Book Review: Kicking Eternity by Ann Lee Miller

Back Cover copy:

Stuck in sleepy New Smyrna Beach one last summer, Raine socks away her camp pay checks, worries about her druggy brother, and ignores trouble: Cal Koomer. She’s a plane ticket away from teaching orphans in Africa, and not even Cal’s surfer six-pack and the chinks she spies in his rebel armor will derail her.

The artist in Cal begs to paint Raine’s ivory skin, high cheek bones, and internal sparklers behind her eyes, but falling for her would catapult him into his parents’ lives. No thanks. The girl was self-righteous waiting to happen. Mom served sanctimony like vegetables, three servings a day, and he had a gut full.

Rec Director Drew taunts her with “Rainey” and calls her an enabler. He is so infernally there like a horsefly—till he buzzes back to his ex.

Raine’s brother tweaks. Her dream of Africa dies small deaths. Will she figure out what to fight for and what to free before it’s too late?

Stephanie’s Review
4-stars
Kicking Eternity captures readers’ attention, not by a reach-out-and-grab-your-interest beginning, but by the characters’ personalities. They are real. Feeling curious about the lead character’s motivation for her choices, I read on.

Fresh out of college, Raine’s life seems buttoned up and neat, but it’s not so. She’s faced with troubling circumstances, due to her brother’s meth addiction—a sad reality many people suffer nowadays—the temptation to entangle herself with the unbeliever, surfer-dude Cal, a camp Rec director named, Drew, who seems ever at her side, and her father’s outdated attitudes toward woman which hinder her dreams of becoming a teacher in an African orphanage. But I had to wonder, did Raine truly long to teach in Africa, or was she attempting to escape her intolerable father and the memories of a childhood spent in subjugation? My question was never directly answered, but I assumed she longed to escape her or at the very least prove to her father that she was fully capable of making life decisions for herself.

I like that Ann Miller is willing to write about real issues and characters who battle with daily temptations and inner turmoil. Her characters are not the cookie-cutter characters one finds in far too many Christian novels of today. Raine, Cal, Drew, and even Raine’s father and mother are relatable characters.

Forbidden love, difficult family issues, unpredictability, and characters that learn the importance of spiritual growth all twine together in Kicking Eternity, making it a 4-star read for me.
I recommend this book. It grants readers a glimpse into the lives of flawed characters as they deal with difficult issues and how God works in their lives.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free e-book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."

Author bio:

Ann Lee Miller earned a BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH) University and writes full-time in Phoenix, but left her heart in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where she grew up. She loves speaking to young adults and guest lectures on writing at several Arizona colleges. When she isn’t writing or muddling through some crisis—real or imagined—you’ll find her hiking in the Superstition Mountains with her husband or meddling in her kids’ lives.

AnnLeeMiller.com

Facebook Author Page: Ann Lee Miller
Twitter: @AnnLeeMiller

Purchase Kicking Eternity at Amazon.com, Kicking Eternity.

Short Blurb: Fresh from college, Raine scores a teaching job at New Smyrna Beach Surf and Sailing Camp. A crush on the camp rebel/art teacher threatens to derail her plans to teach orphans in Africa. The broody recreation director spots her brothers meth addiction and Raine's enabling. Raine believes she is helping her brother--until lives are threatened.

Note: Anyone who leaves a comment will receive a free e-copy of Kicking Eternity. If you don't want to leave your e-mail address, you may request your free book at AnnLeeMiller.com. Please do not ask Stephanie Boles for the free e-book as she isn’t handling this giveaway.