In a style similar to Frank Peretti’s, Donna Dawson offers a sophisticated theory behind missing children around the world. Through many turbulent decades, it weaves real life history into a story of suspense and manipulation to create a perfect human race.
Each character is drawn so vividly with such detail, from Hawk, a ten-year-old Native American boy from Canada, to Carolyn an eighteen-year-old beauty from California, to Asad, a nine-year-old Prince from the Middle East. Donna leads the reader to see the world through the eyes of each character, no matter how different they are. The plot draws the reader into the character's lives and helps the reader understand the choices that the characters make. Donna shows us how a person can do bad things for the right reasons.
The Adam & Eve Project is a wonderful example of how God is always in control no matter what the circumstances. Another winner by Donna!
Kimberley Payne
http://www.kimberleypayne.com
No gain without Payne
The site that shares fitness & faith
Title: Fires of FuryAuthor: Donna Dawson
Publisher: Awe-Struck Press, 2009
eBook ISBN: 978-1-58749-171-9
Katherine Matheson’s husband Darryl has been found dead in a burned-out car, a suspected suicide. But Jason Wolfe, the local police investigator, is sure that it was murder. Katherine has mixed feelings about Darryl’s death because he was cheating on her. When Jason’s presence stirs strong feelings she’s tempted to surrender to his advances until she finds out that Bev, the woman who stole her husband, has her claws into Jason too. A break-in at her house, an energetic puppy, and an attempt to make a new start are all elements that make Donna Dawson’s romantic suspense,
Fires of Fury, a captivating read.
Katherine, the sensitive and grieving main character, is mostly sympathetic, though more than once I felt like giving her a good shake and telling her to talk rather than just flee the scene. Wolfe, the attractive bachelor, has his own hang-ups. The chemistry between them makes for a sometimes rocky, hide-and-seek romance. Dawson uses Katherine’s meddling though well-meaning sister Jasmine and the thoroughly bad Bev to add elements of warmth, humor and conflict.
Katherine’s main issue after being betrayed by her husband is trust. Can she trust Jason, any man, even God? Though the characters’ faith in God isn’t a big part of the story, it is foundational. Another main theme is communication – why it’s necessary and what happens when people misunderstand each other because they never talked.
Dawson’s writing style seemed more flowery in
Fires of Fury than in two other books by her that I’ve read (
Redeemed and
Vengeance). Passages like the following are not uncommon:
“A sigh found its way from the lowest part of her hurting heart and erupted through lips that still tingled every once in a while at the memory of Jason.” I suppose such writing is typical of this brand of dissect-every-moment romance. It's not my favorite genre.
A bit about the format – the book is only available as an e-book. I don't know whether one can read it on an e-reading device (Kindle or Sony Reader). My disk of the book down-loaded a pdf file which I then printed. The printed pages have no numbers on them so it's important to keep them in order! (I tried to print the book double-sided. It was a mess.)
For lovers of romantic suspense this story, with its attractive characters, tastefully dispensed spiritual wisdom and satisfying ending, won’t disappoint.
READ AN EXCERPT of Fires of FuryORDER Fires of Fury
URL: http://www.awe-struck.net
Title: Fires of Fury
Series: None
Author: Donna Dawson
Genre(s) / Subgenre(s): Inspirational Romance Mystery, Inspirational Romance
Published By: Awe-Struck E-Books
Format(s): Electronic ISBN(s): Pending
Release Date: To Be Announced
Rating: 7.5
Is it a tragic suicide? Was it a horrible murder perpetrated by persons unknown? Or, is it someone carrying out a terrible hoax? These formidable questions plague Katherine after her husband's funeral. And for the distraught Katherine, finding the answers promises not only closure, but might just help free her from a terrible sense of guilt! Fires of Fury by Donna Dawson is the story of Katherine's personal mission to unravel the mysteries surrounding her estranged husband's apparent suicide. Moreover, as events soon prove, it turns out to be a dangerous mission, indeed!
In Donna Dawson's, Fires of Fury, Katherine Matheson finds going to her husband's funeral a trial, but also a revelation, and in more ways than one. Before she even leaves the house, she spies a sealed letter posted by her dead husband to himself. With no time to read it, because she is already late for the funeral, Katherine places the missive in a drawer. Later, at the funeral and to her surprise, she not only discovers some old enemies present there, but a possible new friend as well, Police Officer Jason Wolfe.
He tells Katherine that her husband's fiery death in his car might not be a suicide after all. Officer Wolfe implies it might be murder! This news stuns poor Katherine, but also makes her oddly hopeful, for she now feels a dreadful guilt in being the possible cause of her husband's suicide. If it is no suicide, than she is not to blame. This would be a great personal relief to her. One more thing she discovers at the funeral -- Katherine finds she likes Officer Wolfe a bit more than perhaps she should.
Afterwards, Katherine begins to have nightmares about her husband's horrible ending. Waking in the middle of the night, she spies a stranger standing in the shadows of her garden, apparently watching her house. Katherine is at a loss as to who this could be and why he is watching her. It seems to be just one more thing in a growing list of such odd items.
Katherine now finds herself drawn ever more to Officer Wolfe. She discovers he is not only truly interested in unraveling the secrets of her husband's terrible demise, but he seems to have strong feelings for her, as well. Katherine increasingly wishes to return these feelings. Together, and with his strong religious faith helping to revive her own, they embark on the quest to solve the death of Katherine's husband, Darryl. It turns out to be a pursuit that involves some surprising twists and turns, not to mention a major revelation.
I found Fires of Fury by Donna Dawson to be a good solid read, one that held my interest throughout. Ms. Dawson seems more than proficient at descriptions. She sets vivid scenes. Ms. Dawson paints in details in such a loving way as to make them very believable. She is adept at creating characters with which the reader can identify and about whom they will want to know more -- much more. One immediately sympathizes with Katherine Matheson, feels for her, and wants to know what really happened to her husband, Darryl. Did he die of suicide? If so, is she partly to blame? Or, did somebody murder him? These are all questions asked by the book, and which will make the reader eagerly want to know the answers.
The only negative I could find in Fires of Fury was that I felt its pace was rather slow at times. Numerous flashbacks and lengthy, often intensive introspection on the part of the character, Katherine, seemed to contribute to this slowing. And although Ms. Dawson is very good at descriptions, I felt that at times they could have been somewhat reduced in order to help the plot move a little more quickly. However, these were minor problems for me.
Fires of Fury by Donna Dawson is an enjoyable romance mystery, one that will hold the reader's attention, and keep them guessing. Ms. Dawson smoothly incorporates an inspirational quality to Fires of Fury, along with a growing romance, and a suspenseful plot. To do this, and to do it all so well, shows a real talent on the author, Ms. Dawson's part. An inspirational romance and mystery, Fires of Fury will not disappoint! You would do very well to read Fires of Fury by Ms. Donna Dawson, for it is a book that inspires along with entertaining!
Reviewed By
Rob Shelsky©
Blog critic review of Vengeance: http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/05/20/182441.php
Blog critic review of The Adam & Eve Project: http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/02/03/090258.php
Blog critic review of Redeemed: http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/10/24/154753.php
Review by Jon Fear Kitchener Record
http://news.therecord.com/Life/Books/article/407210
VENGEANCE
by Donna Dawson
(Word Alive Press, 225 pages, $17.95 softcover)
FBI agent James Kirk Benedict -- yes, his parents were Star Trek devotees -- is on a cruise off California when a handful of his fellow vacationers, one by one, suffer quick and horrible deaths caused by poisoning. It appears they have been targeted -- but why and by who? Nabbing the killer becomes Benedict's challenge. And the warped motives of the killers turn out to have their roots in the Vietnam War, decades earlier.
Donna Dawson, pen name of St. Marys writer Donna Fawcett, has a plot that's the equal of those in bestselling thrillers.
What makes this book different is that the author is a Christian -- and so are her key characters. Prayer is part of their lives and they often pause to weigh the morality of their actions. For many readers, that will take a while to get used to.
Finished reading it (Vengeance) last night, Donna. Thoroughly enjoyed it! I loved the intrigue, and how, despite the engaging multilayers I was by and large able to keep things straight in my head (normally a real challenge for me at any time). The contrasting personalities of the characters provide great colour and depth. You set me up and wakened me up with the surprise element right to the end. I marvel at your facility for discussing and describing pertinent physio-chemical-cum-pathological matters and the amount of research you had to do (even if, as you admitted at W!L, the Internet was a great help). I particularly liked the relatively short chapters and scene changes, which lent towards a fast-but-unhurried pace; then how you tied everything together. (reader's comment)
I read Redeemed over the Christmas break. It was bedtime reading and I really looked forward to getting back to it each night to see how Heather was doing! I'm looking forward to getting The Adam and Eve Project. You have a great message mixed with suspense, adventure, and romance! (reader’s comment)
Just read The Adam and Eve Project. I could not put it down - read it in two sittings and I will read it again. It is a cross between Robert Ludlum and Frank Peretti. Thanks for writing such a great Christian suspense story. (reader’s comment)
“Vengeance is a face-paced novel that captures the reader's imagination on page one. Everything about this novel rings true: the characters, their issues, their responses, their faith or lack of it, and the surprising plot twists. Offering up mystery, intrigue, romance, and faith as she follows an FBI agent and a psychologist through two trouble-filled weeks, Dawson gives the reader yet another page-turner.”
Fay Rowe, Author What's in a Name and Keepers of the Testimony
Glenn Rowe, Professor, University of Western Ontario
In a vast and cold land of stark beauty the story of Vengeance unfolds. It is a tremendous read of suspense and diabolical deeds, a story that has you rooting for good versus evil. With bated breath I was swept along in the final chapters, praying as some of the characters in the novel did, that all would be well in the end.
Mary Haskett, Author of Reverend Mother’s Daughter
Once more, Donna Dawson has created a story where the conspiracy thickens with each page and the intrigue deepens at the introduction of each character. The reader is held in suspenseful anticipation right to the last page! Anyone who enjoys mystery will not want to miss Vengeance!
Ruth Smith Meyer, Author of Not Easily Broken
“Enter the world of Vengeance and you are wrapped in a gripping tale of revenge, its sinister and corrosive power aptly portrayed by the mysterious flesh-eating disease preying on unsuspecting guests on the cruise ship The Cormorant. Can its deadly consequence be interrupted? Is there hope for a heart singed by its fire?
Once again, I find myself delighting in Donna Dawson’s craft as each page serves up tasty new morsels of finely turned phrases and clever descriptions to savour. Not only that, but I have grown from getting to know these characters, grappling with their questions and mustering the courage to face their daunting circumstances with them. Under every moment runs a faith that “works”—an underlying strength and hope that will now help me as I walk through mysteries and challenges (and romance!) of my own. Bravo!”
Larissa Bartos, Special Projects x. 201, larissa@wordalive.ca, Word Alive Inc./Word Alive Press, Ph: 800.665.1468, Fax: 800.352.9272, 131 Cordite Road, Winnipeg, MB R3W 1S1, www.wordalive.ca/www.wordalivepress.ca
Romance and intrigue—a powerful combination—but this
isn’t the Love Boat. Get ready to be captivated as Donna
Dawson’s spell-binding thriller, Vengeance, puts you on a luxury
cruise where the hors d’oeuvre are rounds of heart
pounding suspense.
~Keith Clemons, 5X award wining author
of Angel in the Alley and These Little Ones
Novel Title: The Adam & Eve Project
My opinion
Title: Fires of Fury
