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The Chosen #0.1
Emergence
Even before Jake’s birth, Emma Thompson focused all her energy on providing a safe and sheltered world for her two-year-old son. The life she’d always wanted as a child—a loving mother and financial security. But another “incident” had has led to Jake’s expulsion from his second daycare center in two weeks, and now her accounting job with a high profile commercial firm is on the line.
Soon Emma wishes losing her job was her only worry when it becomes evident that someone is not only watching her, but is determined to make contact with her son, forcing her to make the biggest decision of her life.
Soon Emma wishes losing her job was her only worry when it becomes evident that someone is not only watching her, but is determined to make contact with her son, forcing her to make the biggest decision of her life.
42 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2012
35 people are currently reading
618 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
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September 22, 2013
This is just a short little prequel to Chosen. Jake is only two years old and Emma is just starting to realize that her son is different, special. She has tried so hard to provide Jake with a nice house, a stable life, but when the "bad men" come, she realizes she will do anything to keep her son safe, and they run. She wonders if they will ever be safe again.
January 26, 2018
I was on the edge of my seat . . . I can't wait to devour this series!
January 26, 2025
4 Stars:)
February 5, 2013
I love the long story and was excited that The Chosen was the start of just that sort of a story. After reading it, I was unsure of continuing; there were some interesting ideas and questions but something was missing. Ironically, it was Emergence, or rather the character development of Emma, a principle character of the main story. Emergence is 35 necessary pages to the overall story, and can only improve your opinion of The Chosen. For me, it is the reason I will pick up part 2 and the subsequent short story.
November 22, 2014
I loved this little look into what life was like for Emma and Jake before they had to go on the run, and what events took them on that journey. I felt for them knowing what would lie ahead. Great addition to the series!
November 20, 2020
I have read books by D G Swank before and I love her, so I was very excited to read Chosen.
This book did not disappoint. It follows the story of Emma and her son Jake who live a life on the run from mysterious armed men who are hunting to kill, and appear to get help from a stranger, Will.
This book is supernatural/fantasy, but full of a mother's love for her son. A mother who will do anything to protect him, even giving up her old life to live in hotels from a suitcase. When I chose this book, it was based on the title alone, for my A to Z challenge, so I didn't know what it was going to be about in advance. As I was reading through, I thought that the child, Jake, was the Chosen one, since he is the one with supernatural powers, but it turned out not to be the case.
I couldn't put this book down. It is very well written and kept me wanting more. So much so, that I had to find out what happened next, and next, and next. Not only that, the kindle books have been updated to contain short stories, that give further information about each of the characters, so I had to read those too: Chosen, (short story Emergence), Hunted, (short story Homecoming), Sacrifice, (short story Middle Ground), and Redemption.
Very good, I highly recommend this series.
This book did not disappoint. It follows the story of Emma and her son Jake who live a life on the run from mysterious armed men who are hunting to kill, and appear to get help from a stranger, Will.
This book is supernatural/fantasy, but full of a mother's love for her son. A mother who will do anything to protect him, even giving up her old life to live in hotels from a suitcase. When I chose this book, it was based on the title alone, for my A to Z challenge, so I didn't know what it was going to be about in advance. As I was reading through, I thought that the child, Jake, was the Chosen one, since he is the one with supernatural powers, but it turned out not to be the case.
I couldn't put this book down. It is very well written and kept me wanting more. So much so, that I had to find out what happened next, and next, and next. Not only that, the kindle books have been updated to contain short stories, that give further information about each of the characters, so I had to read those too: Chosen, (short story Emergence), Hunted, (short story Homecoming), Sacrifice, (short story Middle Ground), and Redemption.
Very good, I highly recommend this series.
April 28, 2018
Love it! In Chosen you get to read about bits and pieces of Emma and Jake’s lives before everything started and what took place when it started but in Emergence it really goes into detail and shows you the flashback. I absolutely loved being able to see the events that happened and how Emma reacted to everything that had happened to them. You get to see her real emotions and thoughts during the process and I really think it adds to her character and the storyline. I think this is a must-read for this series.
January 8, 2018
Emergence is a short story, which is also a prequel to Chosen by Denise Grover Swank. I previously read Chosen and I have finally read this short story and I like the information it provided. It was not a necessary read before Chosen but it was a nice insight into Emma and Jake's life prior to where the Chosen series starts. I really love this series and I am looking forward to reading the other short stories before rereading the Chosen series.
April 10, 2018
This novella is just what we needed, it gives you a glimpse at how Emma and Jake were living prior to the first book. You don't need to read the short story, but I loved being able to connect more to the characters and get more background behind the whole story.
January 1, 2017
I finally decided to read this series and am glad I did. The story was great and the characters are awesome! There are alot of mistakes in the writing but other than that its a great story to read!
December 31, 2017
Good
This short story was a quick read but it goes before book 1 of the Chosen. Make sure you read it first as it is all recapped in book 1 and would not need to be read otherwise.
This short story was a quick read but it goes before book 1 of the Chosen. Make sure you read it first as it is all recapped in book 1 and would not need to be read otherwise.
March 7, 2018
I'm glad I read this book. It gave good background information about Emma and Jake's lives leading up to them being on the run and the horror she has been facing.
March 27, 2022
Prequel short story of the Chosen series about Emma and her son Jake and why they went on the run at the very beginning.
February 8, 2025
I only listened to this because it was tagged on to the end of the first book that I gave 2/5 stars. Not for me.
August 15, 2017
Just short story but how good it was! Denise Grover Swank writes great novellas giving us deeper insight of characters thoughts, feelings and how the story really starts. I loved and really enjoyed this great intrduction to Emma and little Jake!
August 22, 2012
Goodreads Description- Even before Jake’s birth, Emma Thompson focused all her energy on providing a safe and sheltered world for her two-year-old son. The life she’d always wanted as a child—a loving mother and financial security. But another “incident” had has led to Jake’s expulsion from his second daycare center in two weeks, and now her accounting job with a high profile commercial firm is on the line.
Soon Emma wishes losing her job was her only worry when it becomes evident that someone is not only watching her, but is determined to make contact with her son, forcing her to make the biggest decision of her life.
Emma is a single mother of 2 year old Jake. When she gets a call at work that Jake has had another incident in daycare she knows that his days are numbered there. He has already been expelled from his previous daycare and now it seems that he has , again, foretold accidents that the other children were then involved in. The daycare wants him out. On her way to her car, one of the daycare workers stops her and recommends a nanny and gives her a card. Determined not to lose her job, Emma calls and arranges an interview the next day. However the woman who shows up just raises the hair on Emma's neck and later that night, when Jake warns Emma that the bad men are coming to take him, does she finally see that she really is in trouble. Not knowing what to do, Emma buys a gun and packs her bags. She is ready to leave in the morning. But when the "bad men" knock on her door in the middle of the night, Emma has to escape to save her son. Barely escaping her garage and a car chase, the cars chasing her collide and explode. Emma finally thinks she is free. However, just as Jake tells her that they are safe, Emma turns around to see a man emerge from the flames. What do they want her son for? Can he really see into the future? What kind of power does her son hold? Emma decides she has to save her son and leaves her life behind not knowing what the future may hold.
This is a quick, fast paced half-step book in the Chosen series. The writing and dialogue are simplistic but I'm not sure if this is YA and since I am just starting to read fantasy, I don't really have any standards yet. However, from this short read, I was impelled to add Chosen, the first book in the series, to my to be read list. So I guess that says it all. If an author can get me to purchase her book in 42 pages then she has done her job. This isn't a fantastic piece of literature but it was effective in pulling me in, taking me for a ride and getting my interest. I liked it and I am going to give the series a try. 3 stars!
Soon Emma wishes losing her job was her only worry when it becomes evident that someone is not only watching her, but is determined to make contact with her son, forcing her to make the biggest decision of her life.
Emma is a single mother of 2 year old Jake. When she gets a call at work that Jake has had another incident in daycare she knows that his days are numbered there. He has already been expelled from his previous daycare and now it seems that he has , again, foretold accidents that the other children were then involved in. The daycare wants him out. On her way to her car, one of the daycare workers stops her and recommends a nanny and gives her a card. Determined not to lose her job, Emma calls and arranges an interview the next day. However the woman who shows up just raises the hair on Emma's neck and later that night, when Jake warns Emma that the bad men are coming to take him, does she finally see that she really is in trouble. Not knowing what to do, Emma buys a gun and packs her bags. She is ready to leave in the morning. But when the "bad men" knock on her door in the middle of the night, Emma has to escape to save her son. Barely escaping her garage and a car chase, the cars chasing her collide and explode. Emma finally thinks she is free. However, just as Jake tells her that they are safe, Emma turns around to see a man emerge from the flames. What do they want her son for? Can he really see into the future? What kind of power does her son hold? Emma decides she has to save her son and leaves her life behind not knowing what the future may hold.
This is a quick, fast paced half-step book in the Chosen series. The writing and dialogue are simplistic but I'm not sure if this is YA and since I am just starting to read fantasy, I don't really have any standards yet. However, from this short read, I was impelled to add Chosen, the first book in the series, to my to be read list. So I guess that says it all. If an author can get me to purchase her book in 42 pages then she has done her job. This isn't a fantastic piece of literature but it was effective in pulling me in, taking me for a ride and getting my interest. I liked it and I am going to give the series a try. 3 stars!
February 29, 2016
This series is really quite thrilling; Denise Grover Swank does a great job at getting the reader hooked right from the start. Read this short novel in about an hour. Very quick read and adds supplemental information from the series to help the reader along. Highly recommend to those reading the series as it gives you an insight to how this all started.
This is technically the second book in the series, but could be read first. This is a short story that helps explain how Emma and Jake started being chased leading to them being constantly on the run. Emma is a single parent with a highly demanding job. Jake starts experiencing visions of when kids on the play ground get hurt and he tries to prevent it. The administration at the day care, however, thinks he’s causing it and he is banned from going back, and child protective services has been called. Emma decides a nanny may be better because she is always rushing to pick him up anyway, and he’ll get more attention. When the nanny comes to be interviewed, Jake lets Emma know she is a bad person. Emma ends up catching on that she knows things about Jake that she didn’t tell her, so she leaves the house with Jake. More strange things start to happen that Jake predicts and soon, people claiming to be child protective services come to the door. Jake tells her they are bad, and she doesn’t hesitate. They try to get into the house as she calls the police. The police come but think she’s exaggerating. Later that evening, Jake tells her they are coming back, so she starts to pack. There’s a knock at the door, and people claiming to be the police are saying they have news on the people trying to break in. Emma notices it’s the same people that were trying to break in, so she throws Jake and her things in the car and escapes as they try to catch up with her. The speed chase ends with the people chasing her exploding in a crash with a person walking out of the fire. The person walking out is left as a mystery for the readers.
This is technically the second book in the series, but could be read first. This is a short story that helps explain how Emma and Jake started being chased leading to them being constantly on the run. Emma is a single parent with a highly demanding job. Jake starts experiencing visions of when kids on the play ground get hurt and he tries to prevent it. The administration at the day care, however, thinks he’s causing it and he is banned from going back, and child protective services has been called. Emma decides a nanny may be better because she is always rushing to pick him up anyway, and he’ll get more attention. When the nanny comes to be interviewed, Jake lets Emma know she is a bad person. Emma ends up catching on that she knows things about Jake that she didn’t tell her, so she leaves the house with Jake. More strange things start to happen that Jake predicts and soon, people claiming to be child protective services come to the door. Jake tells her they are bad, and she doesn’t hesitate. They try to get into the house as she calls the police. The police come but think she’s exaggerating. Later that evening, Jake tells her they are coming back, so she starts to pack. There’s a knock at the door, and people claiming to be the police are saying they have news on the people trying to break in. Emma notices it’s the same people that were trying to break in, so she throws Jake and her things in the car and escapes as they try to catch up with her. The speed chase ends with the people chasing her exploding in a crash with a person walking out of the fire. The person walking out is left as a mystery for the readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2015
I received notification from Bookbub that the entitled "Chosen" was being offered for free on Amazon.com. The summary for the book sounded so interesting that I decided to give it a try. However, while downloading the book I discovered that there was a prequel entitled, "Emergence;" so of course I wanted to start there.
People let me tell you, "Emergence," grabbed me by the throat on page one and didn't let go even on the last page. I don't know if it is because I am a mother and protective of my child that makes this read so enticing or if it is due to the shear wonder of the plot but I am telling you, "I loved this book."
Imagine having a two year old son who predicts events in the future. This is the case for accountant, Emma Thompson. Her current daycare calls her for the fifth time in two weeks wanting her to pick up her son, Jake who predicted that one of the children would fall and break her arm. After the Assistant Director of the center indicates they've notified Children's Protective Services that Jake has serious mental issues, Emma is at a loss to know what to do. However, Jake informs her that bad men are after him and trying to kidnap him;so, Emma is compelled to go on the run to protect him.
As I stated earlier, I really enjoyed this novella. It is a great start to what I hope will be a great series. I can't wait to move on to "Chosen." Do yourself a favor and put this book on your reading list!
People let me tell you, "Emergence," grabbed me by the throat on page one and didn't let go even on the last page. I don't know if it is because I am a mother and protective of my child that makes this read so enticing or if it is due to the shear wonder of the plot but I am telling you, "I loved this book."
Imagine having a two year old son who predicts events in the future. This is the case for accountant, Emma Thompson. Her current daycare calls her for the fifth time in two weeks wanting her to pick up her son, Jake who predicted that one of the children would fall and break her arm. After the Assistant Director of the center indicates they've notified Children's Protective Services that Jake has serious mental issues, Emma is at a loss to know what to do. However, Jake informs her that bad men are after him and trying to kidnap him;so, Emma is compelled to go on the run to protect him.
As I stated earlier, I really enjoyed this novella. It is a great start to what I hope will be a great series. I can't wait to move on to "Chosen." Do yourself a favor and put this book on your reading list!
January 24, 2015
Denise Grover Swank writes incredible novels and her novellas are even more special as they take you deeper into the characters' thoughts, feelings and backgrounds. I started this prequel to The Chosen series kind with ambivalence. I had just finished "The Chosen" and wanted to read the next book to see what happens but I also wanted to read about Emma's earlier experiences. As I expected, the prequel was wonderful. It gives us a clearer sense of Emma and Jake's torment from the beginning and only endeared the characters to me more. I read it so quickly, unable to put it down, that when I finished I said, "What? Was that only 10 pages?" But no, it's over 40 pages. It just went by that fast because it's that good. On to the next book in the series. I can't wait.
September 23, 2015
I didn't discover the Chosen short stories until I finished the series. It was actually very nice to be given a different perspective after the fact!
Here we get a glimpse at what Emma was dealing with as she and Jake began to be hunted down. It was definitely scary to read someone reporting a situation and not being taken seriously by the police. This definitely set in motion her chaotic plan of living on the run with Jake.
You don't HAVE to read this short story to read the series, but it wouldn't hurt! I don't have any criticisms of this installment as it is a perfect companion to the series. *****FIVE STARS*****
Here we get a glimpse at what Emma was dealing with as she and Jake began to be hunted down. It was definitely scary to read someone reporting a situation and not being taken seriously by the police. This definitely set in motion her chaotic plan of living on the run with Jake.
You don't HAVE to read this short story to read the series, but it wouldn't hurt! I don't have any criticisms of this installment as it is a perfect companion to the series. *****FIVE STARS*****
February 15, 2016
I also like short stories or novella's that give some insight on how the characters became who they are. and Emergence is gives us that glimpse into what Emma's and Jake's life was before they had to be on the run.
You see Emma is not different then your average single Mom. Emma wants a good job so she can provide food and shelter for Jake and to give Jake a nice normal life. However, it is clear that Emma and Jake were never destined for nice and normal. As Jake's power begins to manifest Emma is desperate to keep him and safe and when the "bad" men come for Jake, Emma does the only thing she can to protect Jake and that is to run
You see Emma is not different then your average single Mom. Emma wants a good job so she can provide food and shelter for Jake and to give Jake a nice normal life. However, it is clear that Emma and Jake were never destined for nice and normal. As Jake's power begins to manifest Emma is desperate to keep him and safe and when the "bad" men come for Jake, Emma does the only thing she can to protect Jake and that is to run
November 26, 2015
This is a short story that goes with the Chosen series. It's the first of 3 novellas. You can really read these books at any point in the series. I read all three after Hunted, but it may have been helpful to read before Hunted. Either way was an awesome addition to the Chosen books! It gave the beginning details of Emma and Jake, give you a closer more personal view of the characters. These novellas are one of the things I love about Denise and her writing style. I think she really wants us to have an insight to the close relationship she has when she with these characters.
November 29, 2015
I read Emergence as part of the Box Set.
Emergence gives us some back story into Emma. How she got to where she is in the story and how Jake came to be. This novella lets us know about the first time Emma and Jake had to run, what they left behind and how scary those first years were.
Overall, I thought it was well written and appreciated the look back to build up more depth for the characters.
Emergence gives us some back story into Emma. How she got to where she is in the story and how Jake came to be. This novella lets us know about the first time Emma and Jake had to run, what they left behind and how scary those first years were.
Overall, I thought it was well written and appreciated the look back to build up more depth for the characters.
June 5, 2012
I always love reading short stories when they explain the reasons why a character is the way they are. After reading this, I saw Emma in a completely different light, and had never really grasped what they had been through in the early years.............a must for all those loving The Chosen Series
March 19, 2013
Real good start on a series of books. Swank has grabbed my attention, and I am looking forward to finding out why these bad people are after Emma's son, Jake. He has such a unique talent, and instead of trying to stifle his ability, she should be promoting it. Looking forward to the No. 1 in this series.
January 20, 2016
Great introduction to Emma and Jake This is the first prequel to the Chosen series. I love that we get to experience Emma and Jake's story before they are exiled and hiding. As a reader, these novellas allow a deeper understanding of the characters. This is a great book to read to enter into the Chosen series.
January 31, 2016
This prequel to Chosen is a very bold look into Emma and Jake's history, and gives a closer look at their lives. This is helpful in being able to commiserate with Emma and the situation that she has found herself in. The struggle that she goes through raising Jake given his "affliction" is hard to imagine, but this makes it a little easy.
February 21, 2016
It is great to learn how everything started. After reading Chosen, you know that Emma is a strong woman, but this just solidifies it. I loved learning how and when Jake's power started and how she works through it. The reader sees her struggle with it, but she would do anything to protect her son. Short but very informative read.
March 31, 2016
NO matter how short the story Denise writes, it's fantastic. These shorts were amazing to read between novels. It's always nice to get a sneak peak at characters you love while trying to patiently wait for the next installment!
September 23, 2015
This one gives you an insight on what is going on before Jake was born. What Emma was feeling and what she was doing. This book really gives you a bigger picture on what happened and what is going to happen. This is a great addition to the series!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews