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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
While not a blockbuster, I enjoyed this quick read. I've mentioned this in other reviews of Christian fiction - this genre can often bring with it eye rolls or comments of "How can you read something so 'cheesy'?" While it's true that sections of books from this genre can seem "forced", I love hearing how these stories are borne out of specific circumstances within an author's life. Terri's Author Note at the end of the book was impactful for me. How I long for our country and our culture to quit zeroing in on the divisive and to focus on God-honoring values and truth. May the "roaring lion" that is seeking to devour be stopped by those who are safely clothed in the armor that God provides. May light overcome the darkness.
I'll now be stepping off my soapbox since that paragrah did nothing to help review the book.
I'll now be stepping off my soapbox since that paragrah did nothing to help review the book.
A girl at a concert. An explosion. A man caught in the crossfire. An attorney ready to fight. Aftermath opens with a bang (literally) and is non-stop until the very end!
When a bomb explodes at the concert Taylor and her best friends are attending, her fight-or-flight kicks in, and she runs without looking back. Guilt-ridden and full of shock, Taylor's already fragile mental state crumbles as she becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth of this horrific attack. She wants justice for her friends' lives, but is the right man being accused of the crime?
“Now what? She had to find Dustin Webb. If the police didn’t care enough to keep him locked up, she would take matters into her own hands.” ~ Terri Blackstock
Dustin Webb has nothing to hide, or so he thought. After getting pulled over, he is just as stunned as the police when they open his trunk and find boxes of explosives. How did they get in there? What is going to happen to him? Who can prove his innocence? Swallowing his pride, Dustin calls the only person he knows will be able to get him out of this mess, Jamie Powell, his childhood best friend and a criminal attorney willing to fight tooth and nail for what is right.
“She was a gift he hadn't let himself ask for. But God was good and provided what he needed.” ~ Terri Blackstock
Surprised to hear from Dustin after years of radio silence, Jamie agrees to help him, believing him to be the man she once knew; but what if her conscience is leading her astray? Battling her own reservations, Jamie can't help but remind herself that Dustin is more like a stranger after being apart for so long. Can she truly trust him, or was his aunt right about him all along?
“It was time to pray — not just drive-by prayers, but real, in-your-face talk with God.” ~ Terri Blackstock
Aftermath was a thrilling book from start to finish! With action, mystery, suspense, and a Christian theme throughout, the story captivated my attention and jeered me to find out what would happen next. Full of twists and turns, this was my first and definitely not the last novel I read by Terri Blackstock! Gripping from the opening line, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and excitement the plot exuded.
We all long to be seen as good people, so when our integrity is put to the test, we can often turn against God, asking Him "why?" when we should be asking "why not?"! Beyond our own understandings, God has a way of bringing us back to the very place He has called us to be; however, sometimes, it's through the unlikeliest and most uncomfortable circumstances that we find His love and see His glory shines through!
If you enjoy a good thriller, Aftermath is the book for you!
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
It's Terri Blackstock so you know it's full of suspense, action and great characters. Another one that I could not put down, had to finish it in one day. I love Blackstock's writing and her plots are stellar in my opinion. I actually figured out the villain quickly in this one but it wasn't obvious and I was surprised I was right. Great story!
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.5 stars. It sucked me in and I read through the book in a hurry, but I figured out the mystery too soon and there was a side storyline that was distracting and not well fleshed out. The romance angle was meh: predictable and way too quick to resolve the conflict without any effort put forth by the characters.
I originally gave this 4 stars because I love mysteries and it was a fun and interesting read, but after mulling it over for a whole day I had to knock the rating down just a smidge.
I originally gave this 4 stars because I love mysteries and it was a fun and interesting read, but after mulling it over for a whole day I had to knock the rating down just a smidge.
It was good, but lacked some of the suspense of her other novels for me.
Fantastic new release from Blackstock! Couldn't put it down! Coming on the heels of her amazing "If I run" series, Blackstock is on a roll!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own!
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm a prolific reader, averaging about 6 books a week, and this is one of the best novels I've read in the last year. I started reading about 15 minutes before bedtime, but when the time came to put the book down I was already emotionally invested coming out of the gate.
Even with a story written from four points of view with a large cast of characters, the narrative was written well enough that nothing was confusing and no characters got me mixed up.
The plot twist caught me by surprise.
Yes, I cried. The poignant parts got me right in the feels.
My biggest criticism is the romance that was tacked on. It truly came out of left field with neither the FMC nor the MMC giving a hint of attraction before their first kiss. Up until that point, it had always been written with an adopted sibling relationship. It would have been better to either continue in that same vein or create a slow burn leading to the change in status.
Even with a story written from four points of view with a large cast of characters, the narrative was written well enough that nothing was confusing and no characters got me mixed up.
The plot twist caught me by surprise.
Yes, I cried. The poignant parts got me right in the feels.
My biggest criticism is the romance that was tacked on. It truly came out of left field with neither the FMC nor the MMC giving a hint of attraction before their first kiss. Up until that point, it had always been written with an adopted sibling relationship. It would have been better to either continue in that same vein or create a slow burn leading to the change in status.