Publisher: Morgan James Publishing
Date of Publication: August 27, 2019
Number of Pages: 282
A woman’s empty pursuit of happiness leads to a crisis before finding redemption in the Lord in this challenging and gritty Christian novel.
Twenty-nine-year-old novelist and blackjack dealer Cami Taylor seems to have it all—but just underneath her confident exterior and newfound celebrity is a young woman in trouble. Cami’s boyfriend, Joel, wants to get married, buy a house on Long Island, and raise a family—a life that’s a million miles from Cami’s idea of happiness. Her therapist suggests compromise and trust, but Cami would rather bolt like a deer.
Breaking things off with Joel, Cami launches herself on a new quest for happiness. But her pursuit of pleasure only takes her further from herself—and toward a harrowing new reality unlike anything she’s faced before. What follows for Cami is a fight to the death that can only be waged with God’s love.
L.K. SIMONDS PRESENTS CAMI TAYLOR:
Clueless Gent’s Rating
All In reminds me of a coming-of-age story, but it’s not. As a matter of fact, the main character has already been “around the block” more times than most. However, this story is more about self-discovery in the face of adversity.
This story is labeled as Christian Fiction – and that is certainly true, particularly near the end – but it is nevertheless a story that can and will raise emotions in a reader. Although slow in the beginning, Simonds finds a nice pace around the middle of the book, and she continues that through the end of the story.
Spent Identity Fills the Senses
Cami is definitely not a mild-mannered protagonist that will melt your heart. Actually, it’s likely that some of her life choices and mannerisms will clash with those often found in main characters. But that’s precisely what makes Cami such a marvelous protagonist.
Cami is flawed in so many ways. She’s a successful author, currently working on her second novel, but her personal life leaves more to be desired. She seems to have it all, but is it really what she needs? After a breakup with her boyfriend, she seems to question what she wants in life and how to attain it. She then gets some life-altering news, and she has a very difficult time accepting it.
Along Cami’s journey, she meets Kate. A distant relative, Kate is the complete opposite of Cami. She seems to have life all figured out. When she offers Cami refuge from her life, at Kate’s Dallas home, Cami eventually accepts. Cami’s time in Dallas changes everything.
I think Cami is a main character I won’t easily forget.
Technically Speaking
This book was very well edited. I didn’t note any SPAG errors.
Cami’s character arc, as you can imagine, is huge. (But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to predict where it goes. You might be surprised.) This character arc – the changes in Cami – really drives the story.
I’d love to tell you more about how this story made me feel, but I couldn’t do so without dropping spoilers. I will say, though, that it definitely moved me.
This is a great story, and I highly recommend it.
+ $50 Visa gift card
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2 thoughts on “All In”
Such a thoughtful and well-written review. Totally agree that Cami is an unforgettable character, but it’s in such a non-traditional way that she sticks with the reader after the book ends. Thanks for the post!
Thank you, sir! Oh my goodness, your comment, “I’d love to tell you more about how this story made me feel…I will say, though, that it definitely moved me,” means the world. Thank you for spending your valuable time with my characters. Bless you!