Dancing with Fireflies (Chapel Springs, #2) in Christian rom coms and romances

Jun 11, 2013 Rissi added it

Shelves: most-anticipated, 2014, review

Please note: In an effort to discuss this novel and why I have these opinions, I will be revealing a plot twist that isn’t discussed in the plot summary though this twist is revealed in the first chapter.

Controversial or sensitive subjects are hard to get right in any forum. Particularly so in novels since no matter how hard a writer strives, it’s always a challenge to makes a point without benefit of tonal expression. Denise Hunter tackles what is likely to be a tough subject.

STORY: McKinley Please note: In an effort to discuss this novel and why I have these opinions, I will be revealing a plot twist that isn’t discussed in the plot summary though this twist is revealed in the first chapter.

Controversial or sensitive subjects are hard to get right in any forum. Particularly so in novels since no matter how hard a writer strives, it’s always a challenge to makes a point without benefit of tonal expression. Denise Hunter tackles what is likely to be a tough subject.

STORY: McKinley sister Jade is a free-spirit, which leads her to leave behind her cozy home of Chapel Springs Indiana; she heads to Chicago where she hopes her music career would be jump-started. Instead, she returns home broken, with no money and a baby on the way. Afraid of what her family will think, Jade first sees her friend Daniel Dawson who is more “adopted” brother than friend to the McKinley family. He's also the man who strangely has always been the kind of constant in Jade’s life she doesn’t fully understand. When their pasts collide, both Jade and Daniel will have to confront the secrets they aren’t sharing before either of them can find their future.

Dancing with Fireflies, by Denise Hunter | Book Review

Teasers don't tell us what goes on in city Jade’s life, but there's a mistake that goes on to change her life. One that she makes having fallen away from Christ. Little did I realize the child would be as a result of an emotional story that will tug on your heartstrings. None of the summaries tell the reader that Jade’s pregnancy is as the result of rape. Such a subject is probably going to be a sensitive one for some readers. For the most part, this novel is good. I’d been anticipating Jade’s story for a while now and can say I’m thrilled to have finally been able to read it. Hunter never seems to take for granted Daniel or Jade's feelings, and in fact, it’s these that get the pair of them in the most trouble.

Jade’s emotional heartbreak isn’t as somber or emotionally impressing as one would assume such an experience might inspire. What fallout there is, the authors deals with very well and I never doubt Jade feels everything at times. Daniel falls easily back into his role of comforter, worrier and friend which is both sweet and frustrating, and this leads to something I don't like. The ARC text puts too much emphasis on the physical love between these two, and it's a stretch simply for the subject matter. I don’t mind “passion” however the entire relationship is buffed up as entirely physical. This I’m not going to root it on beyond the conciliatory emotion of “knowing” the pair belongs together. This I find true even understanding the differential between what happens to Jade and what her relationship is with Daniel.

That being said, make no mistake, Jade’s story is sweet in an emotional sort of way and naturally, this reader is as anxious as ever to revisit Chapel Springs. No matter what's next, whether it’s about PJ or Ryan, I know Denise Hunter will write a beautiful, inspirational novel of the best kind.

Sincere thanks to the publisher, Thomas Nelson for providing a complimentary ARC copy of this book for reviewing purposes.
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Mar 24, 2014 Heidi rated it it was amazing

The mark of an exceptional author (in my opinion) is one who draws me into the character’s world from the first paragraph and keeps me rooting for the hero and heroine through the finale of the novel. Denise Hunter is one of those authors. My only complaint? Her novels have to end. I’ve tried rationing myself: a chapter at a time and then I’ll put it down and get back to the business of real life…

Six chapters later, the laundry isn’t folded and dinner isn’t started, my own writing sits neglected The mark of an exceptional author (in my opinion) is one who draws me into the character’s world from the first paragraph and keeps me rooting for the hero and heroine through the finale of the novel. Denise Hunter is one of those authors. My only complaint? Her novels have to end. I’ve tried rationing myself: a chapter at a time and then I’ll put it down and get back to the business of real life…

Six chapters later, the laundry isn’t folded and dinner isn’t started, my own writing sits neglected.

I love her stories and the Chapel Springs series is delightful. I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of Dancing With Fireflies recently. As a reader, it was very exciting to return to the fictional community of Chapel Springs. The story begins in the midst of the action, and we walk through a frightening situation with the heroine of the novel, Jade McKinley. Although date rape is a difficult scenario, the author handles the circumstances delicately. There’s enough detail to raise the stakes yet we are immediately empathetic for Jade’s unfortunate situation.

Of course readers of inspirational romance expect the hero and heroine to interact as much as possible, as quickly as possible. Daniel returns to the pages as Jade rolls back into town. He doesn’t let her waltz back in without explanation as to why she hasn’t bothered to keep in touch with the people that care about her the most. It isn’t long before Daniel becomes Jade’s rock and helps her deal with the unexpected pregnancy she’s tried to conceal from her friends and family.

The overall themes of the novel include dealing with past wounds that leave both characters fearful of loving again, as well as handling the unreasonable expectations of overbearing parents and their political aspirations. Denise Hunter is a master at the craft of storytelling and despite my best intentions to savor the story, I was reading late into the night. I had to know how things turned out for Jade and Daniel.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary digital edition of this novel. The above review is my fair and honest opinion regarding Dancing With Fireflies
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Mar 20, 2014 Iola rated it really liked it

Shelves: christian-fiction, contemporary-romance, netgalley, 2014

Jade McKinley has moved home to Chapel Springs, jobless, broke and pregnant from a date gone wrong. Daniel Dawson has loved Jade for years, but his parents have political ambitions for him, and those aspirations will require a suitable political wife. Not Jade. Anyway, Jade still sees him as some kind of surrogate brother.

I’ve read several books by Denise Hunter, and I’ve always enjoyed her mix of personalities and her small-town settings. Dancing With Fireflies is no different in that respect. Jade McKinley has moved home to Chapel Springs, jobless, broke and pregnant from a date gone wrong. Daniel Dawson has loved Jade for years, but his parents have political ambitions for him, and those aspirations will require a suitable political wife. Not Jade. Anyway, Jade still sees him as some kind of surrogate brother.

I’ve read several books by Denise Hunter, and I’ve always enjoyed her mix of personalities and her small-town settings. Dancing With Fireflies is no different in that respect. It’s a sweet romance with likeable characters that it’s easy to feel for. My one complaint—common to all the Denise Hunter books I’ve read—is that it’s more a clean romance than a Christian romance. It's not that the characters aren't Christians (they are), but more that their faith isn't a significant part of the story.

I see this as a growing trend, perhaps as authors and publishers try to expand their market outside the traditional Christian fiction readers, and I’m in two minds about it. On one hand, I want to read fiction (especially romance) that reflects my Christian values. I want fiction to feature realistic characters, people who don’t spout Bible verses with every sentence. At the same time, I like to see a Christian theme or faith-based subplot, and while there was plenty of potential for this in Dancing with Fireflies, I didn’t see it coming through.

Despite this, I really enjoyed Dancing with Fireflies, probably more than I’ve enjoyed any of the other Denise Hunter books I’ve read. I think that’s because the characters are people I could truly empathise with. Jade is in an impossible situation through no fault of her own, and is now afraid to love. Daniel has loved her for years, but has been afraid to tell her, and is now spending more and more time with Jade. She’s pregnant and doesn’t want to tell her family at first, which leaves Daniel as her only support—and which shows him to be a hero any reader could fall in love with (surely the most important test of a romance novel). As usual, the path of true love doesn’t run smooth, but Dancing With Fireflies will leave you with a happy sigh.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and Litfuse PR for providing a free ebook for review. ...more

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Jul 05, 2013 Angela Suzanne rated it really liked it

Shelves: net-galley, romance

I love this book. I had fallen in love with the McKinley family in Barefoot Summer so I was excited to read Jade's story. I felt for Daniel in the book with him being in love with Jade but not wanting to ruin their friendship and thinking he couldn't have her. I also liked that the book had the element of Jade's pregnancy in it which was different than most of the books I've read in this genre. The characters are relatable; both major and minor characters. They made me laugh and I felt like I kn ...more

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Feb 01, 2016 Brianna rated it it was amazing

The first time I read it, I loved it. The second time? I loved it even more. This is a story that is about loss of purity, and becoming a mother. For a woman who finds out she's pregnant, it's a shock and difficult to comprehend. For Jade, it's even harder given the way the way her baby was conceived.

So she comes home. Broke. Alone. Hiding secrets. And one of the first people she runs into is Daniel. A gorgeous, sweet-talking, *swoon* man who has spent way too long hiding his feelings for Jade. ...more

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