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My Soul to Keep
Miranda Clarke lived a charmed life…until she broke the rules.
It is 1961 and America’s a theocracy controlled by the Fellowship and its tyrannical council of eleven men. Miranda Clarke’s family is part of the ruling elite, rich and powerful, with plans for Miranda’s life.
Haunted by lurid nightmares, Miranda wants nothing more than to stay out of the public eye. Her power-hungry mother has different plans. She forces Miranda into an engagement to an up-and-coming Fellowship member and schemes to get Miranda’s father elected President of the United States.
To escape the arranged marriage and the repressive Fellowship, Miranda makes a break for freedom. But her accidental discovery of a dead man lands her in prison. She not only must escape prison and outwit her mother’s ruthless ambitions but avoid the deadly Azrael, the Fellowship’s enforcers who Take unbelievers.
It is 1961 and America’s a theocracy controlled by the Fellowship and its tyrannical council of eleven men. Miranda Clarke’s family is part of the ruling elite, rich and powerful, with plans for Miranda’s life.
Haunted by lurid nightmares, Miranda wants nothing more than to stay out of the public eye. Her power-hungry mother has different plans. She forces Miranda into an engagement to an up-and-coming Fellowship member and schemes to get Miranda’s father elected President of the United States.
To escape the arranged marriage and the repressive Fellowship, Miranda makes a break for freedom. But her accidental discovery of a dead man lands her in prison. She not only must escape prison and outwit her mother’s ruthless ambitions but avoid the deadly Azrael, the Fellowship’s enforcers who Take unbelievers.
494 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2018
About the author
Lynette M. Burrows
4 books24 followersLynette M. Burrows is a survivor. She survived moving to seventeen different schools before she graduated from high school. She contends that this makes her uniquely qualified to write a dystopian novel or two.
Lynette enjoys coffee, the pleasure of real books, and the crack of a nine-millimeter, not necessarily all at the same time—although they all appear in her stories. Spiced with a dash of intrigue, a dollop of mayhem, and a liberal dose of automatic weapons her stories are action-filled science fiction with characters who discover their inner strength and determination and make courageous choices for themselves, their family, and their world.
The White Box stories, her collaborations with Rob Chilson, appeared in Analog Science Fiction Science Fact Magazine. She’s also had stories published in regional and national children’s magazines.
Her five star debut novel, My Soul to Keep, takes place in America but it’s not the nation you know. Readers have said it has the social significance of The Handmaid’s Tale and the suspense and that it will keep you turning pages.
She blogs regularly about inspiration, books, story research, writing, and other subjects of interest. She loves to talk to people about books or writing or that odd thing that no one knows about your occupation. Talk to Lynette on her website, Facebook, or one of her author pages.
Lynette, her artist husband and their pack of Yorkies live in Oz, otherwise known as Kansas.
Lynette enjoys coffee, the pleasure of real books, and the crack of a nine-millimeter, not necessarily all at the same time—although they all appear in her stories. Spiced with a dash of intrigue, a dollop of mayhem, and a liberal dose of automatic weapons her stories are action-filled science fiction with characters who discover their inner strength and determination and make courageous choices for themselves, their family, and their world.
The White Box stories, her collaborations with Rob Chilson, appeared in Analog Science Fiction Science Fact Magazine. She’s also had stories published in regional and national children’s magazines.
Her five star debut novel, My Soul to Keep, takes place in America but it’s not the nation you know. Readers have said it has the social significance of The Handmaid’s Tale and the suspense and that it will keep you turning pages.
She blogs regularly about inspiration, books, story research, writing, and other subjects of interest. She loves to talk to people about books or writing or that odd thing that no one knows about your occupation. Talk to Lynette on her website, Facebook, or one of her author pages.
Lynette, her artist husband and their pack of Yorkies live in Oz, otherwise known as Kansas.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 21, 2019
I just finished reading "My Soul to Keep" by Lynette M. Burrows. I don't normally read dystopia novels, but this one hooked me right from the start! A very interesting take on alternate history, with interesting characters. The main character starts off very naive due to her upbringing, but grows and develops to meet the challenges of her unjust society- especially confronting the responsibilities of her own privileged family.
June 14, 2019
Recap: Miranda doesn't want to get married or be daughter of the First Apostle and that's before she finds out what her family is responsible for and her own abuse memories resurface.
Review: Lynette has constructed such a well thought out alternative America that is feels chillingly realistic. The antagonists are unlikable and dastardly, our mentor is cranky yet loyal and our heroine kicks butt! The concept of the Azrael isn't quite fully explained enough, I have some questions about the inner power that's described but I'm hoping that will be further revealed in book two. There's lots of scope for a prequel as well. You might not root immediately for Miranda's personality but her circumstances will compel you to read on and crucially, she makes mistakes and is all the more believable for it. I could say more but I don't want to write spoilers so instead I'll recommend you read this dystopian tale for yourself.
Review: Lynette has constructed such a well thought out alternative America that is feels chillingly realistic. The antagonists are unlikable and dastardly, our mentor is cranky yet loyal and our heroine kicks butt! The concept of the Azrael isn't quite fully explained enough, I have some questions about the inner power that's described but I'm hoping that will be further revealed in book two. There's lots of scope for a prequel as well. You might not root immediately for Miranda's personality but her circumstances will compel you to read on and crucially, she makes mistakes and is all the more believable for it. I could say more but I don't want to write spoilers so instead I'll recommend you read this dystopian tale for yourself.
August 18, 2018
My Soul to Keep is the story of a woman faced with a future planned for her. Unaware of how insidious her culture has become, she merely wants freedom. When that freedom is denied, she rebels...learning first hand the evil of her world.
The characters are well developed, and the plot will keep you turning the pages. This is a satisfying if somewhat eerie read. If you have a chance, follow the author and you'll see how much of this was influenced by actual history.
I look forward to the next book from Lynette M. Burrows!
(note: I was given this book to read with no obligation)
The characters are well developed, and the plot will keep you turning the pages. This is a satisfying if somewhat eerie read. If you have a chance, follow the author and you'll see how much of this was influenced by actual history.
I look forward to the next book from Lynette M. Burrows!
(note: I was given this book to read with no obligation)
February 27, 2020
I received a free copy of this book from VR in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t usually read dystopian novels but this was very different.A priveliged girl, fighting against an arranged marriage and unaware of the oppression that others live under until she runs away.
That’s when the story really begins! The characters are very real, the book hard to put down as the story unfolds.
Excellent story telling! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more.
A very talented author.
I don’t usually read dystopian novels but this was very different.A priveliged girl, fighting against an arranged marriage and unaware of the oppression that others live under until she runs away.
That’s when the story really begins! The characters are very real, the book hard to put down as the story unfolds.
Excellent story telling! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more.
A very talented author.
June 27, 2019
The world-building in this book is very different from what I expected. It's 1961 and everyone is pretty much a member of this Fellowship, and those who breaks the rules are "Taken". It's not a world I would want to live in. Great story, very easy to read and envision what was going on. The author's style is very natural. Loved the characters and the action in this book.
February 20, 2020
I found this to be an interesting dystopian story that was set in an alternative 1961. The characters were interesting and there was great world building.
I received a copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only.
I received a copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only.
February 19, 2020
Great read, kept me interested through the whole book. Very interesting. I received my copy from voracious readers for my review
March 5, 2020
What a fantastic book!! You get pulled in and don't want to stop reading. Love the characters as well. I am a Voracious reader.
March 23, 2019
Excellent
Very well written, great story line and well developed chars kept me reading until it was finished! Also provides some food for thought!
Very well written, great story line and well developed chars kept me reading until it was finished! Also provides some food for thought!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews