I have a secret to share with you. I love books that grab you the minute you flip open to page one, and then hold on to you to the very last page. Love those kinds of reads. Makes me feel all fuzzy inside! 
The sad thing is that I don’t come across tons of writers who grab me from the get go. So … I was pleasantly surprised when I read, Dream or Destiny, by author and editor, Lillie Ammann of, A Writer’s Words, an Editor’s Eye.
I have another secret to share with you. I do not like scary books. Just don’t read them. Ever though, Dream or Destiny, wouldn’t normally be considered a ‘scary book’, I couldn’t read it at night! It really got under my skin!
The minute I picked up this book, if I had to take a break from it for any reason, I found myself rushing back to find out what came next. I was on the edge of my seat.
The characters in this story are well-developed and completely believable. I even found the romantic relationship that is fore-shadowed from the very beginning was very plausible in spite of the horrible circumstances.
One of the things that kept me coming back was the tension that Lillie created from the very first sentence. That tension never let up throughout the whole story. Within the main tension of a murder, were varying other tensions that just added this beautiful layering and authenticity to the story. It also added that adrenaline rush where the reader is just waiting and wondering what in the world is coming next!
Another thing that I loved in this story was the romance that blossoms in the midst of this horrible tragedy. Most Christian author’s purify love relationships in such a way that they are no longer believable. They feel created. I didn’t get that sense at all with the two main characters. And I loved the tensions of self versus man and self versus self. As we all do, the main characters kept second guessing what they were feeling, sensing or even worse, making assumptions about what the other person was thinking or feeling. Completely believable. Been there done that kind of thing!
One other thing that I really like about this book. Not one swear word. I am not a prude and I do have favorite author’s who use words that I do not use in my own verbiage but that being said, it was really nice not to be having to skip over a lot of profanity. I think that just added to the enjoyability of reading this book.
I gave this book a 4.5 out of 5. Totally recommend it!
*I received this book free from Lillie Ammann as a gift. 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
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Dominique,
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! I’m so glad you enjoyed thebook.
Lillie Ammann´s last [type] ..Scripture for the First Monday in Advent 2010
Lillie – You are so welcome. Thank YOU for letting me read it!
I am happy for you. Big accomplishment to finish all those reviews at one time. Looking forward to reading and reviewing this book as well. Miriam
Miriam´s last [type] ..almost-not quite
Miriam – Yeah, I’m so glad I got those done. I have been sitting on Amy Inspired for weeks and needed to get that done. I think you will like Dream or Destiny.
I’ve seen Lillie’s comments on your blog (and downloaded one of her ebooks which I must confess, (since we are sharing secrets!) I have not yet read). I like murder mysteries that have well developed and believable characters and scenarios; sounds like this book has that!
Congrats on getting three reviews out in one weekend! That’s a reading and reviewing marathon to be sure!
phylor´s last [type] ..National Post-It-Notes Day
phylor – Secret #3, I didn’t read the books this weekend. I had them done I just couldn’t find time to write the reviews. So on a night I couldn’t get to sleep, I went ahead and got them done!
I wonder how you do it….read so much, remember so much and review
the books. I want to recapture the fun of getting lost in a book. Fatigue
and lack of concentration have been hindering me. Hope your finger
has healed – you’ve been typing so I’m guessing it healed.
Patricia – Uh, actually I don’t remember so much. I’ll tell you a secret. I write all over the books and take lots of notes when I know I have to review a book. AND I write from my heart instead of writing book reviews that are literary.
Thanks for asking. It’s not completely healed but it’s pretty close. It still amazes me how fast it healed.
Believe it or not, Patricia, I am not reading anywhere near the amount of books I usually do. Since the accident I’m finding more and more days where my brain is tired. So I have to find something else to do (like a movie) or I even find myself taking naps -something I was always told not to do by the doctors. I guess I do read a lot compared to some but Laurel has me beat by a thousands. Talk about reading /listening to lots and lots of books! Wow! She really does.
Any, I also refuse to let ME/CFS take this away from me as well. Even If I don’t totally get a book or I can’t remember it tomorrow, I am going to continue reading. I just won’t give up the number one thing I love to do! ME/CFS has taken a lot … I’m not willing to concede anymore ground.
So, are you having a rough time? I know you mentioned not sleeping well and now you’ve mentioned problems cognitively. Are you okay?
Sounds like a good book, Dominique. I enjoyed your review.
Sue
Sue Jackson´s last [type] ..ME-CFS in Newsweek!
Hey Sue! It was! Thank you. Glad you are back from vacation!
I should have guessed that it wasn’t easy for you – all that reading and reviewing
I should have guessed what you need to do — note taking, etc. Thank you
for telling me that you don’t remember it well later. (sorry wish you could remember better) I do remember
reading and thinking I’m enjoying it at the time even if my recall is bad.
You have motivated me to try to do some reading gain. I have the book I
won and I have not read it yet! I want to badly and will try. There is
this other consideration to that sometimes I feel time is flying by
so fast and that it is so important to devote reading to the Bible. But
I do remember the interaction with books – what I mean is it is
so different from tv (which is more passive except for the crying
while watching a tear jerker) Books engage the mind in a very different
way which I’m having trouble explaining, but I know you understand.
Your post has given me motivation to try reading for pleasure, diversion,
escapism, and the special experience reading is. Thanks Dominique.
Patricia – Maybe that is the difference as to why I read more books as well. I don’t have a television, radio, or anything else, so reading has become my cherished past time. I have to say, when I get a tv, it will be only to watch movies that I rent because I really am enjoying my days much more without all the distractions.
Sometimes, Patricia, I have to read them in time groups. What I mean is an hour here and an hour there. Even if I don’t remember all the details, I figure it doesn’t really matter. I’m doing it to stimulate my brain, for enjoyment and for the ability to be somewhere else momentarily. I like that I can escape for a while and live through a character and be “whole and well.”