They're bitterly divided over what to do next.
Architect Vance Nolan insists they should sit tight and wait for rescue. Developer Tony Dean wants to strike out into the darkness. And single mom Danielle Clement, desperate to protect her young son, Simeon, struggles to hold their motley band together.
Power failure, a pall of unnatural daytime darkness, explosions in the distance, then a murder ratchet tensions to a boiling point. But Danielle's young son, Simeon, has spotted something strange underwater-beautiful, shifting lights in the dark water below.
In this watery world where everyone's secrets will eventually come to light, salvation may mean more than just getting out alive.
Another stunning exploration of the human spirit and supernatural possibilities from best-selling author Erin Healy.
My take: As a fan of Erin Healy's writing (I especially loved The Baker's Wife), I was excited to read her latest novel, Afloat. While I enjoyed it, it wasn't the gripping, page-turning, thought-provoking book I was hoping for. Let me explain ...
I couldn't get into the story at all until about 100 pages in. It's not that it moved slowly; in fact, the action begins on the first page and doesn't let up for quite some time. Rather, I had trouble keeping up with the action and the large cast of characters. Once the initial events with the sinkhole settled down, Healy left us with a manageable group of 10 or 12 characters—but prior to that, I had no idea who was who. I also had a difficult time picturing what was happening in the beginning. The setting was so foreign to me, and I repeatedly wished I was watching a movie rather than reading a book.
I also never connected with Danielle, for whatever reason, so I didn't really care what happened to her. Vance, his mentor Zeke, and Simeon were all great characters that I pulled for, and Tony made a fantastic villain, but I just felt apathetic toward Danielle.
Despite these reservations, however, I did like aspects of the book. The story unfolds in such a way that you're constantly wondering what will happen next, and the supernatural element was fascinating. I especially enjoyed learning Vance's backstory and how he was connected to Zeke.
Overall, this book didn't live up to my expectations, but that won't discourage me from reading more of Healy's books in the future. 3 stars.
See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.
Watch the book trailer.
Read my review of Healy's The Baker's Wife and my pseudo-review of Healy & Ted Dekker's Kiss.
About the giveaway: Erin Healy is celebrating the release of her latest novel Afloat (Thomas Nelson) with an iPad Mini giveaway.
- An iPad Mini
- iTunes gift card
- Afloat by Erin Healy
Don't miss a moment of the fun; ENTER today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Visit Erin's blog on the 17th!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Becky, thanks for such a thorough review and very constructive feedback. I truly appreciate your thoughts. Thank you also for taking the time to read, review, and support my work. Blessings to you.
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