Nine

 

 

 

About the Book

 Zoe Johnson spent most of her life living in the shadows, never drawing attention to herself, never investing in people or places. But when a wide-eyed, bedraggled teenager with no memory walks into the diner where Zoe works, everything changes. Now, against her better judgment, Zoe, who has been trying to outrun her own painful memories of the past, finds herself attempting to help a girl who doesn't seem to have any past at all. The girl knows only one thing: she must reach a woman in Corpus Christi, Texas, hundreds of miles away, before the government agents who are searching for her catch up to them.

Award-winning author Rachelle Dekker throws you into the middle of the action and keeps the pressure on in this page-turning story that, asks Are we who the world says we are--or can we change our story and be something more? (Goodreads)

 

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My Thoughts

 

This book starts off with a bang and pretty much leaves you holding your breath until the end. This is one of Rachelle's best novels so far. The story line had enough suspense to hold my interest and the way the characters are written was very well done. I wasn't a huge fan of Seeley but he still added a different perspective to the story line. The thing that really is kind of odd is that this book wasn't so far out there to be unrealistic. I could totally see the things that happen in the book happening in real life one day. I loved the tie in with The Girl Behind the Red Rope as I have read that book as well. I loved the book but the ending I still am not so sure about. It all seemed so rushed. All that to say if you enjoy suspense this is a good one to pick up! I also recommend reading Rachelle's other novels as she really is a talented author. 

"I received this book from Revell for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

The Girl Behind the Red Rope Review

 

About the Book

Ten years ago, Grace saw something that would forever change the course of history. When evil in its purest form is unleashed on the world, she and others from their religious community are already hidden deep in the hills of Tennessee, abiding by every rule that will keep them safe, pure--and alive. As long as they stay there, behind the red perimeter.

Her older brother's questions and the arrival of the first outsiders she's seen in a decade set in motion events that will question everything Grace has built her life on. Enemies rise on all sides--but who is the real enemy? And what will it cost her to uncover the truth?

For the first time, bestselling authors Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker team up and deliver an intense, tightly focused ride through the most treacherous world of all. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I have been reading Ted Dekker for years and I am always excited to read his next novel. You truly never have any idea what to expect when it comes to a Dekker novel. His daughter Rachelle has written a few books herself so the combination I figured would be intense. The first part of this book had me bending my mind (as do all Dekker books), I wasn't certain the point of the story. I realized the deeper layer of what the book was all about, once I got past the mid point. There were some things in the story that I don't think were necessary but they just added to the weird world of the book. The ending delivers a gut punch of reality for our lives and I thought it was a good picture. I don't want to give anything away but the ending gets right at the heart of why people are how they are. Honestly this book was a good reminder to examine my heart and the many things that control my mind and actions on a daily basis. If you like Ted or Rachelle Dekker I think you will enjoy this story. If you are new to the Dekker world I recommend that you also read previous Dekker books to give you more perspective on these authors. 

Four stars.

"I received this book from Revell for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

The Calling Review

About the Book

Remko Brant had never been so sure of anything as escaping the Authority City with Carrington Hale. But bravado comes easy when you have nothing to lose. Now a husband, father, and the tactical leader of the Seers, Remko has never had so much at risk.As he and his team execute increasingly dangerous rescue missions inside the city, they face growing peril from a new enemy. Recently appointed Authority President Damien Gold claims to be guiding a city shaken by rebellion into a peaceful, harmonious future. But appearances can be deceiving. In order to achieve his dangerous ambitions, Gold knows he must do more than catch the rebels--he must destroy the hope their message represents . . . from the inside out.With dissension in his own camp--and the CityWatch soldiers closing in--Remko feels control slipping through his fingers. To protect those he loves, he must conquer his fears and defeat Gold . . . before one of them becomes his undoing. (Goodreads)

About the Author

The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through storytelling.

The Choosing is her critically acclaimed debut novel. She graduated with a degree in communications and spent several years in marketing and corporate recruiting before making the transition to write full time. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat Blair. Visit her online at rachelledekker.com.

1. The Calling is the second book in The Seer Series. Does it pick up right after The Choosing leaves off? No, a year and a half has passed when we rejoin the characters in The Calling.

2. This book is written from Remko’s perspective. Did you face any challenges writing from a male point of view?

There was definitely a looming pressure as I started to write the book. As a

woman writer, I wanted to make sure Remko felt masculine and authentic, so

I was constantly aware of how he sounded, and how he reacted. Once I got  into a flow with his character though, it started to feel more familiar I didn’t have to think

about it as much. 

My Thoughts

 You must read the first book in this series to understand what is going on in this book. That being said I admit, I liked the first book better. If you read the first book awhile ago, I recommend that if you forgot some things you should re-read the first as there are a lot of details. So this book continues with the same characters as the world and evil continue on. There is another book to come so the story doesn't necessarily end. There wasn't so much suspense for me in reading this one and it was just difficult for me to get into. I think once the third one comes out I'll try and re-read them as the first book was fantastic. 

Four stars.

"I received this book from Tyndale for free in exchange for an honest review."

The Choosing Review

About the Book

“Not to be Chosen would yield a cruel fate of my own making.”

Like all citizens since the Ruining, Carrington Hale knows the importance of this day. But she never expected the moment she’d spent a lifetime preparing for—her Choosing ceremony—would end in disaster. Ripped from her family, she’ll spend her days serving as a Lint, the lowest level of society. She knows it’s her duty to follow the true way of the Authority.

But as Carrington begins this nightmare, rumors of rebellion rattle her beliefs. The whispers contradict everything she’s been told; yet they resonate deep within.

Then Carrington is offered an unprecedented chance at the life she’s always dreamed of, but she can’t shake the feeling that it may be an illusion. With a killer targeting Lints and corruption threatening the highest levels of the Authority, Carrington must uncover the truth before it destroys her. (Goodreads)

My Review

You really can't go wrong with a book written by a Dekker.  I had mixed emotions going into this book as it's Rachelle's first book. After reading the back of the book and the first couple of chapters I thought I was in for a new take on Divergent. I liked that book but I was really hoping for something new. After the first few chapters things take a turn and I started to appreciate the storyline a bit more. I like Carrington's character a lot and I honestly couldn't put the book down. I thought it was a unique twist on God and futuristic politics. I could see how the society depicted in the book could actually happen with one person ruling and forcing people to believe one way. It is a lot like Divergent in many ways but with different twists. It's also similar to Ted Dekker's books just with a different flair. The main thing I liked is how Christ is portrayed to those who are persecuted or abused. I think this is a layer of the book that makes the storyline for what it is. The ending is abrupt but I am excited since there is going to be a book two!!  

I look forward to read more from Rachelle!

Five stars.

"I received this book from Tyndale Publishing for free in exchange for an honest review."

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Q&A with Rachelle Dekker


Author of The Choosing
About the Author . . . The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through storytelling. She graduated with a degree in communications and spent several years in marketing and corporate recruiting before making the transition to write full-time. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat, Blair. Visit her online at rachelledekker.com.


1. How did you come up with the story for The Choosing?
This is a hard question because it has many answers. I wanted to write a theme-based novel about identity. I wanted to write a dystopian novel. I wanted to write in a world that was familiar, but in a setting where I could change the way the world worked. It actually is several ideas I’d been toying with pulled into one story. Once I landed on Carrington’s core revelation and story arc, I simply fell in love with her as a character and drew the rest of the story around her. That’s usually how it works for me. I come up with a character, good or bad, and create the story from there.

2. You based your main character, Carrington, off of your younger sister. In what ways is Carrington like her?

It’s more the beliefs that Carrington struggles with that remind me of my sister. The idea of worth, of not feeling like you’re enough, or questioning whether anyone would choose you. Carrington came about as I spent time with my sister and her college-age friends and saw that a large majority of them were searching for significance, searching for worth—none more than my sister at the time.

3. Throughout the book, Carrington struggles with understanding her identity and worth and what is true. Why did you decide to write about the theme of identity?

Someone once asked me, If you could leave one message for your younger sisters, what would it be? The answer was always the same: I would pray they knew what they were worth. Identity is everything. There isn’t a theme that doesn’t start with identity, or circle back to identity. Knowing who you truly are is the greatest journey we face. Am I enough;



am I worth it? I believe everyone faces these questions, and I sought out to explore them through this story.

4. Do you think women tend to struggle with identity more than men?

I don’t think women struggle with identity more then men. Not at all. I just think we struggle differently. As a woman I understand the identity struggle from a female perspective more, but I think most men wonder if they’re enough just as much as women do. We are all the same at our core, really. We are on this earth for a short time, trying to figure out our purpose and worth. Searching for recognition, usually in all the wrong places. The truth I am discovering is that there is no need for searching. The truth already resides inside of us. The Father has already marked us as chosen, worth it; He has already given us a purpose. It’s only a matter of looking inward to the soul and to the Creator of that soul to find our worth.

5. One of the story’s most significant lines is, "Life is a journey of remembering and forgetting." What do you mean by this?

It means exactly what you probably think. We have these flashes of clarity where we see so clearly who we are—and our connection to the Father—but then, in a single moment, something pulls our attention away and we forget who we are. This is the journey of life, remembering and forgetting. But I believe the more we remember, the more we set our gaze on the Father, the less often we forget.

6. What do you hope readers will take away from the story?

I hope readers are filled with joy and power as they either realize for the first time who their Father is and what they are really worth, or as they simply remember this truth.

7. Did you discover anything about your own identity through the writing process?

I will steal a line from Ted Dekker on this one: "I write to discover." They are one and the same. Even when I think there’s nothing left to discover, if I let myself be open to discovery, it almost always comes. So yes, I did. And I told my husband, if nothing ever comes of this book, it would still have been worth writing because of the way it impacted my life.

8. What would you say to the person who is struggling, trying to find their identity in temporary, unsatisfying places?

I would say we have all been there, and that those places will only serve as a prison in the end. They may seem like happiness now, but eventually they will become suffering. But that’s just part of the journey of identity. Some people need to learn the hard way—I did for sure! I searched for significance in darkness and somehow the Father still led me to the light. So when I see people going through what I did, I empathize, but also know that in a single moment they can discover their true identity.

9. The Choosing is the first of a three-book series. What can we expect in the next two books?
More struggles with identity, but in different ways. Familiar characters dealing with fear and worry and forgiveness. We’ll walk with our characters as they continue to understand the true way of Aaron’s Father. More excitement, more romance (of course), and more self-discovery.

10. What is it like being Ted Dekker’s daughter? Did your father help you with the writing process?

Being Ted’s daughter is wonderful! He’s the best, but then I hope many daughters feel that way about their fathers. He is a bit of a mystery, though. Sometimes, even sitting at the dinner table, I can tell he’s lost in thought, and I wonder what it might be like to have his mind.

It’s been a blessing to watch him write and struggle with writing, so that now when I struggle I have an understanding ear to talk off. He is always willing to talk me through the emotional and mental side of writing (which is where the biggest battles lie in wait) but as far as story, for the most part he lets me fend for myself. It’s always been important to me to write through my challenges on my own. To figure out scenes alone. In fact, he didn’t even read The Choosing until I was already in conversations with Tyndale about publication. I think that’s because he wanted me to believe I could do it on my own.



But when I doubt my ability as a writer, and when I forget who I am, he is the one I call. And he reminds me that life is a journey of remembering and forgetting, and helps me in remembering once again.