🍁🍂 "Meant for Her" 🍂🍁 (2019) - Book Review

MY REVIEW

Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Independently published (November 13, 2019)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1691723665

ISBN-13: 978-1691723669
Click photo for purchase information

“Had it all truly been ~ MEANT FOR HER? 

Kidnapped, raped, brutally beaten, and left for dead, Candi Reynolds becomes a prisoner of fear. Faced also with the impact of the unexpected break-up with her fiancé, and an unwanted pregnancy resulting from the attacks, she believes God has forsaken her.

Choosing to move back to the Michigan horse farm, owned by her older brother, Dr. Cam Reynolds, Candi essentially goes into seclusion. Dr. Patrick (Mack) MacKevon, long-time friend of Cam’s, watches from the sidelines at the farm, where his horses are stabled, while Candi struggles to regain a sense of normalcy. His own big-brother tendencies develop into a much deeper emotion over the months he prays for her.

Is it possible for Candi to put all the pain and trauma behind her and renew her former relationship with the Lord? Will she allow her heart to open enough to discover authentic love, while making decisions of victory on her personal journey to joy?”

Thank you in advance to the publisher and JustRead Publicity Tours for providing a complimentary review. A positive review was not required. All words and thoughts are my own.

I had been putting off reading this as long as possible as I knew the subject material was going to be disturbing. Though it has a VERY strong Christian Faith element, and there is a lot of scripture and prayer – there are trigger warnings:

* Rape

* Rape Pregnancy

* Abortion

* Kidnapping

* Physical Assault

* Victim Shaming

* Psychological Trauma

* Potential PTSD

If this content bothers the reader, or they have had some of the experiences in their life, I would take caution as to reading this.  

I was drawn to this story to see how it would play out. Pregnancy and abortion are hot topics as of the last few years. I wanted to see how this would play out in a Christian themed book.

Yes, it was an extremely rough book to get into. Then again there are times when you want a challenging read.

I was alternately mad, sad, devastated, and frustrated by what was going on. There is a gritty realism and the author doesn’t back down from the subjects. She tempers it with a strong element of faith, scripture, and references to God; even having “conversations” between the characters and God. Yet, there is a comforting hope to be found in it.

The reader begins with Candice having been “found”, almost near-death after being kidnapped, raped (repeatedly), and beaten after answering a knock at the door some six (6) weeks earlier.

It starts off a chain reaction with her fiancé calling off their engagement due to what happened to her. As of note, I REALLY detested the fiancé and wonder what their marriage would’ve been like had Candi not been attacked. Since his father was a Senator, the first concern was the campaign. In addition, this is where the “victim shaming” comes in.

While written in today’s time (the story came about in 2011/2012); the reader might think the attitude displayed by the fiancé and his family is outdated, though it does serve a purpose.

The main characters of Candi and her brother Cameron are well written, with a surprisingly realism. Mack, although his compassion due to being a pediatrician was believable, his thick Irish “brogue” was a bit hard to get through at times and it was hard to figure out what he was saying.

The title “Meant for Her” could be confusing. The author used it in a way to point that despite the bad things that happened; Candi does find some positives and a new perspective. Was this a trial solely “meant for her” to see the good that springs from bad? Was it “meant for her” to see who truly loved her?

After repeated fainting spells and her emotional outbursts, Candi reluctantly seeks therapy. The author doesn’t go into the details, but it is apparent that Candi does start seeing some changes in herself as the story progresses. This is a welcome change and changed the course of the story into a great and positive direction.

Over all, the author’s writing style made the story flow without being boring. The pacing was kept even without rushing, though there were times I felt it could’ve sped up. However, by chapter twenty, roughly more than half (½) way in, it did start moving along a bit faster, which I enjoyed.

I did enjoy the references to two authors whose work I have come to enjoy – Denise Hunter and Lynette Eason. These are made when Candi’s friend brings her some books to read.

The story has an interesting plot, and the message of the story is beautiful – faith in God, acceptance, hope and redemption. We don’t know why things happen, we have to accept that “his” way is the way things are going to be. His timing is NOT our timing.

But, as this is a positive review, there are a few glaring things stand out plot wise that were not answered –

** Why was Candi targeted for abduction?

** Why did the men grab her?

** Why did they hold on to her?

** Was Candi able to physically identify her attackers?

There is seemingly no investigation into her abduction, rape, torture and attempted murder. After the initial visit in the hospital, all aspects of the investigation disappear. These are, in most all states capital crimes that carry life sentences.

In Michigan these four crimes are punishable by up to a life imprisonment:

** Kidnapping ^[1]

** Rape^[2]

** “Torture” ^[3]

** Attempted murder ^[4]

That’s where it loses a bit of believability for me.

I was surprised that even at chapter 29 (after a MAJOR event in Candi’s life), none of the police stopped by to update the family on the investigation, question Candice, or even check in on her as a crime victim. By this time it’d been eight (8) to nine (9) months after the attack.

I realize that the main theme wasn’t the investigation or the crime, but in the background it might’ve helped towards Candi’s recovery to know that the suspects had indeed been caught or at least that the police were still looking into it.

I would’ve also liked to know the election went and if the scandal even got to the senator or Candi’s fiancé. Did her fiancé find out about the other repercussion? How did he feel about it?

So, there was some “stuff” left out that could’ve been used in place of the day-to-day beginning filler.

Overall, it is a gut-wrenching, emotional read that the author tackled with respect and decency. This is a difficult subject matter that might shock some people; it could bring back traumatic events, though it could help some through a crisis.

As most systems don’t do “half” stars – this is upgraded to a four (4), but falls more like a 3.8. I liked how it ended and it had a beautiful, uplifting message.  

RATING:

 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐– Goodreads

 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐– Bookbub

 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐– Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joy Avery Melville’s heart’s desire is to be the author God has called her to be by sharing Him with readers in such a way they long to have a deeply committed personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord.

Fully intending to write Historical Romance—had in fact— she didn’t want to deviate from that. God had different plans for that ‘call’ He’d made on her life back in 1967. A mere eighth grader at the time, she had no clue about the topics she’d be drawn to write about.

Surrendering to the genre God placed on her heart has given Joy new insight into the hearts and lives of those who too often hurt in silence.

The settings of Joy’s books are near where she lives in Schoolcraft, Michigan with her husband of nearly 46 years and their eleven-month-old Yorkie pup, Is-A-Bella Bindi, (Is-a-beautiful little girl) who thinks she’s a much larger breed with tomboy tendencies.

Joy loves to hear from readers. She can be contacted through her website, Facebook, or by email, and she also has a presence on Twitter and Pinterest.

You can find her on the following social media accounts:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Journeystojoy

References:

[1] 750.349 Michigan Penal Code

[2] 750.520b Michigan Penal Code

[3] 750.85 Michigan Penal Code

[4] 750.91 Michigan Penal Code

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