Kiss

One thing about reading books by Dekker is that he never fails to keep you in the dark filling you with the need to keep reading without stopping to find out what is going on. This book is no different. Although not as fast-paced as his previous books, the plot and action is satisfying. Dekker makes the case that it is better to die for the truth than live with a lie in a unique story. In the opening chapter there is an interesting conversation between Shauna and her therapist. Shauna feels the only way to get closure from the pain of her father's rejection of her is to hurt him back. Only then will she be able to forget the past, forget the pain. The therapist ask her to consider the possibility that her plan to put the past behind her show more may 'root [her] more deeply in the pain of [her] past,' and ask how can it be that the hurt imposed on her could vanish: 'By creating more pain? That mathematics of that isn't logical.' That, for me, is the thesis of this unique fiction. Another thing Dekker never fails to do is make you think deeply about the moral implications of his story. This is another of Dekker's books that ought not to be missed. show less

Shauna wakes up in the hospital, after a car accident, to discover that she has lost the last six months of her memory. As she tries to remove the fog in her mind, she also removes (yes, removes) some information that may be a threat to her life. She begins to wonder if the accident was really an accident.

I was right there with Shauna when she was trying to figure out who she could trust or not; however, once memories started to develop in her mind - the method in which those memories arrived was beyond my acceptance level. It turned a plausible scenario into an implausible one. I had no idea that there was this paranormal element to the book and I was not prepared for it. The method, in and of itself, was not a big deal - I just don't show more care for unexpected paranormal elements. The suspense/thriller portion of the book was still of some interest, but the memory method ruined it for me. (2.75/5)

Originally posted on: "Thoughts of Joy..." show less

Kiss is the story of Shauna McAllister, who is the daughter of a very influential, presidential candidate. The book starts with Shauna in a hospital in a coma after a horrible car accident. As she starts to awaken from the coma, she realizes that she has lost about 6 months worth of memories. Throughout her recovery, she is constantly trying to figure out what is truth, what is a lie, and whom she can believe. Shauna also discovers she has very unusual powers of the mind, being able to take memories from those whom she connects with.

This is one of Ted Dekker's best books as a single. It captures your attention immediately and carries you along with the tension for the whole read. Some very interesting and unexpected twists are involved.

Un libro che si lascia leggere, senza infamia e senza lode. Piuttosto piatto, per essere un libro d'azione/thriller. La trama è piuttosto scontata e di colpi di scena se ne vedono davvero molto pochi.

Sinceramente mi aspettavo qualcosa di meglio da questo autore visto la fama che ha in America.

In alcuni punti è perfino illogico! Come se fosse possibile che il padre si lasciasse abbiandolare per anni... ANNI... per poi, improvvisamente, riprendersi.

I personaggi sono ben costruiti ma, per quanto mi riguarda non affascinano il lettore, nè positivamente nè negativamente. La stessa Shauna non si lascia amare, nè odiare... semplicemente la seguiamo, piuttosto passivi.

Lo stile di Dekker è buono, non posso dire il contrario ma manca di show more passione e di suspance. Per un thriller è essenziale!

In ultimo, ma non per questo meno importante, in molti punti mi sono ritrovata a fare dei paragoni con altre opere come The Giver oppure altri film che ho visto in passato. Non voglio assolutamente dire che sia un bel bricolage di altre opere ma semplicemente che la sensazione di "già visto" è forte per tutta la durata del romanzo e questo, sicuramente, non è un bene.

Peccato, una buona idea sviluppata male. show less

Wow; can that single word suffice as a book review? Ted Dekker and Erin Healy’s co-written mystery/thriller Kiss kept me glued to its pages over the course of two days. If it hadn’t been for so much laundry and housework to do I’m sure I would have finished it in a single day.

I’m not generally an avid fan of mysteries, but Kiss hooked me early on with the mystery of the heroine Shauna’s memory loss and the mystery surrounding the events leading up to and following the car crash that seems to have caused it. Not only must Shauna struggle to decipher the world around her with a memory gap of six months, she also needs to stay out of jail, stay alive, and learn to deal with a mysterious new ability to access the memories of show more others.

The suspense of not-knowing the answers to Shauna’s dilemma and situation was maddening, expect this one to keep you up late at night as you read-on to discover what lies behind the incongruities in Shauna’s present – answers that can only be found in a past that is missing. Mixed with the high-octane suspense Dekker and Healy provide a dose of romance that sweetens the pot without hi-jacking the storyline.

Kiss is most definitely delightful reading, and is perfect for losing yourself in a good story. Dekker and Healy subtly weave in some faith elements as well in an understated way, though there isn’t an emphasis on redemption. The themes the writing team explores instead tend towards the value of remembering God at work in the past, and the presence of God with us in challenging situations.

This is a brisk-paced story that will have you running along behind it, trying to keep up.

Reviewed at quiverfullfamily.com show less

I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. The beginning was somewhat confusing and none of the characters, Shauna included, garnered much sympathy from me. But after the first few chapters I was hooked, and when Shauna does a turnabout from wimpy victim who makes bad choices, to a kick-butt woman (who still makes some bad choices), my interest in the plot took off. The second half of the book keeps the excitement going full-steam until the final pages.

Recommended for fans of suspense thrillers, and those who may want a "clean read" that delivers an intriguing mystery to boot.

A Christian suspense book that doesn't succumb to the last-10-pages-we-tell-you-it's-just- 'spiritual warfare' -the-end syndrome?!? What?!? Well, then. In that case, I have to tell you that this book, although not wonderful, was fairly decent and entertaining. Some parts were predictable, some people you knew were going to turn out 'bad' but weren't quite sure how they fit into the big picture... but it was well-written, and managed to give me a few surprises in the end. It also didn't get super preachy at any point (that I noticed) which, as some of you may know from an earlier review, is one of my other pet peeves in Christian fiction (ie. a sermon halfway through the story).

The characters weren't neatly tied up, and some supernatural show more elements weren't entirely explained, and you know what? It was a good thing. It worked, because people don't always come full circle in real life, and sometimes there are things we just can't explain. All said... I enjoyed this more than I expected, which is always nice. show less