WHERE THERE'S SMOKE by Sarahbeth Caplin -- BLOG TOUR, REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!

Title: Where There’s Smoke
Author: Sarahbeth Caplin
Release Date: June 10, 2014
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Pastor Henry Collins is hailed as a hero after rescuing a teenage girl from a burning church. But the real reason he was at the right place at the right time is known only to him and Hannah Mercer, the teenage girl he rescued: a girl whose faith has more to do with keeping up appearances than anything to do with God.
Lia Anders is a classmate of Hannah’s: a girl whose coming out as a lesbian resulted in immediate expulsion from the church. As an unlikely friendship develops between the two, Hannah begins to realize the error of her hypocritical ways, and encourages Henry to make a decision that will forever alter the course of their lives. But for Henry, the price of living a lie is easier than owning up to the truth.
Where There’s Smoke is a story that asks: who are we really? Are we the sum of all our actions? And is the note we finish our lives on the most defining of them all?

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MY REVIEW

4 *WINK* READ

 

 I think this story was bold and touched upon some very relatable subjects in those who are involved in a religious community and in general life as well. I do feel this is going to be a book that people are going to love or hate because of it's sensitive matter.

There is something that draws someone to such a taboo matter, but beyond the tense/angst amongst the characters there is a seriousness that can not be ignored. That choices we make, individually or together, can change the lives of many. To write about such matters with religion mixed into the storyline takes guts and walks a fine line that I enjoyed reading about.

The only downfall for me was that the ending felt rushed. We were thrown into variety of point of views that was a bit of a whirlwind. I get why they were shown, but without character build up to those views that were presented I found it difficult to imagine that that was the characters true reaction to the situation. I found it hard to connect with them without that development, but then again I thought about what it would take to have had those perspectives throughout the book. It would of made the book a bit more lengthy but I think it would of added to the power of it's message.

As it is, you will find it to be a quick read with a powerful message that will leave you thinking!!

~Jessi

 

 

As wisps of smoke curled under Hannah’s nose, she wondered if it had finally happened: she’d woken up to find herself in hell.
I had it coming, she thought, defeated and unwilling to move from the darkness of the church basement. She felt no fear; apathy did not allow for much feeling of anything. It’s all a dream anyway.
Until alarm bells starting screeching, and then it became reality.
Suddenly alert, Hannah felt panic settle in as the air thickened and her eyes watered. Hannah never considered hell to be a place of literal fire. She placed more faith in Dante’s idea of it than the Bible’s. But this–this literal choking agony–it couldn’t be what she deserved, could it? She was sorry–desperately sorry. For everything.
As a wall of smoke started to close in on the last she’d know of the world, fighting back seemed like a futile option. She’d been running too long. This ending was inevitable. It was deserved.
She closed her eyes, ready to meet whoever or whatever might be waiting. A sturdy pair of arms lifted her from the searing floor, but she didn’t bother opening her eyes, realizing there was nothing she could do now that the devil had caught up with her.

Beth holds a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Kent State University. It was during college that she first saw her name in print as a columnist for her campus newspaper, The Daily Kent Stater. Now living in Denver, Colorado, she can be found in various microbreweries when not chained to her laptop working on future books.

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