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UnEmbraceable

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From the author of Revelation Special Ops comes a terrifying, hauntingly real and daringly hopeful tale of betrayal and love.

Leonard, a computer programmer, has a unique gift: by words alone he can calm violent situations. Which is helpful with all these kids running around the streets behaving like zombies. He has his own set of sorrows to face, but he's prepared for anything. Anything except Tamar, and the thunderous inkling that she will be his wife. This doesn't make any sense to Leonard. She stole his wallet. And his heart.

Painful circumstances ripped family and stability from Tamar's grasp, but with gutsy tenacity she faces life head on. Meeting the gorgeous and single Leonard changes everything. But surely a guy like him would never fall for a girl of the streets like her.

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 2013

7 people are currently reading
203 people want to read

About the author

Precarious Yates

20 books40 followers
Precarious Yates lives in Texas with husband, daughter, dogs, chickens, rabbit, lizard and by the time you read this some other exotic creature my husband or daughter has brought home. She had studied the plight of and worked toward the abolition of modern slavery for over a decade before sitting down to write Revelation Special Ops. She was further inspired by the work of her sister-in-law, who helped to found Love146, an organization that works to raise awareness about human trafficking and builds safe homes in vulnerable regions. Yates spent several years overseas as a missionary in Ireland, and also did missions work in India and the Philippines. Her passion for literature has become her means of further educating young adults of the realities of modern slavery, while producing hope through the power of Christ Jesus in us.

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5 stars
20 (48%)
4 stars
8 (19%)
3 stars
7 (17%)
2 stars
4 (9%)
1 star
2 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Cindy Hale.
Author 60 books563 followers
September 16, 2013
Precarious Yates and I met thanks to the World Literary Café where we listed our Facebook pages in their program to connect with other authors. After visiting my page, she saw that I was interested in finding people to review my manuscript, and she offered to do a swap.

I have to admit, I haven't read a Christian romance in a really long time. I was actually a bit hesitant to read this one when I realized it was a Christian book, not because religion bothers me--my own novel is all about religion, but because so many of the Christian romance books I read growing up tended to drag. With four kids and my own writing to conquer, I simply don't have time for books that drag.

I was pleasantly surprised when I began reading UnEmbraceable. The story moved along at a lightning fast pace. I picked it up and didn't put it down unless I was forced to. I started yesterday afternoon and finished before lunchtime. Precarious Yates did a wonderful job moving from one important event to the next, keeping my attention quite well.

When Leonard first meets Tamar, he's shocked to hear God tell him he's supposed to marry her.

"Shameless thief, homeless harlot, damaged goods," (pg 9) is how Tamar views herself. Although she's broken, she still has some ties to decency. For instance, even though she lives in a tent, she carries around paperback copies of Les Miserables and Crime and Punishment, and keeps Chopin's Raindrop Prelude on her iPod. Underneath the dark eyeliner, black leather dress, and chunky heels is a young girl desperately longing for stability, and to be honored, loved and respected by a man like Leonard whom she meets in the city and then later steals thousands of dollars from.

Leonard is 21 and lives in the penthouse of the new luxury high rise in town. He's the tall, dark, and handsome type with cobalt eyes and a sexy smile. Like Tamar, he's also struggling with tough events from his past. He's the kind of guy who follows God with his entire heart and soul, even if it means his life could be turned upside down because of it.

I appreciated how squeaky clean this book was. Even though she discussed several weighty topics never was the foul language actually written or were the terrible scenes elaborated on. There wasn't a need for it, and the story was just as gripping and tragic without it. Danger lurked around every corner with earthquakes and zombie-like teens on a new drug that I call the demon-drug.

I'm honored to have done this swap with Precarious Yates, and I'm looking forward to seeing more from her in the future.

P.S. She might have re-awakened my interest in this genre. I'm definitely open to reading more if they're anything like UnEmbraceable.
Profile Image for April McGowan.
Author 4 books81 followers
July 30, 2013
This is my first Precarious Yates novel I've read. I wasn't sure what to expect--but I loved it. The author does an expert job at setting a place in the near future where kids are out of control, and spiritual battles run rampant. I found Tamar to be an engaging, realistic character, one whom I could sympathize with (even thought I've never been in her shoes). There's a touch of biblical allegory, but just a bit. She's tough, street-wise, but desperate to fill that gaping void in her spirit that haunts her. She's lived a rough life, and made a lot of mistakes. The author does a wonderful job showing Tamar's realistic, sin-filled life and the consequences that come from that without any hint of preachy-ness or condemnation. Leonard is a great hero. Not so perfect that he's unbelievable, but with a depth of character and compassion women long to see in the men around them. I was immediately drawn into the story and held there until it was finished. And I can't help but hope there will be a sequel!
Profile Image for Emerald Barnes.
Author 24 books122 followers
July 19, 2013
There are two main characters in this novel, Tamar and Leonard. Leonard is a good, clean-cut Christian man (someone I could easily fall for!), and Tamar is a prostitute and thief. Yet, God wants Leonard to marry Tamar.
Leonard couldn’t stop thinking about her, even though she stole his wallet. She stole more than that, his heart. Tamar couldn’t stop thinking about Leonard and how she’d stolen from this man who was nothing but kind to her. They both new they were supposed to be together, but Tamar couldn’t bring herself to fully trust that. Who would want a woman like her? How could she heal and let herself love a man?


In Unembraceable, we see just how much pain Tamar has been through. She was abused at a young age. Her mom had died, leaving her without family, and so she had been thrown into foster care. Every foster family had abused her in some way, and eventually she ran away, looking for a way to survive. And that way was through theft and prostitution. Something even more horrible than that happened to her, and it had caused her to be the way she was. It had stripped her dignity, purity, and left her empty. I cried when I read some of the things that she had gone through.

She meets Leonard again, and the two of them hit it off well. He’s forgiven her, but she can’t forgive herself. The story is about finding forgiveness and letting yourself love. But more than that, it’s a statement about how foster care ruins lives by human trafficking, abuse, or kids having to prostitute themselves just to make a living after they run away.

I loved that this had a political feel because now, I want to do something about the terrible situations some girls/boys find themselves in. And we can never truly understand just how hard it is for kids to bounce back from this.

I urge you to pick up this novel today. Read it, let it soak in.

There is a subplot in the novel about a drug causing kids to act like zombies, which I really liked too, and I felt like Precarious Yates did a fantastic job of using that to break up the tension of Tamar’s life. It can get heavy, and it can get dark. But it’s important that we read this book and learn just how hard life can be for teens who have to deal with this.
Profile Image for Jennifer Erwin.
1,323 reviews14 followers
July 11, 2014
I loved this book. It's actually been in my TBR list on my kindle for quite a while and I'm not sure why I waited until now. This book is actually a modern day retelling of the biblical story of Hosea & Gomer. I laughed, I cried, I stayed up way too late last night as I HAD to finish this book. The author treated the subject matter wonderfully and proved even in today's modern world, no one is unforgivable with God's redeeming love. Wonderful book, highly recommended.
Profile Image for Shannon Wilson.
18 reviews2 followers
November 30, 2016
Amazing

I loved the way the story of God's unending love is portrayed in this book. God loves us so completely no matter what.
Profile Image for Lila.
448 reviews3 followers
December 7, 2018
A thoroughly engaging, delightful, thought-provoking, tear-inducing read. A beautiful story about redemption, healing and the overwhelming grace of God.
Profile Image for J.F..
Author 14 books125 followers
August 4, 2013
UnEmbraceable was not what I expected. That is a good thing. When I catch wind of those two words … human trafficking … I typically run far, far away. But I must hand it to Precarious, she handled a tough subject with delicacy. And when you get down to it, that’s not what the story is all about. It’s about being human. It’s about being full of pain and sin despite our circumstances and what’s visible to others. It’s about healing. It’s about who we can become and what we can accomplish in Christ. But mostly, it’s about love.
The entire story revolves around two characters: Tamar and Leonard. These two people are incredibly different, like night and day. Tamar is a prostitute. Leonard is a well-to-do Christian. Through Leonard’s obedience to his heavenly Father, we see Christian love as it should exist on earth. He and his friends are wonderful examples of how to love others … even those actively engaged in open sin.
Warning: Some of the contents of this book are disturbing. But the author handles them with care. She does them justice without dwelling on them.
This book is an excellent reminder of who we are in Christ and how we should reflect his light to illuminate a dark world. If, like me, you’re tempted to shy away because some of the content … don’t. I’m glad I didn’t.
Profile Image for Tessa Stockton.
Author 20 books50 followers
March 1, 2014
UnEmbraceable is a contemporary novel somewhat akin to the Biblical account of Hosea and Gomer. The engaging characters come across as real, with their vivid paths from opposite corners intertwining into a journey that is both painful and joyful, ultimately leading to something new (it’s never too late for fresh starts). The raw, unrelenting forgiveness in this story is the kind Jesus conveys – and that the author, Precarious Yates, has succeeded in expressing through a beautiful and unique style. She handles the issues of human trafficking and prostitution with delicacy. This is one of those rare romances with substance. My kind of romance! How the author incorporated zombies (yes, zombies) into the plot, which develops into a kind of end-times scenario, is distinct. The well-formed finish left me with a lingering bouquet of the author’s heart for others (deep), love for the Lord (vast), and her talent with words (sharp). Striking cover, too. An all-around book.
Profile Image for Sheila McIntyre.
Author 1 book3 followers
August 14, 2015
Wow, such a beautiful and moving story! I found myself crying more than once as I read this story that brims with God's love for the characters and for us. It is rare that I find a book with romance, suspense, and reminders of how the Lord sees us--reminders of what He longs to accomplish in our lives. This is a story that did not leave me unchanged! I couldn't put this book down (unless I had to). Buy this book--it is a beautifully-crafted story!!

Thank you to the author for a copy of this book--the opinions and thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Lisa Godfrees.
Author 23 books51 followers
September 23, 2013
Brief review...

What I liked:

The story was a Pretty Woman retelling loosely based on the book of Hosea.
The coolest part was the near-future setting...based on End Times. Earthquakes and other natural disasters coupled with a weird drug called Apollyon which turns people into raving almost-zombies.

What could have been better:

The ending was so quickly wrapped up so that it seemed contrived (the reason for the 3-star rating).
Profile Image for Janice Bates.
185 reviews
June 22, 2016
Amazing Grace!!!

UnEmbraceable is written in short chapters (great for us OCD readers who can put a book down mid-chapter) alternating the viewpoints of the two main characters. It tells how one can be changed completely by letting God into one's heart to work his wonders. And happy endings are always good!!!
Profile Image for Ashley Irby.
128 reviews33 followers
September 21, 2013
I won this book through First Reads & had never read anything before by Precarious Yates. I'm so glad that I did! I loved every single thing about the book! Great author - Can't wait to read more!
Profile Image for Alison.
45 reviews
July 13, 2016
Must read

Excellent! This book is an excellent portrayal of God's love for us through a powerful story. The characters and their situations are realistic.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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