"...and from these fibers shall emerge the next immaculate conceptions."
When archaeologist, Sophia Conrad, uncovers an ancient scroll hidden deep in the Judean hills, a force greater than her conscience compels her to steal it. As she begins to translate the writings she realizes three very important facts. This is a book of prophecy foretelling the end times; it is the personal diary of Jesus Christ; and she has been chosen to save mankind from the next cataclysmic event. But when she discovers a small piece of fabric tucked inside the scroll, she and her husband David, a geneticist, are propelled into a life of science, secrecy and government conspiracy.
Kathryn Dionne lives in Southern California with her husband, Jeff, and their two Shar Peis, Bogey and Gracie.
From an early age, Kathryn's love of treasure hunting sparked an interest in archaeology. As an amateur archaeologist, she's been fortunate enough to uncover some very unique artifacts in different parts of the globe. However, she's still searching for that very special scroll.
In addition to writing, she manages their five-acre property and their grove of Italian olive trees. Her husband has lovingly named their business; Saint Kathryn's Olive Oil.
In her spare time, she makes cookie jars and throws pottery in her studio. She also creates mosaics from discarded objects and sells them under the category of Found Art.
Kathryn is the author of the supernatural thriller, The Eleventh Hour Trilogy and a children's book of humorous poetry called, Derek the Fireless Dragon. Her most recent book, a historical novel called, At the End of the Line, was coauthored with Abby L. Vandiver, under their pen name, Kathryn Longino.
Kathryn is currently writing a new series called, Chasing Time, which she hopes to have published some time in 2014.
Fantastic Trilogy! I really liked the way the author developed the characters and brought them to life. I also found the story to be extremely riveting and a little bit scary. God help us if any of it is true! It may be a little controversial, and not accepted by some, but I found all three books to be very inspiring! I can't wait to read what the author comes up with next!
This is a well-written book. It masterfully weaves the introduction and interaction of the characters with each clue of the mystery unfolding. It's realistic, it's fun, it's engaging.
Sophia Kaplan Conrad is an archaeolgist and remote viewer. She's smart, she's fiesty and she's ready to take on the world, no matter what dimension its in. I first learned about remote viewing in the books of C.S. Graham, however, Ms. Dionne ups the ante giving the remote viewer power over what he sees, even the ability to take a life. Still, that's not enough to stop Sophia.
The author is detailed oriented in her descriptions. Giving life to the characters, their works, station in life and to the story. There is some religious overtones to the book, but I wouldn't consider it Christian fiction. Ms. Dionne expertly takes the reader on a fast-action and information-packed ride; the book is a page turner that holds your attention to the very last page making you wish there was more. But you needn't worry as this is only the first in a trilogy so there is more of Kathryn Dionne's wonderful writing to enjoy.
Although, I figured out part of the mystery early one, there's plenty more to keep you interested. A good book. An excellent author. I recommend it to everyone.
I thought this was a very interesting story concept. An intuitive archaeologist who used to work for the government as a Remote Viewer; pretty brilliant idea. The story held my interest with all of its twists and turns. Great use of descriptive narration. Made me feel like I was right there. I would highly recommend this book. Will read book 2 in the trilogy.
From the first lines, this novel grabbed me by the throat. First class knowledge of the subject, authentic description of locations alien to most of us, and intellectual tension wrapped in mystery, I really was hooked. Add an intriguing plot allied to skilful writing, and my constant thought was, `Who now dare say that Indie books cannot be superlative?' Yet further into the story emerge secret scrolls, archaeological digs, corrupt government agents seeking to murder one of the novel's key characters and I was virtually drooling with anticipation of what might come next. And I wasn't disappointed. Mind-numbing new characters called `remote viewers', a secret project called the `Gondola Wish', and I wondered if there was no limit to this writer's imagination.
As I continued to read I was conscious that here was material for a huge block-buster and yet I knew from the printed details that the book was only 186 pages. How was the author going to wrap up the many strands that were beginning to emerge in only 186 pages? This concern began to increase towards the end when the story, which had been racing along, suddenly stalled with the introduction of the Essene village. Here the writer, uncharacteristically, becomes preoccupied with what she believes is a utopian Eden but which emerges to me as a boring, aimless place with cult-like overtones and denizens who appear to have all individuality bred out of them. The writing, in an effort to express reverence, becomes for a time slow, almost ponderous. More than ever, I wondered how the climax could be resolved in the few pages that I knew were left.
And the disappointing answer is that it wasn't. The book does not end. It simply stops in the middle of the story and the reader is directed to go to Volume 2. Honestly, I felt cheated. I went back to the details and discovered this book is the first of a trilogy. That doesn't help me. It is a short book. It has all the trappings of a blockbuster. Why not write the blockbuster and then publish? I had five stars in my head all the way through the book until I hit this roadblock. As I was obliged to say in an earlier review of a different book, cliff-hangers are all very well at the end of chapters. I do not believe there is a place for them at the end of a book.
That said, it remains a great story and I have no option but to purchase the other two parts of the trilogy to see how it all ends. What? After all that complaining? Hey, I'm hooked! What else can I do?
I thoroughly enjoyed this exciting story and read it in 1 day!
The author has written a compelling tale with an intricate plot about the discovery of a scroll, which turns out to be the diary of Jesus and foretells the end of the world. This scroll and further ones are discovered by an archaeologist-Sophia, who we learn early on has some special abilities, which leads to her joining a US government secret project in her youth. The story builds to a surprising and thrilling climax involving her son, husband, a reporter and CIA agents intent on killing all of them.
I very much admire the way the author combined true history with fiction and developed a story that brings together events from the past with the present. There is also a great amount of detailed knowledge in this book about everything from religion to genetics! I am writing this review carefully so as not to give away any of the key moments, which come together at the end to make the story so intricate and exciting.
Apart from the great plot I should mention that the book is well written and the characters well developed.
There is a second book continuing this story and I will be eager to read it.
The Enlightened Ones is a lively, quick read which explores doomsday notions from a unique perspective. The action is well-paced, and the story is definitely a page-turner. I found myself quickly immersed in the environments, which range from the Arctic to the Middle East. The historical details took some liberties in a Dan Brown fashion, but I feel it added to the intrigue.
The characters are sympathetic and believable for the most part. Iris' abrupt change in demeanor and attitude in the second half of the book seems a little too convenient and almost out-of-character for her, but based on the bizarre circumstances in which she is placed, it fits with the fantastical elements of the book.
Kathryn Dionne is a talented writer with a knack for bringing settings to life and transporting the reader to exotic locales for a taste of adventure. I highly recommend this book!
This was quite the lively read, with engaging characters, interesting action, and a very intiguing storyline. I was drawn in early on and my interest was held throughout. I won't re-hash the plot (plenty of other reviewers have already done so). I will simply say that the book worked for me. My only complaint with the novel is its rather abrupt ending. Fortunately the final two installments of the trilogy are available. I haven't read them yet but I am eager to, as I get the feeling this story is heading in a VERY interesting direction.
Really creative story about an archaeologist's discovery that predicts the exact time of the end of the world and an ancient scroll believed to be Jesus' diary and the various government agencies after her and what she knows . Unique plot I could see as a movie! The writing was excellent except the head-popping was a little jarring. I was disappointed the book ended so abruptly but since it's part of a series, I can't fault the author. Definitely pick this one up if you're looking for an engaging mystery/thriller!
“The Eleventh Hour: The Enlightened Ones” begins with the intriguing premise of husband and wife David and Sophia making new discoveries that yield heretofore unknown insight into the Jesus’ upbringing, teachings, and plan for humanity. Much of the first act of the story centers on the older protagonists’ key discoveries and their subsequent actions in light of that knowledge. The second and third acts depict their gradual sharing of this information with Joshua Conrad, son of the discoverers, and Iris Reznick, a newspaper reporter invited to cover the important implications of this startling information. Throughout the second and third acts, federal agents with a murderous agenda attempt to hunt down and kill Sophie, a former member of a secret government project.
This story’s strengths include its brisk pace, well-described action scenes, and wide geographical scope. The author also convincingly portrays an ancient, albeit unusual, culture secretly existing in the Middle East. Readers will also enjoy the special abilities possessed by one of the protagonists and the character’s struggles to use those abilities wisely.
So why only three stars? • Several dozen spelling/grammatical errors as well as a consistent misuse of punctuation (mostly commas) served as distractions which constantly pull the reader out of the story. • The book’s explanation for the government’s desire to keep the US engaged in war wasn’t convincingly explained. After stating that war made money for big business, a character then states that war makes money for the government, as if the two were interchangeable. They're not: if businesses make money from war, their profit is due to government purchases; these purchases run up the national debt and might help the businesses/economy but don’t help the government. This is the explanation for a major plot point and needs to be stronger. • The two younger protagonists, Joshua and Iris, are difficult to root for. While most readers enjoy reading about the arc of a character’s development, readers expect the protagonists to eventually develop redeeming qualities. Such qualities were particularly lacking in Joshua, who appears to be set up to take an even more significant role in the sequels. • While some suspension of disbelieve is required for virtually all fiction, Eleventh Hour stretches the limit by claiming new information which in many cases contradicts biblical teachings. Readers can buy the idea of new information surfacing, but the new information feels less plausible when it requires us to forget current knowledge.
Eleventh Hour would be most interesting to readers who prefer a lively pace and interesting premise but aren’t too concerned about gaps in the logic of the story or all the heroes acting like heroes. It is a fun read that will be most enjoyed by those who wouldn’t scrutinize it too closely.
The Eleventh Hour: The Enlightened Ones Book I – Kathryn Dionne This fairly short novel is the first book of a trilogy. It is a mystery/thriller very much in the style of Michael Crichton, so you know what to expect - a great story line and page-turning hooks rather than literary fiction. I was immediately drawn into the story because I’m interested in history and religion but you have to be happy with the idea that there are certain people who can read the thoughts of other people, know their locations and movements through a form of telepathy called ‘remote viewing’. Once you accept this, the plot flows along nicely but some may find that it stretches credibility a little too far. Of course, in this genre, conspiracy theories loom large and ominous.
The plot has you guessing but there are enough clues drip-fed in to keep you a step or two behind the action, trying to catch up. In places, it’s very enigmatic, but no more so than the Da Vinci Code. The main setting is Israel and it seems that the good guys are under persistent attacks from the bad guys but the latter are rather incompetent, whilst being, at the same time, manically aggressive. I thought them rather one-dimensional. And what’s at stake? Why, the end of the world of course.
Although the subject matter is ultimately religion, it is ecumenical whilst still embracing some ideas that are profound. This aspect is handled with skill and doesn’t detract from what is basically a thriller. It’s an odd combination but it works for me. The ending is abrupt and unexpected but remember that this is Part I of a trilogy.
This is the first ebook I’ve read that doesn’t appear to have any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors and only a couple of typos. This shows professionalism and care. Well done, Ms Dionne!
Overall, a great yarn, well written and well presented. Would I go for Parts II and III? Yes, I think so.
Book one in this series is written with a lot of intrigue and action, and just enough back story to pull the reader in to the historical and prophetic aspects of the story. There are plenty of characters, background stories, and mysteries left unsolved to keep the second book a must read. The author seems to have done her research both in overseas landmarks and city life and in biblical research. I thought the book may conflict with my religious views, but there was enough science involved to keep the book at a distance from ruffling the controversial feathers. It will be interesting to see where the story leads. I only had one issue with the book, and it was a personal feeling of how some of the characters reacted in different scenarios; I felt some of the behaviors weren't as realistic to a reader's expectations. Ex. Joshua's reaction to news of his biological father. Otherwise, it's a thought provoking read. Ended too soon!
I don’t like giving bad reviews but between weird typos like “Navel Base”, which kept me thinking of row upon rows of bellicose belly buttons ready to attack, it goes on into a narrative of the absurd. Jewish nuns in a monastery? Really? I admire the fact the author got the story out there. Most only talk about it but never do. It would help however, if some research was done before delving into topics you don’t know much about. Even a quick glance at Wikipedia would help. The current geopolitics, culture and history of Israel are not something you can consult the bible for factual data. Any way, I digress. You have some interesting ideas. Just work on the research and find a good editor to review it before publishing as a lot of things can get past you (and not passed you!)
Although THE ELEVENTH HOUR is part of a series, it is a very concise story on its own. I was drawn into the story immediately and found it hard to put the novel down. The plot is well developed and the characters are spectacular. The scenery the author describes throughout the novel is vivid and enables the reader to imagine the story as it unfolds. I really enjoyed following Jacob and Iris on their adventure in Israel. The novel begins with excitement, and that excitement continues throughout the novel. This is one novel that will keep the reader guessing until the end. I was sure what the outcome would be until I got there. The end was a very unexpected and pleasant surprise.
Many elements you already heard of but not really got an answer to, are put brilliantly into play in this book. The book is well written which sometimes leaves you wondering, if there is some truth to some of the elements in the book. When you think you know where the book will take you, it will change and keep you captured for hours.
I started reading the book not knowing there are 3 books; at the end of book one I bought book two and three right away; 5 minutes after finishing book one I started reading book two and the same happened with book 3.
I had to stop reading when during a car chase, Sophia starts telling her son and the journalist about some of the local sites. They are being chased by people who shot at them and she tells them how enjoyable it is to walk the old sections of town if they ever get the chance.
The creativity of the author is absolutely outstanding. This is the first in a 3 book series about scared scrolls left by Jesus & the end of times. The idea that Jesus left a piece of cloth that would bring the 2nd & 3rd immaculate conceptions is definitely unique. The surface is just scratched throughout this first fast paced novel.