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New Smyrna Beach #3
Kicking Eternity
Stuck in sleepy New Smyrna Beach one last summer, Raine socks away her camp pay checks, worries about her druggy brother, and ignores Cal Koomer. She’s a plane ticket away from teaching orphans in Africa, and not even Cal’s surfer six-pack and the chinks she spies in his rebel armor will derail her. The artist in Cal begs to paint Raine’s ivory skin, high cheek bones, and internal sparklers behind her eyes, but falling for her would caterwaul him into his parents’ life. No thanks. The girl was self-righteous waiting to happen. Mom served sanctimony like vegetables, three servings a day, and he had a gut full. Rec Director Drew taunts her with “Rainey” and calls her an enabler. He is so infernally there like a horsefly—till he buzzes back to his ex. Raine’s brother tweaks. Her dream of Africa dies small deaths. Will she figure out what to fight for and what to free before it’s too late? For anyone who’s ever wrestled with her dreams.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2012
53 people are currently reading
574 people want to read
About the author
Ann Lee Miller
7 books38 followersAnn Lee Miller earned a BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH) University and writes full-time in Phoenix, but left her heart in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where she grew up. She loves speaking to young adults and guest lectures on writing at several Arizona colleges. When she isn’t writing or muddling through some crisis—real or imagined—you’ll find her hiking in the Superstition Mountains with her husband or meddling in her kids’ lives
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 1, 2013
Okay, so I have to be completely honest when it comes to this book. I did not know it had religion as a basis when I first cracked it open, and it threw me off. Now, I'm not an atheist by any means, nor am I against faith, but I do have a wee bit of a problem when it comes to religion, so I automatically wanted to dislike the book. I stopped reading it after 13%, and put off reading it for two days. After getting an email from Ann warning me that there was religion in it, I felt bad and decided to 'toughen up' and get through it.... and I'm glad I did.
Ann has a quality to her 'voice' that is almost magical. It draws the reader in, and in my case, against their will. I found myself falling into and absorbing the emotional impact the pasts of the characters had on their religion, or in some cases, lack of religion. The plights throughout the book that dealt with the characters not only doubting themselves, but also their faith and God's will was refreshing to me when it comes to religious ideals. 99% of the time when I'm confronted with religious views or ideals, its almost like the people are sitting in a dozer, trying to shovel eighty thousand pounds of 'you will go to hell if you don't believe this, this and this' down your throat, which is why I was against this book. But, the religious aspect of this book is not meant to throw religion or the threat of hell in your face, but is more of an aspect of the characters, much as their flaws or virtues are an aspect. So, it was easy for me to get over my reservations the more I delved into the story.
The characters themselves are beautifully flawed. Not in the sense that she didn't do her research and just slapped traits here and there, but, more in the sense that each character has a fear, or a burden, or an inhibition that makes them extremely human and relateable. The love between the characters is also extremely relateable, even when they become confused about they're feelings. I don't believe anyone can honestly say that they've never felt emotions for someone, been heartbroken, then realized you loved someone else. If you can say that, you've never experienced adolescence.
What I loved most about this book was the purity of the story. I'm not saying that everything was flowers and 'oh holy moley, I'm so pure and untried and see everything through rose colored glasses', because that is far from the case. The characters face many, many obstacles and real life situations; from meth addiction, rebellion, parental pressure, sex addiction and uncertainty to forgiveness, closure, love and heartbreak. All of which makes this an extremely well rounded book.
I give major kudos to Ann for writing a religious romance, knowing how many people, including myself, view them. But, you have a new fan when it comes to your work, and that would be me :) religious aspect and all. Keep up the good work suga!
Ann has a quality to her 'voice' that is almost magical. It draws the reader in, and in my case, against their will. I found myself falling into and absorbing the emotional impact the pasts of the characters had on their religion, or in some cases, lack of religion. The plights throughout the book that dealt with the characters not only doubting themselves, but also their faith and God's will was refreshing to me when it comes to religious ideals. 99% of the time when I'm confronted with religious views or ideals, its almost like the people are sitting in a dozer, trying to shovel eighty thousand pounds of 'you will go to hell if you don't believe this, this and this' down your throat, which is why I was against this book. But, the religious aspect of this book is not meant to throw religion or the threat of hell in your face, but is more of an aspect of the characters, much as their flaws or virtues are an aspect. So, it was easy for me to get over my reservations the more I delved into the story.
The characters themselves are beautifully flawed. Not in the sense that she didn't do her research and just slapped traits here and there, but, more in the sense that each character has a fear, or a burden, or an inhibition that makes them extremely human and relateable. The love between the characters is also extremely relateable, even when they become confused about they're feelings. I don't believe anyone can honestly say that they've never felt emotions for someone, been heartbroken, then realized you loved someone else. If you can say that, you've never experienced adolescence.
What I loved most about this book was the purity of the story. I'm not saying that everything was flowers and 'oh holy moley, I'm so pure and untried and see everything through rose colored glasses', because that is far from the case. The characters face many, many obstacles and real life situations; from meth addiction, rebellion, parental pressure, sex addiction and uncertainty to forgiveness, closure, love and heartbreak. All of which makes this an extremely well rounded book.
I give major kudos to Ann for writing a religious romance, knowing how many people, including myself, view them. But, you have a new fan when it comes to your work, and that would be me :) religious aspect and all. Keep up the good work suga!
September 4, 2012
It was a good story line. It was very heavy on the prayer thing. Average "prayer"per page was probably about 3 or 4. Didn't realize it was a out a Christian summer camp!
July 18, 2012
There are four--no, five--main characters in Kicking Eternity, a contemporary inspirational romance by Ann Lee Miller, a new and up-and-coming author. Please allow me to introduce these sparkling (and not so sparkling) personalities to you. You'll want to know them, because they're about to become your friends--free if you take up Ann's offer to leave a comment on my blog (http://pewperspective.blogspot.com/20...).
The setting is New Smyrna Beach Surf and Sailing Camp, a Christian summer camp for young people.
First, there's Raine Zigler, sometimes called Rainey. She's the kind of person who inspires you to be better than you are now. She's determined to follow God's will no matter what. Even if it means cutting out her heart, which is offending her and undermining her relationship with God. She is attracted to a guy we can see will lead her away from God. She can see it, too, but the connection to him is so overwhelmingly taut. She can tell he might get between her and her most desired goal--to become a missionary in Africa.
The guy in question is Cal Koomer, a surfer, sun blond, tan, and buff. When his eyes meet Raine's at the meet-the-staff orientation, the connection is instantaneous and euphoric. Speaking of connections, Cal has lost his connection with God. Deliberately. Not that he doesn't think God exists, but Cal doesn't want God--or anyone--ruling his life. He's pretty sure he would want a chance to "educate" Raine in the finer funs of life. Africa? No way.
However, an obstacle crops up between Cal and Raine. His name is Drew Martin, handsome and a dynamite worship leader/guitar player/singer/pray-er. Drew is the kind of person Raine should fall for. He'd probably love becoming a missionary in Africa. Trouble is, there's this other girl Drew was pretty sure God told him he should marry.
And then there's Aly Logan, Cal's step sister and Raine's roommate. Aly is prickly. She's not about to let a Bible-thumper like Raine close. She'd like to let Cal get close, but he keeps acting like a brother. So she goes around looking for any guy who can fill her need for someone to hold her.
The one we'd like to leave out of the main characters is Eddie Zigler. Raine's brother. Drug addict. Raine loves him but fears him. Why? And he keeps after her for money. She wants him to turn himself over to Teen Challenge, but he'd rather just go get high again. At any cost.
If you mix all these personalities together and bake them under the hot Florida sun, what you get is not a cake. A pudding, perhaps. A stew, probably.
The setting is New Smyrna Beach Surf and Sailing Camp, a Christian summer camp for young people.
First, there's Raine Zigler, sometimes called Rainey. She's the kind of person who inspires you to be better than you are now. She's determined to follow God's will no matter what. Even if it means cutting out her heart, which is offending her and undermining her relationship with God. She is attracted to a guy we can see will lead her away from God. She can see it, too, but the connection to him is so overwhelmingly taut. She can tell he might get between her and her most desired goal--to become a missionary in Africa.
The guy in question is Cal Koomer, a surfer, sun blond, tan, and buff. When his eyes meet Raine's at the meet-the-staff orientation, the connection is instantaneous and euphoric. Speaking of connections, Cal has lost his connection with God. Deliberately. Not that he doesn't think God exists, but Cal doesn't want God--or anyone--ruling his life. He's pretty sure he would want a chance to "educate" Raine in the finer funs of life. Africa? No way.
However, an obstacle crops up between Cal and Raine. His name is Drew Martin, handsome and a dynamite worship leader/guitar player/singer/pray-er. Drew is the kind of person Raine should fall for. He'd probably love becoming a missionary in Africa. Trouble is, there's this other girl Drew was pretty sure God told him he should marry.
And then there's Aly Logan, Cal's step sister and Raine's roommate. Aly is prickly. She's not about to let a Bible-thumper like Raine close. She'd like to let Cal get close, but he keeps acting like a brother. So she goes around looking for any guy who can fill her need for someone to hold her.
The one we'd like to leave out of the main characters is Eddie Zigler. Raine's brother. Drug addict. Raine loves him but fears him. Why? And he keeps after her for money. She wants him to turn himself over to Teen Challenge, but he'd rather just go get high again. At any cost.
If you mix all these personalities together and bake them under the hot Florida sun, what you get is not a cake. A pudding, perhaps. A stew, probably.
January 16, 2016
I really liked this book. It was real to me. Not during any part of this book did I think "This wouldn't happen". It wasn't a candy coated "Christian version". It had all the real elements that people deal with today - sexual temptation, alcohol, drugs, violence, jealousy, making choices, and wanting and hoping to do what is right. I have been to summer camp and I have worked at summer and these kinds of things do happen.
I loved the whole beach scene! Any book that takes place on a beach is alright by me. I also seem to like books that take place around summer camp. This was not so much about the kids at camp but the Counselors and Instructors. There was very good character development! Wow, I really liked Raine, actually I really liked everybody! That doesn't happen so often in books. There is usually someone I can't connect with but I really felt like I knew them all and liked all of them even Eddie, the "bad guy" I felt bad for him and just wanted him to get help he needed.
About the only fault I could find with this book is that the characters seemed younger to me than they were suppose to be. They were all in their 20's but it read like they were teens. I kept comparing them to my daughter who is 23. And for some reason I kept getting Cal and Drew mixed up in the beginning, but that wasn't really the Authors fault. Other than that I loved everything else about this book. It flowed very nicely, was easy to read and kept my interest all the way through.
There were some really great lines -
"Sometimes I'm twelve inside and it bleeds to the outside. Embarrassing."
"Rainey, I wish I could promise you running to Africa would work. But my guess is the pain will go with you. The only thing I know is if you take God into those deep cracks Eddie's made in your heart, you'll fill them with something good. Somehow the suffering won't be wasted."
"Faith is believing what God said in the Bible is true."
"I believe it. I don't feel it."
"Your feelings will catch up. If the emotion was wiped out as soon as God forgave us, we'd go right out and do the same thing again." - I loved that one!
and even a few humorous ones -
"Did you read Harry Potter?"
"I hid it in my closet for a week, but yeah, I read it under the covers with a flashlight and felt like a criminal. I confessed to mom."
This was a really nice Christian book about being faithful to God, but also being unsure about your faith.
Of course - no sex or swearing, so good for any age. In fact I recommend teen read it.
I loved the whole beach scene! Any book that takes place on a beach is alright by me. I also seem to like books that take place around summer camp. This was not so much about the kids at camp but the Counselors and Instructors. There was very good character development! Wow, I really liked Raine, actually I really liked everybody! That doesn't happen so often in books. There is usually someone I can't connect with but I really felt like I knew them all and liked all of them even Eddie, the "bad guy" I felt bad for him and just wanted him to get help he needed.
About the only fault I could find with this book is that the characters seemed younger to me than they were suppose to be. They were all in their 20's but it read like they were teens. I kept comparing them to my daughter who is 23. And for some reason I kept getting Cal and Drew mixed up in the beginning, but that wasn't really the Authors fault. Other than that I loved everything else about this book. It flowed very nicely, was easy to read and kept my interest all the way through.
There were some really great lines -
"Sometimes I'm twelve inside and it bleeds to the outside. Embarrassing."
"Rainey, I wish I could promise you running to Africa would work. But my guess is the pain will go with you. The only thing I know is if you take God into those deep cracks Eddie's made in your heart, you'll fill them with something good. Somehow the suffering won't be wasted."
"Faith is believing what God said in the Bible is true."
"I believe it. I don't feel it."
"Your feelings will catch up. If the emotion was wiped out as soon as God forgave us, we'd go right out and do the same thing again." - I loved that one!
and even a few humorous ones -
"Did you read Harry Potter?"
"I hid it in my closet for a week, but yeah, I read it under the covers with a flashlight and felt like a criminal. I confessed to mom."
This was a really nice Christian book about being faithful to God, but also being unsure about your faith.
Of course - no sex or swearing, so good for any age. In fact I recommend teen read it.
August 16, 2012
Really good wholesome story. I really enjoyed Raine. She was so focused and all she spoke about was her life path. When she arrived at her summer job as a counselor she had a goal of meeting at least 3 friends. Her roomie and cabin mate started off a little rough, but it worked itself out. She starts a close friendship with Cal and Drew. Drew started teasing her from day 1 about being home schooled and her name. He always called her Rainey. Drew has an old girl he never got over and she returns. Sam is a threat and when that isn't enough her brother goes off the deep end and has major trouble.
A great story with tons of values.
Just had to upload my quotes
- Highlight on Page 70 Added on Wednesday, August 15, 2012, 02:05 PM
“Cold. Wind’s kicking up.” “Kicking eternity,” Cal said. Aly nudged Cal with her foot. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “I’m reading Sacred Hoops written by Phil Jackson when he coached the Chicago Bulls. Jackson kicks against his parents’ take on eternity.”
Highlight on Page 162 | Loc. 3194-3200 | Added on Wednesday, August 15, 2012, 02:18 PM
And Cal again felt the caress of God. Childhood Bible verses broke loose like driftwood that had been caught in a logger jam. First, This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Then, But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And, God is love.
Jesus, fill me with Your ability to communicate love and forgiveness to Eddie. Give me wisdom in how to deal with him. Make this a turning point for him away from drugs. Please.
She stepped into his chest and his arms closed around her. The rain slapped against the tin roof, and she listened to the beat of his heart—racing, like he’d sprinted down the beach. She felt safe, safer than she’d ever felt in her life. She looked up and took his face in her hands. “You know that kiss, the one you apologized for?” “Yes.” His voice was definite, his eyes smiling. “I want more of those—”
Highlight on Page 314
Thank You, God, for giving me someone so much better than I could have chosen. And for giving me my dream.
A great story with tons of values.
Just had to upload my quotes
- Highlight on Page 70 Added on Wednesday, August 15, 2012, 02:05 PM
“Cold. Wind’s kicking up.” “Kicking eternity,” Cal said. Aly nudged Cal with her foot. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “I’m reading Sacred Hoops written by Phil Jackson when he coached the Chicago Bulls. Jackson kicks against his parents’ take on eternity.”
Highlight on Page 162 | Loc. 3194-3200 | Added on Wednesday, August 15, 2012, 02:18 PM
And Cal again felt the caress of God. Childhood Bible verses broke loose like driftwood that had been caught in a logger jam. First, This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Then, But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And, God is love.
Jesus, fill me with Your ability to communicate love and forgiveness to Eddie. Give me wisdom in how to deal with him. Make this a turning point for him away from drugs. Please.
She stepped into his chest and his arms closed around her. The rain slapped against the tin roof, and she listened to the beat of his heart—racing, like he’d sprinted down the beach. She felt safe, safer than she’d ever felt in her life. She looked up and took his face in her hands. “You know that kiss, the one you apologized for?” “Yes.” His voice was definite, his eyes smiling. “I want more of those—”
Highlight on Page 314
Thank You, God, for giving me someone so much better than I could have chosen. And for giving me my dream.
September 18, 2012
Kicking Eternity is a compelling read with a great assortment of characters and challenges. Growing up in a Christian home, I could commiserate with Raine when accused of being a self-righteous and sheltered Christian kid who didn’t understand real life. She also pulled at my heart-strings as she fought off her crush on the rebel art teacher. But I must say my favorite character, by far, was Drew, the Rec Director.
Drew’s character pulled me into the story and held my interest. He even caused me to slap my forehead a couple times and accuse him of being dense, always a good thing for a reader to care that much. Ann wrote Drew and Raine’s relationship in such a way that I believed in their past and hoped for their future. In fact, throughout Kicking Eternity I found myself hoping for the happiness of both, and it was this hope which kept me turning pages.
The end result for a couple of the characters was a surprise, and contributed more to the reality rather than fantasy of these characters. It also makes me eager to read the next book, The Art of My Life, which focuses on the rebel art teacher, Cal. Caring for the characters is the key to enjoying the story, even if you only truly care about the life of one.
The one qualm with Kicking Eternity falls to the frequency of scene breaks utilized to hop from one character to another. The story might have drawn me in more completely, and sooner, if one character had been the focus for a longer period of time. Instead, I felt a little like a wagon being pulled down a pot-hole infested road.
But overall, Kicking Eternity was a refreshing read. I love finding stories where the characters act more real than imagined, as this gives greater credit to the moral they impart by the end of the book. While I wish there was a clearer sense of the actual main character, I enjoyed the end result of getting to know them.
Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5. I would give the book a 4 but for those pesky, distracting scene breaks.
Would I read it again? Probably.
Would I recommend it to others? Definitely.
Drew’s character pulled me into the story and held my interest. He even caused me to slap my forehead a couple times and accuse him of being dense, always a good thing for a reader to care that much. Ann wrote Drew and Raine’s relationship in such a way that I believed in their past and hoped for their future. In fact, throughout Kicking Eternity I found myself hoping for the happiness of both, and it was this hope which kept me turning pages.
The end result for a couple of the characters was a surprise, and contributed more to the reality rather than fantasy of these characters. It also makes me eager to read the next book, The Art of My Life, which focuses on the rebel art teacher, Cal. Caring for the characters is the key to enjoying the story, even if you only truly care about the life of one.
The one qualm with Kicking Eternity falls to the frequency of scene breaks utilized to hop from one character to another. The story might have drawn me in more completely, and sooner, if one character had been the focus for a longer period of time. Instead, I felt a little like a wagon being pulled down a pot-hole infested road.
But overall, Kicking Eternity was a refreshing read. I love finding stories where the characters act more real than imagined, as this gives greater credit to the moral they impart by the end of the book. While I wish there was a clearer sense of the actual main character, I enjoyed the end result of getting to know them.
Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5. I would give the book a 4 but for those pesky, distracting scene breaks.
Would I read it again? Probably.
Would I recommend it to others? Definitely.
July 17, 2012
Here is a great summer read, Kicking Eternity, by Ann Lee Miller. I believe it is her debut book, available via eBooks on Nook and Kindle and in print form.
It’s about four main characters who are staff members at a Christian camp. One of them is in high school or recently graduated while the rest are in their mid-to-late 20s. The main heroine, Raine, has always felt God’s plan for her life was to be a missionary in Africa. The story takes place the summer before she is to leave as a single missionary. She meets Drew and Cal, who both fall in love with her. With all the twists and turns, the author will keep you staying up late to see how Raine would let God work out His plan for her life.
The author has a candid and honest approach to some of the issues that burden our families today. Those included fear, trust, drugs, and infatuation/love.
This book is definitely one to be recommended. Not only does it help you feel Raine’s emotions personally, but it also takes you to how you’ve dealt with or are dealing with many of those same emotions in your own life.
The author shows how God’s plan is always perfect when we follow Him. At first there was disappointment in how the author left one character at the end of the book until reading her preview for the next book. The Art of My Life has a release date of September 1, 2012. It’s good to see that there is hope for this character!
Lastly, the third book in the series, Aura’s God, has a release date of December 1, 2012. This book is about two of the secondary characters in Kicking Eternity. It will be exciting to see how Ann develops Kallie and Jesse.
It’s about four main characters who are staff members at a Christian camp. One of them is in high school or recently graduated while the rest are in their mid-to-late 20s. The main heroine, Raine, has always felt God’s plan for her life was to be a missionary in Africa. The story takes place the summer before she is to leave as a single missionary. She meets Drew and Cal, who both fall in love with her. With all the twists and turns, the author will keep you staying up late to see how Raine would let God work out His plan for her life.
The author has a candid and honest approach to some of the issues that burden our families today. Those included fear, trust, drugs, and infatuation/love.
This book is definitely one to be recommended. Not only does it help you feel Raine’s emotions personally, but it also takes you to how you’ve dealt with or are dealing with many of those same emotions in your own life.
The author shows how God’s plan is always perfect when we follow Him. At first there was disappointment in how the author left one character at the end of the book until reading her preview for the next book. The Art of My Life has a release date of September 1, 2012. It’s good to see that there is hope for this character!
Lastly, the third book in the series, Aura’s God, has a release date of December 1, 2012. This book is about two of the secondary characters in Kicking Eternity. It will be exciting to see how Ann develops Kallie and Jesse.
June 7, 2012
My friend Ann Lee Miller just published her first book. If you'd like a free e-copy, just go to http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/.... Additional Kindle downloading instructions appear on the contact page at AnnLeeMiller.com. Ann would be thrilled if you passed the free link & e-mail on to your friends so that as many people as possible get a free book!
Here's a description of the novel, which won 1st Place, Long Contemporary in the 2009 Romance Writers of America Faith, Hope, and Love Contest:
Stuck in sleepy New Smyrna Beach one last summer, Raine socks away her camp pay checks, worries about her druggy brother, and ignores trouble: Cal Koomer. She’s a plane ticket away from teaching orphans in Africa, and not even Cal’s surfer six-pack and the chinks she spies in his rebel armor will derail her.
The artist in Cal begs to paint Raine’s ivory skin, high cheek bones, and internal sparklers behind her eyes, but falling for her would caterwaul him into his parents’ life. No thanks. The girl was self-righteous waiting to happen. Mom served sanctimony like vegetables, three servings a day, and he had a gut full.
Rec Director Drew taunts her with “Rainey” and calls her an enabler. He is so infernally there like a horsefly—till he buzzes back to his ex.
Raine’s brother tweaks. Her dream of Africa dies small deaths. Will she figure out what to fight for and what to free before it’s too late?
For anyone who’s ever wrestled with her dreams.
Here's a description of the novel, which won 1st Place, Long Contemporary in the 2009 Romance Writers of America Faith, Hope, and Love Contest:
Stuck in sleepy New Smyrna Beach one last summer, Raine socks away her camp pay checks, worries about her druggy brother, and ignores trouble: Cal Koomer. She’s a plane ticket away from teaching orphans in Africa, and not even Cal’s surfer six-pack and the chinks she spies in his rebel armor will derail her.
The artist in Cal begs to paint Raine’s ivory skin, high cheek bones, and internal sparklers behind her eyes, but falling for her would caterwaul him into his parents’ life. No thanks. The girl was self-righteous waiting to happen. Mom served sanctimony like vegetables, three servings a day, and he had a gut full.
Rec Director Drew taunts her with “Rainey” and calls her an enabler. He is so infernally there like a horsefly—till he buzzes back to his ex.
Raine’s brother tweaks. Her dream of Africa dies small deaths. Will she figure out what to fight for and what to free before it’s too late?
For anyone who’s ever wrestled with her dreams.
December 8, 2012
This is a book that should be read by young adults everywhere. Christian teens are not immune to the temptations of the world no matter how long they have been Christians. This is the story of four people who face challenges in their personal lives and their spiritual lives.
Raine decides to teach at a Christian Camp to help earn money to take her to Africa as a missionary. Cal is the son of a preacher. His brother runs the camp. Drew is the camps recreation leader. Both he and Cal are in love with Raine. Aly is Raine’s roommate and sees Raine as a goody-goody. When her father left she felt an empty hole. She tried to fill that hole with guys who didn’t really care for her. She sees that both Cal and Drew care for Raine and that sets the stage for more conflict. In the mix is Raine’s brother who has a drug problem. Sometimes it is difficult to see the problem before us. We tend to cover it up or make excuses until it is almost too late.
I was able to relate to this particular situation. For years I made excuses for my youngest sister and her drinking problems that eventually became drug problems as well. I did this to protect my mother I said. It almost destroyed not only my sister, but also my family. This is a book that should be read by everyone.
I believe it can be enjoyed by Christian and Non-Christian alike.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
Raine decides to teach at a Christian Camp to help earn money to take her to Africa as a missionary. Cal is the son of a preacher. His brother runs the camp. Drew is the camps recreation leader. Both he and Cal are in love with Raine. Aly is Raine’s roommate and sees Raine as a goody-goody. When her father left she felt an empty hole. She tried to fill that hole with guys who didn’t really care for her. She sees that both Cal and Drew care for Raine and that sets the stage for more conflict. In the mix is Raine’s brother who has a drug problem. Sometimes it is difficult to see the problem before us. We tend to cover it up or make excuses until it is almost too late.
I was able to relate to this particular situation. For years I made excuses for my youngest sister and her drinking problems that eventually became drug problems as well. I did this to protect my mother I said. It almost destroyed not only my sister, but also my family. This is a book that should be read by everyone.
I believe it can be enjoyed by Christian and Non-Christian alike.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
June 15, 2012
Firstly thanks Ann for my review copy.
This is an interesting book. I would class it as YA but in saying this I did enjoy it. Raine is out of college and wanting to work in Africa with children. She is at a summer camp working as a councillor. Here she encounters Cal the directors brother who has her pegged as being home schooled and sheltered Drew another councillor annoys her as he insists on calling her Rainey which she hates and the more she objects the more he does it like that annoying friend of her brothers. She also has a brother who has issues that she is dealing with. There are others in the book also who play important parts. We learn why Raine wants to go to African and what drives her. The book deals with making choices, discovering how these choices then affect different relationships and situations. Ann had shown the issues young people face these days and how hard it can be to know what is right. She also allows her characters to experience these situations to help them grow. This is a book that is well suited for the YA audience and I believe others will gain insight from this book.
Good read.
January 12, 2013
This is the third book I have read by Ann Lee Miller and it is by far my favourite. “Kicking Eternity” certainly deserves a five star review.
Ann’s writing style is easy to read and flows well. There are minimal typing errors and the writing is nicely set out on the page. Throughout the story Ann creates in-depth characters which are easy to connect to. Raine is the main character in this book and after just a few chapters you feel like you are living her life. You get annoyed by some of the choices she makes and you feel her pain and sadness.
“Kicking Eternity” is built around a well thought-out story line which keeps you turning the pages and makes this book difficult to put down. I would recommend “Kicking Eternity” to teenagers/young adults.
I received my copy of “Kicking Eternity” from the author for my honest review.
Ann’s writing style is easy to read and flows well. There are minimal typing errors and the writing is nicely set out on the page. Throughout the story Ann creates in-depth characters which are easy to connect to. Raine is the main character in this book and after just a few chapters you feel like you are living her life. You get annoyed by some of the choices she makes and you feel her pain and sadness.
“Kicking Eternity” is built around a well thought-out story line which keeps you turning the pages and makes this book difficult to put down. I would recommend “Kicking Eternity” to teenagers/young adults.
I received my copy of “Kicking Eternity” from the author for my honest review.
June 5, 2012
I confess that Kicking Eternity started a little slow for me, but as I got to know each of the four main characters, I found myself warming to them, wanting to read on.
One of Ms. Miller's strong points was her sprinkling of sensory details. Details so vivid, you could practically feel the Florida beach sand sliding through your toes and the storm kicking up the waves. Kicking Eternity features relevant issues and great conflict: staunch Christian girl battles attraction to rebellious, non-conforming guy. A couple extra characters thrown in to muddy the mix is sure to be the start of a successful series for this author. Young adult readers on up will enjoy Ms. Miller's unique and fresh writing style in Kicking Eternity.
One of Ms. Miller's strong points was her sprinkling of sensory details. Details so vivid, you could practically feel the Florida beach sand sliding through your toes and the storm kicking up the waves. Kicking Eternity features relevant issues and great conflict: staunch Christian girl battles attraction to rebellious, non-conforming guy. A couple extra characters thrown in to muddy the mix is sure to be the start of a successful series for this author. Young adult readers on up will enjoy Ms. Miller's unique and fresh writing style in Kicking Eternity.
January 6, 2013
Raine has been hired to teach Bible at a summer camp, but is unprepared for her attraction to bad boy Cal, or seeing Drew again, a ‘boy’ from her past who is now all grown up. The promise of some interesting developments between the three is almost immediate and I was hooked after only a few pages. The characters are varied and well developed; real people with issues that deserve an audience. It is not a book that I could read in one sitting, however. The story needed to be savored. It is full of rich character development, and pulls the reader closer to God in a way that was genuine and never forced. This is much more than the typical Christian romance and I highly recommend it.
June 4, 2012
Ahhh...the joys of a good book. You start reading and forget you need to be somewhere or that dinner has to be fixed. You run, do what you have to do, and then hurry back to pick up where you left off. That's what I experienced when I read "Kicking Eternity." Ann wove me into the lives of Raine, Drew, Cal and Aly, causing me to care how things turned out and kept me turning page after page until the end. And even then, while the book was complete, I longed for more. I look forward to the sequel coming out in September.
June 27, 2012
I got this free on smashwords. I had a hard time putting this down. The characters felt real, with flaws and problems of their own, but very lovable. I appreciated the author's way of telling the bad things the characters did without making me feel dirty. Some tough subjects are broached here, drug use and sex before marriage as well as honoring parents and enabling drug abusers. She did a great job, I recommend it!
January 13, 2013
I devoured this book in one day!! I love the spiritual message it sends to our youth and the true love for God and each other that the main character Raine exhibits. This book touched my heart and soul and hooked me from the very beginning. What an inspirational story with suspense, romance, and devotion to a higher power. I. Love how it is a Christian themed book, but a non believer would not find it preachy or legalistic. Great job Ann Lee Miller!!
February 8, 2013
I really enjoyed this inspirational romance. Ann does a great job of including the character's relationship with God with out it being overbearing or pushy. I really liked how when the characters prayed, it sounded like they were talking to their best friend. These characters really seemed like real people I could relate to. I look forward to reading more by Ann Lee Miller.
November 24, 2024
This book means a lot to me. I read this when I was a teenager and felt so seen in the MC’s relationship with her brother. I will never forget how it made me feel that I wasn’t alone. Also, I love Drew so much and Drew and Raine are adorable.
August 28, 2012
This was a fun read; the love triangle was unique and had me trying to guess most of the way through the book who Rainey would choose to love.
November 13, 2012
A good book with several characters who have challenges to overcome. Religion plays an important part in most of the character's li9ves.
December 28, 2012
As with most Christian novels, it was a touch preachy and a bit forced, but I still enjoyed it. it was an easy, quick read with a little more depth than I anticipated.
January 27, 2013
Loved this book from start to finish thank you for a great read.
February 16, 2013
This was good. I think there is more in this series. Again, another easy read, great for the beach.
January 8, 2021
This was a great book. It sure made you think of god and love him even more. Thanks
June 7, 2012
Kicking Eternity by Ann Lee Miller
This book follows the lives of four young adults. There is Raine who has always dreamed of going to Africa. Her heart is for the orphans there but is her motive to escape from under her dad’s thumb or her brother’s dependency upon her? She is teaching Bible at the Triple S Christian Camp for the summer. When her new friends tell her she hasn’t experienced life being home schooled and not out in the world, her faith is challenged. Will she wait to hear what God desires for her or will her physical desires rule her decisions?
Drew has been living the past years in a blur. He has lived waiting for the love of his life to walk back into it. Drew is the Rec Leader at the camp. He remembers the younger Raine who has now become a beautiful young woman. Drew struggles with dealing with the past and deciding on the future. Will the Lord give him a wife and family? Will his old flame return and if so, is it what he still wants?
Cal is from the family where dad is a preacher and brother runs the camp. He is rebelling against giving into God. When he sees the beautiful Raine, something inside him wants to become a better person for her. But is he being led back to God or only trying to meet human expectations?
Aly has been a lost little girl for some time. Her goody two shoes roommate wants to be friends but what does Raine know about life? Aly’s dad has been out of the picture for years so she’s replaces her dad with other guys to fill her need to be loved, yet she always ends up feeling empty. When she realizes there is one guy that 's always been there for her….and has cared for her….it’s too late. He is in love with someone else. And the big question she asks herself is, "Can God forgive someone as sinful as me?"
Ann brings these characters to life. They are imperfect. A few think that drugs will help while others look for human comforters. One is just enabling another. As they hang onto their pasts or look into their futures….you will be pulled along into their lives. On the roller coaster of relationships that always take that sudden turn or drop off when you least expect it. It does have romance in it but so much more. Looking forward to her books coming out later this year.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
This book follows the lives of four young adults. There is Raine who has always dreamed of going to Africa. Her heart is for the orphans there but is her motive to escape from under her dad’s thumb or her brother’s dependency upon her? She is teaching Bible at the Triple S Christian Camp for the summer. When her new friends tell her she hasn’t experienced life being home schooled and not out in the world, her faith is challenged. Will she wait to hear what God desires for her or will her physical desires rule her decisions?
Drew has been living the past years in a blur. He has lived waiting for the love of his life to walk back into it. Drew is the Rec Leader at the camp. He remembers the younger Raine who has now become a beautiful young woman. Drew struggles with dealing with the past and deciding on the future. Will the Lord give him a wife and family? Will his old flame return and if so, is it what he still wants?
Cal is from the family where dad is a preacher and brother runs the camp. He is rebelling against giving into God. When he sees the beautiful Raine, something inside him wants to become a better person for her. But is he being led back to God or only trying to meet human expectations?
Aly has been a lost little girl for some time. Her goody two shoes roommate wants to be friends but what does Raine know about life? Aly’s dad has been out of the picture for years so she’s replaces her dad with other guys to fill her need to be loved, yet she always ends up feeling empty. When she realizes there is one guy that 's always been there for her….and has cared for her….it’s too late. He is in love with someone else. And the big question she asks herself is, "Can God forgive someone as sinful as me?"
Ann brings these characters to life. They are imperfect. A few think that drugs will help while others look for human comforters. One is just enabling another. As they hang onto their pasts or look into their futures….you will be pulled along into their lives. On the roller coaster of relationships that always take that sudden turn or drop off when you least expect it. It does have romance in it but so much more. Looking forward to her books coming out later this year.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
September 19, 2013
Raine is on her way to work at a summer church in hopes of saving enough money to fly to Africa and participate in a some missionary work.Africa has always been on Raine's dream list and nothing or no one is going to get in her way of this dream (Or so she thinks).
Kicking Eternity goes through the lives of the four young adults, who all happen to be church staff members at the same summer camp. Raine who seems to be the main character and who is suffering with coming to terms with her brother's meth addiction, Cal who is the preacher's son and whose brother is the camp director and Drew who is the recreation leader. Both Cal and Drew are in love with Raine. Cal a handsome, blonde hair, tanned surfer who tends to pick on Raine and make fun of the way she was raised, and Drew, ( WHO CANNOT LOVE DREW???) Drew is a sweet caring, loving character. He has been there to help Raine deal with her problems by offering a helping hand and not wanting anything in return. Although Raine may not always want to hear his point of view, and he does tend to pick on her a little bit, Drew is all around a good guy with a genuine heart. Raine struggles over these two men as Drew has been her high school crush since she was fifteen and there is just something about Cal that keeps drawing her towards him. The confusion is very much realistic when dealing with young adult relationships. What happens if you pick one guy and things don't work out? What happens to the other guy!???
Every struggle Raine has she brings forward and prays to god, asking for guidance and sometimes even forgiveness. She is a human and all humans make mistakes that does not make her a bad person. Raine, Cal and Drew are so easy to relate to they are all learning who they want to be as adults, facing fears, pain and burdens helps grow and shape them into who they will be as adults.
Although the majority of Kicking Eternity's plot was religion (which was not for me) there are so many things topics within this book that I did enjoy, for example; meth addiction, sex, rebellion, pressure from peers and parents, forgiveness, happiness, love, sadness, heartbreak, happiness and friendship. All of these things put together make this novel a fantastic read.
For A Full Review Please Visit My Blog
http://theultimatebookworm23.blogspot...
May 26, 2014
Kicking Eternity sucks the reader in from the very first page because of Anne Lee Miller’s amazing ability to capture the audience’s attention. Within its pages, it covers many topics that the audience can relate to and appreciate the struggles within the characters’ lives.
First of all, I love the name Raine and it has always been one of my favorites, so I pretty much loved her character before I even knew her. But Raine is the perfect character. While there are a few main characters, the center is Raine because she is like the sun that all the other characters revolve around. Their lives and relationships are seen because they are in Raine’s life. Raine is a strong character that knows what she wants and is willing to do anything in order to reach her goals and dreams, which creates problems and love triangles within her life.
I found the beginning of the book to be slightly confusing with all the characters. I wished there had been a better overview of them because it felt as if we jumped into their lives without warning or introduction. With this many main characters, you really need to get a sense of them so it becomes less confusing. But the story does easier to follow the further you read and the connections between characters is more visible.
The element that I love the most about Kicking Eternity and Miller’s writing in general is the reliability factor. This was a real story with real characters facing real problems. Not in the sense that it actually happened, but everyone struggles with their dreams, relationships and faith. It is refreshing to read a book that has events that wouldn’t happen in a Hollywood movie, but in real life.
Faith is one if the strongest elements within Miller’s books, but the way in which she delivers it is unique. In no way does this book push religion down your throat. There may be religion in the book, but it focuses on faith and self-acceptance. It doesn’t matter what you believe, the basis of faith in this story is figuring out who you are and what makes you happy. Faith is just the key to having these feelings within the characters’ lives and it helps them to realize their true potential.
Overall, I loved Kicking Eternity. Anne Lee Miller is one of my new favorite authors. I cannot wait to read the rest of her books in this collection.
First of all, I love the name Raine and it has always been one of my favorites, so I pretty much loved her character before I even knew her. But Raine is the perfect character. While there are a few main characters, the center is Raine because she is like the sun that all the other characters revolve around. Their lives and relationships are seen because they are in Raine’s life. Raine is a strong character that knows what she wants and is willing to do anything in order to reach her goals and dreams, which creates problems and love triangles within her life.
I found the beginning of the book to be slightly confusing with all the characters. I wished there had been a better overview of them because it felt as if we jumped into their lives without warning or introduction. With this many main characters, you really need to get a sense of them so it becomes less confusing. But the story does easier to follow the further you read and the connections between characters is more visible.
The element that I love the most about Kicking Eternity and Miller’s writing in general is the reliability factor. This was a real story with real characters facing real problems. Not in the sense that it actually happened, but everyone struggles with their dreams, relationships and faith. It is refreshing to read a book that has events that wouldn’t happen in a Hollywood movie, but in real life.
Faith is one if the strongest elements within Miller’s books, but the way in which she delivers it is unique. In no way does this book push religion down your throat. There may be religion in the book, but it focuses on faith and self-acceptance. It doesn’t matter what you believe, the basis of faith in this story is figuring out who you are and what makes you happy. Faith is just the key to having these feelings within the characters’ lives and it helps them to realize their true potential.
Overall, I loved Kicking Eternity. Anne Lee Miller is one of my new favorite authors. I cannot wait to read the rest of her books in this collection.
September 29, 2013
Original review at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
This book is a christian fiction book through and through which I am not. Does that make me dislike the story? The answer is absolutely not! The whole point of reading for me is to know stories that are different from mine and to perhaps learn something in the process.
This book is about four young adults (5 if you count Raine's brother) who are all struggling to figure out who they are and what direction they are meant to go. This is something that we have all struggled with at some point in our life regardless of our religious standing. What I liked about the characters is that they all had flaws, none of them were perfect and they all made mistakes. They were likeable and real. At no point in the story did I feel like religion was being forced on me, instead I found it quite interesting how religion and faith played and motivated the things the characters did or did not do in the book.
No book would be complete without a complicated love triangle and this book delivers in that department. Would it be team Cal or team Drew? These two men could not be more different from each other and were a big focus for Raine along with her dreams of Africa and her brother.
I thought this story was really good. Although these characters were from a completely different world than what I know, I found that I could relate to them. I found myself routing for them and was excited to find out how their stories would end. If you are easily offended when it comes to religion and faith then this is not the book for you but if you are open-minded and enjoy reading things that may be outside your comfort zone then I suggest you pick up this book. I don't think you will regret it.
This book is a christian fiction book through and through which I am not. Does that make me dislike the story? The answer is absolutely not! The whole point of reading for me is to know stories that are different from mine and to perhaps learn something in the process.
This book is about four young adults (5 if you count Raine's brother) who are all struggling to figure out who they are and what direction they are meant to go. This is something that we have all struggled with at some point in our life regardless of our religious standing. What I liked about the characters is that they all had flaws, none of them were perfect and they all made mistakes. They were likeable and real. At no point in the story did I feel like religion was being forced on me, instead I found it quite interesting how religion and faith played and motivated the things the characters did or did not do in the book.
No book would be complete without a complicated love triangle and this book delivers in that department. Would it be team Cal or team Drew? These two men could not be more different from each other and were a big focus for Raine along with her dreams of Africa and her brother.
I thought this story was really good. Although these characters were from a completely different world than what I know, I found that I could relate to them. I found myself routing for them and was excited to find out how their stories would end. If you are easily offended when it comes to religion and faith then this is not the book for you but if you are open-minded and enjoy reading things that may be outside your comfort zone then I suggest you pick up this book. I don't think you will regret it.
February 23, 2013
Ann Miller has written another great book that demonstrates that even with a strong faith, life can still be confusing, particularly when dealing with matters of the heart!
Raine has her future planned out. She feels God is calling her to go to serve as a missionary in Africa. To earn money for her trip, she spends her summer working at a Christian Camp where she finds she is attracted to two totally different young men who return her feelings. Meanwhile, she has gotten off to a bad start with her room mate, and only needs to get to know her to find how well they can relate.
Each of the four main characters, Raine, Cal, Drew and Aly are flawed. They are human, they are young, their emotions are real. Some of them rely on their faith to help give them strength, but each one of them still have personal struggles. For Raine, it was confusion in love. She feels something for both Cal and Drew, she does things out of love for her brother.
I think Ann has done a wonderful job of showing her characters as young people with growing pains, all striving to do the best they can, and NOT using God as a shield or crutch, but as a guide. They make mistakes, they learn from them. That is real life.
What I really like best about Ann's books? They are well-written and take 'the fear of reading Christian books' away! What Ann writes is current to today's teens/new adults and is easily related to in a smooth flowing way that puts the reader in the story completely!
I highly recommend her books for anyone who is or have ever been caught in the throes of young adulthood!
Raine has her future planned out. She feels God is calling her to go to serve as a missionary in Africa. To earn money for her trip, she spends her summer working at a Christian Camp where she finds she is attracted to two totally different young men who return her feelings. Meanwhile, she has gotten off to a bad start with her room mate, and only needs to get to know her to find how well they can relate.
Each of the four main characters, Raine, Cal, Drew and Aly are flawed. They are human, they are young, their emotions are real. Some of them rely on their faith to help give them strength, but each one of them still have personal struggles. For Raine, it was confusion in love. She feels something for both Cal and Drew, she does things out of love for her brother.
I think Ann has done a wonderful job of showing her characters as young people with growing pains, all striving to do the best they can, and NOT using God as a shield or crutch, but as a guide. They make mistakes, they learn from them. That is real life.
What I really like best about Ann's books? They are well-written and take 'the fear of reading Christian books' away! What Ann writes is current to today's teens/new adults and is easily related to in a smooth flowing way that puts the reader in the story completely!
I highly recommend her books for anyone who is or have ever been caught in the throes of young adulthood!
February 14, 2015
Raine's purpose for the summer is to earn enough money to purchase her ticket to Africa. Raine has always felt called to be a missionary in Africa, but with her brother constantly turning up asking for money to cover his drug use Raine is looking to get away.
Raine's job for the summer is a Bible teacher at summer camp. Cal the camp art teacher and Aly her roommate have taken it upon themselves to educate the naive Christian girl. Will Raine be able to stand up for her beliefs or will her faith be rocked?
Then there is Drew, the camp music director who grew up teasing Raine by constantly calling her Rainey. Still holding on to the girl he was sure God told him he was going to marry even though she dumped him 6 years ago. Drew and Raine have chemistry between them, they both are believers, they pray together, they encourage each other, but with each of them having their hearts tied to someone else they determine to tamp down their attraction to each other.
Set in New Smyrna beach Florida, Kicking Eternity is a perfect summer beach read. While Raine's confusion over Cal and enabling of her brother Eddy frustrated and angered me at times, waiting to see how the relationships played out kept me turning the pages. I also found myself taken back to my younger days when I was less mature in my faith and allowed temptations to govern my actions, so I found Raine's character very relatable. Ann Lee Miller writes real characters facing real-life temptations and struggles with faith that I think every young person can relate to.
Raine's job for the summer is a Bible teacher at summer camp. Cal the camp art teacher and Aly her roommate have taken it upon themselves to educate the naive Christian girl. Will Raine be able to stand up for her beliefs or will her faith be rocked?
Then there is Drew, the camp music director who grew up teasing Raine by constantly calling her Rainey. Still holding on to the girl he was sure God told him he was going to marry even though she dumped him 6 years ago. Drew and Raine have chemistry between them, they both are believers, they pray together, they encourage each other, but with each of them having their hearts tied to someone else they determine to tamp down their attraction to each other.
Set in New Smyrna beach Florida, Kicking Eternity is a perfect summer beach read. While Raine's confusion over Cal and enabling of her brother Eddy frustrated and angered me at times, waiting to see how the relationships played out kept me turning the pages. I also found myself taken back to my younger days when I was less mature in my faith and allowed temptations to govern my actions, so I found Raine's character very relatable. Ann Lee Miller writes real characters facing real-life temptations and struggles with faith that I think every young person can relate to.
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