What a great book! I have never read this author before but I’m sure it won’t be the last time. I can’t believe I read this book in one day. I just couldn’t put it down! Thanks for such a great book!

“I don’t think trust is a feeling. I believe it’s a choice. And on those days when doubt plagues me, I ask for His help to believe what I can’t see. That’s faith, believing what we can’t see. And in this world, we can’t always see goodness.”

What an incredible journey of a psychological thriller! It’s very different from the previous novel I’ve read from Ginny Yttrup. Yet her beautiful, melodic, and haunting first person prose is the same and will draw you into the world of fear and anxiety Deni lives in. The present day of 2017 is narrated by Deni and Adelia in first person present tense. The flashbacks from 2009-2010 is narrated by Deni in first person past tense. The three “separate” timelines and thought processes were a bit difficult to untangle at the beginning, but 1/3 way into the story, the plot emerged in a cohesive and consolidated manner. The author delves into the psyche of the victim and shows that even though the victim is a renowned and well-respected psychologist and professor, head-knowledge and heart-knowledge don’t always go hand-in-hand. It’s a chilling and suspenseful novel that leaves you wondering who the actually villain is until the end.

Deni’s faith journey is rocky and full of doubts, but she finally understands her own mantra that “the past is either a shadow that haunts us or a force that propels us.” Her strength, even in the midst of paralyzing fear, is incredible and admirable.

Anyone who enjoys a well-written, intense thriller/suspense novel would love this book. I was given a copy of the book by Barbour Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

Convergence is a departure of sorts for Ginny Yttrup. While the suspense genre is new for her, fans of her excellent writing will soon find that Yttrup doesn’t skimp when it comes to the character development and meticulous plotting that she is known for. What you get with this novel is an amped-up, well-crafted novel. I was drawn in from the first page, tossed about with the twists and turns, and left with a very satisfied, catch-my-breath ending. Convergence earns a recommended rating.

The structure of Convergence is unique. Two story lines, both set at differing times, march along until they converge. The first person accounts by Denilyn Rossi and Adelia Sanchez are very strong and give the reader a good look at the emotions, fears, and determination of the two women. Denilyn’s story is fleshed out by recollections from the past. Denilyn, a psychologist with an expertise in bullying, has been the victim of stalking. Her past experiences color her world, and when she again feels threatened she is determined not to ignore her instincts. The facts of the book are revealed slowly through the two women’s accounts which increases the suspense for the characters and the reader. This reader was surprised over and over. The cat-and-mouse between the women and the unknown assailant is very effective in keeping the pages turning. Fear is a prime motivator for Denilyn and Adelia, and their attempts to control their circumstances often leave them with a feeling that security is only a facade. I liked how the author shows that surrender to God is the only way to truly alleviate fear.

If you are looking for an unpredictable suspense novel, then Convergence is a good choice. With its strong female characters, unique framework, and twisting plot, it leaves me eager for more of the same from Yttrup.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

I really enjoyed this book, the characters were well developed. It had an interesting plot. I would be interested in reading more

I found this book hard to follow and didn't really like the storyline. I wasn't able to finish it. Every time I tried to read it, I had to page back to remind myself of what was going on.

** I received this one through NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.**

Psychology! My favorite subject, ever. Dr. Enilyn Rossi has a belief that the past can either make us or break us basically by keeping us in the past or moving us forward to the future. A student of her class, Adelia Sanchez, is ready to live off of this motto and stop living by her past.

There are 3 timelines to this story. So you have to keep up with the story between all three but it's interesting how the pieces fit together. Her stalker, from the past, destroyed her marriage but taught her valuable life lessons on empowerment and overcoming obstacles. Although, presently in her life some of her psychological behaviors consist of anxiety, self-doubt and borderline depression. She lives in constant fear which she knows is not good for her well-being.

There is a lot of suspense in this book. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen a lot of the time. The adventure and sense of trying to find oneself through troublesome times is definitely a forefront and great lesson that can be read about in this one! I loved all the psychological parts from start to finish!

This book had a slow start but it did end up making me wonder what exactly Denilyn and Adelia gone through. It also did flashbacks between different years which I found kind of dizzying to try to make sense of. That part I didn't like so much. It did present the truth of why you should trust your gut impressions. Denilyn sure wishes she had. Another thing that I found hard to deal with was the bouncing back and forth between the two people like I mentioned. I barely got to know one person and then I barely got to know the other. I didn't like the choppiness of that. That did change a bit as the story went on and focused more on Denilyn. For me, it just felt like it was all over the place.
One piece of really great advice was when Denilyn's therapist told her to "Pay attention". No matter what anyone else said she was advised to pay attention to what she was feeling and sensing. She began to get that exact same phrase from more and more people.
It wasn't until over more than half-way through that things started to really pick up and make more sense. I did begin to enjoy it more then. Still, I can honestly say that I have mixed feelings about this book.
There are a couple of good twists in the story and I also liked that I could see Denilyn's faith in God grow.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Honest y’all, this book has everything that makes it nearly impossible to write a review for. So much so that I’m finding myself scrambling for words as I write this! It’s the thing that happens every time I read anything by Ginny Yttrup. She has this special way with storytelling that is both entertaining and impactful. In her latest release – Convergence – Ytturp’s special storytelling displays itself in a way sure to thrill readers.

Intense. Thought provoking. Soul stirring.

Convergence is all of those descriptions and more. From the start of the story to the shocking ending, this novel blew me away! I could not figure out at first what or where this novel was headed, but once the puzzle started to connect I could only read on in wonder. And the characters… Well, for fear of spoilers I’ll just say the characters kept me glued to my reading spot.

But what I loved most about this novel was its realistic approach to fear. It didn’t sugar coat or make it seem that fear is unbeatable – Instead, Yttrup allows readers to walk the path of freedom and victory along with the leading character. And I can not express how moving and thrilling it was to “walk” that journey.

A must read for sure, Convergence is a novel that reminds us that we’re stronger than we may think and that no river is unconquerable when God is on our side. Who doesn’t love those reminders, eh? 😉

I was confused through the first 75% of this story. I wanted to give up so many times, but just couldn’t. I needed to find out what happened, why, and by whom.

Told from two points of view and two different timeframes, things weird until everything starts clicking into place and making sense. Overall, and I think it’s because of the sense of confusion, I really liked this story.

I feel like I would have behaved and thought exactly as Deni had. I did get frustrated with one of the characters and was glad when his appearance waned.

Grab this book and give it a fair shake.

I was not quite sure what to make of this story for a while. It has plenty of suspense and the psychological mind games that I enjoy with this genre. I liked the main characters, especially Denilyn (Deni) and Jaylan (Jay). However, it involves two storylines that appear to be converging (hence the title), with the second storyline involving Adelia, an old friend of Deni and Jay. Yet, it takes a long time before her storyline starts to make sense, which made me question what I thought of the book. In the end, I found the book quite enjoyable. The author throws some rather significant, surprising, and quite good, twists into the final third of the book.

The basic storyline involves a psychologist (Deni) who had a stalker after publishing her first book, and now, seven years later, the stalker appears to be back, even though he is supposed to still be in prison. The book alternates between current events (2017) and past events (late 2009/early 2010, when she was stalked and then attacked), as well as the secondary storyline involving Adelia, which takes place in the present. I do not want to say too much about the plot because I do not want to accidentally give away any of the plot twists.

Something I do not often see in psychological suspense novels is discussion of faith and God and the main character questioning her faith, and ultimately regaining her faith.

Based on the "Acknowledgements" and "About the Author" sections at the end of the book, Convergence is the first suspense novel by Ms. Yttrup, and it appears to be quite a change from the contemporary women's fiction that she apparently normally writes, but based on the overall quality of this book, I think she has found a new genre that she can pursue.

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

When I finished this book, I knew I had a dilemma. I knew I needed to write a review, but honestly, I didn't think I had the words to adequately describe this book and its impact on me. I am still pondering, still trying to grasp the depth of Yttrup's message. Perhaps the best thing I can say is that you need to read this book. You just need to.

I normally gravitate to historical fiction. But for some reason I picked Convergence up. From the beginning I was sucked in – not only for the suspense – but also for the immense depth of emotion, the complexity of characters, and the brilliantly exposed message of truth. This plot is so deep, so twisted, so well developed that Yttrup stunned me. I sincerely hope you all take the plunge into its pages. For within you will find entertainment to be sure, but also a challenge to face your fears and to truly let go.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

It was very difficult to follow the story and too confusing to continue. Couldn't finish the story because it could not hold my attention.

If you like a good psychological thriller, this is one for you. Looking over your shoulder, into the shadows and knowing he's out there and shouldn't be.. kept me turning the pages. Some, I didn't see that coming and guessing who right up until the end.
I was gifted a copy, my review is voluntary.

It is rare to see a book receive so many 5 star ratings when the individual readers all seem to have gotten something different from the story. I'm no exception, I guess? The characters are complex. The author took the time to build each a back story that is different but will bring them all to the same place in the end. The very definition of Convergence. A great read that will keep your attention. Several times something would happen and I'd turn back pages to see if there was a clue I missed. That's the kind of book every reader wants to read.

This was my 1st time reading Ms. Yttrup work and it blew me away. She has such skill at weaving a story and keeping you guessing at what is coming next. I love the way she built up her characters in their world and incorporated their bonds and support to one another and most importantly the main characters spirituality. I could feel the emotions of her characters, the fear, the love, the doubt, all of it and I love getting that out of a book that I am reading! I just could not put this book down until I got to the very end, for me that means it is a great book!

Having read several books by Ginny Yttrup, I was really looking forward to reading Convergence and I was not disappointed. With a multi-timeline format, this intense story of three lives in turmoil is unfolded masterfully. Lots of tension, strong, realistic characters, and a mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the end...what more could a lover of suspenseful thrillers ask for. It was captivating to follow the main character as she transforms from a woman living a fearful, hiding in the shadows existence to a strong woman who was not going to let the fears, real or perceived, grip her life any longer--a woman who could trust God even when she didn't have the answers she needed. One statement that resonated with this reader was "the past is either a shadow that haunts us or a force that propels us.' The author keeps readers attention high with twists to the story that evoke a 'did that really happen' reaction. Ginny Yttrup remains high on my list of authors to look for new books...can't wait for the next one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

Psychology professor Dr. Denilyn Rossi Often advises her students that their past can either disable them or help them to become strong and successful. She doesn’t follow her own advice and seems to be paralyzed by fear of a past stalker. It is difficult to take a psychology professor seriously when she doesn’t address her own issues. It was difficult for me to get into this book but by the fifth chapter or so things began to pick up. The intermingled timelines were a little confusing to follow at times. This was well written but the author was a bit overly detailed. I liked it but I didn’t love it.

First, I'll say it was slow going. It took me quite a few chapters for the characters to connect for me ((Adelia & Denilyn). If this is the case for you, also, stick with it and you will be ever so glad you did! You are in for quite the ride! The author's ability to write such an intricate story is genius!
Denilyn is a psychology professor who teaches at the college. Denilyn has fears of a stalker in her past who is still in prison. Or, is he? Is someone stalking her again, sending gifts with deadly threats, or is she imagining things and making something out of nothing? Did she accidentally delete the program on her computer, leave her office door unlocked, or is it someone else? Is it all a result of her post-traumatic stress?
Then, there is Adelia, a friend of Denilyn's who lost her life in a fatal accident. Or, was it an accident?
Things seem to all be linked to Denilyn and her friends' summers at Three Rivers.
This story is very intricate and will keep you in suspense. I hated for the story to end, as I loved each moment I had to pick it up and read, if even for a few minutes. It was that good!
Eventually, things come together and it becomes apparent that Denilyn's stalker is someone close to her. Very close to her. The author did a super job of keeping that hidden for much of the story. I only figured it out shortly before it was revealed in the story.
There was a BIG surprise about Deni near the end that I don't think any reader would have guessed. While there were a few things that hinted, I would have never guessed.
I had to admire Deni for facing her fears and confronting it head on to stop it once and for all.
To sum it up, if you love Christian fiction suspense, you will be captivated by this one!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I ended up really enjoying this book, but it was hard for me to get into it at first. The story has three timelines going on for most of the story. 2009 then January 2017 and May 2017, which was a little weird for awhile. Eventually, it made sense to me and I really got into.

The characters in the book were good. I enjoyed watching Deni grow into herself. I eventually had an idea of who was behind everything, but it did take awhile.

This was the author’s first book in the suspense genre, but I hope it is not her last.

If you enjoy suspense along the lines of Terri Blackstock, Brandilyn Collins, Lynette Eason, or Patricia Bradley, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wow! This is like a spider web of suspense. Ginny Yttrup really surprises me as a writer of dark suspense. I especially love that she has faith-filled characters that exhibit weakness then as growth takes place, a strength that only God will provide. This isn't just a stalker story, this is pure evil consuming the goodness of touches. There's the complexity of a lot of things going on that reflect the reality of many lives. These are realistic things that can and do happen to people, Christians included. Yttrup combines victim, fear, grief, devastating disappointment and much more in the telling of Denilyn's story. She depicts the framework of a set of years-long friendships and the unity that is built between a group of men and women.
This book is very well done. I didn't want to put it down. Special thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for my copy of the book.