BoneMan's Daughters

2009-04-05T18:02:00.000-07:00

BoneMan is a serial killer who is desperate to be authentically loved. Daughter-less, he's in search of one that will give him that love he desires – and when that daughter fails him, he breaks every bone in her body. After seven who have failed him, he finds the one daughter that he is sure will be his – Bethany Evans. Navy Intelligence Officer Ryan Evans, Bethany's father, has never quite been there for his daughter. But with the life of his daughter on the line, all of that must change.

Just how steadfast is a father's love towards his child? What would a father go through, and what would he put others through, to save the life and earn the love of his daughter? Ryan Evans is about to find out.

This book felt very real – almost if Ted was merely recording real life events. Some parts I found to be unsettling, even disturbing; BoneMan's psyche, as well as his brutal methods left a sick feeling in my stomach. Those parts were hard to get through, but they were necessary for the story. There is evil in this world, and merely ignoring it only encourages the evil to thrive. Whitewashing darkness, or pretending it doesn't exist, gets us nowhere. I think this is why Ted chooses to portray evil for what it is – evil. But beyond that, the image of a father's love for his daughter is incredible – and that love is what this book is all about.

Once again, Ted has managed several twists and turns as he leads the reader through the valley of death to find the brilliant light on the other side. Some parts may be difficult to read, but in the end, your efforts will be rewarded - the ending is magnificent. Overall, I enjoyed BMD. It kept me reading at every chance I could get (even during class – shhhh ;). Even a week after reading it, I'm still trying to comprehend and digest all the depth in this book. If you're looking for a book that gives you the warm fuzzies and makes you comfortable, then try somewhere else. But if you want an incredible story that will stick with you long after reading it, then this book is for you.

Rating: 4.5/5

Kiss

2009-03-26T14:26:00.000-07:00


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When I first heard about Kiss, my impression was slightly skeptical – I thought it might just be another cute amnesia story with an overused plot. But now that I have read the book, I realize I could not have been more wrong. Unlike other stories that use amnesia, this one has a twist: main character Shauna McAllister not only loses six months of her memory, but finds that she has the ability to steal them from others as well. She must then find a way to rebuild her life using others' memories all while trying to evade some unknown enemy who she suspects caused her the car accident that brought on her amnesia in the first place.
Whoever thought of Ted and Erin joining forces to write a novel was a genius. Kiss has instantly become one of my favorite of Ted's books. “Heart pounding meets heart warming” really does a great job of summarizing this book. Not only did the plot have some of the great twists and turns that Ted is famous for, but the story itself seemed to come to life as I read it. The vivid descriptions and imagery my made me feel as I had Shauna's ability and was reliving her memories in my own imagination. Whether you've been a fan of Dekker for years or if Kiss will be your first, you are going to love this book.

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My rating: 5/5

Benji's Reviews

BoneMan's Daughters

Kiss