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Twisted Roots #1

A Light into the Darkness

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I want to tell you something now. I need you to listen closely and don't forget. I'm not sure how much time I have.' He stopped again and shook his head at the sky. He then pointed out a vivid star high above them in the moonless sky. 'There are magical places that exist in this world, Jess, places that the master architect created to balance good and evil. The time will come when you will leave this house and enter into another life that awaits you, a life you deserve and one with greater purpose. You don't know how special you really are.'Jessica's sole priority for the past thirteen years has been to keep her father alive in the hope he will wake up from his coma and save her. Threatening to cut off his life support at any sign of independence, her mother has controlled her life, even to the point of an arranged engagement to Seth, whom Jessica fears even more than her mother. When Jessica accepts this most outrageous demand yet and then discovers her father has 'passed away' anyway, she knows she has to escape. She runs until she is lost and bewildered in a Georgia swamp, where she discovers the existence of the wonderful place her father hinted at to her when she was only a child. In this magical, unreal world, just as she begins to discover the truth about her twisted family roots, three young men set their eyes on Jessica. One will win her heart, one will try to steal it, and one will try to kill her.

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 19, 2012

6 people are currently reading
2400 people want to read

About the author

Shelly Goodman Wright

8 books96 followers
Desperate to find clean romance/suspense novels with a Christian twist, Shelly wrote her first full length novel in the spring of 2010. In 2011, she signed A Light into the Darkness (Twisted Roots #1) which listed in the top 25 for the Puddly Awards in 2013. In 2015, the second edition release was nominated for Family Fiction's top ten books of 2015.

Other published works include; The Lost Scrolls (Twisted Roots #2), several short stories, and Legacy (Twisted Roots #3) is scheduled to release November 8, 2016.

New novel projects include InHabitation, an apocalyptic, New Adult suspense, romance; and The Road to Nowhere, a dystopian YA suspense, romance. Short stories projects include; "The Children in the Attic", "Dome Number Three", and "Night Terrors".

Besides writing, her other passion is working with inspiring writers to help them fine-tune their craft. From talking to fellow writers at conventions or writing workshops to speaking to young adults about starting writing clubs in their schools, Shelly does this free of charge (local venues). Experience includes:

*Home Schooling
*Local School Speaker on Writing
*COSine Panelist/Moderator (Co. Springs Sci-Fi Convention)
*StarFest Panelist (Denver Convention)
*Pikes Peak Mountain of Authors
*Weekly Youth Writing Club
*Creative Writing Teacher at High Country Home Educators (New Life Church)
*Moderator/Panelist at Mile High Convention

Shelly lives in Colorado with her husband Tim, three daughters, two dogs, and six guinea pigs.

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5 stars
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26 (17%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for Jessica.
1 review1 follower
May 29, 2012
Do you like a good read that encompasses thrill, action, and romance along with a plot that will captivate both young and old alike? If you do, then Twisted Roots is the book for you!!! I am amazed at how the author can place your mind right into the scene and include all five senses while doing so. Indicative of the authors high moral standards, this book remains a safe read for young teenagers by not including the foul language and sex that permeate todays suggested reads. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Jennifer Jimmerson.
129 reviews30 followers
May 18, 2013
What a fantastic book! Absolutely loved it.
I have not read much Christian Fiction, but I saw the book on goodreads giveaways and was intrigued. I was fortunate enough to be the winner.

The book is very well written; the characters are well rounded and believable, the plot is well formed, the descriptive language is excellent. I was brought into the world that Mrs. Wright formed for me. I'm excited for the next book to come out. I'll definitely be reading it.
Profile Image for Chopp-chopp.
17 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2013
Shelly is an excellent writer. She pulls in her audience within the first page. Shelly keeps you turning pages as Jessica is used and abused by her mentally abusive mother to get what she wants from life and men, regardless of the consequences. Jessica's sole reason for living is her father. After he dies, she runs from her abusive mother, and equally abusive arranged marriage, to a man she never wanted in the first place. Robbed of all her possessions, Jessica winds up in a Georgia swamp lost, scared and alone, living with a group of people like none she has ever known. This is an excellent, clean read for adults and kids of all ages. A little suspense, a little comedy, with a bit of curiosity thrown in. Can't wait for the sequel to come out. I will be ordering mine as soon as it hits the publisher.

CHOPPER
Profile Image for Shayna.
5 reviews
May 31, 2012
My mom ordered me Twisted Roots cause she knows I love to read and she was kinda hesitant on whether I would really like it or not, because she wasn't sure it was written for a 16 year old,so the day I got it I began reading and dinar think it was possible to put the book down. I think one of he biggest problems with books today is that they don't always grab the raiders attention right off the bat but with Twisted Roots that was not the case at all. I would recommend this book to anybody even teens who are my age that don't like to read would more than likely love this book!
6 reviews
May 16, 2012
This book is a must-read! It will appeal to teens as well as older readers as there is suspense, drama, and the much-loved good against evil. The descriptions of scenes made me feel like I was right there, seeing it all laid out in front of me. That's how a great book should be! Thanks Shelly! I will definitely be sharing this book!
Pam Lee
Profile Image for Loretta.
1 review1 follower
February 28, 2013
This is a book i would recommend to my friends. Shelly, has a talent to bring characters to life, and situations that make you think you are the fly on the wall watching every thing happen. She has given readers a delight in her writings. Loved the book, and can't wait for another. I just couldn't put this one down.I hated that it came to an end.
Profile Image for Nicole.
1 review
June 1, 2012
Great book, could not put it down when i was reading. I could vision the story as I was reading it. Shelly you did awesome on the first book and I can not wait to read the second book. Now to let my son read the book as well as he is anxious to get started on reading it. Keep up the great writing Shelly.
Profile Image for Davlynn .
1 review
May 16, 2012
I love this story. It is so amazing b/c there is something in it for all ages. It is a beautiful Christian based story that crosses all genres. I highly recommend this book for all. It is an awesome read!! I am so proud of Shelly. LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!!
1 review
May 28, 2012
Love this book! Just finished reading it tonight & left me wishing there was more to read! Didn't want to put it down & hated to get interrupted while I was reading it, Lol! Check it out! You won't be sorry!
Profile Image for Vanessa.
1 review2 followers
May 17, 2012
This was an awesome book! Once I started reading it I didn't want to stop. The storyline was great and so well-written that you feel like you are a part of the story. Can't wait for the sequel!!
Profile Image for Beth Norton.
1 review2 followers
May 17, 2012
WOW!!!!! What an amazing story!!! This is a MUST read. I'd love to read more of Shelly's writings. This would make for an amazing movie. Thanks so much Shelly!!!
6 reviews1 follower
September 14, 2012
I loved this book! I am really excited to see the YA Fanasty Genre in Christian! I opened this book and was immediately sucked in, finishing in 3 days! Hoping and praying for a Book 2 soon!
Profile Image for Tracy.
1 review
May 16, 2012
I found out about this book by a friend of mine on facebook, shelly herself, and when I was able to purchase it early I did. As soon as I received the book I started to read it and found i didnt want to put it down! I felt like I was watching a movie unfold as I kept reading, I could picture each of the characters develop and became totally engrossed in this story. It was heartbreaking, heartwarming, heartpounding all at the same time. As the story unfolded I became even more involved in the book and couldnt wait to get back to reading it. I totally recommend this book to anyone who wants to have a great read and I cant wait for the sequel, loved it!
Profile Image for Conny.
858 reviews3 followers
October 6, 2014
Don't like the Christian things in this book, it's just way too much.
If I want to read the bible I read The Bible, but I don't want to, so why bother me with all this?

This book came out in 2012, book 2 is coming 2014?
I never ever wait so long for a book 2, that's ridiculous.
That's a long wait don't you think?

I'm not going too read the next book, no thank you.

I liked Jess and Hunter very much, but all that bible talk drives me nuts, no thank you.
Profile Image for Donna.
1 review
June 19, 2012
Wow! I was hooked after reading the first page! I just couldn't put the book down. Frankly, I was so intrigued that curiosity about got the best of me before I got to the end! Shelly is an awesome writer. Her writing style draws you into the storyline and you begin to feel like you are part of the plot. I eagerly await the next book by this talented author!
1 review
July 6, 2012
I'm 11 years old and this is a great book! It made me wonder what was going to happen next.I felt like I was with Jessica and I felt the feelings that Jessica felt. I could see in my head the scenes. I couldn't put the book down. I just loved Shelly's writing she was very detailed. The book was so great that I read it twice! Samantha-Rae
Profile Image for Mel.
1 review
November 9, 2012
I must say Twisted Roots is one of the best written Christian books I have ever read! I started reading and I could not put it down...I was hooked! I can't wait for the next book to come out....this series will most DEFINITELY be in my reading collection!
Profile Image for Becky Harris.
144 reviews10 followers
May 10, 2018
This book was amazing! It grabbed me from the start and it wouldn't let me go! It kept me hanging on to the end with twists and surprises. I was sad to have to leave the world when it was over. I really wanted a sequel! I will deff read more from this author!
Profile Image for Nicole Garrison.
2 reviews
September 4, 2013
I was given this book by my mother in law and was told to read it I never read the back to find out what it was about, I just trusted her and read it. I could not put it down! Can't wait till the second one comes out! It is a MUST READ!!!
17 reviews
May 28, 2013
What a great book! I couldn't it down! It may be a fictional but so much truth in it! You won't be disappointed! It has it all: action between good and evil, romance, some comedy relief and spirituality! I encourage you to read it! I just hope that book #2 comes out soon!!!
1 review2 followers
May 16, 2012
This book is really good. It was gripping, entertaining, and suspenseful. I can't wait for the next book. :)
1 review1 follower
June 5, 2012
I really liked this book. It is hard to lay it down.
A good book for preteens as well as youth and adults.
6 reviews2 followers
December 9, 2012
This is a must read book. It leaves you spell bound as you flip through each page.
Profile Image for Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews.
5,457 reviews175 followers
May 6, 2013
Now that Jessica finally has the power to determine her own path, will she make the right choice?

There are no words to describe Jessica’s situation. Her life is beyond tragic. With her mother, Evelyn, constantly dangling the life of her father over her head, Jessica is forced to submit to outrageous demands, including an engagement to Seth, a man who just might be more nefarious than her mother. After her father’s death, Jessica runs away at the first opportunity. What Jessica finds beyond the walls of her home will challenge everything she’s ever known.

Jessica is a very strong heroine. Despite her rather twisted and sheltered upbringing, Jessica has grown into a fine young woman. I admire her bravery and the strength it took for her to go into the world alone with absolutely no one she could trust. Once Jessica finds her way into the swamp, she comes across a group of people who show her the true meaning of trust and unconditional love. It was a pleasure to watch Jessica gradually let down her guard and open herself up to others.

I also enjoyed watching Jessica come to know Christ through reading the Bible and the gentle guidance of Hunter and Ms. Mabel. As Jessica steps on the path to Christianity, Hunter and Ms. Mable encourage her to ask as many questions as she wants. I liked that they never forced her into anything. When Jessica comes to a pivotal moment in her faith, Hunter and Ms. Mabel are there to support her, but Jessica remains in control of her life. I have no doubt that Jessica will grow into a very courageous woman.

Hunter is exactly the kind of man that Jessica needs. He lends her strength and support when she needs it, but also gives her the tools to stand on her own. Their romance is very touching and moves at just the right pace. I look forward to watching their love continue to bloom in the next book.

I must admit I had a hard time understanding the motives of Evelyn, Jessica’s mother. She doesn’t appear to have any redeeming characteristics. Consequently, she didn’t strike me as a very realistic character. Evelyn’s past is murky, and I’d definitely like to know a bit more about what would drive a woman to treat her only child the way she treats Jessica. Perhaps I will learn more about her in future installments of the series?

Seth is an interesting villain. While Seth is definitely evil, I do believe he has something that resembles feelings for Jessica, no matter how misguided or warped they are. He seems to have been shaped into the evil man that he’s become through some poor choices on his part as well as through the influence of Jessica’s mother. I can’t help but wonder if Seth’s life would have been different if Evelyn hadn’t gotten her claws into him.

Ms. Wright has crafted a wonderful story of love and faith in Twisted Roots. I enjoyed every minute spent reading it and am definitely looking forward to learning more about Jessica in the next book. I recommend Twisted Roots to anyone looking for a different kind of paranormal tale.

Originally posted at:
Profile Image for Leah.
108 reviews4 followers
January 11, 2014
~FIRST READS WINNER~
Great design, style and layout. Prefect print.
Interesting prologue, thanks for including that. Then the line, “you don’t know how special you really are.”. That line from the book blurb got me interested, at first. Now reading it, I must find out what’s to come. The writing is really smooth, no hiccups.

Mostly its a story about a young girl that runs away from home, with added extra like the weird (magical?) swamp, bible verses and hints towards angels (Indians?) and demons. The part about the mother and daughter’s life and issues, reminds me of “Flowers in the Attic.”

I liked how in the beginning, the main character Jess didn’t believe in God, wasn’t interested in it; and no one wanted to change her. Then—she gave up and allowed to be conformed; Which got on my nerves a bit. The bible scripture part I understood, in the beginning I was able to tolerate them, but then it became tedious.

As many times as they ate, prepared and talked about food made think of “The Hobbit” and their ‘second breakfast, tea times, dinner and after dinner’ meals . LOL.

So she ran away, wound up in a strange part of a swamp, living in an old run down shack, with a new poor ‘family’ and out of nowhere all of a sudden they’re playing dress up and going to “Cinderella’s ball” (Horse and carriage included)…wth.

Incredible writing for a first- time author. Not sure how to describe this book- it wasn’t “amazing” nor was it bad. Decent story, written well but just not what I expected. Claims its YA fantasy, magic and romance but really just Christian mystery fiction.

Most interesting part of entire story was when the demons were introduced—more my speed. Too bad it was only like that on last few pages ;(. Not sure if I’ll be interested in reading book two, we shall see. Sadly, it would not be a book I would have bought, but glad I had the chance to read it.
3/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jaime K.
Author 1 book44 followers
December 4, 2014
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.

Jess is stuck in a hellish world, with a power-hungry mother, a rich politician-in-waiting not-quite fiancé (she never accepted the creep's proposal) and a father in a coma. When her father dies, she follows her heart and gets away from it all. She ends up following a strange light that leads her to he swamps of Georgia, a shack, and a new view on God.

When Jess met Hunter, I figured they'd end up together. What I didn't expect was the Twilight-esque relationship they had. He's all "I want you to NOT LEAVE without me and by the way I'm watching you" and she's all "Ooohhhh you're right - P.S. I love you."
Their relationship is much more mature and less creepy than Edward/Bella, but I couldn't help but see tones of Twilight here.
Also, the ending with the possible reveal about Jess' genealogy is a little too convenient, BUT it was expected from the start.

While this isn't necessarily God vs. Devil, it is God's followers and the Faithful vs. demons and the possible antiChrist. The parallels made to Revelation are great. I enjoyed that Wright kept saying (through Hunter and his family) that humans are fallible and we may not read God's Word "correctly."

There were typos on pages 86 and 171, but those have no bearing on my rating. No, that is because while I enjoyed the characters, I didn't feel for them. Oh, I read the book very quickly want wanted to know more of the story, but by the end I felt a bit that it dragged and wasn't heading towards a real ending. I do understand there is a sequel, but I am a little lost as to where it's going.

Twilight-esque: 4 stars
Lack of emotion for characters: 3 stars

EXCELLENT quote on page 291:
"Even in our darkest hour, God knows are pain, wand wants to comfort us. We need to lean on him and not let the evil sweep us away." - John.
Profile Image for Ashley E.
610 reviews31 followers
January 17, 2015
Jessica is living a life trapped within a mansion. Controlled by her mother and "fiance" by threats against her comatose father, she thinks that she will live the rest of her life in misery, subject to their whims. Then her father dies and, driven by an urge she can't explain, she makes her escape.

The premise of this story was very intriguing, but sadly the delivery left a bit to be desired. The characters were great, fully-fleshed and believable; however, more descriptions would have been a blessing. Eye and hair color, anyway? Most characters were pretty featureless in my mind, or I developed my own opinion and halfway through the book, the author's own description threw me completely off.

The plot is slow-moving, but not at all in a bad way. It's fits the sticky-summer feel of the swamp, and added to the experience for me. And the romance between Jess and Hunter? That was downright perfect. Sweet, slow and subtle, with a wonderful hint of passion to come. If I continue this series, it will be to see them grow together.

The writing was unfortunately the part that bugged me the most. For the most part, it wasn't bad taking into account the fact that this is the author's debut. But her voice read oddly to me, and I would get thrown out of the story by odd turns of phrase. What ticked me off was the editing, which isn't at all the author's fault. Many things that should have been caught in all of the stages of editing and proofreading are still left in the final copy. Shame on you, Tate.

[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
Profile Image for Holly.
95 reviews
April 14, 2013
Jessica's life is constantly controlled by her fiance Seth and her mother. After her father, who has been in a coma for 13 years, dies she finds a way to escape. In the middle of the night she flees through her window and boards a train and finds herself beaten up and robbed when she arrives at her destination. Desperate to find a place to go she ends up in a swamp where she finds a light and passes out. She wakes up in a magical place with five strangers, Miss Mable, May, Hunter, Joseph and Josephine.
This novel was a bit different (less fantasy and more good vs. evil) from what I thought it would be. Overall good premise but does need to be re-edited.
Read if you enjoy Christian novels that have a light fantasy twist with romance and good vs. evil in them.

I received this novel from Goodreads Firstreads.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Quetzi Fernald.
68 reviews12 followers
February 3, 2014
From the moment I picked up this book to read I just couldn't put it down! I always know that a book is really GOOD when I fall asleep at night & dream about the characters & what they're doing in the story! This is an unforgettable book about Good vs. Evil. I feel in love with Hunter & Jessica, who are the main characters in the book. I felt the environment in which Jessica lives in as if I were actually living there with her. On top of the theme, there is a great love story going on also. I'm going to go nuts waiting for the next book in this saga! I recommend this book to everyone, you won't be sorry. The story line is so engrossing that you will forget about everything else that is going on around you. It's also a story that will stay with you for years & years. I really loved this book. I hope the author writes a lot about these characters. I'll be waiting with baited breath! ;)
Profile Image for Natalie McMahon .
187 reviews16 followers
July 30, 2013
I really wanted to love this book. It has so many promising elements - danger, love, good vs. evil, a quest for truth and identity, and a hint of magic/the supernatural. The characters are fairly lovable, but the evil characters' motivation for being evil isn't developed. I am a Christian, but the blending of explicit Christianity with made up supernatural events didn't really work. When dealing with Christian principals in literature you either need to pick allegory or reality. This blend was awkward. This wasn't Narnia or real life, which made it hard for it to either ignite my imagination or make me feel connected to the story. Overall, interesting idea though
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

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