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| 3 cups |
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| PDF Reviewer Copy |
I received my copy of this book for free, from the author, in exchange for a review.
The first half of Called Home: Two Hearts Answer by Gloria Schumann is difficult at times to get through, yet, even during the struggle, there are moments which highlight Schumann's potential as a writer. The second half, however, will make whatever struggle you did have worth your time. It was this second half that moved the rating from 2 cups (Ok) to 3 cups (Liked).
Emma and David's interactions, at first, feel forced and extremely stilted. A lot of that can be attributed to Emma who is pretty much hostile towards David because of her issues in trusting men. Sadly, we don't learn why Emma is this way until much later in the story. The explanation goes a long way in making her more understandable and more relatable instead of hostile and juvenile, as she tends to come across.
What would be termed the romantic aspect of Called Home is another area of discomfort at first, yet throughout the story the suspense portion was on target.
Emma and David's relationship was a touch too stereotypical of a bad romance novel. There was tons of inner turmoil and countless scenes of hot and heavy kissing with David perpetually walking away while leaving Emma stunned. Yet, Schumann's potential starts to shine through in their dialogue. There were quite a few moments of "Aha! There's the fun banter! There's the personality!"
The criminal activities that start to plague Emma and David are accurate and gripping in their escalation of violence. As stated, this part of Called Home is an area where Schumann shines. The reactions to the lesser offenses, the tendency of people to attribute minor events to their own faulty memory, the reaction to the escalation, and the mixed emotions in the face of true violence all rang true.
Overall, Gloria Schumann's definitely has the potential to hone her craft into excellence, and there will undoubtedly be bestselling titles in her future. So run out and get your copy of Called Home: Two Hearts Answer, that way when she's a well-known author you can say you "knew" her when.
