Author: Deborah A. Jaeger
Publisher: Hampton House Publishing
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Hardcover, 392 pages
ISBN 10: 0982889100
ISBN 13: 9780982889107
The Book Depository / Amazon
Goodreads description:
A typical teenager, Jillian Macomb, is looking forward to senior high. Or at least she was. Having just broken up with her boyfriend, she receives the stunning and unexpected news that she's pregnant. Her father's protege, Stephen Jacobs, and she form an unlikely alliance as they realize that their nighttime apparitions are more than simple dreams, making it clear to them that the child she carries is no ordinary child. When a geneticist discovers that Jillian's pregnancy holds the key to inexplicable healings, he will stop at nothing to claim the magnificent discovery as his own. Meanwhile, government officials and representatives from the Catholic Church arrive to investigate the astonishing events, realizing that whoever controls the source of the miracles will become the ultimate world power. In the ultimate test of faith, Stephen and Jillian must decide who they can trust, and whether or not to believe the compelling and terrifying message of the prophecy.
My Take:
In this modern (set in 2018) take on the Immaculate Conception, Jillian Macomb is 17 years old and a virgin when she and her family discover she is pregnant. Her family is convinced (of course), that she is either lying about never having sex or that she may have been slipped a drug and doesn't remember having sex.
Stephen Jacobs is 25, a divinity student and protege of her father's. He has been having dreams that he will need to save a young girl, and when he meets Jillian, he realizes that she is the girl from his dreams.
An accident at the lab where Jillian's blood is being analyzed results in Dr. Jackson Mullins (the evil geneticist) discovering that there is something unique about either Jillian or the baby she is carrying. When the press finds out about "the miracle" that happened in the lab, the university and its hospital become the camping ground for the hopeful, although no one knows who or what is responsible for the miracle.
When Theresa Boone, a 43-year-old mother in the end stages of Lou Gehrig's disease, miraculously recovers, pandemonium ensues as the hospital tries to figure out how she could possibly have recovered. Mullins knows, but HE'S not telling.
This is rather difficult for me to review, as the STORY was rather good. Unfortunately, the writing and editing left something to be desired. There were a lot of unnecessary commas and the dialogue throughout and action (especially in the last third of the book), felt rushed, stilted, and even forced. This is one of those books that a reader wishes had gone to a professional editor for polishing, as it has potential to be really good.
QUOTE:
As he looked into her eyes, they both realized at that moment. . . the first miracle had occurred long before Dr. Sorrento sliced his hand on the broken glass of the slide. The first miracle was growing in the womb of a little virgin girl in Nashville.
Writing: 2 out of 5 stars
Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Characters: 3 out of 5 stars
Reading Immersion: 2.5 out 5 starsBOOK RATING: 2.8 out of 5 stars
BLOGGERS: Have you reviewed this book? If so, please feel free to leave a link to your review in the comments section; I will also add your link to the body of my review.
Author website
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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title through Library Thing's Early Reads program to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received and I was not required to post a positive review.
1 comments:
The description of this book sounds absolutely amazing. However, the editing would drive me bonkers and I would probably not be able to finish it. Hopefully she hires a good editor and then I would definitely give it a chance!
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