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Destiny #1
Destiny: A Romeo and Juliet Retelling
When Destiny Clark is cast alongside her long-time crush Isaac Robinson in their school’s production of Les Misérables, Destiny is horrified to find that she has to be publicly humiliated by acting out her true feelings of rejection onstage. As their rehearsals begin, Destiny realizes the unimaginable: Isaac has developed deep feelings for her despite their vastly different backgrounds and belief systems.
But can they find the true message of love in a world full of judgement and fear?
Weaving around Destiny and Isaac’s alternating viewpoints, this modern-day retelling of Romeo and Juliet is the first book in a series inspired by the characters of Les Misérables and explores heartbreak, self-discovery, intolerance, and love.
But can they find the true message of love in a world full of judgement and fear?
Weaving around Destiny and Isaac’s alternating viewpoints, this modern-day retelling of Romeo and Juliet is the first book in a series inspired by the characters of Les Misérables and explores heartbreak, self-discovery, intolerance, and love.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2013
40 people are currently reading
837 people want to read
About the author
Cindy Ray Hale
60 books565 followersCindy Ray Hale loves to write romcoms set in small towns and has been writing and publishing books since 2012, all the while, laughing at her own funny stories. She is married to the sweetest guy and has a blended family with him, consisting of seven kids.
She loves nerding out on video games, creating book covers, and drinking too much caffeine. When she can find a moment, she loves to sing and play the piano and often includes acting and singing somewhere in her stories.
She was born and raised in the hills of Tennessee in a large crazy family and as an adult, has moved all over the United States. She's finally settled down in a small town in the mountains of western Virginia where she loves to go hiking, boating, and dig in her garden.
She loves nerding out on video games, creating book covers, and drinking too much caffeine. When she can find a moment, she loves to sing and play the piano and often includes acting and singing somewhere in her stories.
She was born and raised in the hills of Tennessee in a large crazy family and as an adult, has moved all over the United States. She's finally settled down in a small town in the mountains of western Virginia where she loves to go hiking, boating, and dig in her garden.
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November 12, 2013
bigotry:
noun
1. intolerance towards those who hold different opinions from oneself.
Destiny Clark is a Mormon who attends a Baptist high school. She doesn't preach her beliefs to anyone. She doesn't try to convert people to her way. She just goes about her life quietly and gracefully. Destiny has had a crush on the school heartthrob Isaac Robinson for quite a while now, but she knows nothing will ever come of it. He is dating someone else. And then there are their religious differences. But then they are cast together in the school production of Les Misérables, and as they spend time together rehearsing, they both come to realise that Isaac has developed very strong feelings for Destiny. But Destiny and Isaac will have to face so many hurdles and roadblocks if they are to have any sort of relationship.
I have a whole host of people in my life who have very different religious beliefs. Some are Catholic. Some are Mormons. Some are Anglican, and some have no faith at all. It makes not one iota of difference to me. What matters is how you treat me. What matters is the love in your heart. What matters is the goodness in your soul. So reading Destiny had me dealing with a whole range of thoughts based around peoples beliefs when it came to religion.
"You Mormons are all the same. You suck our people into your web of lies." I opened my mouth to defend myself, but before I could speak, he bellowed, "I will not have my son involved with you people."
One emotion I felt a lot of while I was reading this book was anger. Anger towards the adults for sticking so solidly to their positions on Baptists versus Mormons. There were times when their opinions were quite hateful and incredibly judgemental. And what was sad was that they had passed those beliefs onto their children, who could be even more hurtful in the things they said and did.
Religion plays a big part in this book. It's not just an occasional mention. The whole storyline is based around the religion and beliefs of the characters. But when I got to the end of the book, it wasn't the religion that stood out for me. It was the growth of the characters, and in particular Isaac. Him and Destiny could teach the adults in this book a few things about acceptance. Isaac doesn't start out as the guy we get at the end of the book. In fact I didn't warm to him straight away. He was his fathers son and held onto his beliefs quite firmly and I couldn't see him changing as the story went on. But he proved to be a much stronger character than I originally gave him credit for and by the end of the book I loved him.
I'd been seeing him all this time as a drool-worthy, celebrity-type guy to fangirl over. I had no idea who he truly was, and I was beginning to wonder if he was more beautiful on the inside than on the outside.
Destiny and Isaac's romance is forbidden, but these two characters know their feelings and fight hard for what they have found with each other. I loved Destiny from the start. I just got a feeling of calmness from her. She has her doubts and insecurities about her, just like any other teenage girl, but it took a lot to rattle her.
Cindy Ray Hale's writing style was very easy to read. There were a few times when the characters felt a little bit younger than what they were supposed to be, but other than that, Destiny was an incredibly enjoyable read. I can always tell if a books done it's job by how invested in the characters I am, and I was rooting for Destiny and Isaac till the very end.
4/5 Forbidden Love Stars.
noun
1. intolerance towards those who hold different opinions from oneself.
Destiny Clark is a Mormon who attends a Baptist high school. She doesn't preach her beliefs to anyone. She doesn't try to convert people to her way. She just goes about her life quietly and gracefully. Destiny has had a crush on the school heartthrob Isaac Robinson for quite a while now, but she knows nothing will ever come of it. He is dating someone else. And then there are their religious differences. But then they are cast together in the school production of Les Misérables, and as they spend time together rehearsing, they both come to realise that Isaac has developed very strong feelings for Destiny. But Destiny and Isaac will have to face so many hurdles and roadblocks if they are to have any sort of relationship.
I have a whole host of people in my life who have very different religious beliefs. Some are Catholic. Some are Mormons. Some are Anglican, and some have no faith at all. It makes not one iota of difference to me. What matters is how you treat me. What matters is the love in your heart. What matters is the goodness in your soul. So reading Destiny had me dealing with a whole range of thoughts based around peoples beliefs when it came to religion.
"You Mormons are all the same. You suck our people into your web of lies." I opened my mouth to defend myself, but before I could speak, he bellowed, "I will not have my son involved with you people."
One emotion I felt a lot of while I was reading this book was anger. Anger towards the adults for sticking so solidly to their positions on Baptists versus Mormons. There were times when their opinions were quite hateful and incredibly judgemental. And what was sad was that they had passed those beliefs onto their children, who could be even more hurtful in the things they said and did.
Religion plays a big part in this book. It's not just an occasional mention. The whole storyline is based around the religion and beliefs of the characters. But when I got to the end of the book, it wasn't the religion that stood out for me. It was the growth of the characters, and in particular Isaac. Him and Destiny could teach the adults in this book a few things about acceptance. Isaac doesn't start out as the guy we get at the end of the book. In fact I didn't warm to him straight away. He was his fathers son and held onto his beliefs quite firmly and I couldn't see him changing as the story went on. But he proved to be a much stronger character than I originally gave him credit for and by the end of the book I loved him.
I'd been seeing him all this time as a drool-worthy, celebrity-type guy to fangirl over. I had no idea who he truly was, and I was beginning to wonder if he was more beautiful on the inside than on the outside.
Destiny and Isaac's romance is forbidden, but these two characters know their feelings and fight hard for what they have found with each other. I loved Destiny from the start. I just got a feeling of calmness from her. She has her doubts and insecurities about her, just like any other teenage girl, but it took a lot to rattle her.
Cindy Ray Hale's writing style was very easy to read. There were a few times when the characters felt a little bit younger than what they were supposed to be, but other than that, Destiny was an incredibly enjoyable read. I can always tell if a books done it's job by how invested in the characters I am, and I was rooting for Destiny and Isaac till the very end.
4/5 Forbidden Love Stars.
April 22, 2017
LDS Fiction, YA- on the younger side.
This book is all about high school kids- navigating through high school, family, relationships and religion. The kids in this book come from different religious backgrounds. Baptist and Latter-Day Saints. They deal with prejudices and hatred. But they also figure out what love and kindness really mean. It was interesting and helped me remember how important it is to be kind- no matter what other people believe.
Content: clean, some kissing
This book is all about high school kids- navigating through high school, family, relationships and religion. The kids in this book come from different religious backgrounds. Baptist and Latter-Day Saints. They deal with prejudices and hatred. But they also figure out what love and kindness really mean. It was interesting and helped me remember how important it is to be kind- no matter what other people believe.
Content: clean, some kissing
August 24, 2014
I got a copy in exchange for an honest review
I really enjoyed Destiny, it was a great book and as soon as I started it I just wanted to keep reading. I really like Cindy her writing style and I think it's great she managed to write about that deals with religious issues without it being too much, but more about that later.
While from the blurb I imagined the book would start with the musical casting scene soon, it didn't. Actually quite some things happened before that. Some parts of the story are a bit predictable, but Destiny is still a very enjoyable read. Also because I haven't read or seen Les Miserables I felt like I was missing something at some points, I didn't see the connectiongs between this book and Les Mis and I also had some trouble following some of the conversations about Les Mis in the story. Luckily most important parts are explained. Destiny had that keep-reading-feel and although I would've liked some more explanation about Les Mis, the Mormons and the Baptists I really enjoyed the story.
Destiny is about two people from a different religious background that fall in love with each other, at some parts I felt like the whole world was against them and I was really rooting for their relationship. Really I was surprised at how some of the Baptists in this book acted towards the Mormons. Especially Isaac's dad, he was the worst of them all. I really wanted they opened their eyes and actually learned a bit more the Mormons and base their expectations on facts.
Religion plays a part of the story in Destiny, let me start by saying I am not a religious person and I haven't read a book so far where religion actually played a part, sure in some books it got mentioned, but in this book religion is part of the storyline. I actually liked learning about the Mormons and Baptists, as far as I know here in the Netherlands these two reiligious don't exist or have only few followers, so I didn't knew a lot about them going in. The most important things are explained although I sometimes felt like I was still missing pieces because I know so little about it. Cindy does a grat job to integrate religion into the story, but it's not too much. Sure it's an important part, but it wasn't like Cindy is trying to convince readers to become Mormon or something, it's just part of the story and that's it.
I liked Destiny from the start, she is a bit of a goody-two-shoes, always following the rules and she was just a nice girl. I really liked her from the start. I didn't like Isaac at first, I am not sure why, he just seemed a bit too perfect and cliché, but as I got to know him better I also started to like him more and found out what a sweet guy he actually was. Hannah added a nice touch to the story, but I got annoyed at her personality sometimes, she just seemed a bit too eager to push Destiny and Isaac together and told sort-of-secrets a bit too easily. I really couldn't stand Olivia, she is Destiny's sister and she is such a little annoying bitch sometimes. On the other hand I really liked Destiny her big brother Michael, he was a great guy and I liked how important he was to the story too, sometimes in books sibling feel like a bit of a fill-up, but Michael actually was a character and he interacted a lot with destiny. Preston was a great character too, although I actually felt a bit bad for him sometimes. He is such a nice guy and did everything for his sisters and mom.
The ending wraps some things up nicely, but the ending is still pretty open too. I am really curious what will happen in the nxt book and how their story continues. There are still a lot of storylines open and questions that need answering.
To conclude: I really enjoyed Destiny, as soon as I started I wanted to keep reading. The religion aspect was nicely woven into the story. I liked learning more about both the Mormons and Baptists although there was a little too less explanation for someone who almost didn't know anything about them before reading this book. I liked most of the character, although it took me some time to start liking Isaac. There where also a few characters which I couldn't stand like Olivia and Isaac's dad. The ending wraps some things up, but also leaves it open enough for the next book.
I really enjoyed Destiny, it was a great book and as soon as I started it I just wanted to keep reading. I really like Cindy her writing style and I think it's great she managed to write about that deals with religious issues without it being too much, but more about that later.
While from the blurb I imagined the book would start with the musical casting scene soon, it didn't. Actually quite some things happened before that. Some parts of the story are a bit predictable, but Destiny is still a very enjoyable read. Also because I haven't read or seen Les Miserables I felt like I was missing something at some points, I didn't see the connectiongs between this book and Les Mis and I also had some trouble following some of the conversations about Les Mis in the story. Luckily most important parts are explained. Destiny had that keep-reading-feel and although I would've liked some more explanation about Les Mis, the Mormons and the Baptists I really enjoyed the story.
Destiny is about two people from a different religious background that fall in love with each other, at some parts I felt like the whole world was against them and I was really rooting for their relationship. Really I was surprised at how some of the Baptists in this book acted towards the Mormons. Especially Isaac's dad, he was the worst of them all. I really wanted they opened their eyes and actually learned a bit more the Mormons and base their expectations on facts.
Religion plays a part of the story in Destiny, let me start by saying I am not a religious person and I haven't read a book so far where religion actually played a part, sure in some books it got mentioned, but in this book religion is part of the storyline. I actually liked learning about the Mormons and Baptists, as far as I know here in the Netherlands these two reiligious don't exist or have only few followers, so I didn't knew a lot about them going in. The most important things are explained although I sometimes felt like I was still missing pieces because I know so little about it. Cindy does a grat job to integrate religion into the story, but it's not too much. Sure it's an important part, but it wasn't like Cindy is trying to convince readers to become Mormon or something, it's just part of the story and that's it.
I liked Destiny from the start, she is a bit of a goody-two-shoes, always following the rules and she was just a nice girl. I really liked her from the start. I didn't like Isaac at first, I am not sure why, he just seemed a bit too perfect and cliché, but as I got to know him better I also started to like him more and found out what a sweet guy he actually was. Hannah added a nice touch to the story, but I got annoyed at her personality sometimes, she just seemed a bit too eager to push Destiny and Isaac together and told sort-of-secrets a bit too easily. I really couldn't stand Olivia, she is Destiny's sister and she is such a little annoying bitch sometimes. On the other hand I really liked Destiny her big brother Michael, he was a great guy and I liked how important he was to the story too, sometimes in books sibling feel like a bit of a fill-up, but Michael actually was a character and he interacted a lot with destiny. Preston was a great character too, although I actually felt a bit bad for him sometimes. He is such a nice guy and did everything for his sisters and mom.
The ending wraps some things up nicely, but the ending is still pretty open too. I am really curious what will happen in the nxt book and how their story continues. There are still a lot of storylines open and questions that need answering.
To conclude: I really enjoyed Destiny, as soon as I started I wanted to keep reading. The religion aspect was nicely woven into the story. I liked learning more about both the Mormons and Baptists although there was a little too less explanation for someone who almost didn't know anything about them before reading this book. I liked most of the character, although it took me some time to start liking Isaac. There where also a few characters which I couldn't stand like Olivia and Isaac's dad. The ending wraps some things up, but also leaves it open enough for the next book.
November 15, 2013
Amazing!! This is exactly the kind of YA book that I love!! People meet and friendships are formed, crushes are developed, and romances start to pop up all over the place. Since there is religion involved, the language and intimate situations stay clean. I'm a big believer that the falling-in-love and romance part of a relationship is more toe-tingling than a casual relationship that is taken lightly.
Destiny is a teen girl and her actions and thoughts took me back to my teen years. She was true to the age she is and her character was very real and believable. My inner (younger) self felt a connection to her from the beginning. She is trying to find her way in life and discover who she really is and wants to be, but also has that little rebellious streak.
One point that I really loved was that all of these kids, from a couple of different backgrounds and upbringings, managed to be great friends and were very accepting of each other because of their similar moral beliefs. I loved that message!
I loved the friendly, enthusiastic Hannah and her swoon-worthy cousin, Isaac. I loved that he started to really grow into himself and stand up for himself and I honestly cannot wait to see where this series goes. I loved every minute of it!!
I loved everything about this book, from the romance, to the Les Mis production, to the growing and maturing of the characters, to the family dynamics, to the friendships, and to the messages that were given.
Content: some religious content, but not preachy; kissing; no language (thank you!!); CLEAN!!
Destiny is a teen girl and her actions and thoughts took me back to my teen years. She was true to the age she is and her character was very real and believable. My inner (younger) self felt a connection to her from the beginning. She is trying to find her way in life and discover who she really is and wants to be, but also has that little rebellious streak.
One point that I really loved was that all of these kids, from a couple of different backgrounds and upbringings, managed to be great friends and were very accepting of each other because of their similar moral beliefs. I loved that message!
I loved the friendly, enthusiastic Hannah and her swoon-worthy cousin, Isaac. I loved that he started to really grow into himself and stand up for himself and I honestly cannot wait to see where this series goes. I loved every minute of it!!
I loved everything about this book, from the romance, to the Les Mis production, to the growing and maturing of the characters, to the family dynamics, to the friendships, and to the messages that were given.
Content: some religious content, but not preachy; kissing; no language (thank you!!); CLEAN!!
November 17, 2013
Religion is a touchy subject for everyone, and the most common protocol is to simply keep your mouth shut about it, so to read a YA that is highly focused on religion is a refreshing change. Destiny is a likable character who has a hugh crush on a guy her family would not approve of, Isaac. He is handsome, sweet, romantic (sounds perfect, right?) but he is not Mormon. Not only is not Mormon, but he just happens to have the perfect girlfriend already.
When Destiny makes friends with Isaac's cousin she soon catches the eye of Isaac himself. While Destiny is fighting her feelings for Isaac, she is also being admired by another cute Mormon boy who her parents do approve of, but she thinks of more as a brother...(doesn't she?)
This book was a fun and easy read with teenage romance and tough decisions. Destiny may be tempted during the book but she also knows what she believes in, and isn't afraid to say it. It was so nice to read about such a strong teenage character. Truly a role model for my nieces to enjoy! I would have no problem passing this book along to my friends and their tweens!
I want to thank the author and Lola's Blog Tours for providing me with a review copy of this book, and I truly hope I get to read book number 2 when it comes out!
Read the full review here: http://shadowkissedcassie.blogspot.co...
When Destiny makes friends with Isaac's cousin she soon catches the eye of Isaac himself. While Destiny is fighting her feelings for Isaac, she is also being admired by another cute Mormon boy who her parents do approve of, but she thinks of more as a brother...(doesn't she?)
This book was a fun and easy read with teenage romance and tough decisions. Destiny may be tempted during the book but she also knows what she believes in, and isn't afraid to say it. It was so nice to read about such a strong teenage character. Truly a role model for my nieces to enjoy! I would have no problem passing this book along to my friends and their tweens!
I want to thank the author and Lola's Blog Tours for providing me with a review copy of this book, and I truly hope I get to read book number 2 when it comes out!
Read the full review here: http://shadowkissedcassie.blogspot.co...
November 6, 2013
Destiny is more than just a love story between a girl and a guy.... it's about the importance of loving others! I loved reading Destiny! The book is a love story, but also I great example on the importance of loving those who may not have the same "religious" views as you. It really hit home on some of the issues that have been on my heart lately. There is way too much hate and discrimination in this world. Not enough unconditional love! Destiny gives the world an insider perspective on how it feels to be seen as an "outsider" due to a difference in beliefs. More people need to read this to understand the power and hurt they cause through this kind of rejection. Just because you don't see eye to eye on your "religious" beliefs does not mean you can't be friends (even best friends)! Anyway, I highly recommend this book and hope people will learn the importance of loving everyone!
October 25, 2013
Destiny is a book that changed my life. It's a book I keep re-reading. It's the kind of book that speaks straight to my soul. It's realistic and funny. It can turn a bad day into a fantastic day.
November 24, 2013
This review is taken from http://ramblingsonreadings.blogspot.com
Destiny (Destiny Trilogy #1)
By Cindy Ray Hale
Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Check it out: Good Reads | Kindle | Amazon Paperback | Nook | Smashwords
I received this book in exchange for an honest review
Blurb:
Destiny Clark, a young Mormon girl living in Tennessee, is wildly infatuated with Isaac Robinson, the headmaster's son at her Baptist high school. When they're cast together in the school's production of Les Misérables, Destiny is horrified to find that she has to be publicly humiliated by acting out her true feelings of rejection onstage.
As their rehearsals begin, Destiny realizes the unimaginable: Isaac has developed deep feelings for her despite their religious differences and the fact that he has a girlfriend.
But will they be able to find their place amongst the backbiters of their ultra-conservative world?
Weaving around Destiny and Isaac's alternating viewpoints, Destiny is the first book in a series inspired by the characters of Les Misérables and explores heartbreak, self-discovery, intolerance, and love.
I really enjoyed Destiny. It was a slightly difficult read because of my own religious beliefs, which I'll get into a little bit later. But first, I'd like to say that Hale is a talented author, who writes deep and dynamic characters in VERY difficult situations. Most YA contemporary goes something like this:
Don't get me wrong, I love a good YA Contemporary. They are fluffy and fun and sometimes heartbreaking, and ALWAYS full of drama. A lot of the drama is petty and silly and could be easily avoided. But in Destiny, the heart of the conflict is a very serious issue. It's not predominantly between the kids at school. It's not about an ex-girlfriend who's jealous and causing problems. Those things happen, but really, this is how I felt about the conflict:
Destiny is so sweet, and she just wants to live a life pleasing to God and her parents, and she gets bullied and attacked because she's a Mormon. She doesn't do anything to anyone. She doesn't push her beliefs on anyone, she answers questions honestly and kindly, and she does her best to follow her convictions. I admired her for that.
As I mentioned earlier, this was a hard read because of my own religious convictions. I'm a Christian, and while I have not studied the differences between Mormonism and Christianity in depth, I've heard plenty from both sides. I had a very easy time relating to both Destiny (Mormon) and Isaac (Baptist). I totally tracked with not dating someone outside your faith. I get how awkward it can be when someone who believes something different than you tries to convince you your beliefs are wrong. I've been in some of these situations, and they are HARD. Without getting into a theological argument (because that's not the purpose of this review), I will say that it broke my heart to see the "Christians" in this book treating Destiny and her friends and family so hatefully. Just because they disagree with someone about something, even something as serious as a salvation argument, that doesn't mean you beat the other side into submission. That's the opposite of what we're called to do. I hate that this is a common story dealing with crazy and legalistic "Christians". When the adults started being HORRIBLE to Destiny, I wanted to be like
As an actress and singer, I greatly enjoyed the plot following Les Miserables (my favorite musical!) and Primus, the audition choir. All of these plot points were near and dear to my heart, as they are things I have experienced in my own life and love to participate in. It was incredibly easy to identify with Destiny and her love of singing.
It was interesting to see the story told through both Isaac and Destiny. Isaac goes from wanting to convert Destiny back to being a Baptist to merely wanting to get to know who she is and what she believes. And I thought that dynamic was nice. I liked that he came around to seeing that he wanted to love her for who she was; even if he does still want to 'convert her away' or whatever, the first step is caring about HER, not just seeing what's wrong about her.
Isaac and Destiny were ADORABLE. They can hold their own with any YA Contemporary couple. I'm very excited to see where things go in the sequel.
Destiny (Destiny Trilogy #1)
By Cindy Ray Hale
Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Check it out: Good Reads | Kindle | Amazon Paperback | Nook | Smashwords
I received this book in exchange for an honest review
Blurb:
Destiny Clark, a young Mormon girl living in Tennessee, is wildly infatuated with Isaac Robinson, the headmaster's son at her Baptist high school. When they're cast together in the school's production of Les Misérables, Destiny is horrified to find that she has to be publicly humiliated by acting out her true feelings of rejection onstage.
As their rehearsals begin, Destiny realizes the unimaginable: Isaac has developed deep feelings for her despite their religious differences and the fact that he has a girlfriend.
But will they be able to find their place amongst the backbiters of their ultra-conservative world?
Weaving around Destiny and Isaac's alternating viewpoints, Destiny is the first book in a series inspired by the characters of Les Misérables and explores heartbreak, self-discovery, intolerance, and love.
I really enjoyed Destiny. It was a slightly difficult read because of my own religious beliefs, which I'll get into a little bit later. But first, I'd like to say that Hale is a talented author, who writes deep and dynamic characters in VERY difficult situations. Most YA contemporary goes something like this:
Don't get me wrong, I love a good YA Contemporary. They are fluffy and fun and sometimes heartbreaking, and ALWAYS full of drama. A lot of the drama is petty and silly and could be easily avoided. But in Destiny, the heart of the conflict is a very serious issue. It's not predominantly between the kids at school. It's not about an ex-girlfriend who's jealous and causing problems. Those things happen, but really, this is how I felt about the conflict:
Destiny is so sweet, and she just wants to live a life pleasing to God and her parents, and she gets bullied and attacked because she's a Mormon. She doesn't do anything to anyone. She doesn't push her beliefs on anyone, she answers questions honestly and kindly, and she does her best to follow her convictions. I admired her for that.
As I mentioned earlier, this was a hard read because of my own religious convictions. I'm a Christian, and while I have not studied the differences between Mormonism and Christianity in depth, I've heard plenty from both sides. I had a very easy time relating to both Destiny (Mormon) and Isaac (Baptist). I totally tracked with not dating someone outside your faith. I get how awkward it can be when someone who believes something different than you tries to convince you your beliefs are wrong. I've been in some of these situations, and they are HARD. Without getting into a theological argument (because that's not the purpose of this review), I will say that it broke my heart to see the "Christians" in this book treating Destiny and her friends and family so hatefully. Just because they disagree with someone about something, even something as serious as a salvation argument, that doesn't mean you beat the other side into submission. That's the opposite of what we're called to do. I hate that this is a common story dealing with crazy and legalistic "Christians". When the adults started being HORRIBLE to Destiny, I wanted to be like
As an actress and singer, I greatly enjoyed the plot following Les Miserables (my favorite musical!) and Primus, the audition choir. All of these plot points were near and dear to my heart, as they are things I have experienced in my own life and love to participate in. It was incredibly easy to identify with Destiny and her love of singing.
It was interesting to see the story told through both Isaac and Destiny. Isaac goes from wanting to convert Destiny back to being a Baptist to merely wanting to get to know who she is and what she believes. And I thought that dynamic was nice. I liked that he came around to seeing that he wanted to love her for who she was; even if he does still want to 'convert her away' or whatever, the first step is caring about HER, not just seeing what's wrong about her.
Isaac and Destiny were ADORABLE. They can hold their own with any YA Contemporary couple. I'm very excited to see where things go in the sequel.
November 21, 2013
I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It has been a long time where I found a YA that left me speechless. As I finished Destiny, I was in complete awe. The story and the characters are not like anything I’ve ever read. I didn’t just read this story. I lived it. Every emotion, every word, I felt it.
Destiny Clark is a young Mormon girl that really likes the headmaster’s son, Isaac Robinson at her Baptist high school. Not only is the religion a problem, but Isaac is also happily taken, by Aspen Adams. Soon, Destiny finds herself casted in a school play where she will be forced, ironically to sing about unrequited love. It is through music that Destiny and Isaac connect. But as two young adults who deeply believe in their own beliefs, how are they to act on this connection they feel towards each other?
There is so much YA out there that deals with teenage angst and love. What I loved the most about this story was the realness factor. Religion is such a big part of our lives and it is rarely discussed in fiction. This book shows a side to young adults, that we don’t see often. I truly connected to these characters on a personal level as I have friends who are of different religions and have been judged by their parents, much like Destiny and Isaac. Teenage love is hard, and these two strong minded individuals had every obstacle in their way. However, they loved fiercely and without shame.
Destiny and Isaac receive a lot of backlash from others and within themselves. I admired their characters as their beliefs played such a heavy role in getting to know each other. As a Mormon and a Baptist, Destiny and Isaac had similar and different beliefs. Isaac grew up hearing a lot of negativity about the Mormons. However, he became more open to understanding Destiny’s religion and her beliefs.
As with any love story, there is heartbreak and self-discovery. As two young people fall in love, they question everything, but their beliefs. They question if this could actually work. How can they be together when the world is against them? The book did not end on a cliffhanger, but Destiny and Isaac’s story is far from over, and I am highly anticipating the sequel!
The writing was flawless. I truly enjoyed reading this story. It was a bit slower paced than what I usually read, however that is what made the story. You connected with every single character. I understood the pain, the hurt, the confusion among everyone. Overall, if you are looking for a YA that is outside of the norm in the most beautiful way possible, you must read this book. I commend the author for exploring and bringing to light a topic that should be discussed out in the open, more often. To the young adults that have strong beliefs, this is truly your story. Love knows no boundaries.
It has been a long time where I found a YA that left me speechless. As I finished Destiny, I was in complete awe. The story and the characters are not like anything I’ve ever read. I didn’t just read this story. I lived it. Every emotion, every word, I felt it.
Destiny Clark is a young Mormon girl that really likes the headmaster’s son, Isaac Robinson at her Baptist high school. Not only is the religion a problem, but Isaac is also happily taken, by Aspen Adams. Soon, Destiny finds herself casted in a school play where she will be forced, ironically to sing about unrequited love. It is through music that Destiny and Isaac connect. But as two young adults who deeply believe in their own beliefs, how are they to act on this connection they feel towards each other?
There is so much YA out there that deals with teenage angst and love. What I loved the most about this story was the realness factor. Religion is such a big part of our lives and it is rarely discussed in fiction. This book shows a side to young adults, that we don’t see often. I truly connected to these characters on a personal level as I have friends who are of different religions and have been judged by their parents, much like Destiny and Isaac. Teenage love is hard, and these two strong minded individuals had every obstacle in their way. However, they loved fiercely and without shame.
Destiny and Isaac receive a lot of backlash from others and within themselves. I admired their characters as their beliefs played such a heavy role in getting to know each other. As a Mormon and a Baptist, Destiny and Isaac had similar and different beliefs. Isaac grew up hearing a lot of negativity about the Mormons. However, he became more open to understanding Destiny’s religion and her beliefs.
As with any love story, there is heartbreak and self-discovery. As two young people fall in love, they question everything, but their beliefs. They question if this could actually work. How can they be together when the world is against them? The book did not end on a cliffhanger, but Destiny and Isaac’s story is far from over, and I am highly anticipating the sequel!
The writing was flawless. I truly enjoyed reading this story. It was a bit slower paced than what I usually read, however that is what made the story. You connected with every single character. I understood the pain, the hurt, the confusion among everyone. Overall, if you are looking for a YA that is outside of the norm in the most beautiful way possible, you must read this book. I commend the author for exploring and bringing to light a topic that should be discussed out in the open, more often. To the young adults that have strong beliefs, this is truly your story. Love knows no boundaries.
October 8, 2014
I won't lie. I picked up Destiny only because I was looking for a sweet little romantic novel over the weekends. But what I got, was much more. Instead of a thin, poorly written sappy romance, Hale's writing has substance.
The plot is intriguing and thought provoking, I liked that Hale wasn't afraid to put a strong romance novel on the shelves. Definitely, the most striking part of Destiny was how expertly and subtly Hale managed to weave religion into her work. I'm not a religious person, nor am I exposed to a variety of religions, so it was interesting to learn a bit more on the Mormons and Baptists. Although I spent most parts of the novel being horribly angry at lots of characters, this however, serves as a testament on how much I truly like the novel.
I also noticed that since the events of the first book, Hale has written a sequel which has really rave reviews. Hoping to check it out soon. :)
(I received free copy of book in exchange for an honest review)
4 stars
The plot is intriguing and thought provoking, I liked that Hale wasn't afraid to put a strong romance novel on the shelves. Definitely, the most striking part of Destiny was how expertly and subtly Hale managed to weave religion into her work. I'm not a religious person, nor am I exposed to a variety of religions, so it was interesting to learn a bit more on the Mormons and Baptists. Although I spent most parts of the novel being horribly angry at lots of characters, this however, serves as a testament on how much I truly like the novel.
I also noticed that since the events of the first book, Hale has written a sequel which has really rave reviews. Hoping to check it out soon. :)
(I received free copy of book in exchange for an honest review)
4 stars
November 11, 2013
This was an easy and quick read. I completed the whole book in one day. Once I started reading about Destiny, I couldn't stop. It's an interesting and heartbreaking dilemma that Destiny finds herself in. The thing I enjoyed most about this story is that while it deals with religion, it's mostly a story about forbidden love. It's really a classic tale of narrow-mindedness keeping two young people from being together. I was reminded of Romeo and Juliet, yet with a much happier ending. In addition to a great love story, Destiny is chock full of tidbits about religions that I didn't know much about. But more than that, Hale does a fantastic job developing interesting family dynamics. Each character has extremely real, and sometimes upsetting, family situation. While I found some of the dialogue to be a bit forced, I thought this was a great debut novel. I'm interested to see where Hale takes the story next.
November 7, 2013
Sometimes, you just need a love conquers all story. Sometimes it has to run what seems like a Gauntlet of obstacles, but at the end, your happily ever after seems all the sweeter. Destiny, by Cindy Ray Hale is a lovely story about burgeoning love in the midst of religion difference and prejudice. Not only did we get to root for Destiny and Isaac, but we learned things that we didn’t know about a religious sect in our culture and some of the plights that they may face. Hale weaves this into the story beautifully. It made me think of shades of Romeo and Juliet, only with Baptists and Mormons. Hale has wonderful character development and diversity. This story is very sweet and endearing.
A wonderful debut novel that you don’t want to miss!
Reviewed by myself & Christie on Turning Pages.
http://www.theturningpages.com/2013/1...
A wonderful debut novel that you don’t want to miss!
Reviewed by myself & Christie on Turning Pages.
http://www.theturningpages.com/2013/1...
November 7, 2013
Sometimes, you just need a love conquers all story. Sometimes it has to run what seems like a Gauntlet of obstacles, but at the end, your happily ever after seems all the sweeter. Destiny, by Cindy Ray Hale is a lovely story about burgeoning love in the midst of religion difference and prejudice. Not only did we get to root for Destiny and Isaac, but we learned things that we didn’t know about a religious sect in our culture and some of the plights that they may face. Hale weaves this into the story beautifully. It made me think of shades of Romeo and Juliet, only with Baptists and Mormons. Hale has wonderful character development and diversity. This story is very sweet and endearing.
A wonderful debut novel that you don’t want to miss!
Reviewed by Heather and myself on Turning Pages.
http://www.theturningpages.com/2013/1...
A wonderful debut novel that you don’t want to miss!
Reviewed by Heather and myself on Turning Pages.
http://www.theturningpages.com/2013/1...
November 18, 2013
~~~Received a copy for a honest review~~~
The book is a young adult romance book that I couldn't stop reading since page one. The book is amazing, and it is the kind of book I love! A thing I like: no harsh language due to religion being involved in the book. The book is also not just a love story, it's about caring for each other and respecting their beliefs. The book reminded me of Romeo and Juliet with the forbidden love topic. This book can change my day into a better day and it's the sort of book I enjoy re-reading over and over again. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
The book is a young adult romance book that I couldn't stop reading since page one. The book is amazing, and it is the kind of book I love! A thing I like: no harsh language due to religion being involved in the book. The book is also not just a love story, it's about caring for each other and respecting their beliefs. The book reminded me of Romeo and Juliet with the forbidden love topic. This book can change my day into a better day and it's the sort of book I enjoy re-reading over and over again. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
August 6, 2013
Wow. From the very first page I became immersed in the life of Destiny, a totally relatable girl who is singled out because of her beliefs. She doesn't let this stop her from pursuing her dreams though, and I laughed, cried, and even punched a pillow out of frustration as she dealt with family, friends, an unattainable crush, and the difficulty of being the only Mormon at an all Baptist school.I loved this book and I'm superexcited for the sequel, Synchrony!
November 18, 2013
I really enjoyed reading Destiny! I liked the characters, although I think Destiny should go for the other guy...but we still have two more books to hope! :) I laughed out loud during one part, and couldn't put it down while reading the middle. The characters came alive to me, and I loved reading more and more about their relationships with each other. Can't wait to get the next book in the series!!!! A book I will most likely read over again too.
December 19, 2013
I always have a book I'm reading, with a wide variety of writing styles and settings. I decided to read this book because I know the author and live in the area the book is set in. I was happily surprised to be immediately attached to the lead characters "Isaac and Destiny" and their friends. Cindy has an easy writing style that is fun to read!
I can't wait to buy the next book and see what happens!
I can't wait to buy the next book and see what happens!
February 15, 2018
· “All my most unreachable dreams were suddenly, so unbelievably, about to come true. But they were forbidden.”·
Last week, I was lucky enough to host an interview with Cindy Hale on this blog. You can read it heret It was this interview that made me curious about her books and decided to start “Destiny”.
First off, I was never expecting the book I read. I would like to say that I am not a religious person and I really enjoyed reading this. Since I started it, I knew I was off to a new theme in YA and I enjoyed every second of it.
It is true, however, that Religion is a main theme in the book –it’s through it that we have conflict, motives, character development and personal growth, etc.–, but the book also addresses themes as forbidden love –very much like Romeo & Juliet forbidden level–, family, faith and tolerance. The last one, however, is very interchangable with the high level of intolerance Destiny suffers in a Baptist school being a Mormon girl, all the bullying and hurtful comments she puts up with on a daily basis.
Destiny being a Mormon and Isaac, the son of the Baptist school director, their love is meant to overcome a lot of obstacles. But they know that being together is all that matters, that when they sing together or are in the same room, they feel a connection they’ve never felt before, one that even makes them feel closer to God.
Some of the characters in the book are so caught up in their believes that they can get very annoying, and when they are not Sam-and-Dean level of hot, you can’t overlook their petulant arrogance:
Leaving the main characters aside, I really enjoyed the way family life is portrayed in the book, and I particularly liked Hannah and Preston. In fact –and I’m sorry because this kind of removes the conflict and the book itself–, I wanted Destiny and Preston together! Not forbidden, but great chemistry ^^
All in all, I think Cindy did a great job at balancing out a great dramatic love story in modern times, with annoyingly stubborn characters that won’t change their minds (or maybe they will in the later books, who knows?!) and sweet romance.
Last week, I was lucky enough to host an interview with Cindy Hale on this blog. You can read it heret It was this interview that made me curious about her books and decided to start “Destiny”.
First off, I was never expecting the book I read. I would like to say that I am not a religious person and I really enjoyed reading this. Since I started it, I knew I was off to a new theme in YA and I enjoyed every second of it.
It is true, however, that Religion is a main theme in the book –it’s through it that we have conflict, motives, character development and personal growth, etc.–, but the book also addresses themes as forbidden love –very much like Romeo & Juliet forbidden level–, family, faith and tolerance. The last one, however, is very interchangable with the high level of intolerance Destiny suffers in a Baptist school being a Mormon girl, all the bullying and hurtful comments she puts up with on a daily basis.
Destiny being a Mormon and Isaac, the son of the Baptist school director, their love is meant to overcome a lot of obstacles. But they know that being together is all that matters, that when they sing together or are in the same room, they feel a connection they’ve never felt before, one that even makes them feel closer to God.
Some of the characters in the book are so caught up in their believes that they can get very annoying, and when they are not Sam-and-Dean level of hot, you can’t overlook their petulant arrogance:
Leaving the main characters aside, I really enjoyed the way family life is portrayed in the book, and I particularly liked Hannah and Preston. In fact –and I’m sorry because this kind of removes the conflict and the book itself–, I wanted Destiny and Preston together! Not forbidden, but great chemistry ^^
All in all, I think Cindy did a great job at balancing out a great dramatic love story in modern times, with annoyingly stubborn characters that won’t change their minds (or maybe they will in the later books, who knows?!) and sweet romance.
June 23, 2014
Received a arc in exchange for a honest opinion.
this is a complex look at forbidden first love and how religion plays a part in peoples views and prejudices.
Destiny is a young Mormon girl who has a crush on Isaac the headmaster's son. This normally shouldn't be a problem but Isaac is baptist and is led to believe Destiny's soul needs to be saved and that Mormons are to be hated. Sad really. Isaac has nothing against Destiny or her family it's just what his dad has always drilled into him.
They both go to Bethel Christian Academy and Isaac's dad would love to kick Destiny and her brothers and sisters out but can't. They are on a retreat when Destiny befriends Isaac's cousin Hannah. This doesn't sit well with Isaac and with his friend Will they devise a plan. Isaac will show Destiny some friendship since he knows of her crush and he will get the skinny on the Mormons and their beliefs. Hopefully save Destiny's soul as well. Well this plan goes to pot. Isaac's world fall apart and destiny shows him kindness and friendship as does her brother. This confuses Isaac and his feelings for Destiny begin to change.
This though is a problem because Destiny is only supposed to date Mormon boys but she has feelings for Isaac. But she also sort of feels for Preston his brother's best friend who is crushing on her as well. Very complex. Destiny and Isaac begin to see each other and it is sweet and wonderful until the parents find out than it all goes down the drain. Her dad tries to get her to stop and she doesn't and his dad goes ballistic. I mean batcrazy ballistic. These two though are determined to be together. they have outside forces such as family and friends against this but they don't care. It isn't until Isaac's father gives Destiny a talk that she starts to feel confused. She needs time and Isaac is hurt but as he is going home his father begins to demand again that he walk away and when he says no and tells him that they aren't bad people, his dad goes batcrazy and bad things happen.
This prompts Destiny to see that she was just like his dad and she must make amends. Except that is hard because his family is around and he pushes her away. She is hurt but this doesn't deter her from her feelings nor does it deter Isaac. Their feelings overwhelm them and they are now at a loss as to how to go about this relationship. Both have almost lost so much but cannot give up each other. Although Destiny doesn't know his secret of how he came to be around her in the first place that won't be good when she does find out. geesh.
This is a beautiful and poignant story on prejudices, hate and first loves especially forbidden first loves. A story on overcoming ones beliefs to see the person in front of you and not what their religion is. A wonderful love story.
this is a complex look at forbidden first love and how religion plays a part in peoples views and prejudices.
Destiny is a young Mormon girl who has a crush on Isaac the headmaster's son. This normally shouldn't be a problem but Isaac is baptist and is led to believe Destiny's soul needs to be saved and that Mormons are to be hated. Sad really. Isaac has nothing against Destiny or her family it's just what his dad has always drilled into him.
They both go to Bethel Christian Academy and Isaac's dad would love to kick Destiny and her brothers and sisters out but can't. They are on a retreat when Destiny befriends Isaac's cousin Hannah. This doesn't sit well with Isaac and with his friend Will they devise a plan. Isaac will show Destiny some friendship since he knows of her crush and he will get the skinny on the Mormons and their beliefs. Hopefully save Destiny's soul as well. Well this plan goes to pot. Isaac's world fall apart and destiny shows him kindness and friendship as does her brother. This confuses Isaac and his feelings for Destiny begin to change.
This though is a problem because Destiny is only supposed to date Mormon boys but she has feelings for Isaac. But she also sort of feels for Preston his brother's best friend who is crushing on her as well. Very complex. Destiny and Isaac begin to see each other and it is sweet and wonderful until the parents find out than it all goes down the drain. Her dad tries to get her to stop and she doesn't and his dad goes ballistic. I mean batcrazy ballistic. These two though are determined to be together. they have outside forces such as family and friends against this but they don't care. It isn't until Isaac's father gives Destiny a talk that she starts to feel confused. She needs time and Isaac is hurt but as he is going home his father begins to demand again that he walk away and when he says no and tells him that they aren't bad people, his dad goes batcrazy and bad things happen.
This prompts Destiny to see that she was just like his dad and she must make amends. Except that is hard because his family is around and he pushes her away. She is hurt but this doesn't deter her from her feelings nor does it deter Isaac. Their feelings overwhelm them and they are now at a loss as to how to go about this relationship. Both have almost lost so much but cannot give up each other. Although Destiny doesn't know his secret of how he came to be around her in the first place that won't be good when she does find out. geesh.
This is a beautiful and poignant story on prejudices, hate and first loves especially forbidden first loves. A story on overcoming ones beliefs to see the person in front of you and not what their religion is. A wonderful love story.
February 10, 2014
I love, love this story. The characters are very well described and developed. The characters seem to grow as the story goes on. I love how you can see the characters and scenes in 3D, like ballerinas dancing across the pages. The words just flow with out feeling forced. There is so much emotion that you, yourself feel, the rawness of the pain, hurt, and true happiness that each character feels. It is feels like a Romeo and Juliet story of lovers struggling to free themselves from their families and be themselves together at last. I think that people can relate to something in this book. It doesn't just have to do with religion. It's a love story that I think we can all relate or we fantasize about. Like prince charming or princess, will sweep us off our feet and we live happily ever after. That is what makes this book special. You can't help yourself yearning for true love. I can't wait to read the next two books and many more from Cindy Ray Hale. Great author. I love her writing, thus far and can't wait to see what other gems she has in store.
July 16, 2014
This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I'm a huge fan of Les Mis (the musical - I'm sad to say I haven't read the book yet), so when I saw this book up for review, I just had to get it. I was curious how Hale would incorporate characters inspired by the classic.
The book started out a little shaky for me, but it got a lot better by the end. Destiny and her brother are the only Mormons in their Baptist school and they are treated with disdain and outright hatred by many people there (especially the adults). Destiny just keeps her head low and tries not to make waves. But she has had a long-time crush on Isaac, and when she is cast as Eponine against his Marius in a school production, she finds that the play is mirroring life for her a bit more than is comfortable.
What I loved:
Character growth.
Like I said, I was a bit nervous at the beginning of this book - really for at least half the book, maybe more. I just wasn't sure if I could root for these characters (see my negative point below). But, in the end Isaac and Destiny won me over. Destiny is strong in her Mormon faith, and her attraction to Isaac is an issue - she is only supposed to date Mormon boys. I have to admit that there were times in the book when I wondered if she wouldn't have just been better off with Preston, the Mormon boy who was infatuated with her, especially since we were privy to Isaac's inner thoughts and he was more than a little uneasy with Destiny's faith. But, throughout the book, Isaac learns to be more open-minded and see Destiny for who she was, not for the details of her religion. He decides that he needs to learn about the Mormon faith himself and not depend on the prejudices of his father. By the end of the book, I was on Destiny and Isaac's side - which was impressive because I didn't know if I would get there.
The play.
As I suspected, I was enamored with the parts of the book that had to do with Les Mis. The book didn't mirror the Eponine/Marius/Cosette relationship super closely, but the parallels were definitely there. And I got to relive memories of many of my favorite songs from the show!
Friendship.
I also really enjoyed the friendship between Hannah and Destiny. They were great fun together and they seemed to share a real bond (though Hannah did occasionally take things a little too far when she was trying to get Isaac and Destiny together, though).
The negatives:
Religious fundamentalism.
There was definitely a strong religious message to this book. As an evangelical Christian, I don't mind this necessarily, but all of the talk of characters trying to convert each other made me a little uneasy. All of the Baptist characters seemed to worry that Destiny was out to prey on weak Christians and convert them - meanwhile Isaac seemed to think that he needed to convert Destiny back to the Baptist faith. I was also pretty put off by the extreme hate that a lot of the Baptists showed toward Destiny - very un-Christian in my opinion. I just was never quite sure how to feel about it all. I did learn more about the Mormon faith, which I found interesting. And, by the end, the book had moved more toward tolerance and understanding, so it definitely got better. And, to be fair, this religious intolerance was there for a reason - so we could see growth in the characters. I was just worried for quite awhile.
I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in this series! I struggled a little bit with my rating on this one because I wasn't sure about the book at first, but I ended up landing on 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author and YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
I'm a huge fan of Les Mis (the musical - I'm sad to say I haven't read the book yet), so when I saw this book up for review, I just had to get it. I was curious how Hale would incorporate characters inspired by the classic.
The book started out a little shaky for me, but it got a lot better by the end. Destiny and her brother are the only Mormons in their Baptist school and they are treated with disdain and outright hatred by many people there (especially the adults). Destiny just keeps her head low and tries not to make waves. But she has had a long-time crush on Isaac, and when she is cast as Eponine against his Marius in a school production, she finds that the play is mirroring life for her a bit more than is comfortable.
What I loved:
Character growth.
Like I said, I was a bit nervous at the beginning of this book - really for at least half the book, maybe more. I just wasn't sure if I could root for these characters (see my negative point below). But, in the end Isaac and Destiny won me over. Destiny is strong in her Mormon faith, and her attraction to Isaac is an issue - she is only supposed to date Mormon boys. I have to admit that there were times in the book when I wondered if she wouldn't have just been better off with Preston, the Mormon boy who was infatuated with her, especially since we were privy to Isaac's inner thoughts and he was more than a little uneasy with Destiny's faith. But, throughout the book, Isaac learns to be more open-minded and see Destiny for who she was, not for the details of her religion. He decides that he needs to learn about the Mormon faith himself and not depend on the prejudices of his father. By the end of the book, I was on Destiny and Isaac's side - which was impressive because I didn't know if I would get there.
The play.
As I suspected, I was enamored with the parts of the book that had to do with Les Mis. The book didn't mirror the Eponine/Marius/Cosette relationship super closely, but the parallels were definitely there. And I got to relive memories of many of my favorite songs from the show!
Friendship.
I also really enjoyed the friendship between Hannah and Destiny. They were great fun together and they seemed to share a real bond (though Hannah did occasionally take things a little too far when she was trying to get Isaac and Destiny together, though).
The negatives:
Religious fundamentalism.
There was definitely a strong religious message to this book. As an evangelical Christian, I don't mind this necessarily, but all of the talk of characters trying to convert each other made me a little uneasy. All of the Baptist characters seemed to worry that Destiny was out to prey on weak Christians and convert them - meanwhile Isaac seemed to think that he needed to convert Destiny back to the Baptist faith. I was also pretty put off by the extreme hate that a lot of the Baptists showed toward Destiny - very un-Christian in my opinion. I just was never quite sure how to feel about it all. I did learn more about the Mormon faith, which I found interesting. And, by the end, the book had moved more toward tolerance and understanding, so it definitely got better. And, to be fair, this religious intolerance was there for a reason - so we could see growth in the characters. I was just worried for quite awhile.
I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in this series! I struggled a little bit with my rating on this one because I wasn't sure about the book at first, but I ended up landing on 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author and YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
November 10, 2013
Originally posted at City of Books
Destiny is a unique and refreshing debut from Cindy Ray Hale. I've really never read anything like it before. It's sweet with serious and religious undertones, and I think that was done really well. I don't know whether the second book will be a sequel or companion, but either way I'm looking forward to it!
Destiny is a Mormon who goes to a Baptist high school. People may think this weird, but she wasn't always Mormon. Her family switched over a few years ago, but since then she's been pretty much an outcast, with only one friend. Her brother Michael, on the other hand, seems to be doing fine. When a new girl, Hannah, befriends Destiny, she finds out that Hannah is in fact the cousin of her long-time crush, Isaac. When he begins paying attention to her, Destiny is astonished, but they soon become friends while practicing for the musical together. Isaac starts to fall for Destiny, which is all she ever dreamed of, but their religious differences cause more problems than they had imagined.
I'm not Christian, and I have pretty much no knowledge of Christianity, so Mormonism was totally new to me. I was intrigued by it, and even searched it up after reading the book, to see why it clashes so much with Baptist beliefs. Honestly, I find it weird that there's so much hostility shown. I mean, they're all Christian, right? They all believe in the same God. I would've thought that meant they should get along. But the rivalry between the two beliefs seem almost similar to Islam and Hinduism, which I do know about. The characters seemed to go a little overboard in their antagonism, and I thought that was a bit too dramatic.
I quite liked Destiny's character, since she's easy to sympathize with, being the underdog. She's really sweet, and seems timid at first but she has a great inner strength. She stands firm in what she believes, and rarely wavers from it. I liked that she doesn't feel the need to defend her beliefs to everyone - she prefers to rise above that.
Isaac I'm a little conflicted about. I really didn't like him in the beginning. He just went along with whatever his dad said, believing that Mormons will go to hell, etc. etc. And his intentions in the beginning show his initial pettiness. Sure, he changed a lot, but I can't believe he turns completely over a new leaf. Nevertheless, I admire the character development in him. He grows a lot over the course of the novel, and the Isaac we see at the end is almost unrecognizable from the one we are introduced to. It's clear that he really begins to care about Destiny, and their budding romance was quite adorable.
I really liked that even though this is romance, the secondary characters didn't take a backseat. They were really prominent, in fact. Destiny's brother Michael is one character I love, and so is their friend Preston and Destiny's friend Hannah. They definitely made the novel more interesting, and the little rivalry between Isaac and Preston was amusing. Plus, there's this awesome paintball game which was definitely my favourite part of the book!
I'm glad I've watched Les Misérables, because if I hadn't I would be pretty confused. I found it really cool how Destiny, Isaac and Aspen actually embodied the characters in the musical. And the other characters seemed to fit their roles, too, which I realized after it was mentioned in the novel.
Overall, this was a good read, and I'll be sure to pick up the next one. This book ended at a good note, so I'm thinking the next will be a companion? I'd recommend Destiny to contemporary lovers, and also if you're a Les Mis fan or if you're interested in religion, particularly Christianity.
*Thank you to Lola at Lola's Blog Tours for providing me with an ARC for review*
Destiny is a unique and refreshing debut from Cindy Ray Hale. I've really never read anything like it before. It's sweet with serious and religious undertones, and I think that was done really well. I don't know whether the second book will be a sequel or companion, but either way I'm looking forward to it!
Destiny is a Mormon who goes to a Baptist high school. People may think this weird, but she wasn't always Mormon. Her family switched over a few years ago, but since then she's been pretty much an outcast, with only one friend. Her brother Michael, on the other hand, seems to be doing fine. When a new girl, Hannah, befriends Destiny, she finds out that Hannah is in fact the cousin of her long-time crush, Isaac. When he begins paying attention to her, Destiny is astonished, but they soon become friends while practicing for the musical together. Isaac starts to fall for Destiny, which is all she ever dreamed of, but their religious differences cause more problems than they had imagined.
I'm not Christian, and I have pretty much no knowledge of Christianity, so Mormonism was totally new to me. I was intrigued by it, and even searched it up after reading the book, to see why it clashes so much with Baptist beliefs. Honestly, I find it weird that there's so much hostility shown. I mean, they're all Christian, right? They all believe in the same God. I would've thought that meant they should get along. But the rivalry between the two beliefs seem almost similar to Islam and Hinduism, which I do know about. The characters seemed to go a little overboard in their antagonism, and I thought that was a bit too dramatic.
I quite liked Destiny's character, since she's easy to sympathize with, being the underdog. She's really sweet, and seems timid at first but she has a great inner strength. She stands firm in what she believes, and rarely wavers from it. I liked that she doesn't feel the need to defend her beliefs to everyone - she prefers to rise above that.
Isaac I'm a little conflicted about. I really didn't like him in the beginning. He just went along with whatever his dad said, believing that Mormons will go to hell, etc. etc. And his intentions in the beginning show his initial pettiness. Sure, he changed a lot, but I can't believe he turns completely over a new leaf. Nevertheless, I admire the character development in him. He grows a lot over the course of the novel, and the Isaac we see at the end is almost unrecognizable from the one we are introduced to. It's clear that he really begins to care about Destiny, and their budding romance was quite adorable.
I really liked that even though this is romance, the secondary characters didn't take a backseat. They were really prominent, in fact. Destiny's brother Michael is one character I love, and so is their friend Preston and Destiny's friend Hannah. They definitely made the novel more interesting, and the little rivalry between Isaac and Preston was amusing. Plus, there's this awesome paintball game which was definitely my favourite part of the book!
I'm glad I've watched Les Misérables, because if I hadn't I would be pretty confused. I found it really cool how Destiny, Isaac and Aspen actually embodied the characters in the musical. And the other characters seemed to fit their roles, too, which I realized after it was mentioned in the novel.
Overall, this was a good read, and I'll be sure to pick up the next one. This book ended at a good note, so I'm thinking the next will be a companion? I'd recommend Destiny to contemporary lovers, and also if you're a Les Mis fan or if you're interested in religion, particularly Christianity.
*Thank you to Lola at Lola's Blog Tours for providing me with an ARC for review*
February 12, 2014
The story switches back and forth between Destiny and Isaac. They're not friends at the beginning of the book. They both attend Bethel Baptist Academy, where Destiny is a sophomore and Isaac is a senior. Destiny and her brother Michael are the only Mormons at the school and Michael has lots of friends but Destiny only has one. The book starts with a school retreat where Destiny makes a new friend.
We learn that Isaac is the student body president and has a beautiful girlfriend, Aspen, whom he adores. He's popular, good-looking and can have any girl he wants. He does have issues with Destiny and Michael and when he finds out who Destiny's new friend is, his best friend Will comes up with a plan to break up the new friendship.
Being cast together in Les Mis comes later in the book and by that time, a lot has happened and Isaac is surprised to learn that Destiny isn't what he's believed her to be all these years.
This is a fun series that takes me back to my high school years. The excitement of new love, jealousy, friendships and secrets kept me turning the pages. I was iffy on Isaac at first. I thought he was realistic in the way he started out feeling. His description of his girlfriend, Aspen, and all she had been through and how he'd been there for her made her sympathetic and I had a hard time believing he would actually develop feelings for Destiny. He was conflicted at first and as he became more accepting of Destiny, his life got tough yet he was willing to do what it took to go with his heart. He grew on me and I liked him by the end.
Destiny starts out likable. She gets along with her family, they're active in church and she's a good girl. She has a huge crush on Isaac, who is a Baptist, but never actually believes she'll have a chance with him so she's not concerned with their religious differences. She has to endure ridicule and sometimes hatred from some students (but not all) who think she's chosen the wrong path in life and don't try to hide their disdain for her religion. Will Destiny and Isaac find a way to be together or will the adults in their lives make it too difficult?
There are lots of other great characters, too, and I enjoyed each one of them. Destiny's brother, Michael, and his best friend Preston added a lot to the story and I really like both of them. Click here to meet the characters. Religion is a huge theme in this book, but I felt like it was explanatory rather than preachy. There is a lot in this book to digest and think about. I thought it was well written and interesting and once I started, it was hard to put it down. There's some kissing, too! It's clean and is a fun book to share with teenagers, yet still kept my interest as an adult. I'm excited to see where this series will go next!
Mel's Shelves
We learn that Isaac is the student body president and has a beautiful girlfriend, Aspen, whom he adores. He's popular, good-looking and can have any girl he wants. He does have issues with Destiny and Michael and when he finds out who Destiny's new friend is, his best friend Will comes up with a plan to break up the new friendship.
Being cast together in Les Mis comes later in the book and by that time, a lot has happened and Isaac is surprised to learn that Destiny isn't what he's believed her to be all these years.
This is a fun series that takes me back to my high school years. The excitement of new love, jealousy, friendships and secrets kept me turning the pages. I was iffy on Isaac at first. I thought he was realistic in the way he started out feeling. His description of his girlfriend, Aspen, and all she had been through and how he'd been there for her made her sympathetic and I had a hard time believing he would actually develop feelings for Destiny. He was conflicted at first and as he became more accepting of Destiny, his life got tough yet he was willing to do what it took to go with his heart. He grew on me and I liked him by the end.
Destiny starts out likable. She gets along with her family, they're active in church and she's a good girl. She has a huge crush on Isaac, who is a Baptist, but never actually believes she'll have a chance with him so she's not concerned with their religious differences. She has to endure ridicule and sometimes hatred from some students (but not all) who think she's chosen the wrong path in life and don't try to hide their disdain for her religion. Will Destiny and Isaac find a way to be together or will the adults in their lives make it too difficult?
There are lots of other great characters, too, and I enjoyed each one of them. Destiny's brother, Michael, and his best friend Preston added a lot to the story and I really like both of them. Click here to meet the characters. Religion is a huge theme in this book, but I felt like it was explanatory rather than preachy. There is a lot in this book to digest and think about. I thought it was well written and interesting and once I started, it was hard to put it down. There's some kissing, too! It's clean and is a fun book to share with teenagers, yet still kept my interest as an adult. I'm excited to see where this series will go next!
Mel's Shelves
December 27, 2013
There's nothing better than curling up with a good book during the holidays. I bought Destiny to read for Christmas break and started and finished it on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and didn't want to put it down. I am anxious to find out what happens in the next 2 books--it is too bad they aren't available as I still have a lot of holiday left! I was pleased to see that although there were moments that were a little too perfect, everything was not totally predictable and I was totally engaged and interested. I am a sucker for a happy ending but I don't want it to be forced. I think Hale added enough conflict to make it feel real. I like the religious struggle; the family conflicts because of religious differences and the changes that Isaac seems to be going through as he allows himself to be open to the truth about Destiny's religion. I love Hannah and appreciate her loyalty and friendship. I also like how open minded she is. I like that so many of the main characters are good Christian people who are honestly trying to do what they think is right. Isaac really is concerned about the salvation of his friends' souls, he has deep convictions and acts on them, even if he is misguided or misinformed. The conflict between him and his dad is sad. I think they both want the same things but his dad seems to be blinded by ignorance and bigotry. I also like Preston and I kind of want him to have some sort of happy ending too. I don't think he and Destiny need to get together, I just like him and want something good for him. I am a romantic and the forbidden love theme is epic and so easy to get sucked in to. I am definitely recommending this book to my friends and want Cindy Ray Hale to know that I'm impressed and she's got a fan in Canada who is looking forward to her next book!
November 22, 2013
Sometimes you just need a love-conquers-all story. Sometimes it has to run what seems like a Gauntlet of obstacles, but In the end your happily ever after seems all the more deserved and better. Destiny is a lovely story about burgeoning love in the midst of prejudice and religious indifferences. The book starts with a nice beginning with the right doses of explanation to explain the story and to keep it interesting. What is beautiful about the book is that it has been written from the point of view of both Destiny and Isaac, the main characters and the star-crossed lovers from the book. Also what was amazing to see was that how subtly and with great precision Hale managed to weave religion into her work without causing any feeling of disrespect for any of their sentiments.
The character and the protagonist Destiny quickly finds a place in your heart. Though the other main character Isaac was not exactly liked in the beginning due to his actions in the book, he also got added to the list of liked characters quickly. The characters Hannah and Micheal also have a good and strong character and opinion in the book which is rather appreciated as the siblings, cousins and friends, who are usually used as fillers in a story, had important role to play in the story development.
In the end the story ends at appoint which not only goes it a happy ending but also keeps the butterflies fluttering in our stomach about what happens next.
So in total the book was an amazing read and I am really looking forward to reading it’s sequel.
To describe the book in a glance- An Endearing book
The character and the protagonist Destiny quickly finds a place in your heart. Though the other main character Isaac was not exactly liked in the beginning due to his actions in the book, he also got added to the list of liked characters quickly. The characters Hannah and Micheal also have a good and strong character and opinion in the book which is rather appreciated as the siblings, cousins and friends, who are usually used as fillers in a story, had important role to play in the story development.
In the end the story ends at appoint which not only goes it a happy ending but also keeps the butterflies fluttering in our stomach about what happens next.
So in total the book was an amazing read and I am really looking forward to reading it’s sequel.
To describe the book in a glance- An Endearing book
January 22, 2014
My Review of Destiny by Cindy Ray Hale
The Cover: So beautiful. I love the black and white photograph. The girl is beautiful and her expression captures reflects the character of Destiny perfectly. I love the pink font, too.
The Characters: I loved Destiny. She was so sweet—a gentle soul. I was rooting for her throughout the entire book. She just tugged at my heart strings! Isaac was different for me. Most of the book, I found myself irritated with him, but at the end, he’d grown on me! I really love, love, loved Preston. He was my favorite. I don’t want to give too much away.
The Plot: Destiny is one of only a couple of Mormons who attend a Baptist high school. She is ridiculed and relentlessly bullied about her faith, which completely rubbed me the wrong way. The Baptists in the book were ruthless and cruel, as teenagers often can be, but what bothered me most was the hatred and bigotry that came from the adults and leaders of the school and community. Destiny was crushing on Baptist boy, Isaac forever. When he finally sees that she isn’t evil, as his father and other adults had ingrained in him, and begins to love her, things take a turn for the worse. This book had me up and down so many times.
Would I recommend it? Yes! It is a very interesting book. Anyone who likes YA and Christian books would love this! 5/5 stars!
The Cover: So beautiful. I love the black and white photograph. The girl is beautiful and her expression captures reflects the character of Destiny perfectly. I love the pink font, too.
The Characters: I loved Destiny. She was so sweet—a gentle soul. I was rooting for her throughout the entire book. She just tugged at my heart strings! Isaac was different for me. Most of the book, I found myself irritated with him, but at the end, he’d grown on me! I really love, love, loved Preston. He was my favorite. I don’t want to give too much away.
The Plot: Destiny is one of only a couple of Mormons who attend a Baptist high school. She is ridiculed and relentlessly bullied about her faith, which completely rubbed me the wrong way. The Baptists in the book were ruthless and cruel, as teenagers often can be, but what bothered me most was the hatred and bigotry that came from the adults and leaders of the school and community. Destiny was crushing on Baptist boy, Isaac forever. When he finally sees that she isn’t evil, as his father and other adults had ingrained in him, and begins to love her, things take a turn for the worse. This book had me up and down so many times.
Would I recommend it? Yes! It is a very interesting book. Anyone who likes YA and Christian books would love this! 5/5 stars!
July 31, 2017
Between 3 1/2 and 4 stars.
Destiny is a Young Adult romance novel written in the point of view of the main characters, Destiny and Isaac. One thing that I liked about this novel was the setting of a private Baptist high school in a small town in Tennessee. The setting alone is a point of conflict. Then, there are the main characters— Destiny and her family are Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) and Isaac and his family are Baptist; furthermore, Isaac's father is the school director. Even though their relationship takes a while to start, it's doomed from the beginning.
There is more to the story than the old theme of crossed lovers, though. Religious intolerance, and all that comes with it, is done well, and it shows the division and consequences that it brings to individuals, families, and small communities.
Another thing that I loved was the theme of Les Misérables and all the references to it throughout the book— the music, the lyrics, the characters, and the film mentions. I had the soundtrack playing in my mind while I read the book.
Even though the novel has a satisfying ending, you can't help but wonder what the future will bring to them. I'm very interested to read the next book in the series, and see where the author takes Destiny and Isaac's story.
Destiny is a Young Adult romance novel written in the point of view of the main characters, Destiny and Isaac. One thing that I liked about this novel was the setting of a private Baptist high school in a small town in Tennessee. The setting alone is a point of conflict. Then, there are the main characters— Destiny and her family are Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) and Isaac and his family are Baptist; furthermore, Isaac's father is the school director. Even though their relationship takes a while to start, it's doomed from the beginning.
There is more to the story than the old theme of crossed lovers, though. Religious intolerance, and all that comes with it, is done well, and it shows the division and consequences that it brings to individuals, families, and small communities.
Another thing that I loved was the theme of Les Misérables and all the references to it throughout the book— the music, the lyrics, the characters, and the film mentions. I had the soundtrack playing in my mind while I read the book.
Even though the novel has a satisfying ending, you can't help but wonder what the future will bring to them. I'm very interested to read the next book in the series, and see where the author takes Destiny and Isaac's story.
Read
November 16, 2013DESTINY by Cindy Ray Hale is a young adult romance. Its a story of forbidden love and religious intolerance. It is told from the points of view of Destiny a young Mormon girl attending a Baptist High School in Tennessee, who has a crush Isaac, the headmaster's son & Isaac, the headmaster's son, who hates Mormons, and wants to protect his cousin Hannah from Destiny's evil influence.
Destiny was a quick read. The story is fast moving. I liked seeing the growth and changes in both Isaac and Destiny. I loved Hannah, Isaac's cousin, she was such a free spirit was willing to push Destiny to achieve the things she really wanted. She also didn't think Destiny was doomed because she was a Mormon.
I'm not familiar with Les Mis so I was happy that the characters were briefly explained. It helped understand the relationships between the stories characters even better.
I would recommend this, especially to teenage girls but Adults will enjoy it too.
Destiny was a quick read. The story is fast moving. I liked seeing the growth and changes in both Isaac and Destiny. I loved Hannah, Isaac's cousin, she was such a free spirit was willing to push Destiny to achieve the things she really wanted. She also didn't think Destiny was doomed because she was a Mormon.
I'm not familiar with Les Mis so I was happy that the characters were briefly explained. It helped understand the relationships between the stories characters even better.
I would recommend this, especially to teenage girls but Adults will enjoy it too.
February 1, 2016
Got a copy in exchange for an honest review
This book wasn't that interesting to me, probably because it may have been written for a little bit of a younger audience, as I am in my second year of uni.
The thing that made it kind of interesting was the religion aspect, I know a thing or two about christianity but not as much about all the different kinds of christians, so it was interesting to learn more about two of these groups. The characters stayed true to themselves throughout the whole story, however some of them, especially the character "aspen" were the standard superficial high school characters, making them completely not interesting. I would have liked to go to this school though, as there seem to be no unattractive guys there. My favorite character was probably Hannah, the only one that had some spunk. Unfortunately the ending was kind of predictable.
Overall it was a quick and easy read and I didn't hate it, but it's just not that exciting.
This book wasn't that interesting to me, probably because it may have been written for a little bit of a younger audience, as I am in my second year of uni.
The thing that made it kind of interesting was the religion aspect, I know a thing or two about christianity but not as much about all the different kinds of christians, so it was interesting to learn more about two of these groups. The characters stayed true to themselves throughout the whole story, however some of them, especially the character "aspen" were the standard superficial high school characters, making them completely not interesting. I would have liked to go to this school though, as there seem to be no unattractive guys there. My favorite character was probably Hannah, the only one that had some spunk. Unfortunately the ending was kind of predictable.
Overall it was a quick and easy read and I didn't hate it, but it's just not that exciting.
January 20, 2014
This is an interesting book. I really liked parts of it and other parts were, not so great. Destiny is a 16 year old, Mormon, girl attending a private Baptist High School. She is shy and not very confident. The plot is her interest in Isaac, the son of the Principal and a very devout Baptist. It is very high school romance. It took me a while to warm up to the characters because their inner thoughts are so dramatic, but then they are teenagers and that's what they feel. I would be interested in reading one more but not a whole long series. No sex, No language and a minor violent incident involving a car crash.
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