Monday, March 01, 2010

Burn [Review & Giveaway]

Burn
Ted Dekker & Erin Healy


Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone

Release Date: January 2010

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Pages: 384

My Rating: 3/5

Source: Recieved from Phenix Publicity

Synopsis [from goodreads.com]:

The past Janeal thought had burned away is rising from the ashes.

Years ago, the Gypsy Kumpania where Janeal Mikkado lived was attacked by outsiders. With her best friend about to be consumed by a fire, Janeal had two options: try to save her friend--at serious risk to her own life--or disappear with the million dollars that she had just discovered . . .

But the past is quickly coming back to haunt her. Both the best friend and the boyfriend that she was sure were dead have reappeared in her life, as has someone who knows about the money. There's a debt to be paid for the money she found, but there's an even greater debt she must face--and if the chaff isn't burned from her own heart, it will consume her.




Review:

First off, I absolutely love this cover!! I admit it was one of my main decisions to review it.& the book trailer was very well done in my opinion, almost like a movie trailer. The other reason was Ted Dekker... I haven't read anything by him but I own BLACK which is his first book in the Books of History Chronicles: Circle series. I've also heard some great things about him as an author so I was definitely excited to try him out. And while I enjoyed BURN I wasn't totally in love with the story.

I didn't know this was considered Christian fiction until just recently and I never noticed the fact that Thomas Nelson was a Christian publisher. I don't read a lot of Christian fiction, again not for any particular reason. I read books based on my interest in the synopsis, and this one definitely grabbed my attention. However, I didn't get a real sense of the Christian faith or religion while reading. There is some reference to God but I personally felt it was more of a spirtual thing for the characters. Anywho, I don't want the fact that BURN was put in this genre to discourage those who are wary of it. The suspense/thriller aspect of the book was very entertaining and enjoyable!

But I must say I didn't enjoy BURN as much as I was hoping for. While there was plenty of fast-paced action in the story, I found myself lacking a real connection with the main character Janeal Mikkado. And the huge twist/climax in the plot (which I can't reveal to you) kinda threw me off kilter. It's hard to discuss without giving things away. I will say the idea of this book is entirely unique, at least to me, but something I had trouble accepting.

Janeal Mikkado, along with the other characters, are first introduced when she's a teenager living with her gypsy kumpania (or community) as an outsider. She has this longing to explore the world and get far away from the people she's been around her entire life. But her boyfriend, father, and best friend don't really see things the way Janeal does. After a dark, handsome, and mysterious man comes into her life claiming the only way to save Janeal's father is to betray him... Janeal is faced with a decision that will forever alter her life. A decision that will forever haunt her no matter how hard she tries to run from it.

I didn't want to give much more of the plot away so I'll leave it at that. I'd definitely say give this one a go if your a suspense/thriller kind of reader. I don't know how this book holds up to Ted Dekker's other books however.


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GIVEAWAY INFO:


One person will win my gently read copy of BURN by simply commenting below with an email address... (no email address = no entry)


Extra Entries:
+2 for following/subscribing the blog.
+2 for following on twitter. (provide your twitter @name)
+1 share this! -sidebar, blog post, twitter, facebook (links required, each link = +1)

Giveaway ends March 14th and the winner will be announced March 15th. US Entries only.

Good luck!
GIVEAWAY CLOSED

26 comments:

Julie S said...

I'm a new follower on google/blogger. I'd have added you on twitter but the twitter picture on the side doesn't have a link that works. Anyway, count me in the giveaway, it sounds like an interesting book juliecookies(at)gmail.com

Christa said...

Please count me in on the giveaway. I've followed Ted Dekker for a while, though I've missed out on many of his most recent books because of college - but I did read the Circle Trilogy & loved it. : ) And his plots typically do have a rather odd twist at the end.

Um, I also had trouble with the twitter icon on the right. It took me to an error page. So I can't follow you. Sorry.

Thanks for the giveaway!
ambience.of.rain [at] gmail.com

misskallie2000 said...

I am a new follower on GFC and I am also new subscriber to your blog

This sounds like a great book and I liked your review. Your blog is neat..

I tried to go to twitter but came up with page error. ?? Sorry

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Mishel said...

I fixed the twitter link guys. Sorry about that. Please comment after you try the link again so I can give you the extra entries =)

Thanks for entering!!

Julie S said...

I added you on twitter :) username is juliecookies
juliecookies(at)gmail.com

Christa said...

Super. Added you on twitter.
: )

+2 for following on twitter (@GreenShoesPhoto).

misskallie2000 said...

Orig post 11:15am

I am following you on twitter now.
(@misskallie2000)

link works., Thanks

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

No need to enter me, doll. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

baileythebookworm said...

Despite the fact that I'm an atheist, I am a huge fan of Ted Dekker's work -he never shoves the Christianity in the reader's face, and his writing is very well crafted. I would love a chance to read "Burn."
baileythebookworm at gmail dot com

donnas said...

Please include me.

+2 follower
+2 twitter follower (@donnas1)
+1 link - http://donnasbloghome.blogspot.com/2010/03/contests-found-33.html
+1 sidebar - http://donnasbloghome.blogspot.com/
+1 tweet - http://twitter.com/DonnaS1/statuses/9957703968

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Miss Haley said...

I would love to win!

haleymathiot@yahoo.com
+2 old follower
+2 follow on twitter (@haleymathiot)

Winning Readings said...

Would love to read this!

We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2010/03/burn.html

Janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Linda Kish said...

I would like to read this book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Trinity Rose said...

Greetings,
Really LOVE books by Ted Dekker. I've read almost all of them. Not this one. Please enter me in the give away.
I'm a follower.
Blessings,
Trinity Rose

wandaelaine[at]gmail[dot]com

Julia M. Reffner said...

I've read and enjoyed 2 books by Dekker in the past. Please enter me.

julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com

Michelle V said...

I really want to read this one! Please enter me.

Michelle
m.vasquez[at]grandecom[dot]net

Benita said...

Daunting cover! I'd love to read the book.

+2 New Follower.
New Email subscriber.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Heather Y said...

Sounds like a great one... count me in! :)

heather y
click4cash4me(at)gmail(dot)com

Heather Y said...

I'm a twitter and blog follower as well!

+2 twitter (click4heathery)
+2 blog

Thanks!

heather y
click4cash4me(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol M said...

I would love to read this!
I subscribe to your blog and I follow your blog.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

BookMarc Blogpants said...

I've never read anything by Ted Dekker but would like to judging from your review. It's said one shouldn't judge a book by its cover but I think it's cool.

mckelly74(at)gmail(dot)com

BookMarc Blogpants said...

Not sure if I should do extra entries separately but will do just in case the draw is randomly generated. My apologies if they could have all been accounted for in the same post.

Following on Google Friend Connect.
Entry #1
mckelly74(at)gmail(dot)com

BookMarc Blogpants said...

Following on Google Friend Connect.
Entry #2
mckelly74(at)gmail(dot)com

BookMarc Blogpants said...

Following on Twitter.
Entry #1
mckelly74(at)gmail(dot)com

BookMarc Blogpants said...

Following on Twitter @MarcinMD
Entry #2
mckelly74(at)gmail(dot)com

BookMarc Blogpants said...

Tweeted giveaway

http://twitter.com/MarcinMD/statuses/10488844120

mckelly74(at)gmail(dot)com

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