BOOK REVIEW | My Soul to Keep
My Soul to Keep
by Melanie Wells
Psychology professor, Dylan Foster, doesn’t have the best of luck, especially since a very odd man entered her life. Strange things seem to happen around her all the time. When a close friend’s little boy is kidnapped during a birthday party, Dylan wonders if the sketchy clues about Nicholas’ kidnapper point back to her nemesis, Peter Terry. But why would the man stoop so low to kidnap a little boy?
Dylan’s other young friend, six-year-old Christine begins to suffer from a serious medical condition all of a sudden. Christine witnessed Nicholas being snatched and tried to describe the man as best she could with her young mind. Between the police and Dylan, they use the little girl’s vague clues to search for Nicholas.
The more Dylan jumps into the search, the more Christine displays an eerie connection to Nicholas. Does Christine have the ability to help find Nicholas? It seems impossible, but Dylan thinks Christine somehow can perceive Nicholas’ emotions and his location.
But then again Dylan isn’t sure she’s not just thinking too much, as more oddities continue to occur. She hears a rattlesnake in her home, but can’t find it. In fact this rattlesnake seems to popup everywhere she goes. Then, there’s her incarcerated colleague who’s claiming she’s running his blog. With one crazy event after another, Dylan begins to have a sneaky suspicion, her least favorite person, Peter Terry, has returned back into her life. How and why everything going horribly wrong in her life connects back to him, she’s determined to find out.
This is the first book I’ve read by Melanie Wells. She’s been one of those authors on my “to read” list for some time now. My Soul To Keep is the third book in the Dylan Foster Series. Readers meet Peter Terry in the first book On the Day Evil Comes. Terry doesn’t actually make an appearance in this book. Or does he? One thing for sure, this creepy guy has a stronghold on Dylan’s life and every one he seems to come in contact with.
Dylan Foster is a refreshing heroine, despite her over the top sarcasm sometimes. Tough, flawed and vulnerable are some words I would use to describe the psychology professor. Dylan analyzes situations and often goes off on crazy ventures alone, thinking about the consequences after the fact.
On the flip side, the author shows Dylan’s softer side when it comes to her ex-boyfriend. The seemingly fearless and sarcastic Dylan, at times becomes a puddle of emotion, knowing how much she loves and wants the man she loves back into her life.
She doesn’t hide the fact she’s a Christian who doesn’t always read her Bible or pray when she should. As spiritual forces fight against her, she’s determined to seek God and understands He can take care of the oddities her analytical mind can’t handle.
I think this book and probably the series has the potential to appeal to a variety of readers seeking good suspense thrillers that are adrenaline drive, clean, but without any preachiness. I’m looking forward to going back to read the first two books.
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Hey Ty! Thanks much for taking the time and trouble to post a (great!) review of My Soul to Keep. It’s been out since February, so I keep expecting the reviews to trickle down to nothing. But it’s still floating around out there and getting read and reviewed by people who love books and love to read. I’m so glad to have been on your “to read” list! And so very glad you liked the book. I hope you enjoy the other two as well.
You’re right about Dylan. Her brain gets in her way most of the time. She thinks she can analyze her way through life. Not that I have any personal experience with this type of thinking…
Thanks again – Good wishes and peace to you in this turbulent time.
Melanie Wells