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Going Back Cold
After the unexpected stillbirth loss of her daughter, physicist Dr. Jane Whyse feels as empty and lifeless as the landscape that surrounds her on the remote Antarctic base where she and her husband work. As the geniuses of PROJECT SPLIT HORIZON pursue faster-than-light travel, Jane begins to secretly wonder if there is an opportunity to use the piezoelectronic technology she’s created to time travel. What if she could somehow undo the loss of her daughter? Jane's honest, ugly struggles to understand God’s sovereign plan for all of time and space in the midst of raw pain leave her questioning everything. The more success she finds in her scientific career—and the closer she may be to a chance to fix the worst day of her life, the more conflict she finds in her marriage and in her own heart. Can she seek healing from this devastating loss while she tries to play god? Jane must choose between faith in a God whose mercies are new every morning, or coldly turning away
452 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2019
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Kelley Rose Waller
3 books34 followersKelley writes fiction to imagine new life experiences. Her latest novel, Countershade, was released on November 1, 2022.
Going Back Cold was released in 2019. The Senator's Youngest Daughter was released in 2016. Kelley's day job as vice president of a marketing firm offers her the opportunity to write and plan for clients in diverse fields. Kelley and her husband are Pennsylvania foster parents. Kelley lives and writes to uplift and glorify the name of Jesus Christ.
Kelley is a ridiculous fan of science fiction and board games. She has a B.A. in English and lives in Lancaster, PA, with her husband, their children, and their dog.
Going Back Cold was released in 2019. The Senator's Youngest Daughter was released in 2016. Kelley's day job as vice president of a marketing firm offers her the opportunity to write and plan for clients in diverse fields. Kelley and her husband are Pennsylvania foster parents. Kelley lives and writes to uplift and glorify the name of Jesus Christ.
Kelley is a ridiculous fan of science fiction and board games. She has a B.A. in English and lives in Lancaster, PA, with her husband, their children, and their dog.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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October 2, 2019This book was completely outside of my norm as far as what I would normally gravitate to. With that said it was a good read. The scientific stuff was way above my head which I kind of expect with a sci-fi book.
I love snarky female leads and Jane has that in spades. I could identify with Jane because like her I've lost a child. During my last pregnancy I had what is known as silent twin syndrome. My son was tucked behind my daughter and he didn't survive. We didn't know about him until after I passed a clot after delivery.
This was a good read. I will warn you that there is some language but it fits within the story. Ms. Waller does a good job of showing the faith element too.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book via the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love snarky female leads and Jane has that in spades. I could identify with Jane because like her I've lost a child. During my last pregnancy I had what is known as silent twin syndrome. My son was tucked behind my daughter and he didn't survive. We didn't know about him until after I passed a clot after delivery.
This was a good read. I will warn you that there is some language but it fits within the story. Ms. Waller does a good job of showing the faith element too.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book via the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 7, 2020
Kelley Rose Waller excellently combines science fiction with real-life experiences, intertwined with a raw exploration of grief. Her characters are believable, both in their scientific expertise and in Waller's exploration of their lives and world views, whether secular or faith-based. I am not especially a fan of science fiction, yet I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
September 16, 2019
On the one hand, Going Back Cold is a science fiction novel about a small group of scientists based in Antarctica experimenting with faster-than-light technology. But it’s also an exploration of the different ways people grieve.
In year one of the four-year research and development project, Dr. Jane Whyse discovers she’s pregnant with her second child. After the baby girl is stillborn, Jane, her husband Dr. Lucas Whyse, and their young son Sebastian continue work on the project. Both committed Christians, Jane and Lucas find their faith shaken. Lucas is working through his grief, but Jane appears trapped in her anger. Her research soon becomes her obsession.
The science is intriguing (I can’t say I understood it, but I expect that in science fiction). The observation of a small group of people interacting in a closed environment is interesting, too. The Whyses’ grief is instructive for those who haven’t experienced a significant loss—and I expect it’s affirming for those who have. And the ethical dilemma Jane’s obsession unleashes could come from near-future headlines.
Negatives: This is Christian fiction, and I was surprised to find the occasional mild profanity, as well as some crude comments. (Yes, I know some Christians swear, but it always catches me off-guard in real life and in books.)
Positives: There are some delightfully geeky references, and Jane and Lucas are transparently honest with God about their grief.
Favourite lines:
Kelley Rose Waller has also written The Senator’s Youngest Daughter. For more about the author and her work, visit kelleyrosewaller.com.
[Review copy provided by the author. My opinions are my own.]
In year one of the four-year research and development project, Dr. Jane Whyse discovers she’s pregnant with her second child. After the baby girl is stillborn, Jane, her husband Dr. Lucas Whyse, and their young son Sebastian continue work on the project. Both committed Christians, Jane and Lucas find their faith shaken. Lucas is working through his grief, but Jane appears trapped in her anger. Her research soon becomes her obsession.
The science is intriguing (I can’t say I understood it, but I expect that in science fiction). The observation of a small group of people interacting in a closed environment is interesting, too. The Whyses’ grief is instructive for those who haven’t experienced a significant loss—and I expect it’s affirming for those who have. And the ethical dilemma Jane’s obsession unleashes could come from near-future headlines.
Negatives: This is Christian fiction, and I was surprised to find the occasional mild profanity, as well as some crude comments. (Yes, I know some Christians swear, but it always catches me off-guard in real life and in books.)
Positives: There are some delightfully geeky references, and Jane and Lucas are transparently honest with God about their grief.
Favourite lines:
Jane was determined to have her family cake and eat the career, too. [On bringing their young son with them to the research base. Kindle location 268]
Good luck seeing God in me. I’m broken and failing when I try to rebuild. There aren’t words for where I am, none that make sense anyway. But I believe it. I will believe it. And I trust You. God, it hurts, but I trust. I will believe. [Lucas’s personal log. Kindle location 1941]
Kelley Rose Waller has also written The Senator’s Youngest Daughter. For more about the author and her work, visit kelleyrosewaller.com.
[Review copy provided by the author. My opinions are my own.]
September 30, 2019
I enjoyed this science fiction novel that is more centered on character than scientific wonder. The content is very character driven with many personal conversations and lots of daily chatter included. The science involved is mostly a framework for the character development.
The novel centers on Dr. Jane Whyse. She is a physicist with a theory for faster than light travel. She, her chemist husband and their three year old son go to Antarctica and join a team to develop and test her theory. The team spends several years of summer months there, returning back to the states during the rest of the year for additional scientific work. The novel only covers the months in Antarctica, jumping from year to year.
Jane Whyse becomes pregnant while at the research station but then has a miscarriage when back in the U.S. The plot follows the continuing struggles Whyse experiences. It develops to the point where it impacts her work and the project is in jeopardy.
There is quite a bit of scientific language used, referring to procedures, crystals and minerals. I was hoping for an author's note at the end clarifying what was actual science from today and what was imagined for the future. No information like that was included in the digital copy I read.
This is a good book for readers who enjoy an exploration of character struggles in the context of near future scientific experiments. There is a good exploration of Christian faith and how one accepts tragedy, such as a miscarriage, from a sovereign God. That issue was handled very well and was, I think, the strength of the book.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.
The novel centers on Dr. Jane Whyse. She is a physicist with a theory for faster than light travel. She, her chemist husband and their three year old son go to Antarctica and join a team to develop and test her theory. The team spends several years of summer months there, returning back to the states during the rest of the year for additional scientific work. The novel only covers the months in Antarctica, jumping from year to year.
Jane Whyse becomes pregnant while at the research station but then has a miscarriage when back in the U.S. The plot follows the continuing struggles Whyse experiences. It develops to the point where it impacts her work and the project is in jeopardy.
There is quite a bit of scientific language used, referring to procedures, crystals and minerals. I was hoping for an author's note at the end clarifying what was actual science from today and what was imagined for the future. No information like that was included in the digital copy I read.
This is a good book for readers who enjoy an exploration of character struggles in the context of near future scientific experiments. There is a good exploration of Christian faith and how one accepts tragedy, such as a miscarriage, from a sovereign God. That issue was handled very well and was, I think, the strength of the book.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.
September 7, 2019
This gripping, near-future sci-fi kept my attention from beginning to end, plunging me into life at an Antarctic research station and all of the highs and lows that can occur even in the midst of a monotonous landscape. Waller infused each character with their own personality and backstory to create a team of people that felt very real. In fact, by the end they seemed almost like a large family, with a few distant relatives on the fringes who came and went.
Although Dr. Jane Whyse is the protagonist, we also get the perspectives of other characters, and sometimes Jane’s actions are a mystery to her husband and teammates as well as to the reader, keeping us guessing at her thoughts and motives.
Going Back Cold covers some tough topics, and I think Waller handled them well. We may not share the same ideologies 100 percent, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story nonetheless. Additionally, some discussions toed the line of being preachy but instead were well-written. I found myself pleasantly surprised by some of these interactions. However, there were one or two awkward conflicts that left me wondering what happened to escalate things so quickly, what triggered this or that character to blow up over something trivial.
Despite the heartbreaking theme, the story is dotted with pockets of humor, and I often found myself laughing out loud at banter, antics, and references to hobbits in space.
Thanks to Kelley Rose Waller for providing a free ebook in exchange for an honest review!
This review was originally posted on my blog, Poetree.
Although Dr. Jane Whyse is the protagonist, we also get the perspectives of other characters, and sometimes Jane’s actions are a mystery to her husband and teammates as well as to the reader, keeping us guessing at her thoughts and motives.
Going Back Cold covers some tough topics, and I think Waller handled them well. We may not share the same ideologies 100 percent, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story nonetheless. Additionally, some discussions toed the line of being preachy but instead were well-written. I found myself pleasantly surprised by some of these interactions. However, there were one or two awkward conflicts that left me wondering what happened to escalate things so quickly, what triggered this or that character to blow up over something trivial.
Despite the heartbreaking theme, the story is dotted with pockets of humor, and I often found myself laughing out loud at banter, antics, and references to hobbits in space.
Thanks to Kelley Rose Waller for providing a free ebook in exchange for an honest review!
This review was originally posted on my blog, Poetree.
August 30, 2019
Until asked to review "Going Back Cold", I had never heard of Kelley Rose Waller, and I love discovering new authors. "Going Back Cold" tells the story of two scientists who travel to a remote Antarctic base with their three-year-old son to work on a research project for NASA. Jane soon discovers she is pregnant, but when the baby dies at birth, Jane and her husband make the difficult decision to return to Antarctica for three more years and complete the project.
Jane's journey from grief to faith is a long one, but one that helps us understand how pain causes us to do irrational things and make questionable decisions. Through her fictional story, Waller helps us empathize and cheer Jane on to restoration and wholeness. I enjoyed every bit of the story as Waller leads readers on the same journey as Jane and her husband. The excitement of the project, the grief of loss, the struggle to find joy again and the journey to hope will keep you turning pages until the very end.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a 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.”
Jane's journey from grief to faith is a long one, but one that helps us understand how pain causes us to do irrational things and make questionable decisions. Through her fictional story, Waller helps us empathize and cheer Jane on to restoration and wholeness. I enjoyed every bit of the story as Waller leads readers on the same journey as Jane and her husband. The excitement of the project, the grief of loss, the struggle to find joy again and the journey to hope will keep you turning pages until the very end.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a 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 14, 2019
An Enjoyable Read
While I enjoyed the book, even the science parts I was a little taken back at some of the thoughts of one of the characters (his attitude toward women) especially for a Christian book. But I decided that is what happens in real life. Even the main character, Jane, who is a Christian, showing her sometimes “snarky attitude” just proves we are not perfect.
Not having personally gone through what Jane goes through in her personal life I can only imagine how hard that would be to deal with. But she certainly took an unexpected route to try and change things. For someone that has been through the same heartache, it might be harder for them to read this book, or they may comfort that someone else out there…the author..understands what they are going through.
The science part may deter some people from reading the book, as a retired meteorologist myself, I found it quite interesting.
I received a complimentary copy of ‘Going Back Cold’. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion, as I have done.
While I enjoyed the book, even the science parts I was a little taken back at some of the thoughts of one of the characters (his attitude toward women) especially for a Christian book. But I decided that is what happens in real life. Even the main character, Jane, who is a Christian, showing her sometimes “snarky attitude” just proves we are not perfect.
Not having personally gone through what Jane goes through in her personal life I can only imagine how hard that would be to deal with. But she certainly took an unexpected route to try and change things. For someone that has been through the same heartache, it might be harder for them to read this book, or they may comfort that someone else out there…the author..understands what they are going through.
The science part may deter some people from reading the book, as a retired meteorologist myself, I found it quite interesting.
I received a complimentary copy of ‘Going Back Cold’. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion, as I have done.
September 14, 2019
A good story, but a lot of it is about the loss of a child, so didn't really pertain to me so much. I felt that the loss/sadness kind of took up too much of the story in places. I thought the science/sci-fi part was quite good. A little hard to believe that Christians could be in those positions, but it would be great if they could! There were several mistakes that proofreading could take care of. Also contains some cursing.
February 26, 2022
Enjoyed the story, however it was hard for me to read through the science portions. Was not an easy read for the science-illiterate.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews