3 stars are given because of the inspirational context and that the main character Maggie matures through the book. I also recognize that this is a debut. The authoress can write vividly and with lovely imagination, so I plan to read more of her in hopes for more real deepness.

To be very blunt, this novel is quite uneven in what I see as the plans for the message (the setup), and the real execution. The idea of fierce, professional photographer's growth in the times of need into a more loving woman capable of sacrifice is nice, as is the idea of healing the old wounds of rejection in both spiritual and romantic life. But I have to say this - firstly, there is nothing wrong with fiercely independent women (and men) and they can be that and also loving and caring people. Secondly, the romances here are just weird, as are the swift turns in the romances - Maggie is in one-sided love with a married man for the most of the plot, only to realizing her growth and his misgivings - and to swifly see the possiblities in another (freshly divorced) man. There is also a hint of the future romance of a fresh widow and a sexy Anglican priest (of all the people). Thirdly, the authoress tries too hard with the trendy inclusiveness, but this trend does add nothing to the plot, really (so I see no point).

From the Christian reviewer angle - this is simply not a Christian book. I would call it inspirational. Christian fiction deals with God and His/ours mutual relationship, to put it simply. There is nothing like that. And I am all for edgy, fresh, unconventional - but what we have there are some mentions of prayers, one handsome and nice priest and (possible) healing from the old religion-related wound Maggie carries (later more on that) - and while these are all nice things, they are not about the relationship with living God. Also I find highly problematic that the "non-Christian" (more like shamanistic) ritual does have more prominent place and also much larger impact on plot than any Christianity-related rituals and services. I do not understand why the Christian publishing house would support that.

As a Catholic I was unpleasantly surprised with the scene where Maggie describes how ugly her priest had treated her unmarried mother and even her, using the words of cruel condemnation. Now, the novel has been published in 2017 as a contemporary novel and Maggie is a young woman, so this situations would have been happening in the 1990s and in the big city environment. While I do not know the American realities well and surely there are undeserving priests in all the world, I somehow see this subplot as unprobable given the time period. In my strongly Catholic country of origin this would be unimaginable in the given time setting, the mother and the daughter would be much more cared for. So I see this more of a case of an uninformed writer than a real situation.

This is a hard book to review because I was under the assumption that it was Christian fiction. The story was very moving from a secular view point but I don't believe it should be view Christian. Maggie relationship with Marco, setting up an altar and the appearance of the whale does not promote Christianity.

". . . a skylark. Their call was a song for travelers and weary pilgrims, for those who had lost their way or were longing for a place to rest."

"Wherever you go in life. . . remember I loved you enough to let you go. "

Complex and engaging, Ascension of Larks by Rachel Linden is a promising debut novel. There's an element of imagery that is somewhat poetic as it was wistfully haunting. A story that dives into the psyche of our characters that readers can't help but be drawn to. Be careful though, you might not like what you read about the characters, but you can be sure it evokes some type of reaction.

"He kept his vigil through the darkness until he heard the first trill of a lark from the meadow nearby, signaling the dawn. Only then did he rise. . . his job for the day was done."

Vivid in its language, I was drawn into Maggie's thoughts, and finding along with her what it is that she wants. Ascension of Larks is very much about loss, as it is about finding the answers for hope. It's about ascending beyond that grief to see clearly what there is. I wouldn't call this a Christian fiction, as many areas border on the mystical aspect that many might find uncomfortable. Despite that, I was enthralled with the story early on. Though I did find the end a tad bit rushed to tie up loose ends, I still felt it closed as it should.

"We can't always live behind a camera, my dear. Life has to be touched and tasted and smelled in all its bloody, messy glory. Remember that. You have to live in the world, not just observe it."
". . . a skylark. Their call was a song for travelers and weary pilgrims, for those who had lost their way or were longing for a place to rest."" . . . he gave his life to save yours. That's the biggest gift anyone can give another person. So don't treat it lightly, don't throw it away. If you do, you'll waste the life he gave for you."

In all, I enjoyed Ascension of Larks for the complexity of its characters, as well as the message of loss, grief and hope.


This review first appeared on Just Commonly blog.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

Please note, all quotes are taken from ARC (essentially an uncorrected proof). Please do not share quote or if do, please make note that it is taken from an ARC.

This was a beautiful and engaging read. Rachel Linden’s writing style alone—lyrical and full of imagery—is enough to make me eager for another book from her. The fact that it tells a story that tugs at the heartstrings is an added, and very welcome bonus.

Maggie was a quietly intense character, driven by her desire to capture beautiful images—“intimate portrayals of daily life around the globe that highlighted people often unseen by the camera’s eye...striking in their display of basic humanity, their sense of real life in all its grit and vibrancy, its specific and often brutal beauty.” And yet when she was first offered a place with Alistair Finney’s prestigious agency, he warned her that she had a flaw as a photographer: “You’re removed from your subjects, the observer who never quite enters in... Life has to be touched and tasted and smelled in all its bloody, messy glory...You have to live in the world, not just observe it.”

Touching, tasting, and smelling life in all its bloody, messy glory is exactly what Maggie does when she goes to comfort Lena after the death of her husband, Marco. This is a complex and emotionally involved process for Maggie, for many reasons that I won’t share here as that would spoil the story, but I will say that she has to deal with the loss of Marcus on more than one level. Not only that, but the need to care for Lena and her children comes at the same time as a once in a lifetime career opportunity, and she can’t do both. For a woman who has always been driven to succeed in her career, it's a difficult decision to make.

The one thing I wasn’t entirely sold on in this story was the element of mysticism. It wasn’t a large element, but I felt as though the characters drew more comfort from their improvised ceremony based on the practice of ‘beckoning’—helping the dead person’s soul find its way to heaven—than they did from God.  True, it was largely for the benefit of the children, to give them a tangible way of dealing with what had happened (and there was some staunch Lutheran disapproval from one of the characters, who did end up praying during the ceremony), but it comprised the larger part of the ‘spiritual’ content in the novel, which seemed a little odd from a Christian publisher.

Nevertheless, this was a poignant story of working through loss and discovering what’s important in life; of learning to live in the world and not just observe it; and of learning to embrace life in all its bloody, messy glory.

Ascension of Larks had me reading late into the night. (Who needs sleep anyway, right?)

The cast of characters in this book are all memorable and will burrow their way right into your heart. These compelling characters are from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and countries, yet a sequence of events pulls them all together like a magnet. At the top of the list is Maggie, or her full name Magdalena Henry. In her travels as a photographer, she has made a name for herself. We first meet her in the Nicaraguan coffee fields. Her journey through love, loss, and tragedy is raw, real and heart-wrenching, in search of hope and fulfillment she has to face and walk away from some things.

There is much symbolism and imagery in this book, bringing to life the sometimes intangible struggles. What really came through for me was the question of the price of ambition.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, my opinion is my own.

Part of Fiction Guild Team Challenge.,through Netgalley

Unfortunately,this book was a DNF for me. I really disliked the main protagonist. Because of that, I never warmed up to the book. Her infatuation with her friend's dead husband really never unsettled me. It just wasn't for me.

Thomas Nelson and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Ascension of Larks. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Magdalena "Maggie" Henry gets a phone call while on assignment that instantly devastates her. A photographer with the potential to gain worldwide prestige, Maggie drops everything to comfort her best friend Lena Firelli after her husband Marco dies in a kayaking accident. The trio has been best friends since their college years, although Maggie has been harboring a secret for almost that long. Will Maggie torpedo a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to care for Lena and her three children or will Marco's death open up new avenues for her?

Ascension of Larks is a typical women's fiction, filled with heartache, regret, and second chances. I liked the main character Maggie, as her grit and determination, coupled with her loyalty to those she loves, makes her very likeable. Lena's naiveté and ignorance does not come across as believable, but the way in which she spirals down is very realistic. Ascension of Larks is a good, solid read with a well paced plot, but there is nothing that really sets it apart from other books in the genre.

On idyllic San Juan Island, a family experiences tragedy, redemption and forgiveness. As the story evolves, characters reveal hidden depths and experience reflections leading to epiphanies of self-discovery. This is a satisfying tale of love, loss, miracles and hope amidst dismal circumstances.

Ascension of Larks by Rachel Linden is a unique story of childhood friends who become lifelong family and face a tragedy that unravels all they have ever known to be true. Marco, Lena, and Maggie meet in college. Marco and Maggie are drawn to each other as artists with great passion to pursue their dreams. Marco and Lena marry and have a family while Maggie travels the world as a well-known photographer. When Maggie hears the news of Marco’s sudden, unexpected death, she rushes back to Lena and her children to help pick up the pieces. Ascension of Larks is an exploration of love and what we sometimes have to give up in pursuit of our dreams. It does an amazing job at exploring grief in the adult characters as well as the children. This is a beautifully written book and I cannot wait to read more books from this author. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The book was well written and had an original story but as for being a Christian book well as for me I would have to disagree. They have characters agreeing with smoking and drinking and then there is the relationship with Maggie and Marco. Then there are other things that happen in the book that just aren't Biblical. You do have a priest in the book though.

I was excited to read this new book by a new author set in the San Juan Islands off the Washington Coast. Though I have family living in Washington State, I’ve never visited this area.

The first part—probably about the first quarter—of the book was hard for me to get through. Authors are told over and over again to “show, not tell” but that can be taken to an extreme. In Ascension of Larks, Rachel Linden spends so much time describing everything in the first 25% of the book, it bogged the story down for me a bit.

Yes, I get that Maggie is an artist and her attention to detail is what makes her an excellent photographer and it’s part of her personality to notice these things. And others may enjoy that much detail but it slowed me down a bit.

With that said, it did get better. As Maggie settles into her new reality, the story turns from details about her surroundings to the emotional aspect of what she’s experiencing. Personally, drawing me into a character’s emotions is what makes a story great.

This book is not an easy book to read. It deals with loss—loss of a family member and friend, loss of dreams, and loss of hope. Linden carries readers through Maggie’s grief process with delicacy while immersing them in the pain and heartache that comes along with it.

A good read overall, but the description of the book (book cover and about the book) are a little off. Everything listed happens but not like the description makes them sound. Both the photography competition and the mysterious man are a much smaller part of the story than I was expecting. And I can’t help but think that if we had fewer details at the beginning of the book, we may have ended with Maggie’s HEA instead of her HFN (happy for now).

I’m not sure if this is a standalone book or if we’ll get to visit Maggie again in the future, but I hope so.


Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Ascension of Larks

by Rachel Linden

Thomas Nelson--FICTION

Thomas Nelson
Christian

Pub Date 20 Jun 2017

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of Ascension of Larks through Thomas Nelson-Fiction and Netgalley:

Magdalena (Maggie) Henry is a fiercely independent globetrotting photographer. She shoots portrayals of daily life around the globe. Currently she's on assignment for Time Magazine.

While on assignment Maggie learns of her best friend's death when on assignment. Marco leaves behind three children. An unlikely friendship began between Marco and Maggie during Maggie's freshmen year. He was the dark haired, dark eyed Italian women swooned over.

Marco married Maggie's best friend Lena, Maggie had been unable to tell him how she felt about him. Lena and Marco have three children so Maggie headed back to the next flight to the States so she could help with the kids.

While there Lena too is in an accident, which leaves her in a coma. They cannot tell if she wiall suffer permanent deficits until she regains conciousness. After the seriousness of Lena's injuries comes to light, CPS gets involved saying Maggie cannot care for the children even on a short term basis, because she's not family. While searching for paper Maggie discovers that both Marco and Lena left the children in her care.

Everyone is relieved when Lena wakes up with very little in the way of long term effects.

I give Ascension of Larks five out of five stars.

Happy Reading!

A well written fascinating book filled with well developed characters and a riveting plot this book is a must read.

What a poignant story. I truly felt that I was along for the ride within the story. The characters were deep and compelling; the writing was so well done. I gave this such a low rating because of the almost total lack of any of the characters having a real relationship with the Lord. I would not even consider this Christian Fiction. This failing left a huge hole in the story, therefore - only two stars.

Ascension of Larks is a fabulous book. I loved the plot, characters and the beautiful setting. I am looking for to reading more of this author's work.

Loved this story...Looking forward to reading more of Ms Linden's work.

I am not sure the title is apt for the book. It does have some meaning to the plot, but a bigger player than the larks is a Dall porpoise.

But more on that later.


Ascension of Larks is one of the best books I have read for a while. Maggie Henry, Marco Firelli and Lena Firelli have been friends since college. Maggie is a renowned photographer with many awards to her name. Marco is equally renowned architect as well, and Lena is the one who earned Marco's heart. Maggie is finishing a photoshoot at a coffee plantation in Central America when she hears that Marco was drowned in an accident in Puget Sound. She rushes to Lena's side to be there for her and the children.

Rachel Linden has presented her readers with the most captivating novel to come out for a while. In delving into the lives of Marco, Lena, and Maggie, she unearths some depths to each of the characters that some authors would have left unplumbed. She even brings in a minor player who adds so much to the landscape of the plot of the book, it just would not have been as good without them.

Rachel has done exquisite research especially in some of the customs of the early years of the San Juan Islands. When Maggie takes the children to a museum, they find a display of a beckoning ceremony, and the children decide they want to do one for their father. They build a fortress under the fir trees and put things that were important to their father inside the little fortress. They gather together and have Maggie say a few things to show Marco's spirit where he needs to go. Soon after, a Dall's porpoise shows up in the sound, and the children believe it is their father coming to greet them.

I am having a hard time giving some idea of what the book is about without spoiling it for other readers who haven't had a chance to read it yet. One thing about this book, faith is very much an undertone to the book rather than the driving force. What faith is portrayed makes this book all the more winsome. I must say it is a five-star book, two thumbs up, and a Dall's porpoise to greet you.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

Well written and engaging women's fiction with a nice thread of redemption. Being from the Pacific Northwest I really enjoyed the familiar and authentic setting in the San Juans and in fact made me look forward to my next visit to those beautiful islands.. Looking forward to more from this author.