Fire by K. Lumpkin
"K. Lumpkin began writing and illustrating books at the age of 4. Currently, she is a wife and mother of two adolescents who make the simplest things in life exciting. K. Lumpkin and her family have lived in Latin America and various states in the U.S. When not homeschooling and learning with as well as from her teens and when a breath can be caught, she enjoys the pleasures of her early years — writing, reading, dancing and painting. River (previously titled Fire Clouds) and Beauty (previously titled Beauty for Ashes) are the next installments in the series of the novel you currently hold in your hands. K. Lumpkin is also the author of Nothing in Time Separating."
Find her work and more about her at these sites:
Synopsis: "FIRE. It's so beautiful you can't keep your eyes off of it.
Kyana Cel`on was not supposed to be caught in this trap again. Her past full of heartbreak, she's all too familiar with love's scorch and she will not be hurt again. So why is the unexpected stranger who enters her life one wintry afternoon able to arouse all in her she's so long suppressed? What is it about David Mitchell that won't leave her alone? Everything. But can she trust him? When a sinister past catches up to her, she might have little choice. More so, she doesn't know if she wants to make any other choice.
"I'll never hurt you." David meant his words. Mesmerized, he could not figure out what it was about this woman that was so compelling, but from the moment Kyana dropped into his life, as an angel birthed from heaven, he's been drawn as a moth to the flame. Captivated, he soon finds himself entangled in a maze of peril with her. No, he would not hurt Kyana but someone else would. Will David be able to save her and himself before it's too late or will all go up in flames?
Come along with David and Kyana in a tale of intrigue where little is as it seems."
K. Lumpkin brings us a beautiful and heartwarming story about love amidst adversity. Kyana Cel`on and David Mitchell are two people living separate lives until one wintry afternoon. Their cute-meet sets off a chain of events that lead the way to happily ever after.
Within this dual point of view book (I like the dual points of view and getting to know Kyana and spending some time in her life before gaining the chance to see David in his), we find ourselves getting to know two characters who want to serve God and find the person the Lord has for them. Both are desirous to do it in a way that honors each other and their faith in the Lord.
Kyana is a physical therapist dedicated to helping others. Her cheerful disposition and close friends give readers a multi-dimensional look at her life, and her use of the phrase “dern skippy” might be my newest favorite expression. She's a realistic character whom you relate to from the first chapter. I really liked Kyana and felt it easy to keep reading once I started because I connected to her character quite quickly. Her cheerful personality, concrete beliefs, her ready ability to pray, and her relationship with her friends give readers a solid view of her well-rounded character. I could feel a concrete connection with Kyana as the story progressed; her views on dating and marriage, drinking, and her personal boundaries were familiar, and I respected her character and decisions. Kyana's friends, Natasha and Marcus, add fun and value to the story as well. I found it a delightful twist that Marcus was interested in playing matchmaker, and their friendship was lovely to read. Her tale takes us through meeting someone new, being set-up by her friends, and getting creepy calls from someone she doesn't know.
David is in college, working on his degree, when we're introduced to him. He's helping with his father's business, and you get a good look at his family life, friendships, and background. He's a young man ready to be there for others and hoping to meet the woman of his dreams. I appreciate his standards and family interactions, and it's lovely to get his background as well. He's a well-crafted character, and his kindness and chivalry with Kyana is a positive experience to read. I really appreciate the author's ability to share characters who are well-developed and willing to understand where someone else is coming from instead of always jumping to conclusions. David becomes a positive male role-model.
When these two meet, there's chemistry and the stirrings of friendship, and it's sweet to watch their relationship develop over the course of the book. I appreciate how K. Lumpkin utilizes sub-plots to keep the chapters moving forward. I'm also a fan of her characterization, slow-building connection between Kyana and David, and thrilling mystery.
What makes this story stand-out is the unexpected twist. Kyana leaves one relationship within the expanse of the book to enter into another. As her time with David carries on, she starts to receive startling and creepy phone calls which are nothing short of threatening. The person responsible for these menacing calls is eventually revealed, and it lends a psychological and thrilling twist to the overall story.
If I had any wishes, I'd say I would have enjoyed the shifts in time clarified a bit and the resolution with the caller a little more clearly detailed. Otherwise, this was a beautiful story with heartwarming characters. I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in suspenseful, romantic, and Christian-themed plot.
Since this is a little differently formatted than my typical review, I'll reveal that the above breakdown contains all the things I loved about Fire. K. Lumpkin is a wonderful writer with a beautiful view on love, life, and relationships. I admire her style and ability to create heartwarming and authentic characters that you love throughout her work. I'm excited to read the next two installments in this series, and I'm happy to rate it a "Worthy Read" with a 3/5 rating.
Thanks to the Author K. Lumpkin and Reedsy Discovery for this Advanced Reader copy to read and review.
Thank you for joining me, and as always, Happy Reading!!
~Rebecca Reddell
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