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.

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.

What a ride! This book is as twisting and emotionally charged as a trip down the Kaweah whitewater rapids! With nail-biting suspense, the unyielding pace of the narrative never relents, and although this is not a horror novel, the creep factor was real enough and the scenario so plausible on a certain level that I would not want to read this while home alone. There was enough tension to keep the pages turning at a rapid pace, and the author set up a chilling degree of apprehension. I thought that the ordeal of PTSD and the psychological aspect of trauma enhanced the story, particularly given that Denilyn Rossi was herself a psychologist. This is as much a psychological thriller as it is a suspense novel. The Christian element is mostly subtle but does become more prevalent toward the end.

My bone of contention with “Convergence” is its execution. Initially I attributed my confusion to the fact that I went into this book blind because I prefer not to read the summary, especially for this genre, but even afterward, when I did explore the synopsis, I realized that it would not have put me any farther ahead. Overall, I thought that this was a great story, but it was bogged down by too many complexities, which only multiplied as the story progressed. The shifting dual first-person narrative viewpoints and two different time settings made it difficult to stay abreast of what was happening to whom and when. Without giving any spoilers, this issue becomes even more complicated toward the novel’s denouement. Speaking of which, I had to step back and rethink the book from the beginning when the puzzle pieces began falling into place. Still, things did not quite fit for me with regard to Denilyn and Adelia. One of the main objects of psychological thrillers is to shock the reader, but in this case everything felt too contrived and bewildering, vacillating from one side to the other until the story became a Gordian knot of sorts. Nevertheless, I truly did enjoy this story and would recommend it to those who don’t mind a wild ride full of intricacies and revelations.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Convergence by Ginny L Yttrup is a suspense thriller about one woman’s fight against her stalker and returning her life to normal. Dr. Denilyn Rossi is a psychology professor who once had it all. A loving marriage and a bestselling book until its all shattered by someone who was sending her gifts, hang up phone calls. Her marriage becomes shattered and her own mental health is left in a fragile state. After many years, she is still trying to get her life back and once she feels she has a handle on things, the stalker returns. Another woman enters the story, Adelia is traveling to Three Rivers, California to take a job as a rafting tour guide. The stories of these two women are told from different time points. As the journey of these two women converge, who is the person torturing Denilyn? Can she find him and fight him once and for all? How does Adelia play into the whole story?
I loved this book. It kept me guessing on how it was playing out and where it was going. When I finished the book and looked back on all the clues, the identity of the stalker was there all along and like a really good thriller, the author has skillfully hidden them in plain view. There isn’t much I can discuss about what I liked about the book because it would give away major plot points; however, I can say that, while the book starts off slow and you aren’t quite sure what’s going on as the book jumps back and forth in time, it all becomes clear as the book reaches it the final act. I highly recommend Convergence!

Convergence
is available in paperback and eBook

Here is my (first ever!) bullet point review:

This book totally messed with my mind (primarily in a good way).

I was kept guessing throughout - but I will say, when it came down to the final chapters I discovered that was right all along! :)

I appreciated the author's first foray into suspense. It was well done overall.

I was especially thrown off for a long time (likely intentionally) by the "back cover" synopsis - it took me forever to make sense of it all, to connect the dots.

Main character Denilyn Rossi is interesting and compelling. She has truly been traumatized and you are rooting for her the whole way through. She's not unrealistically tough OR wimpy/whiny/does not play the victim...even though she of course is.

I will gladly recommend this book!

I was provided a complimentary copy of Convergence by Shiloh Run Press in exchange for my honest review.

This is a great read, once you get into the story. It is written in the first person, with some chapters referring to one character and some to another. You also jump from past to present to future dates. Each chapter is marked clearly so it is easy to know whom is talking and in what time frame, however you must stay focused or you will be lost. I feel it would be easier to keep up in an actual paper copy so you can flip back and forth to each chapter to see the actual dates, however I still enjoyed it in e format.

There is much suspense, mystery, drama, healing and more in this book. Just when you think you have it all figured out, wow you are so wrong.

4.0 out of 5 starsInteresting read.
March 6, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
At first this book was a bit confusing, until I had the characters and their 'voices/outlook' down in my mind. Once that was done, I really enjoyed the rollercoaster of a ride this author gave me. The characters were likeable and real. The twists and turns kept me reading until the end. The underlying theme of faith as comforting. I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Strange occurrences remind a psychologist of a horrific event from her past, and she must deal with the post-traumatic stress. As she does so, she turns to her faith for guidance and also goes with her instinct to confront the incidents. Seasoned author Ginny L. Yttrup tries her hand at the suspense genre in the well-meaning but ultimately unsuccessful novel Convergence.

Dr. Denilyn Rossi spends her days teaching and working on her latest book about psychology. At least, she’s trying to do both. Eight years earlier, after her book about cyberbullying hit the bestseller list, Deni became a celebrity and the victim of a stalker. She suffered a brutal attack but survived and has spent every day since healing both inside and out.

Despite undergoing a divorce and changing jobs from practicing psychologist to the head of the psychology department at a university, Deni managed to pull her life back together. The man who attacked her is behind bars, and she’s well-respected and well-liked by colleagues and students. All seems to be moving in a positive direction, except for the fact that Deni can’t shake the feeling that someone is following her again.

At first she thinks the sensation is brought on by the upcoming anniversary of her attack and that her convicted attacker is up for parole. As a psychologist, she knows that both events can cause post-traumatic stress disorder. But the more she pays attention to the feeling, the more she realizes she may not just be experiencing stress.

Her close friends encourage her to seek guidance from her faith in God, and Deni does. She also reminisces about her friend, Adelia Sanchez. Years ago, Deni, Adelia, and two other good friends led whitewater rafting expeditions, until an accident made them leave the water. Memories of Adelia, of her failed marriage, and the life-changing encounter with the man who stalked her follow Deni everywhere she goes these days.

Her faith provides her solace, true, but she also knows she can’t just sit back and wait for circumstances to play out on their own. She believes she’s following God’s will by creating her own solution. Deni just doesn’t know if this time she’ll succumb to the danger.

Author Ginny L. Yttrup delves into the genre of suspense for the first time, but unfortunately her debut leaves much to be desired. The story flips between Deni in the present day, Deni in the past in the weeks leading up to her attack, and Adelia. The constant ping-ponging between timelines and characters will leave readers confused at times, despite Yttrup starting each chapter with the date and the character speaking. Early on Yttrup establishes Deni as the protagonist; however, Adelia’s portions come later in time than Deni’s, and readers won’t know until the last third of the book why the story was structured this way.

Successful suspense books depend on bursts of information followed by bursts of action; in the case of Convergence, Yttrup has taken a more thoughtful approach. This allows for readers to get to know Deni and to understand how she depends on her faith to get her through difficult times. In and of itself, this portion of the writing works well. Framed by a larger story that tries to be a suspense/thriller novel, the more introspective portions of the book just stick out. They slow down the story, and many readers may get impatient.

Yttrup also errs when it comes to releasing information; the characters in the book often know much more than readers do. Characters discuss important events without naming them, and readers will have to infer much of the information for a long time before they’re given confirmation. The cloak-and-dagger device only works for so long; after the halfway mark, it becomes tedious, as does the book.

Fans of Yttrup’s other work may want to pick this one up. It does a respectful job of showing how a person’s faith works organically within his or her life. Strictly as a suspense or thriller, though, the novel doesn’t work at all. I believe Convergence Borders on Bypassing it.

Yttrup gives readers a flawed character driven psychological thriller. Deni was attacked ten years ago and feels she is being stalked today. We don't find the details of the past attack until well into the book. Much of the text consists of Deni's thinking.

I had difficulty with the plot structure of this book. The narrative flips back and forth between three different time periods and I felt that produced a disjointed plot. Another issue I had was the withholding of information. The narrative is written in the first person with long passages of Deni's thoughts. I was dismayed that at three quarters of the way through the book, we find out something about Deni that is an essential part of her life and who she is and what is happening to her. As a reader, I felt blindsided. Yttrup purposely let us think we were part of Deni's life when we were really being fooled.

There is another plot technique Yttrup used that really irritates me. At the end of a suspenseful scene, all looks lost and all goes black for Deni. At the beginning of the next chapter, all is well, Deni has somehow miraculously survived the black and is alive and well.

One other issue is that we are left hanging at the end of the novel with respect to one character, the one who attacked Deni years ago. He is active in the plot up to nearly the end then just disappears without his participation being resolved.

Readers who like a novel heavy on psychological suspense, mostly experienced through Deni's thoughts, may like this one.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

This book has a lot of twists and turns and unexpected reveals. However, the jumping around in time and between characters was confusing for me. The main character expressed so much dread before "letting God take control" that it felt tedious at times. I guess that is the way it is in real life though... Wallowing until we decide to change our reinvent ourselves. Some of the plot points were somewhat unbelievable, particularly with regard to children. The religion was heavy handed at the end, but I understand the idea of letting go and letting God. Readers of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train may like this read.