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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

If You Want to be Bored, Don’t Read This Book!

by Chautona Havig · 8 Comments

Identity Theft is something we all want to avoid, right? Well, not if it's a book and written by Alana Terry. In that case, grab it and run! via @chautonahavig

The question came up on Avid Readers of Christian Fiction. What good books are set in Alaska?

The answers came one at a time. One gal said, “I don’t know if she has books set there, but Alana Terry lives in Alaska, and she writes good books, so try her.”

I’d never heard of Alana Terry, but I recall looking her up and thinking, “That Kennedy Stern series looks interesting.”

When you read a dozen books a month or so… “looks interesting” is synonymous with, “I’ll stick it on my three-mile high TBR stack.”

Then I ended up in a collection with her—another. And then another. I read one of her women’s fiction books— a sweet romance.

After that, came probably the most important Christian fiction book for today—Out of North Korea. Seriously. If you can only read one fiction book this DECADE, read that one. I think it’s that important. The review says all that, though.

Last November, she and I met in Las Vegas for a conference. Were roomies. She still speaks to me, so this is proof of her lovely personality and longsuffering. Just sayin’.

Is it any wonder that when Identity Theft popped up for review that I requested a copy?

Still… Identity Theft was supposed to be very different from all the other books I’d read by her. Would I really like it? Will you?

If You Want to be Bored, Don't Read This Book Identity Theft

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me a small commission at no extra expense to you.  Additionally, I requested and received a free copy of this book and chose to review it.

If You Want to be Bored, Don’t Read This Book!

Set in a small town in rural Alaska, Identity Theft offers everything that excellent suspense novels should—uncertainty, secrets, twists, turns, and double red herrings.

See, that’s something some suspense authors miss—as if red herrings are only for classic mysteries. They’re not. Any misdirection is a chance to ramp up the tension and increase suspense. Terry manages to do both and do them well.

At first, I didn’t connect with Jo/Lacie at all. It concerned me, but it shouldn’t have. Lacie wasn’t connecting with her Joishness, so why should we? It’s either accidental or pure brilliance. I suspect the latter. Never has a character felt so one-dimensional in the beginning and grown to be such a multi-layered one by the end.

Terry also layered detail and description in judicious amounts. Never did I feel burdened by either of them. Instead, in a stroke of genius, she chose just a few minor things that are a constant presence in that area and kept them in our minds. We couldn’t help but feel we were there, swatting at mosquitoes with the rest of them.

The spiritual element in Identity Theft was unusually demonstrated and realistic.

Even places where I’d usually feel like it was a bit trite or cliched—were that way for a reason. That takes serious skills. Terry didn’t overdo it or understate it. She made a new believer behave like one, lifelong believers behave like it, and the skeptical… act skeptical! Shocker!

Get this. Even the end was convenient. It was. But honestly… it needed to be. There absolutely was no other way to ensure both a satisfying ending and one that fit the plot. Every other choice would have been unsatisfying, no matter how realistic.

If I want realism, I’ll stick to the evening news. Meanwhile, Identity Theft was as realistic as could be within the constraints of the story, and that is all anyone can ask for.

Brilliantly written, fast-paced, plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged, and a soft but impactful spiritual element—what more could you ask for from Christian fiction?

Identity Theft 

identity theft About the Book

Book: Identity Theft

Author: Alana Terry

Genre: Christian fiction, mystery/suspense

Release date: March 15, 2019

She imagined Alaska would be the perfect place to hide.

She found out it’s the most dangerous place to be found …

Lacy has a secret.

A secret nobody knows — not even her fiancé.

A secret that would cost her life … and so much more.

So it’s a good thing she’s tucked away in the very heart of rural Alaska, where for once in her life she is finally safe.

But can she stay that way for long?

Suspenseful, thrilling, and impossible to put down, Identity Theft is an unforgettable novel by bestselling Christian author Alana Terry.

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Filed Under: Book Reviews

Previous Post: « What Made Me Write a Book I Didn’t Want To?
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Comments

  1. Alana Terry says

    August 28, 2019 at 9:32 am

    Thank you so much for your great review! So glad you loved Identity Theft so much.

    Reply
  2. Caryl Kane says

    July 30, 2019 at 4:39 am

    Wonderful review! Thank you for being part of the tour.

    Reply
  3. Debbie P says

    July 28, 2019 at 11:39 am

    This book sounds like a very interesting and intriguing read.

    Reply
  4. Emma says

    July 27, 2019 at 10:17 pm

    This sounds pretty interesting. I haven’t read many books, besides a few of Alana’s, that were set in Alaska. My dad drove there once, though, from California, in 1967 or so! (He was trying to sort life out after his dad’s suicide.)

    Reply
  5. Patty says

    July 27, 2019 at 3:30 pm

    I have heard about Alana for several yeatsrnow, but never have read any of her books. Alaska is certainly a different setting from what I normally read.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      July 27, 2019 at 4:32 pm

      Bring bug spray. Just in case.

      Reply
  6. Amelia says

    July 27, 2019 at 10:22 am

    I love Alana Terry’s books!

    Reply
  7. Melissa Andres says

    July 27, 2019 at 7:27 am

    This sounds fantastic! I’m always looking for new Christian suspense authors! Thank you for the review.

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 448: A Chat with Nancy Naigle
byChautona Havig

 I fell in love with Nancy’s writing with The Shell Collector. Imagine my joy when I discovered she has a SEQUEL! Eeep! Listen in and discover which characters you’ll find in To Light the Way Forward and what’s coming next for one of America’s favorite authors!

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

It’s been three years since Nancy and I had a chance to talk, and in that time, she’s been BUSY.  So in addition to falling in love with her character, Tug, and wanting to give him his own story, she’s written a small-town duet (and maybe we talked her into a third?) as well as a romcom duo!  Think we can talk her into a third of that series as well?  Because… SPOILER ALERT… we’re getting a third Shell Collector Series book, too! EEEP!

To Light the Way Forward by Nancy Naigle

A novel of overcoming deep loss, taking risks, and learning that life—and love—often surprises you when you least expect it, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Shell Collector. “Bringing to life characters you can’t help but fall in love with, Nancy Naigle goes straight to the heart with this story of tragedy turned to triumph. A poignant reminder to never give up hope.”—Sheila Roberts, author of The Best Life Book Club Feeling adrift after the loss of her husband, Rosemary sets out to visit an old friend on Whelk’s Island, undeterred by the threat of a hurricane. Before the storm hits, she finds herself at Tug’s Diner where she quickly connects with the owner, Tug. But the storm destroys the diner, compounding Tug’s grief from losing his love the previous year. The longer Rosemary stays, the more she sees Tug’s deep sadness and resolves to help him. Together with Tug and friends Amanda and Paul, they all pitch in to help the close-knit community recover and rebuild. As Amanda and Paul reconnect after losing touch during the storm, their plans to take things slow seem increasingly impractical. While Rosemary and Tug help the young couple navigate their relationship, they also find themselves building a friendship that begins to restore them both. But can that friendship convince them that love is possible for anyone who’s willing to take a risk—even those who never hoped they’d find it again?

Learn more about Nancy on her WEBSITEand follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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