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A Distant Shore
He never dreamed he'd see her again.
She was a child caught in a riptide in the Caribbean Sea. He was a teenager from the East Coast on vacation with his family. He dove in to save her, and that single terrifying moment changed both their lives forever.
Ten years later, Jack Ryder is a daring undercover agent with the FBI and Eliza Lawrence still lives on that pristine island. She’s an untainted princess in a kingdom of darkness and evil, on the brink of a forced marriage with a dangerous neighboring drug lord, a union arranged by her father.
This time when Jack and Eliza meet, there’s a connection neither of them can explain. Both their lives are on the line, and once again, the stakes are deadly high. Can they join forces in a complicated and dangerous mission, pretending to share a breathtaking love, without really falling for each other?
Sometimes miracles happen not once but twice…along a distant shore.
She was a child caught in a riptide in the Caribbean Sea. He was a teenager from the East Coast on vacation with his family. He dove in to save her, and that single terrifying moment changed both their lives forever.
Ten years later, Jack Ryder is a daring undercover agent with the FBI and Eliza Lawrence still lives on that pristine island. She’s an untainted princess in a kingdom of darkness and evil, on the brink of a forced marriage with a dangerous neighboring drug lord, a union arranged by her father.
This time when Jack and Eliza meet, there’s a connection neither of them can explain. Both their lives are on the line, and once again, the stakes are deadly high. Can they join forces in a complicated and dangerous mission, pretending to share a breathtaking love, without really falling for each other?
Sometimes miracles happen not once but twice…along a distant shore.
374 pages, Hardcover
First published April 27, 2021
1883 people are currently reading
8318 people want to read
About the author
Karen Kingsbury
235 books11.6k followersKaren Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books are being developed into a TV series slated for major network viewing sometime in the next year. Karen is also an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University. In 2001 she and her husband, Don, adopted three boys from Haiti, doubling their family in a matter of months. Today the couple has joined the ranks of empty nesters, living in Tennessee near five of their adult children.
See more at: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/K...
See more at: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/K...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 874 reviews
April 22, 2021
Lizzie James is just 8 years old when she is told her mother and brother have drowned. She is taken to her father's "palace" in Belize and her name is changed to Eliza. She soon learns her father is in the sex trade and trafficks young girls. She is always told she is being saved for "something special," which turns out to be a forced marriage with another drug and sex trafficking family. Then an FBI agent enters her life, someone she has met before, although she does not remember him and he does not realize she is a child he rescued from drowning the same day his brother died.
I have read many books by Karen Kingsbury, but this one goes to a whole new level as it exposes the horrors of the sex trafficking industry. The characters are well written and the despair of Eliza and the younger girls is palpable and real. Kingsbury shows us the depths of evil in the sex trafficking industry, the laws that sometimes hinder rescued victims from surviving even after escape, and the hearts of the people in and out of law enforcement determined to rescue every single child. She shows us how God is present, even in desperate, cruel, and wicked situations from which there seems no escape. This is a well researched novel that everyone needs to read in order to know the evils that exist in our world.
I received a free copy of this book from Atria Books via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
I have read many books by Karen Kingsbury, but this one goes to a whole new level as it exposes the horrors of the sex trafficking industry. The characters are well written and the despair of Eliza and the younger girls is palpable and real. Kingsbury shows us the depths of evil in the sex trafficking industry, the laws that sometimes hinder rescued victims from surviving even after escape, and the hearts of the people in and out of law enforcement determined to rescue every single child. She shows us how God is present, even in desperate, cruel, and wicked situations from which there seems no escape. This is a well researched novel that everyone needs to read in order to know the evils that exist in our world.
I received a free copy of this book from Atria Books via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
May 29, 2021
This novel started with an interesting plot where an FBI agent goes undercover to bring down a child trafficking ring. After an action scene, the story continued to build on character development and was setting up a predictable yet satisfying love story.
For some reason, in the middle of the novel, the story pivoted to having faith in God. There were some contrived and “cheesy” spiritual scenes that made the remainder of the novel unrealistic and unreadable. As the main character jogged through the woods, he pretty much encounters a burning bush on the mountain. Total let down on a pretty good start to the story.
For some reason, in the middle of the novel, the story pivoted to having faith in God. There were some contrived and “cheesy” spiritual scenes that made the remainder of the novel unrealistic and unreadable. As the main character jogged through the woods, he pretty much encounters a burning bush on the mountain. Total let down on a pretty good start to the story.
February 23, 2021
3.5 ⭐'s
This was unexpected. I usually try and stay away from faith based books simply because little f faith and big F faith are two different things. But this book bridges that gap without feeling like you've been lectured into the next millennium. In other words, it's a gentle romance with the focus more on serendipity than the heavy hand of the "creator", which I really appreciate. Writing is well done, story line was interesting. I'd recommend this book if you like clean, well written romance with a little faith based message and a little edge.
I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was unexpected. I usually try and stay away from faith based books simply because little f faith and big F faith are two different things. But this book bridges that gap without feeling like you've been lectured into the next millennium. In other words, it's a gentle romance with the focus more on serendipity than the heavy hand of the "creator", which I really appreciate. Writing is well done, story line was interesting. I'd recommend this book if you like clean, well written romance with a little faith based message and a little edge.
I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 29, 2021
Oh my. This is definitely not a Baxter story that the author has written in the past! But the message is still an emotional and thought provoking one. The main subject of the book deals with the tragic issue of human trafficking, in particular, young girls. Eliza, grows up in Belize with a ruthless, bad father after being told that her mom and brother had died. She is stuck in a bad situation that she cannot escape and has no hope and desire to live. Untouched but not innocent, at nineteen, she is supposed to be sold to a man.
FBI Special Agent Jack Ryder is in Belize undercover on a mission to bring Eliza's father's operation down. He is posing to buy Eliza. He has thrown his life into his job after losing his family. The more dangerous the better.
This is just the background of the two main characters but certainly not whole intricate, intense, dangerous, action packed story of what is covered in the book. It is emotional; sad but full of hope, redemptive in the end with the chance of new beginnings and second chances. Lovely settings and great characters are part of this faith filled story.
I received a complimentary ARC from Atria Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
FBI Special Agent Jack Ryder is in Belize undercover on a mission to bring Eliza's father's operation down. He is posing to buy Eliza. He has thrown his life into his job after losing his family. The more dangerous the better.
This is just the background of the two main characters but certainly not whole intricate, intense, dangerous, action packed story of what is covered in the book. It is emotional; sad but full of hope, redemptive in the end with the chance of new beginnings and second chances. Lovely settings and great characters are part of this faith filled story.
I received a complimentary ARC from Atria Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
May 25, 2021
Jack and his family are on vacation at the beautiful beaches of Belize. But not all is beautiful in Belize, behind the tranquil paradise is an underbelly of evil. Young girls are being trafficked for sex to the wealthy tourists. Among them is Eliza, daughter of the man in charge. While she is not being sold, she is being saved to be married off to the highest bidder. She is coerced into luring vulnerable girls into the "business", a task she detests. While in Belize Jack rescues a young girl at great loss to his family.
Now ten years later Jack, an FBI agent, is on a mission to take down the sex trade in Belize and rescue the the girls. Part of the operation is to gain Eliza's trust in hope she will aid in the takedown. Jack and Eliza feel a connection to one another which neither of them can explain. What does the future hold for the two of them?
Karen Kingsbury does a great job of bringing attention to the heartbreaking reality of sex trafficking, while still writing of hope, love and God's grace.
Now ten years later Jack, an FBI agent, is on a mission to take down the sex trade in Belize and rescue the the girls. Part of the operation is to gain Eliza's trust in hope she will aid in the takedown. Jack and Eliza feel a connection to one another which neither of them can explain. What does the future hold for the two of them?
Karen Kingsbury does a great job of bringing attention to the heartbreaking reality of sex trafficking, while still writing of hope, love and God's grace.
April 3, 2021
The blurb on this story starts ten years ago when Jack Ryder was sixteen vacationing with his family at the shore, he sees a child struggling in a dangerous currant and swims out and saves her.
But it turns out to be so much more than THAT.
The little girl Eliza Ann Lawrence was once called Lizzie Susan James. Her daddy left their Mennonite Village for an important job at the Palace in Belize City.
The family is supposed to follow. However only Lizzie/ Eliza moves in with her daddy and she is told that her Mama and Daniel, her brother never made it as they were lost at sea.
The other girls in the Palace believe Eliza must be a princess as the men didn’t visit her at night.
Eliza’s daddy told her that he was saving her for someone special! (Yep there is more to this)
It is true that Eliza went out swimming in hopes to find her mother and Daniel. Jack does save Eliza but his brother Shane also tried to save her only he wasn’t as knowledgeable about undertow/rip currents and took on too much water and he died.
(At this point the story sure changes for me!)
Present day Jack is an FBI Agent investigating a sex trafficking ring on Belize that same island.
Eliza is no longer a child but a young lady approaching her 20th birthday. She is being forced by her own father into an unwanted marriage. (Hmm saving her for someone special comes to mind.)
It appears the arranged marriage to Henry Thomas Ellington IV would join two drug and sex trafficking dynasties.
This story gets very involved but I don’t want to give it away
I will tell you that this ended with me having a smile on my face.
I always enjoy reading the Author’s Acknowledgement. In this case, I was sure there would details on her extensive research.
I was a tad disappointed that she didn’t offer resources. Sex trafficking is a ‘real’ thing; I thought the mention of where suspicions can be reported would be helpful.
I know of a student in a nice safe suburban who was suspicions of sex trafficking and reported it.
Happily the girls were found and the ring was stopped! However, to be saved she and her family were placed in ‘Witness Protection’.
So even a simple suspicion will be investigated and can bring good results.
Want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for this eGalley granted to me early for a honest professional review. Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 27, 2021
But it turns out to be so much more than THAT.
The little girl Eliza Ann Lawrence was once called Lizzie Susan James. Her daddy left their Mennonite Village for an important job at the Palace in Belize City.
The family is supposed to follow. However only Lizzie/ Eliza moves in with her daddy and she is told that her Mama and Daniel, her brother never made it as they were lost at sea.
The other girls in the Palace believe Eliza must be a princess as the men didn’t visit her at night.
Eliza’s daddy told her that he was saving her for someone special! (Yep there is more to this)
It is true that Eliza went out swimming in hopes to find her mother and Daniel. Jack does save Eliza but his brother Shane also tried to save her only he wasn’t as knowledgeable about undertow/rip currents and took on too much water and he died.
(At this point the story sure changes for me!)
Present day Jack is an FBI Agent investigating a sex trafficking ring on Belize that same island.
Eliza is no longer a child but a young lady approaching her 20th birthday. She is being forced by her own father into an unwanted marriage. (Hmm saving her for someone special comes to mind.)
It appears the arranged marriage to Henry Thomas Ellington IV would join two drug and sex trafficking dynasties.
This story gets very involved but I don’t want to give it away
I will tell you that this ended with me having a smile on my face.
I always enjoy reading the Author’s Acknowledgement. In this case, I was sure there would details on her extensive research.
I was a tad disappointed that she didn’t offer resources. Sex trafficking is a ‘real’ thing; I thought the mention of where suspicions can be reported would be helpful.
I know of a student in a nice safe suburban who was suspicions of sex trafficking and reported it.
Happily the girls were found and the ring was stopped! However, to be saved she and her family were placed in ‘Witness Protection’.
So even a simple suspicion will be investigated and can bring good results.
Want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for this eGalley granted to me early for a honest professional review. Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 27, 2021
August 25, 2021
This book was so relevant to today’s current events (2021). The tough topic of sex trafficking was the main theme, and it was handled pretty well here. I was glad to see a book that featured rescues from such a hard life, as I’ve been encouraged to see real-life rescues mentioned in conservative news outlets over the last year or so. Eliza’s journey was a good one, as it highlighted the lowest of this trafficking as well as rescue operations from that lifestyle. Her story was complex, and I was hooked and wanting to know what happened to her from the very beginning.
I liked how Jack’s grief and sorrow were first stuffed down but then dealt with in a healthy way. That process is not an easy one to write about or to live out, but Mrs. Kingsbury did a fantastic job with it here.
This book ought to have been labeled as connected to the Angels Walking series, because the angel Beck showed up a couple of times. I wish I would have known it was connected, because that series is my least favorite that I’ve read of Kingsbury’s. Angel books are just not my genre.
There was one super random background note for a character. It had already been clearly established several times that this guy decided early in his life he would never fall in love or marry, but suddenly he revealed he went “from one girl to another” in his younger days. It was a shock-and-awe moment that had nothing to do with the rest of the plot. A couple of other inconsistencies bugged me too, but that was the most glaring one.
The baptism that happened in the story was weird to me. First of all, it happened about eight seconds after the person accepted Jesus into their heart. That seemed incredibly fast to me. The leading guy was in no way an ordained minister, so I’m not sure he had the authority to baptize someone. As far as I know, there are no instances of non-ministers baptizing people in the Bible, since John the Baptist was a prophet ordained by God and the apostles were called and sent out as evangelists by Jesus. This book’s leading man also didn’t even consider that such an act would have blown his partner’s and his own cover since it was on a public beach and it was well established that the bad guys always sent people to watch them, so it didn’t work cohesively within the plot either.
I did like the fact that a salvation experience was included in this story. Those moments always make me smile and want to welcome the character into the family of God, even if they aren’t real people.
Content: alcohol, skimpy clothing (including bikinis), suicidal thoughts, drugs, sexual innuendo
I liked how Jack’s grief and sorrow were first stuffed down but then dealt with in a healthy way. That process is not an easy one to write about or to live out, but Mrs. Kingsbury did a fantastic job with it here.
This book ought to have been labeled as connected to the Angels Walking series, because the angel Beck showed up a couple of times. I wish I would have known it was connected, because that series is my least favorite that I’ve read of Kingsbury’s. Angel books are just not my genre.
There was one super random background note for a character. It had already been clearly established several times that this guy decided early in his life he would never fall in love or marry, but suddenly he revealed he went “from one girl to another” in his younger days. It was a shock-and-awe moment that had nothing to do with the rest of the plot. A couple of other inconsistencies bugged me too, but that was the most glaring one.
The baptism that happened in the story was weird to me. First of all, it happened about eight seconds after the person accepted Jesus into their heart. That seemed incredibly fast to me. The leading guy was in no way an ordained minister, so I’m not sure he had the authority to baptize someone. As far as I know, there are no instances of non-ministers baptizing people in the Bible, since John the Baptist was a prophet ordained by God and the apostles were called and sent out as evangelists by Jesus. This book’s leading man also didn’t even consider that such an act would have blown his partner’s and his own cover since it was on a public beach and it was well established that the bad guys always sent people to watch them, so it didn’t work cohesively within the plot either.
I did like the fact that a salvation experience was included in this story. Those moments always make me smile and want to welcome the character into the family of God, even if they aren’t real people.
Content: alcohol, skimpy clothing (including bikinis), suicidal thoughts, drugs, sexual innuendo
August 9, 2021
I listened to the unabridged audiobook A Distant Shore written by Karen Kingsbury and read by January Lavoy and Kirby Heyborne.
He never dreamed he'd ever see her again. She was a child caught in a riptide in the Caribbean Sea. He was a teenager from the East Coast on vacation with his family. He dove in to save her, and that single terrifying moment changed both of their lives forever.
Ten years later, Jack Ryder is a daring undercover agent with the FBI and Eliza Lawrence still lives on that pristine island. She's an untainted princess in a kingdom of darkness and evil, on the brink of a forced marriage with a neighbouring drug lord, a union arranged by her father.
This time when Jack and Eliza meet, there's a connection neither of them can explain. Both of their lives are on the line, and once again, the stakes are deadly high. Can they join forces in a complicated and dangerous mission, pretending to share a breathtaking love, without really falling for each other?
Sometimes miracles happen not once but twice...along a distant shore.
Each chapter begins with a meaningful Bible verse.
3.8 stars rounded up
He never dreamed he'd ever see her again. She was a child caught in a riptide in the Caribbean Sea. He was a teenager from the East Coast on vacation with his family. He dove in to save her, and that single terrifying moment changed both of their lives forever.
Ten years later, Jack Ryder is a daring undercover agent with the FBI and Eliza Lawrence still lives on that pristine island. She's an untainted princess in a kingdom of darkness and evil, on the brink of a forced marriage with a neighbouring drug lord, a union arranged by her father.
This time when Jack and Eliza meet, there's a connection neither of them can explain. Both of their lives are on the line, and once again, the stakes are deadly high. Can they join forces in a complicated and dangerous mission, pretending to share a breathtaking love, without really falling for each other?
Sometimes miracles happen not once but twice...along a distant shore.
Each chapter begins with a meaningful Bible verse.
3.8 stars rounded up
June 3, 2021
This book was a quick, fun read. I did, however, have some issues, from the depictions of sex trafficking (I saw the brief mention of the wayfair conspiracy parroted as fact) to the assertion, whenever anyone “good” was mentioned, that they believe in God or are a churchgoer. I liked that these characters have faith, but not everyone does, and there are those who have faith or profess to who also have ill intentions. Plenty of wonderful people, including those who help victims of sex trafficking, aren’t Christians, and “Christian” isn’t the arbiter of good intent that Kingsbury seems to imply it is. See: Josh Duggar.
As I said, though, this was fun and exciting. I enjoyed it overall.
As I said, though, this was fun and exciting. I enjoyed it overall.
April 13, 2021
I have ready many of Karen’s books and have to this was not my favorite. It is beautifully written and it shines a light on human trafficking without being descriptive but has some unrealistic plot lines. It felt more like a Hallmark movie with a too perfect ending. The book also orders a bit on the supernatural with seeing and exchanging conversations with what is suspected to be an angel. It just didn’t flow as practically as I would have liked.
I was given an ARC copy of this book buy the publisher but was not compensated for my review.
I was given an ARC copy of this book buy the publisher but was not compensated for my review.
October 29, 2021
Interesting story with lots of drama and intrigue going on. Definitely a page turner and very emotional.
Sex trafficking is prominent in the story.
A Distant Shore is a fast read with engaging main characters you will come to love.
*Bookstagram @shortbookthyme
Sex trafficking is prominent in the story.
A Distant Shore is a fast read with engaging main characters you will come to love.
*Bookstagram @shortbookthyme
February 13, 2024
this was my first Christian fiction book in years and honestly, no. it was too cheesy and unrealistic. The plot was intriguing and I found myself wanting to know what happens next but it drags towards the end and I could barely finish it.
September 13, 2021
A DISTANT SHORE
Karen Kingsbury
A faith-based book about an FBI agent and the daughter of a child predator who traffics them for sex. A tad far-fetched for me, that the agent saved the daughter's life when they were kids and his brother died at the same time. incipient romance blooms between these two and they end up with kids and a mortgage. The End.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
Karen Kingsbury
A faith-based book about an FBI agent and the daughter of a child predator who traffics them for sex. A tad far-fetched for me, that the agent saved the daughter's life when they were kids and his brother died at the same time. incipient romance blooms between these two and they end up with kids and a mortgage. The End.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
May 30, 2021
A Distant Shore tells of investigations into sex and drug trafficking rings with a side order of romance and faith. Not always particularly believable –not Eliza and Jack’s sudden romantic attraction; not Eliza’s instant investigative skills; not the miracles that bring faith back into Jack’s life. The premise was interesting and caught my attention initially but the plot unraveled midway. Not my cup of tea.
May 12, 2021
While this book was much better than some of her other newer releases, it still wasn’t her best. The book took off at a very good pace, with lots of action. However, the book seemed to lack a final conflict. I kept waiting for something major to happen, but it never did.
November 30, 2024
4.5⭐️ I was VERY pleasantly surprised by this book! Karen kingsbury is very hit or miss but I loved this one so much… highly recommend👌
March 30, 2021
Wow! This book is way different than any other Karen Kingsbury books I have read. This one is gritty and full of spine tingling suspense. I was hooked from the first page. This story deals with a very disturbing and horrible subject. Sex trafficking. The author, however handles it very well without getting too graphic. I couldn't put the book down. If I did, I worried about Eliza and Jack and couldn't wait to pick it up again. There is also so much hope and love she weaves throughout the novel. It offers hope for second chances in Christ Jesus no matter what life was like before. Of course, there is a beautiful romance with sweet kisses and a happily ever after. I hope Kingsbury will write more romantic thrillers in the future. Well done!
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
September 21, 2021
It was good. What I have come to expect from Karen. I have loved her books since I read the first *R* book long ago. But somehow, for me, they have become like Danielle Steele books. It may just be me. I may have become too cynical and jaded in the last 20 years. I don't know. I do still enjoy them, of course. She has a beautiful writing style. And the stories are inspiring.
But.
Within the first chapter or two at the most, I know what's going to happen. Very predictable. And lots of fluff.
Now, that's not a bad thing! I need fluff every once in a while.
That being said, I'm a little bit sad to say I don't *IMpatiently wait at my mail box for her latest release anymore.
But I still read them.
But.
Within the first chapter or two at the most, I know what's going to happen. Very predictable. And lots of fluff.
Now, that's not a bad thing! I need fluff every once in a while.
That being said, I'm a little bit sad to say I don't *IMpatiently wait at my mail box for her latest release anymore.
But I still read them.
September 20, 2021
I found the overall story in this book to be current, however was just overwhelmed at all of the spewing out of the data and research that occurred. I, also, ended up feeling like the book was just divided into multiple stories. You had the sex trafficking, the obvious attraction and let's be friends but not really, and the spiritual awakening that occurred as a result of the event involving the sex trafficking. I definitely think that is a topic that has been more present in the media and literature in the past couple of years and I find this to be a positive move, however I feel that this book just ended up feeling detached from the sex trafficking issue and not relevant to the actual issue in any type of meaningful way. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.
May 4, 2021
While this book was a change from Karen Kingsbury's typical genre, it was still full of her great storytelling and her faith. However I have to admit that it wasn't a favorite for me. It's heavy on sappy romance and very unrealistic, more like a fairy tale. I'm sure others will really enjoy it, it just wasn't for me. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a galley of this book for review.
August 31, 2022
Child trafficking is a distressing topic for a novel. Combine that with an idealistically perfect love story, and I'm way out of my wheelhouse. I know nothing about perfect romances or about (thankfully) human trafficking. Of course I'd like the trafficking of children for prostitution to end. It is one of the most distressing things on this planet and grieves me greatly.
I think I'll have to admit that Karen Kingsbury's writing is not for me. I decided early this year to give Christian fiction a place in my TBR list - and I've sampled from a variety of authors in this genre. I can't manage to appreciate Karen Kingsbury's writing style as much as others do. I really prefer the historical fiction type Christian novels, such as those written by Lynn Austin.
This novel was too heavy into romance for me. Also, it seemed like there was much more narrative than dialogue. I listened to an audiobook version read by two people, male and female. The man's reading style seemed slow and unnatural, which probably contributed my my overall impression of the novel. Sorry I couldn't give it a more positive review, but four stars is really not bad.
I think I'll have to admit that Karen Kingsbury's writing is not for me. I decided early this year to give Christian fiction a place in my TBR list - and I've sampled from a variety of authors in this genre. I can't manage to appreciate Karen Kingsbury's writing style as much as others do. I really prefer the historical fiction type Christian novels, such as those written by Lynn Austin.
This novel was too heavy into romance for me. Also, it seemed like there was much more narrative than dialogue. I listened to an audiobook version read by two people, male and female. The man's reading style seemed slow and unnatural, which probably contributed my my overall impression of the novel. Sorry I couldn't give it a more positive review, but four stars is really not bad.
May 1, 2024
Honestly it’s my fault that I didn’t connect with this story as well as I probably would have had I been in a proper frame of mind. I read this in short bursts over the course of a 60-day family crisis.
My only criticism is that the storyline kind of felt all over the place with large gaps in time and the characters describing key events without the reader ever really getting to experience them as they happened.
My only criticism is that the storyline kind of felt all over the place with large gaps in time and the characters describing key events without the reader ever really getting to experience them as they happened.
January 28, 2024
This is the first book I've ever read by this author, but I can promise I'll be getting more. I loved this!
December 28, 2023
This was a great page turner. Close to being 5 stars but it got a little too faith based for me in the middle of the book.
June 19, 2021
This is the first book I read by this author. It sounded like a suspenseful thriller about sex trafficking. It was about a girl whose father was a sex trafficker in a delux “palace” in Belize. He made sure no one touched his daughter until she was old enough to sell. The agent who wants to rescue these girls who are forced to work at this place is a young man who has a connection to Belize. All of this sounds like a great book but it just didn’t move quickly for me. There is a lot of bible verses and Christian overtones in this book. The book kept backtracking to what happened in the past. This made the book drag on. The dialogue seemed like a YA novel. It just couldn’t hold my interest.
April 22, 2021
3.5 stars. First, thank you to Goodreads for this giveaway. While the plot of sex trafficking was super intriguing in this novel, the two FBI agents, Eliza & Jack, had too perfect of a relationship that started as barely friends to a very predictable ending. I’m not a huge fan of religious novels so this book just wasn’t for me, if you do like this genre, you’ll love this book. Ms. Kingsbury is an excellent author.
Read
August 3, 2021Not sure how to rate this. Yes, I leaned so much more about the workings (evils) of human trafficking and the sex trade. But the romance was definitely way out there, and in my opinion too many unnecessary details.
April 18, 2023
He never dreamed he'd see her again. — She was a child caught in a riptide in the Caribbean Sea. He was a teenager from the East Coast on vacation with his family. He dove in to save her, and that single terrifying moment changed both their lives forever. — Ten years later, Jack Ryder is a daring undercover agent with the FBI and Eliza Lawrence still lives on that pristine island. She’s an untainted princess in a kingdom of darkness and evil, on the brink of a forced marriage with a dangerous neighboring drug lord, a union arranged by her father. This time when Jack and Eliza meet, there’s a connection neither of them can explain. Both their lives are on the line, and once again, the stakes are deadly high. Can they join forces in a complicated and dangerous mission, pretending to share a breathtaking love, without really falling for each other? Sometimes miracles happen not once but twice…along a distant shore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2023
She forgave him.
Jack knew. Because in that next moment she took his hand in hers.
And this time, neither of them let go.
*3.5 stars
Honestly, I was not expecting this story. (Maybe because I should have read the blurb before I jumped right in?)
This is the first Karen Kingsbury book I read, and I was expecting a "Hallmark," cheesy romance, clean Christian fiction kind of book.
Not...this.
But it was a powerful read. While the first half got a bit too into the sex trafficking details for me to comfortably read, the last half—the healing process of that—was a very powerful and beautiful story to read about. Great ending. (I'm not crying, you are. 😢)
Recommended for 16+ because of mentions of sex, sex trafficking, revealing clothing, drugs, and alcohol.
April 2, 2022
This story deals with trafficking and is told from two character's view points, one a victim and one that works with the FBI that is trying to take down trafficking rings. This is a sad look at how much evil is associated with trafficking and how difficult it is to break these rings. I appreciated the journey that both characters came to understand God's love. The resolution in this story was probably not realistic but I liked the way the story ended.
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