Fresh Face Friday: Embroiled by Darlene Jones

Happy Friday!  I know it’s a little late and most of you are already starting your weekends, but I figured better late than never for our Friday edition.  I am spotlighting a good sci-fi/fantasy book by Darlene Jones, Embroiled.  If you’re looking for a good book with an intriguing story with a lot of sci-fi/fantasy you will adore Embroiled.  Be sure to check out my whole review after the book blurb.

Book Blurb:

What if I could go “up there?”  Why does this obsession drive Emily’s life when she doesn’t believe in heaven? Even the wonderful Dr. David can’t help her find the answers she needs.
Learning that she has lived other lives shocks Emily. Then Yves takes her to his world. There she meets gods and Powers and people rescued from doomed planets—living the perfect heavenly life. She knows she belongs “up there” with Yves, but all is not as idyllic as it appears. Emily is the only one who sees the danger. Will she be able to save Yves and his world

Review:

What if you had hallucinations?  But, these aren’t just hallucinations.  These are past memories from lives you have already lived.  Emily deals with these hallucinations without knowing what they truly are.  Soon she meets a mysterious man she is instantly attracted to.  Yves is from another world.  This world is “perfect”.  His world is made of persons from other planets that have been saved and moved to his planet.  When Yves decides it is this life that Emily is meant to join him in his world he sets out to woo her.  This is no easy feet and at times has unfortunate consequences.  Finally, without understanding what she’s asking for, Emily asks to see Yves world.  Unbeknownst to her she is taken to his world and is given 100 Earth day to decide whether she want to live with Yves who she loves or have her memories erased and go back to Earth.  While Emily is trying to learn the ways of Yves world she realizes that there are serious cracks in the perfection that is his world.  In fact, Yves world is in more danger than anyone knows.  In the end will Emily choose her world or Yves?  Both have consequences and joys.  What can she live with and what or who can she live without?

I enjoyed this book.  Though I enjoyed it, I did get a bit confused at times due to the time reversals and the memory changes.  One instance is Emily’s retirement.  A one point she is retired and in the next it seems she is back to working at the school.  It got to be confusing until we get to the part where Emily goes to Yves world.  That portion is well written and flows very well.  Emily and Yves I liked but Emily at times was confusing just like her story.  I also really liked Yves people on his world.  They were well written supporting characters and helped move the story along and helped to develop Emily’s character.  The love story of Emily and Yves was good.  Without saying it the story brings in the idea of soul mates with past lives.  I enjoy that idea and with that in the story really caught my attention.  Overall, I really was hooked into this book.  But, I would warn anyone reading this book that you may have times where you are very confused and not sure what exactly is going on.  If you can get past some of the confusing parts then you will be hooked just like me.

Author Bio:

A long time ago, I lived in Mali. Every single day, I wished I could wave a magic wand to relieve the heart-wrenching poverty. The story line of my books reflects my desire to wave that wand and make the world a better place. If only wishes could come true. And of course, every novel needs its love story, so along with the sci-fi magic, I’ve added the requisite romance.

Initially, I intended to write “a” novel. The story and characters took over and the ending of the first demanded another. Two books became three and three became four.

I’ve always believed we can’t be the only beings existing in the vastness of the universe. There must be others “out there somewhere” and I brought some of them along for the ride. The setting stays, for the most part, within the realities of our world, but I’ve found that I love the magic the sci-fi element of other beings can bring to the story.