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The Secret of the Journal #1
Mortal Fire
Mortal Fire winner of GOLD in Adult Romance, ForeWordBook of the Year Awards, 2012
Nominated:Best Fiction Book of the Year, CRT 2012
In this award-winning debut novel and the first book in The Secret Of The Journal series, historian, Emma D’Eresby escapes the predictable safety of her life in Cambridge to seek the journal – the Seventeenth-century diary of an obscure Englishman – a portion of which was left to her by her grandfather. Secreted in the library of a university in Maine, USA, the journal is Emma’s lifelong obsession but, as she takes up the year-long teaching post at the university, she realises that the journal has a rival as she is irresistibly drawn to the enigmatic figure of surgeon, Matthew Lynes. As Emma evades the romantic advances of seductive colleague, Sam Weisner, she becomes aware of a more sinister presence haunting the university. Attacks on woman heighten tension on campus and Emma fears that she is the focus of a stalker’s attention. Suspense mounts on the eve of Halloween with horrific consequences; but where there is darkness there must also be light. Who is Matthew Lynes and what is his connection to the journal?
Nominated:Best Fiction Book of the Year, CRT 2012
In this award-winning debut novel and the first book in The Secret Of The Journal series, historian, Emma D’Eresby escapes the predictable safety of her life in Cambridge to seek the journal – the Seventeenth-century diary of an obscure Englishman – a portion of which was left to her by her grandfather. Secreted in the library of a university in Maine, USA, the journal is Emma’s lifelong obsession but, as she takes up the year-long teaching post at the university, she realises that the journal has a rival as she is irresistibly drawn to the enigmatic figure of surgeon, Matthew Lynes. As Emma evades the romantic advances of seductive colleague, Sam Weisner, she becomes aware of a more sinister presence haunting the university. Attacks on woman heighten tension on campus and Emma fears that she is the focus of a stalker’s attention. Suspense mounts on the eve of Halloween with horrific consequences; but where there is darkness there must also be light. Who is Matthew Lynes and what is his connection to the journal?
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
14 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
C.F. Dunn
9 books47 followers Studying history at university, Claire Dunn followed a vocational route founding a specialist school dedicated to the needs of children with Dyslexia, Autism and related language difficulties.
Returning to her academic roots to incorporate elements of history into her stories of romance, mystery and suspense, Claire began writing Mortal Fire - the first in the five-book The Secret Of The Journal series - winning Gold in the ForeWord Book Of The Year Awards, 2012. She now writes full-time in the South-West surrounded by restless seas, ancient landscapes and wild, wide skies.
She is currently working on a major new Wars of the Roses series: The Tarnished Crown.
Book One - Wheel of Fortune (pub. 2023 Resolute Books; revised edition pub. 2025 Sapere Books)
Book Two - Sun Ascendant (pub. 2024 Resolute Books, revised edition 2025 Sapere Books)
Book Three - Degrees of Affinity (pub. 2025 Sapere Books)
Book Four - Legacy of Steel (pub. Sapere Books 2026)
Returning to her academic roots to incorporate elements of history into her stories of romance, mystery and suspense, Claire began writing Mortal Fire - the first in the five-book The Secret Of The Journal series - winning Gold in the ForeWord Book Of The Year Awards, 2012. She now writes full-time in the South-West surrounded by restless seas, ancient landscapes and wild, wide skies.
She is currently working on a major new Wars of the Roses series: The Tarnished Crown.
Book One - Wheel of Fortune (pub. 2023 Resolute Books; revised edition pub. 2025 Sapere Books)
Book Two - Sun Ascendant (pub. 2024 Resolute Books, revised edition 2025 Sapere Books)
Book Three - Degrees of Affinity (pub. 2025 Sapere Books)
Book Four - Legacy of Steel (pub. Sapere Books 2026)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
September 21, 2012
Mortal Fire was not what I was expecting. I really wasn’t sure I wanted to review it, but something about it intrigued me, and wow am I glad I did not pass on this book. While I love pretty much all Christian fiction, this book stood out as a different type of book. There were some parts that were a little slow, but the author is very good at building a story with careful and deliberate descriptions without forgetting action and suspense.
One of the things I loved about this book was that it is very edgy. I have not read edgy Christian fiction for a while and this book was so welcome in my reading line-up. Some readers may find it too edgy, but I embrace edgy themes in Christian fiction because they are unpretentious and real. Not only was this book edgy, but it was smart. I felt challenged, in a good way. I liked the intellectual writing and the feeling that I am reading a book written by a very intelligent and thoughtful author.
Now, the thing that drove me crazy was such a cliffhanger! There is absolutely no way I will not be able to pass up the rest of the series. And because of that, I say “bravo!” C.F. Dunn. I love a good cliffhanger and I love having more books to look forward to.
One of the things I loved about this book was that it is very edgy. I have not read edgy Christian fiction for a while and this book was so welcome in my reading line-up. Some readers may find it too edgy, but I embrace edgy themes in Christian fiction because they are unpretentious and real. Not only was this book edgy, but it was smart. I felt challenged, in a good way. I liked the intellectual writing and the feeling that I am reading a book written by a very intelligent and thoughtful author.
Now, the thing that drove me crazy was such a cliffhanger! There is absolutely no way I will not be able to pass up the rest of the series. And because of that, I say “bravo!” C.F. Dunn. I love a good cliffhanger and I love having more books to look forward to.
August 31, 2012
‘Mortal Fire’ by C F Dunn
Published by Monarch Books, 2012. ISBN; 978-0-85721-202-3
Emma D'Eresby, a 29 year-old Professor of History at Cambridge college grasps the opportunity of a post in an exclusive university in Maine, USA. Here she hopes to learn more about a curious 17th-century journal in the College library. On the evening of her formal reception she meets the many distinguished academic and research staff at Howards Lake College, among which are the sinister Professor Kort Staahl and the enigmatic 33-year-old surgeon, Matthew Lynes, who she later learns is a widower. And from that early introduction a sense of tension and menace is tangible.
As Emma eases herself into life in the college - her students and the companionship of Elena Smalova and her boyfriend Matias, she continues to seek to indulge her interest in the 17th century journal about which her grandfather often talked, and which had sparked her curiosity. She runs into Matthew Lynes on several occasions enjoying a lively exchange of views, which doesn’t please Sam Wiesner who is attracted to her.
Emma is clearly attracted to Matthew, however this is not a straight forward romantic thriller, as Emma discovers as she draws closer to Matthew. A physical attack on Emma brings things to a head, as well as bringing her family from England to Maine.
Whilst Mortal Fire, resolves some questions, in the main it whets ones appetite for the second book in the series of the Secret of the Journal.
Like all good mystery thrillers it has a stunning twist at the end that has one eager for the next book in the series.
------
Lizzie Hayes
Published by Monarch Books, 2012. ISBN; 978-0-85721-202-3
Emma D'Eresby, a 29 year-old Professor of History at Cambridge college grasps the opportunity of a post in an exclusive university in Maine, USA. Here she hopes to learn more about a curious 17th-century journal in the College library. On the evening of her formal reception she meets the many distinguished academic and research staff at Howards Lake College, among which are the sinister Professor Kort Staahl and the enigmatic 33-year-old surgeon, Matthew Lynes, who she later learns is a widower. And from that early introduction a sense of tension and menace is tangible.
As Emma eases herself into life in the college - her students and the companionship of Elena Smalova and her boyfriend Matias, she continues to seek to indulge her interest in the 17th century journal about which her grandfather often talked, and which had sparked her curiosity. She runs into Matthew Lynes on several occasions enjoying a lively exchange of views, which doesn’t please Sam Wiesner who is attracted to her.
Emma is clearly attracted to Matthew, however this is not a straight forward romantic thriller, as Emma discovers as she draws closer to Matthew. A physical attack on Emma brings things to a head, as well as bringing her family from England to Maine.
Whilst Mortal Fire, resolves some questions, in the main it whets ones appetite for the second book in the series of the Secret of the Journal.
Like all good mystery thrillers it has a stunning twist at the end that has one eager for the next book in the series.
------
Lizzie Hayes
September 20, 2012
I am so excited about this new series! Mortal Fire is kind of the intellectuals' turn at Twilight. I say that with all respect for Stephanie Meyers' series, I love Twilight. It's not that Twilight isn't intelligent, but the setting and characters for this series are older and more academic.
Emma is quiet, private and obsessed with a a very unusual part of history - torture, all kinds throughout history and how it's affects have touched humanity. Although a gruesome subject, Emma sees it differently and her unique research has led her to the states to teach and study a diary. Emma's sheltered academic walls of safety begin to crumble when the evil she studies intellectually becomes real on the campus.
Then there is the handsome doctor Matthew Lyons. She's drawn to him despite her efforts to avoid romantic entanglements. He's unexplainable and always there to protect her. In fact he begins to seem more than human.
I love the mix of academia, mystery, faith and dare I say, possibly a little of the supernatural? I was hooked from the start and couldn't put it down. I read half the night and couldn't wait to pick it up the next morning. C.F. Dunn has you speeding through the pages all the way to the ending that makes you say, "WHAT?!"
Don't worry, there's a second book coming and there is a preview in the back of the book, which may have just saved my sanity. Fantastic start for a very promising author.
Emma is quiet, private and obsessed with a a very unusual part of history - torture, all kinds throughout history and how it's affects have touched humanity. Although a gruesome subject, Emma sees it differently and her unique research has led her to the states to teach and study a diary. Emma's sheltered academic walls of safety begin to crumble when the evil she studies intellectually becomes real on the campus.
Then there is the handsome doctor Matthew Lyons. She's drawn to him despite her efforts to avoid romantic entanglements. He's unexplainable and always there to protect her. In fact he begins to seem more than human.
I love the mix of academia, mystery, faith and dare I say, possibly a little of the supernatural? I was hooked from the start and couldn't put it down. I read half the night and couldn't wait to pick it up the next morning. C.F. Dunn has you speeding through the pages all the way to the ending that makes you say, "WHAT?!"
Don't worry, there's a second book coming and there is a preview in the back of the book, which may have just saved my sanity. Fantastic start for a very promising author.
August 8, 2012
What a super Novel, an exciting, page turning read. I am desperate to read the next book, Mortal Fire keeps you enthralled and wanting more page after page. A great mix of mystery, suspense and tension, with a most mysterious hero, who I am still wondering about even when the book is finished. More CF Dunn please as soon as possible.
November 28, 2017
This was a very good book.
It was interesting, suspenseful, unexpected.
I didn't like how melodramatic it felt at times, and some parts legged on in over explaining, but overall I enjoyed it and its Nancy Drew type feel.
It was interesting, suspenseful, unexpected.
I didn't like how melodramatic it felt at times, and some parts legged on in over explaining, but overall I enjoyed it and its Nancy Drew type feel.
March 19, 2014
Emma takes up a temporary post as professor at a university in the US because she wants to read a journal which is housed in the library there. She finds at least some of her fellow academics congenial but at one disturbs her for reasons she finds difficult to fathom. Then she meets Dr Matthew Lynes and realises she has already encountered him on her way to the university when her taxi is held up by the aftermath of a road accident.
What follows is a creepy story which stayed with me for several hours after I finished reading it. I liked Emma herself who narrates the story but she came over to me as just a shade neurotic at times though I agree her situation was a little strange. I couldn’t understand why she didn’t immediately go and look at the journal she really wanted to see for her own research. The reader doesn’t find out very much about the journal which I found a little irritating at times.
I did like the touch of the supernatural and the thread of things unknown running through the book but I felt too much was left to the reader’s imagination. I thought the characters were well drawn though the villain seemed much too shadowy to me and the hero was too mysterious. Please be aware that the story isn’t concluded in this book and it is continued in ‘Death be Not Proud’ and ‘Rope of Sand’
I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.
What follows is a creepy story which stayed with me for several hours after I finished reading it. I liked Emma herself who narrates the story but she came over to me as just a shade neurotic at times though I agree her situation was a little strange. I couldn’t understand why she didn’t immediately go and look at the journal she really wanted to see for her own research. The reader doesn’t find out very much about the journal which I found a little irritating at times.
I did like the touch of the supernatural and the thread of things unknown running through the book but I felt too much was left to the reader’s imagination. I thought the characters were well drawn though the villain seemed much too shadowy to me and the hero was too mysterious. Please be aware that the story isn’t concluded in this book and it is continued in ‘Death be Not Proud’ and ‘Rope of Sand’
I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Read
April 8, 2018I don't really know where to begin...this book has blown me away. It's probably the weirdest, most involved, heartwarming, swoon-worthy, creepy and downright puzzling book I think I have almost ever read.
I. Freaking. Loved. It.
Very intense on multiple levels but wow. C.F. Dunn went the distance on this one. Yikes. Still gathering intel from this read. So much admiration for how this book came into being. All I can say is "whoa-- what just happened and can I rewind and watch it again?"
I. Freaking. Loved. It.
Very intense on multiple levels but wow. C.F. Dunn went the distance on this one. Yikes. Still gathering intel from this read. So much admiration for how this book came into being. All I can say is "whoa-- what just happened and can I rewind and watch it again?"
January 26, 2013
Where to start? Professor from Cambridge takes a one-year teaching assignment at an American school so she can study a early American journal in their library. Mysteriously annoying, fawning and leering male professors on staff stalk her, annoy her and make her swoon for hundreds of pages. There may or may not be supernatural stuff at work.
The "heroine" is red-haired (exotic, we are told), and frail of mind and body (I swear, it's described over and over again that she doesn't eat, and then she goes for lunch one time and has a few tomatoes, one lettuce leaf and mayo AND THAT'S IT, but she's full of course).
When said annoying, fawning and leering men approach her, does she tell them to piss off? No. She cowers and tries to hide, or waits for the leading man to save her.
Grr.
The "heroine" is red-haired (exotic, we are told), and frail of mind and body (I swear, it's described over and over again that she doesn't eat, and then she goes for lunch one time and has a few tomatoes, one lettuce leaf and mayo AND THAT'S IT, but she's full of course).
When said annoying, fawning and leering men approach her, does she tell them to piss off? No. She cowers and tries to hide, or waits for the leading man to save her.
Grr.
February 9, 2017
There is so much to love about this book. It is beautifully written, with wonderful turns of phrase and descriptions, especially about the landscape of Maine. I warmed at once to the protagonists, Emma and Matthew, and even the minor characters (such as the staff and students at the college) are well-drawn. There is one scene so gripping and thrilling (you'll know it when you get to it) that it had me hiding behind my metaphorical sofa to read it. It was also a rare gift to be surprised by the ending. I confess that romantic suspense, with a hint of mystery and thriller, is not my chosen genre, but with this start, C.F.Dunn might just persuade me to indulge in the series.
August 18, 2012
I read this book when it first came out in May, and was completely blown away, not only by the descriptive writing, but also by the plot. Colin Dexter's praise is well deserved, and I can only hope we do not have too long to wait for the sequels to be published.
March 22, 2014
This book surprised me. It was a wonderful story filled with great characters that were easy to connect with. I loved everything about this book. It had a great mystery along with a beautifully unexpected love story. I cannot wait for the next chapter in this series. Excellent job.
August 30, 2012
This book was so enticing. I loved it's mysterious quality. I am hoping the second book comes out very soon.
July 27, 2021
Creepy & Suspenseful
At first I felt like the story was disjointed and hard to follow, so I set it aside for a couple of weeks. Maybe it was just my mood at the time or the difference between British and American English, but when I tried reading the book again, the plot and pace sucked me in. The story line is not fast paced, but it is intriguing and unexpected, and therefore, a page turner. If you have an aversion to violence, this book is probably not for you. I was surprised how the ending left me with far more questions than answers, but there are two more books to the story.
At first I felt like the story was disjointed and hard to follow, so I set it aside for a couple of weeks. Maybe it was just my mood at the time or the difference between British and American English, but when I tried reading the book again, the plot and pace sucked me in. The story line is not fast paced, but it is intriguing and unexpected, and therefore, a page turner. If you have an aversion to violence, this book is probably not for you. I was surprised how the ending left me with far more questions than answers, but there are two more books to the story.
January 21, 2018
An utterly fascinating book, on the one hand very much a feminine romantic novel; on the other an intriguing fantasy/sci-fi mystery! It was further enhanced for me by the Christian dimension: the author is clearly a Christian, and this comes through, though the book itself is not a specifically Christian story.
It was un-put-downable.
It was un-put-downable.
May 29, 2018
What can I say about this book? There was a lot she said, he said blah blah. No action, no suspense. This book should not be compared to the twilight series. Very misleading. I was half way through the book and thought to myself, what??? Skimmed through, still nothing.
August 26, 2019
Okay, all the other 1 and 2 star reviews nicely sum up my feelings on this, so I am not going to type up a load of similar stuff.
I'd just like to add that the author needs to save up and buy a bag of commas.
I won't be reading the rest of the series
I'd just like to add that the author needs to save up and buy a bag of commas.
I won't be reading the rest of the series
March 1, 2019
It's basically Twilight but for adults.
January 9, 2023
This is a very interesting book, especially if you love mysteries, suspense and intrigue which make all the right ingredients in a story about finding a quest that seems impossible!
Well written.
Well written.
March 19, 2024
This is such a silly book, I’m so glad I read it
January 23, 2016
MORTAL FIRE – Is not your run-of-the-mill romance book . . . and how wonderful that it is not!!
I have a love-hate relationship with The Secret of the Journal series penned by C.F. Dunn. Hate-because I read it out of order. Love- because it totally captivated me so I had to go back and read what I missed. I actually started the series by reading book two. It was sent to me as part of a blog tour. Initially, I groaned, because I could tell the book delved into what I would call the mystical/not really possible realm. This is not a genre I am comfortable with. I would not have picked this book up on my own, but since it was sent to me, I had to follow through with my commitment to read and review. I am so glad I did. I was so utterly captivated with DEATH BE NOT PROUD (book two), I went ahead and purchased ROPE OF SAND (book three), but that did not quench my desire to know everything I could about Dr. Matthew Lynes and Dr. Emma D’Eresby. So, I went ahead and purchased MORTAL FIRE so I could start at the beginning. Even though I knew what was going to happen in book one because of the heavy references in book two, it did not minimize my enjoyment. To write a review without giving away keys to the mystery is difficult. But I will try in a nutshell.
Dr. Emma D’Eresby, a professor of history at Cambridge, is on a quest to find a journal her grandfather began to translate decades ago. It is her connection to her deceased grandfather and their shared love of history, but Emma quickly finds out it might also be connected to her future. Traveling to the U.S. to study the journal, Emma soon finds herself the target of someone’s depravity. Though already intrigued by the enigmatic Dr. Lynes, her attraction for him grows when he comes to her rescue. But with that attraction comes even more questions about who the elusive doctor really is. The heart wants what the heart wants, and even though Emma knows Matthew is being secretive-even deceptive-she can’t seem to rein her heart back into obedience. When Matthew not only acknowledges Emma’s affection but returns it as well, she thinks he will finely drop the façade he has so meticulously erected and let her in. When Matthew doesn’t, Emma questions it they have a future at all.
MORTAL FIRE, along with DEATH BE NOT PROUD and ROPE OF SAND are by far the most intriguing novels I have ever read, even though they went against some of the ‘don’t likes’ I usually point out in books, such as: They delve into the mystical-a genre I choose not to read, and the author’s writing is sometimes overrun with evocative, fanciful descriptions – but somehow she makes it work brilliantly. I love the stubborn, tenaciousness of Emma, and I have never met a more haunting and elusive hero as Matthew.
Any reader who wants to be swept up into the unknown and allow an author to take you to the edge of your imagination, The Secret of the Journal series is for you. But just to warn you, the story doesn’t stop just yet. REALM OF DARKNESS will be the fourth installment in the series, and I have yet to find out the release date of this next novel. So, with great anticipation, I wait, and so will you.
Note: These books were introduced to me as part of a Christian blog tour. Many say they don’t see the Christian influence great enough for the books to be marketed in that genre. I might tend to agree. The faith the characters cling to is very personal and private, but definitely there. So, even though there aren’t large quantities of pages or paragraphs dedicated to their faith, the characters definitely look to God for their strength and turn to Him in the hope that He will one day help them understand the anomaly that is Matthew’s life.
I have a love-hate relationship with The Secret of the Journal series penned by C.F. Dunn. Hate-because I read it out of order. Love- because it totally captivated me so I had to go back and read what I missed. I actually started the series by reading book two. It was sent to me as part of a blog tour. Initially, I groaned, because I could tell the book delved into what I would call the mystical/not really possible realm. This is not a genre I am comfortable with. I would not have picked this book up on my own, but since it was sent to me, I had to follow through with my commitment to read and review. I am so glad I did. I was so utterly captivated with DEATH BE NOT PROUD (book two), I went ahead and purchased ROPE OF SAND (book three), but that did not quench my desire to know everything I could about Dr. Matthew Lynes and Dr. Emma D’Eresby. So, I went ahead and purchased MORTAL FIRE so I could start at the beginning. Even though I knew what was going to happen in book one because of the heavy references in book two, it did not minimize my enjoyment. To write a review without giving away keys to the mystery is difficult. But I will try in a nutshell.
Dr. Emma D’Eresby, a professor of history at Cambridge, is on a quest to find a journal her grandfather began to translate decades ago. It is her connection to her deceased grandfather and their shared love of history, but Emma quickly finds out it might also be connected to her future. Traveling to the U.S. to study the journal, Emma soon finds herself the target of someone’s depravity. Though already intrigued by the enigmatic Dr. Lynes, her attraction for him grows when he comes to her rescue. But with that attraction comes even more questions about who the elusive doctor really is. The heart wants what the heart wants, and even though Emma knows Matthew is being secretive-even deceptive-she can’t seem to rein her heart back into obedience. When Matthew not only acknowledges Emma’s affection but returns it as well, she thinks he will finely drop the façade he has so meticulously erected and let her in. When Matthew doesn’t, Emma questions it they have a future at all.
MORTAL FIRE, along with DEATH BE NOT PROUD and ROPE OF SAND are by far the most intriguing novels I have ever read, even though they went against some of the ‘don’t likes’ I usually point out in books, such as: They delve into the mystical-a genre I choose not to read, and the author’s writing is sometimes overrun with evocative, fanciful descriptions – but somehow she makes it work brilliantly. I love the stubborn, tenaciousness of Emma, and I have never met a more haunting and elusive hero as Matthew.
Any reader who wants to be swept up into the unknown and allow an author to take you to the edge of your imagination, The Secret of the Journal series is for you. But just to warn you, the story doesn’t stop just yet. REALM OF DARKNESS will be the fourth installment in the series, and I have yet to find out the release date of this next novel. So, with great anticipation, I wait, and so will you.
Note: These books were introduced to me as part of a Christian blog tour. Many say they don’t see the Christian influence great enough for the books to be marketed in that genre. I might tend to agree. The faith the characters cling to is very personal and private, but definitely there. So, even though there aren’t large quantities of pages or paragraphs dedicated to their faith, the characters definitely look to God for their strength and turn to Him in the hope that He will one day help them understand the anomaly that is Matthew’s life.
September 20, 2012
C. F. Dunn in her new book, “Mortal Fire” Book One in The Secret Of The Journal series published by Monarch Books takes us into the life of Emma D’Eresby in a contemporary thriller.
From the back cover: Emma, a young and self-contained professor of history, leaves Cambridge for a post in an exclusive university in the USA, intent on finding a long-overlooked seventeenth century journal. Bound within its pages are secrets that threaten to bring Emma into conflict with the present; but can she discover the truth–and will she believe it?
You would not think that a long-lost 17th century journal could cause so much trouble today. Yet that is exactly what happens to Emma, trouble, as she searches for this scroll. I am not a conspiracy theorist however I do enjoy a good conspiracy theory and “Mortal Fire” is a conspiracy theorist’s dream. Emma has left her home and position in England for a new home and position in the States to study this journal. She has left all her friends and what she knew behind for new people and a new place. Now others are trying to stop her from doing what she came over here to do.
This is a thriller as Emma is great danger and is actually attacked. This is an adventure suspense story as Emma is off on her search and as she begins to dig up her answers she is forced to question the motives of those around her. The only person she feels she can trust, Matthew, is keeping secrets even from her. “Mortal Fire” is also a mystery filled with twists and turns that will make a roller coaster kneel in surrender. The only bad thing is that it is part one of a trilogy. Well, maybe not so bad, we will be able to get more story in two more books! We will just have to wait for them that’s all. I think C. F. Dunn is an extremely talented writer who really knows how to tell a story that will grab you and keep you flipping pages until you find out what is going on. ”Mortal Fire” is a very exciting book that will keep you engrossed in the characters. This is a wonderful series and I am glad I discovered C. F. Dunn. I look forward to a long and pleasant relationship. I recommend this book highly.
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Monarch Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: Emma, a young and self-contained professor of history, leaves Cambridge for a post in an exclusive university in the USA, intent on finding a long-overlooked seventeenth century journal. Bound within its pages are secrets that threaten to bring Emma into conflict with the present; but can she discover the truth–and will she believe it?
You would not think that a long-lost 17th century journal could cause so much trouble today. Yet that is exactly what happens to Emma, trouble, as she searches for this scroll. I am not a conspiracy theorist however I do enjoy a good conspiracy theory and “Mortal Fire” is a conspiracy theorist’s dream. Emma has left her home and position in England for a new home and position in the States to study this journal. She has left all her friends and what she knew behind for new people and a new place. Now others are trying to stop her from doing what she came over here to do.
This is a thriller as Emma is great danger and is actually attacked. This is an adventure suspense story as Emma is off on her search and as she begins to dig up her answers she is forced to question the motives of those around her. The only person she feels she can trust, Matthew, is keeping secrets even from her. “Mortal Fire” is also a mystery filled with twists and turns that will make a roller coaster kneel in surrender. The only bad thing is that it is part one of a trilogy. Well, maybe not so bad, we will be able to get more story in two more books! We will just have to wait for them that’s all. I think C. F. Dunn is an extremely talented writer who really knows how to tell a story that will grab you and keep you flipping pages until you find out what is going on. ”Mortal Fire” is a very exciting book that will keep you engrossed in the characters. This is a wonderful series and I am glad I discovered C. F. Dunn. I look forward to a long and pleasant relationship. I recommend this book highly.
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Monarch Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
September 18, 2012
My thoughts: I found the book interesting and perplexing. I found very little connectivity between "The Journal" and the plot except for the fact that the heroine's main reason for accepting the position in the USA was because it housed the original "journal" a transcribed portion of which held her interest since childhood.
The introduction of each character is slow but thorough and lends to the surface flow of the story. However, the slow progression of the story almost lost this reader before I could engage in the seemingly main idea. This main idea is truly not one that you can really grasp as it is most elusive in nature. In fact, where the title "Mortal Fire" gets its genesis is lost to this reader.
I did finish the book and ultimately I found it quite interesting. It seems as though the "hero" of the story is somewhat supernatural, not human, or most rare and unusual at the least. There is not a clue as to why he is different, he just is. He is certainly a gentlemanly and kind individual of many talents and strengths.
I found this read in the land of academic interesting because they being highly educated individuals are ultimately pretty normal folks after all. But some really interesting personalities were revealed in the characters Ms. Dunn created for Mortal Fire.
I am sensing connection between the "hero," The Journal, and the dying grandmother (wife of the grandfather who introduced our heroin to "The Journal." Only future books will reveal if this is indeed so.
I am not overly fond of books in a series unless they can still be read as "stand alone" books. This one literally begs to be finished and the promise of completion only seems to be in the upcoming sequel, "Death Be Not Proud."
The genre is Christian fiction thriller or mystery. There is an element of Christian emphasis in the book, through not strong. The heroin is a Christian and endeavors to let her faith in Christ be her guide and her strength. There is an element of evil and danger, of love and romance, of friendship and avoidance, and of family love. There is also the element of things seemingly being non-Earthly or other-Worldly.
Would I recommend it? Let's just say I could recommend it. The author, C.F. Dunn, certainly has a gift with words and the telling of a story. Mortal Fire is just a bit different from that which I normally read - even when I'm ready for a heavier read instead of the lilting light reads that you settle down with when you need to simply relax. I do think I would like to read the followup book/s. The cliff hanging ending has just simply whetted my appetite.
I received a complimentary copy of Mortal Fire from Kregel Publisher in order to render my honest review and all opinions expressed are solely my own.
The introduction of each character is slow but thorough and lends to the surface flow of the story. However, the slow progression of the story almost lost this reader before I could engage in the seemingly main idea. This main idea is truly not one that you can really grasp as it is most elusive in nature. In fact, where the title "Mortal Fire" gets its genesis is lost to this reader.
I did finish the book and ultimately I found it quite interesting. It seems as though the "hero" of the story is somewhat supernatural, not human, or most rare and unusual at the least. There is not a clue as to why he is different, he just is. He is certainly a gentlemanly and kind individual of many talents and strengths.
I found this read in the land of academic interesting because they being highly educated individuals are ultimately pretty normal folks after all. But some really interesting personalities were revealed in the characters Ms. Dunn created for Mortal Fire.
I am sensing connection between the "hero," The Journal, and the dying grandmother (wife of the grandfather who introduced our heroin to "The Journal." Only future books will reveal if this is indeed so.
I am not overly fond of books in a series unless they can still be read as "stand alone" books. This one literally begs to be finished and the promise of completion only seems to be in the upcoming sequel, "Death Be Not Proud."
The genre is Christian fiction thriller or mystery. There is an element of Christian emphasis in the book, through not strong. The heroin is a Christian and endeavors to let her faith in Christ be her guide and her strength. There is an element of evil and danger, of love and romance, of friendship and avoidance, and of family love. There is also the element of things seemingly being non-Earthly or other-Worldly.
Would I recommend it? Let's just say I could recommend it. The author, C.F. Dunn, certainly has a gift with words and the telling of a story. Mortal Fire is just a bit different from that which I normally read - even when I'm ready for a heavier read instead of the lilting light reads that you settle down with when you need to simply relax. I do think I would like to read the followup book/s. The cliff hanging ending has just simply whetted my appetite.
I received a complimentary copy of Mortal Fire from Kregel Publisher in order to render my honest review and all opinions expressed are solely my own.
August 10, 2016
C.F. Dunn has written an interesting tale that fans of Twilight will enjoy.
Emma D’Eresby has come to the U.S. after teaching as a history professor at Cambridge. She may be young, but is one of the brightest in her field. She is interested in a seventeenth century journal by an Englishman, a portion of which was left to her by her late grandfather. She comes to a University in Maine to study the journal in full. All she wants to do is focus on her research but that isn’t what happens. She becomes friends with a Russian colleague, Elena, and is the subject of desire for more than one man. She is shy to try a relationship, only coming for the journal and having had difficult relationships in the past. When women are attacked on campus, Emma suspects an English professor, Kort Staahl is behind the incidents, he is also pursuing her and refuses to take no for an answer. The biggest question she finds herself with is her own attraction to a handsome doctor who puzzles her and draws her closer every day. With more questions than she came with, Emma is determined to get answers if it is the last thing she does.
I have read reviews that this is a Twilight for intellectuals. I could definitely see similarities between the two, but many more differences as well. The story started slow, so much narrative slowed the progress. Once I got a little over halfway things started to pick up quickly, (Chapter 14 in particular). From this point on, I had trouble putting it down. I’m hoping that is an indicator for the rest of the series moving just as fast. The tension scenes were played out incredibly well. I felt myself on the edge of my seat turning the pages to see what was coming next! As I said, I can see several similarities with the Twilight series, not enough to be bothersome, but some obvious ways to compare.
The relationship between Emma and Matthew played out well. It wasn’t rushed, the tension between the two brought them together and made the relationship believable. It could be said that Emma plays the damsel in distress, but I don’t see that. She is a strong independent woman that knows what she wants and tries to stay that course no matter what obstacles she might encounter. As long as the reader is patient, the payoff is well worth it! I enjoyed this book and will recommend to others.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Kregel Publications for an honest and thorough review. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
Emma D’Eresby has come to the U.S. after teaching as a history professor at Cambridge. She may be young, but is one of the brightest in her field. She is interested in a seventeenth century journal by an Englishman, a portion of which was left to her by her late grandfather. She comes to a University in Maine to study the journal in full. All she wants to do is focus on her research but that isn’t what happens. She becomes friends with a Russian colleague, Elena, and is the subject of desire for more than one man. She is shy to try a relationship, only coming for the journal and having had difficult relationships in the past. When women are attacked on campus, Emma suspects an English professor, Kort Staahl is behind the incidents, he is also pursuing her and refuses to take no for an answer. The biggest question she finds herself with is her own attraction to a handsome doctor who puzzles her and draws her closer every day. With more questions than she came with, Emma is determined to get answers if it is the last thing she does.
I have read reviews that this is a Twilight for intellectuals. I could definitely see similarities between the two, but many more differences as well. The story started slow, so much narrative slowed the progress. Once I got a little over halfway things started to pick up quickly, (Chapter 14 in particular). From this point on, I had trouble putting it down. I’m hoping that is an indicator for the rest of the series moving just as fast. The tension scenes were played out incredibly well. I felt myself on the edge of my seat turning the pages to see what was coming next! As I said, I can see several similarities with the Twilight series, not enough to be bothersome, but some obvious ways to compare.
The relationship between Emma and Matthew played out well. It wasn’t rushed, the tension between the two brought them together and made the relationship believable. It could be said that Emma plays the damsel in distress, but I don’t see that. She is a strong independent woman that knows what she wants and tries to stay that course no matter what obstacles she might encounter. As long as the reader is patient, the payoff is well worth it! I enjoyed this book and will recommend to others.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Kregel Publications for an honest and thorough review. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
September 18, 2012
It is one of the perils of reviewing brand new books: that horrible realization that you loved, loved, loved the book, only to discover that it is book one of a multi-book series. I'm in distress after finishing Mortal Fire by C.F. Dunn.
Emma is a professor of history at Cambridge. Emma studies an unusual subject- torture used as punishment for religious purposes. She takes a position at a small New England college so that she can have access to an old family journal that is housed in the college library. While settling into the college, Emma meets Matthew Lynes, a medical doctor and professor. There is something different about Dr. Lynes, but Emma cannot figure him out. As their relationship grows and Emma is thrown into danger multiple times, she is more and more aware that Matthew is very different.
There is romance here. There is suspense. There is history. There is the wonderful character of feisty and compelling Emma. There is a dashing and obscure hero. Who could ask for anything more?
I was taken in by Emma's story almost immediately. (I have to admit that the first chapter or so passed rather slowly.) As Emma learned more about Matthew and other characters at the small college where she is residing, I was quickly pulled in to the story. I couldn't wait to find out more, but at the same time, I didn't want to be through with the reading because I knew I would be frustrated by the lack of a follow up book.
As an American reader, I loved the English feel to this novel. First published in the UK by an English author, the style and feel of this novel is decidedly British in a very charming way. I liked the occasional British spelling and the fact that Emma had a very hard time calling fries, "fries", instead of "chips".
There is not much I can say I didn't like about Mortal Fire. My only complaint is the cliff hanger ending with no book two on the horizon. At least a chapter of the coming book is included, so readers can hang on to Emma and her life a little longer.
I rate this one a strong 5 stars and a PG for the suspenseful and sometimes frightening situations.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
Emma is a professor of history at Cambridge. Emma studies an unusual subject- torture used as punishment for religious purposes. She takes a position at a small New England college so that she can have access to an old family journal that is housed in the college library. While settling into the college, Emma meets Matthew Lynes, a medical doctor and professor. There is something different about Dr. Lynes, but Emma cannot figure him out. As their relationship grows and Emma is thrown into danger multiple times, she is more and more aware that Matthew is very different.
There is romance here. There is suspense. There is history. There is the wonderful character of feisty and compelling Emma. There is a dashing and obscure hero. Who could ask for anything more?
I was taken in by Emma's story almost immediately. (I have to admit that the first chapter or so passed rather slowly.) As Emma learned more about Matthew and other characters at the small college where she is residing, I was quickly pulled in to the story. I couldn't wait to find out more, but at the same time, I didn't want to be through with the reading because I knew I would be frustrated by the lack of a follow up book.
As an American reader, I loved the English feel to this novel. First published in the UK by an English author, the style and feel of this novel is decidedly British in a very charming way. I liked the occasional British spelling and the fact that Emma had a very hard time calling fries, "fries", instead of "chips".
There is not much I can say I didn't like about Mortal Fire. My only complaint is the cliff hanger ending with no book two on the horizon. At least a chapter of the coming book is included, so readers can hang on to Emma and her life a little longer.
I rate this one a strong 5 stars and a PG for the suspenseful and sometimes frightening situations.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.
September 17, 2012
Mortal Fire~ Secret of the Journal by C.F Dunn is probably one of the best romantic thriller's that I've had the pleasure to read!
This is not my usual genre of reading and because the cover has a rather "odd" look I was hesitant to read this book. But being enticed by the title, Mortal Fire, I quickly opened to the first chapter. Well, the rest is history (no pun intended)....
This fascinating read had me at "It must have happened only minutes before." The very first line of the story!
Of course, after reading that line...I had to know! What happened just minutes before? What crisis took place and who was involved?
Well, apparently Emma, a twenty-nine year old, professor/doctor of history, from Cambridge (that's in England, ya know), has witnessed an unpleasant accident. But the story isn't about the accident, it's about the people who are there....those involved and then the story literally takes off.
Emma is the strong kind of young woman who has studied and apprenticed and knows where she is headed. And she has chosen to take this professorship so that she can look for a long lost 17th century journal...a journal with secrets. Are some secrets too much to bring to light?
There is a small group of people in this read that revolve around the university where Emma teaches. Some of the historical subject matter that Emma teaches about is best defined as gruesome but it is a part of history. Interestingly enough, this part of history seems to making it's way into the campus.
The twists and turns of Emma's teaching at the campus, the friends she makes, and the life of the university are all very real. Makes one feel the dampness of the chilled night or the creepy sounds of the wind blowing as Emma heads, alone, back to her flat/small apartment.
This read, Mortal Fire, is one fantastic work of art! The romance is light with the emphasis on the missing journal that Emma seeks. Gothic! Mysterious! Romantic! All rolled into one great read! This is a not to be missed story!
*One word of caution, however, don't begin this read before going to bed for you won't be able to put this book down and may sleep through your morning alarm*
*This book was provided for review by Kregel publications*
This is not my usual genre of reading and because the cover has a rather "odd" look I was hesitant to read this book. But being enticed by the title, Mortal Fire, I quickly opened to the first chapter. Well, the rest is history (no pun intended)....
This fascinating read had me at "It must have happened only minutes before." The very first line of the story!
Of course, after reading that line...I had to know! What happened just minutes before? What crisis took place and who was involved?
Well, apparently Emma, a twenty-nine year old, professor/doctor of history, from Cambridge (that's in England, ya know), has witnessed an unpleasant accident. But the story isn't about the accident, it's about the people who are there....those involved and then the story literally takes off.
Emma is the strong kind of young woman who has studied and apprenticed and knows where she is headed. And she has chosen to take this professorship so that she can look for a long lost 17th century journal...a journal with secrets. Are some secrets too much to bring to light?
There is a small group of people in this read that revolve around the university where Emma teaches. Some of the historical subject matter that Emma teaches about is best defined as gruesome but it is a part of history. Interestingly enough, this part of history seems to making it's way into the campus.
The twists and turns of Emma's teaching at the campus, the friends she makes, and the life of the university are all very real. Makes one feel the dampness of the chilled night or the creepy sounds of the wind blowing as Emma heads, alone, back to her flat/small apartment.
This read, Mortal Fire, is one fantastic work of art! The romance is light with the emphasis on the missing journal that Emma seeks. Gothic! Mysterious! Romantic! All rolled into one great read! This is a not to be missed story!
*One word of caution, however, don't begin this read before going to bed for you won't be able to put this book down and may sleep through your morning alarm*
*This book was provided for review by Kregel publications*
April 22, 2016
This novel did not end up as I had thought it would. What began as a creeping, atmospheric mystery with subtle supernatural undertones turned disappointingly into a Twilight-clone. At least that's my suspicion of where the series is heading: mysterious guy who acts a lot older than he looks, superspeed, superstrength, superhearing, a guilt complex larger than Nebraska...need I elucidate? I think (I don't know, having not read the second book) that the Lynes are all vampires. Or immortals. Either or. It bores me, really.
I liked the setting; I liked the setup. I enjoyed the academic side of the novel, and would have preferred to hear more about the students she was mentoring than about the trio of guys I'm gonna have to call The Creeps, but the author clearly chose not to elaborate on the students, coz how interesting are five individuals with personalities and dreams compared with three guys who are, respectively on a scale of most dangerous to least, a mass murderer, a 'nice guy' and a potential vampire? The Creeps are worth more to the author than the students. Sad, really. The romance sabotaged the plot and turned a no-nonsense young woman into a puddle of goo held together with stitches and bandages. There is literally a point in the middle somewhere in which the protagonist holds in her hands the reason she came to the States, and chooses to put it away in favour of her new goal (him). The insta-love is real here; she changed so much from the woman she was in the beginning; her ideals and indeed morals went out the window, because it's all about him. This book in no way passes the Bechdel Test. Emma has one female friend among the entire faculty. One. That out of all the criticism above should tell you what this book is like. It's allllll about the penes here, folks.
The ending...? It sucked. In some way the novel twisted midway and became something that belonged to a different genre, and after such a wonderful beginning the author let me down.
I don't care to read the second book in this series, because I think I can tell where it's leading, and after 4 books and a 5 movie franchise, I'm in no mood to travel down that winding road again.
September 17, 2012
Knowing that C.F. Dunn is "across the pond," I figured British spelling and vocabulary would be used throughout the book. I was not disappointed. For those of you wondering if it detracts from the story, please know that it does not. In fact, as Emma is from the UK, it lends an air of authenticity to the story.
When we come across a traffic accident with a fatality within the first few pages, I wasn't sure what to expect. After all, I was just being introduced to the characters and I didn't really know their motives yet. Reading on, I found myself being sucked into the story as Emma, being a stranger in a strange land, found her way amongst the academia and was introduced to new friends and some unsavory characters on staff.
I enjoyed getting to know her colleagues and students (from Emma's perspective) and enjoyed the conversations about Emma concentration of history and how it has shaped her beliefs. I even enjoyed the anticipation of a blossoming relationship that held immense mystery. But as a librarian, I doubly enjoyed Emma's trips into the land of literature to find the journal she so intensely wanted to understand. I even understood her actions with the journal, but was disappointed that she was stopped so violently from learning its secrets.
The characters are complex and multi-faceted. Just as I thought I understood what they were thinking, something would crop up and completely change the direction of my own thinking. (Isn't this true of us as living humans as well?) I'm completely engrossed in the story and want to know what happens next. No, I need to know what happens. Does Emma discover the mysteries surrounding her recent relationship? How will she react to the truth that she so desperately wants to uncover? And what will the secrets in the journal reveal about her own and others' pasts?
If you enjoy mystery with a hint of romance, you will love this book! Make sure you carve out a chunk of time because you will not want to put it down. It's THAT engrossing. I just hope that book #2, Death Be Not Proud, comes out soon!
When we come across a traffic accident with a fatality within the first few pages, I wasn't sure what to expect. After all, I was just being introduced to the characters and I didn't really know their motives yet. Reading on, I found myself being sucked into the story as Emma, being a stranger in a strange land, found her way amongst the academia and was introduced to new friends and some unsavory characters on staff.
I enjoyed getting to know her colleagues and students (from Emma's perspective) and enjoyed the conversations about Emma concentration of history and how it has shaped her beliefs. I even enjoyed the anticipation of a blossoming relationship that held immense mystery. But as a librarian, I doubly enjoyed Emma's trips into the land of literature to find the journal she so intensely wanted to understand. I even understood her actions with the journal, but was disappointed that she was stopped so violently from learning its secrets.
The characters are complex and multi-faceted. Just as I thought I understood what they were thinking, something would crop up and completely change the direction of my own thinking. (Isn't this true of us as living humans as well?) I'm completely engrossed in the story and want to know what happens next. No, I need to know what happens. Does Emma discover the mysteries surrounding her recent relationship? How will she react to the truth that she so desperately wants to uncover? And what will the secrets in the journal reveal about her own and others' pasts?
If you enjoy mystery with a hint of romance, you will love this book! Make sure you carve out a chunk of time because you will not want to put it down. It's THAT engrossing. I just hope that book #2, Death Be Not Proud, comes out soon!
September 17, 2012
Seeking access to a seventeenth-century journal, history Professor Emma D'Eresby leaves England for a temporary position at a prestigious university in America. Her arrival sparks a flurry of curiosity at her British accent and her surprising area of expertise examining the historical use of torture for the "benefit and salvation of the recipient". She soon catches the eye of several male admirers, one of whose attention grows increasingly disturbing by the day. When Emma is attacked, she is rescued by a doctor, Matthew Lynes, who she finds herself growing to love, a doctor shrouded in mystery, a man who appears to be connected to the past and the truth Emma is seeking to uncover.
Mortal Fire is a book of suspense, of secrets, of unexpected developments, and I was held captive by the tale that Dunn has woven. Emma is a brilliant character, someone who is smart and unique, with an interesting personality that makes you want to spend time getting to know her. I enjoyed the moments of humour sprinkled throughout the book, while the scene where Emma is attacked is utterly chilling. My one criticism of the book is that at times Emma's infatuation with Matthew and her dealings with other admirers felt a bit more juvenile than I would have liked, detracting somewhat from my enjoyment of the character. However, taken as a whole, I greatly enjoyed the book, finding it to be well-written and action-packed, leaving me craving more.
As with most books in a series, I came to the end with more questions than answers, but with enough hints to what is going on to make me appreciate what the author has accomplished. Mortal Fire is an excellent debut novel, and the author has gained a new follower as I highly anticipate the next book in the series, and the further revealing of Emma's story and that of the mysterious Mathew. 4 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Monarch Books, as distributed by Kregel Publications, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
Mortal Fire is a book of suspense, of secrets, of unexpected developments, and I was held captive by the tale that Dunn has woven. Emma is a brilliant character, someone who is smart and unique, with an interesting personality that makes you want to spend time getting to know her. I enjoyed the moments of humour sprinkled throughout the book, while the scene where Emma is attacked is utterly chilling. My one criticism of the book is that at times Emma's infatuation with Matthew and her dealings with other admirers felt a bit more juvenile than I would have liked, detracting somewhat from my enjoyment of the character. However, taken as a whole, I greatly enjoyed the book, finding it to be well-written and action-packed, leaving me craving more.
As with most books in a series, I came to the end with more questions than answers, but with enough hints to what is going on to make me appreciate what the author has accomplished. Mortal Fire is an excellent debut novel, and the author has gained a new follower as I highly anticipate the next book in the series, and the further revealing of Emma's story and that of the mysterious Mathew. 4 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Monarch Books, as distributed by Kregel Publications, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
May 10, 2013
Have you ever read a book that makes you have more questions than answers? That wasn't anything like what you thought it might be but that it didn't matter? The answer to both of these questions concerning this book is a definite yes! I was half way through the book and still didn't have a clue as to what exactly the book was about. The back cover says "Emma, a young and self-contained professor of history, leaves Cambridge for a post in an exclusive university in the USA, intent on finding a long-overlooked seventeenth century journal. Bound within its pages are secrets that threaten to bring Emma into conflict with the present; but can she discover the truth - and will she believe it?
Reading that you would think that the journal is very important to the story but actually in this first book of the series it really doesn't play a big part. Even though I couldn't get the actual story to jibe with the description, I kept reading because what was written intrigued me and kept drawing me on. So much that I didn't want to put it down. I would say that this book is letting you get to know the characters and building up from there. I enjoyed the writer's style and the turn of phrasing that she used. I liked Emma's character mainly because she is different. She is a historian but is drawn to study events that include man's inhumanity to man, such as torture and things along those lines. She meets a man that she is strongly attracted to and one that she greatly fears. There isn't much explained about either which leaves a huge mystery. I have my own guess about the one she is attracted to but I won't share that here, especially as I might not be right. I will just say that I can't wait for the next in the series to come out.
This book was listed as Christian Fiction but it does not have a strong religious theme to it. If you like different, I would definitely recommend it.
Reading that you would think that the journal is very important to the story but actually in this first book of the series it really doesn't play a big part. Even though I couldn't get the actual story to jibe with the description, I kept reading because what was written intrigued me and kept drawing me on. So much that I didn't want to put it down. I would say that this book is letting you get to know the characters and building up from there. I enjoyed the writer's style and the turn of phrasing that she used. I liked Emma's character mainly because she is different. She is a historian but is drawn to study events that include man's inhumanity to man, such as torture and things along those lines. She meets a man that she is strongly attracted to and one that she greatly fears. There isn't much explained about either which leaves a huge mystery. I have my own guess about the one she is attracted to but I won't share that here, especially as I might not be right. I will just say that I can't wait for the next in the series to come out.
This book was listed as Christian Fiction but it does not have a strong religious theme to it. If you like different, I would definitely recommend it.
September 27, 2012
Reading this book made me feel as if something or someone was always behind my back watching me read. It was that menacing.. WHOA! No other book has made me feel this way before that I'm not sure what to make of it. Filled with creeping suspense that had me off the edge of my seat, I still couldn't find the closure i needed to answer the questions this book delivered. It's basically like walking through a haunted house feeling dread at every corner and yet you can't find the source. Like it's in front of your face, like the wind... can't see it, although its there, its unattainable...Pretty frustrating.HAHA
love LOVE the way she writes the story though. It had that sense of maturity that I appreciate. I was pretty sad Emma didn't delve into the journal as much as I thought of its relevance to the plot. I'm just a little frustrated that pieces didn't fall into place as I hoped. Nothing really tied itself together for a better explanation of what is really going on. The cover is a bit misleading. It doesn't have anything to do with the story as well as the synopsis. However, this is a trilogy so I hope she finds what she's looking for in the 2nd installment as well as answer =/ I can't help but find similarities to Twilight.. mainly between Emma and Matthew's character.. It's a bit disconcerting.. but i guess that's part of the pull of the plot. . The imagery and style form such vivd detail, I can almost see myself in the setting. It feels like everyone had an alternative motive and thats what i like about a book. It makes it hard for me to predict in which I usually am good in doing.. and thus ruins surprises in plots for me :sigh: -__- Overall 4/5
Although, I have a few solutions to what Dr. Lynes secret is.. (in this Christian Romance suspenseThriller) ?? Who knows until the second book!! :)GAH!
love LOVE the way she writes the story though. It had that sense of maturity that I appreciate. I was pretty sad Emma didn't delve into the journal as much as I thought of its relevance to the plot. I'm just a little frustrated that pieces didn't fall into place as I hoped. Nothing really tied itself together for a better explanation of what is really going on. The cover is a bit misleading. It doesn't have anything to do with the story as well as the synopsis. However, this is a trilogy so I hope she finds what she's looking for in the 2nd installment as well as answer =/ I can't help but find similarities to Twilight.. mainly between Emma and Matthew's character.. It's a bit disconcerting.. but i guess that's part of the pull of the plot. . The imagery and style form such vivd detail, I can almost see myself in the setting. It feels like everyone had an alternative motive and thats what i like about a book. It makes it hard for me to predict in which I usually am good in doing.. and thus ruins surprises in plots for me :sigh: -__- Overall 4/5
Although, I have a few solutions to what Dr. Lynes secret is.. (in this Christian Romance suspenseThriller) ?? Who knows until the second book!! :)GAH!
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