. It wasn't what I expected but it was a good read.
October 12, 2013
So good! I read this in like four hours! I loved the faith she grew into by the end!
September 8, 2013
Great Book Great Author!!!! What else can I say!!!
December 9, 2014
Intriguing
This is the first book I've read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ms. Jacobs spun a tale of redemption and faith that had me captivated immediately. I liked the fact that I never knew exactly where the story was going to end up. Her characters were true to life and engaging. The story was complex but not overly so. Though I'm not a huge fan of first person POV (I like to get inside every character's head), I was able to look past that and place myself in the story. All in all it was a great read that I think would be enjoyed by YA as well as adult readers. I will definitely be reading more of her work.
This is the first book I've read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ms. Jacobs spun a tale of redemption and faith that had me captivated immediately. I liked the fact that I never knew exactly where the story was going to end up. Her characters were true to life and engaging. The story was complex but not overly so. Though I'm not a huge fan of first person POV (I like to get inside every character's head), I was able to look past that and place myself in the story. All in all it was a great read that I think would be enjoyed by YA as well as adult readers. I will definitely be reading more of her work.
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June 8, 2016Loved it!
I loved reading this! I had a hard time putting it down. It flows very well and was fast paced. I had kinda figured out some of it but not all of it. It had enjoyable twists to it. I love the raw emotions that you feel as you follow Beck and Colin on their journey. My only hang up was the use of US dollars for payment.
I loved reading this! I had a hard time putting it down. It flows very well and was fast paced. I had kinda figured out some of it but not all of it. It had enjoyable twists to it. I love the raw emotions that you feel as you follow Beck and Colin on their journey. My only hang up was the use of US dollars for payment.
June 19, 2012
I couldn't get into it.
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November 25, 2012It was just too unstructured for me after a while. And the fact that the author had the main character in London using Euros, not Pounds, really annoyed me.
January 16, 2014
engaging suspenseful read. excellent illustration of spiritual truths
October 24, 2015
loved this book. it kept my attention and the story line was relatable.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews