Review of Stride
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Amanda Collier
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- Latest Review: Stride by Alex Kininmonth
Review of Stride
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Stride" by Alex Kininmonth.]
Alex Kininmonth’s Stride is raw, gritty, and pulls no punches.
John is up-and-coming in the world. Once a soldier, he is now well-versed in the world of finance and ready to embark on a new venture. A meeting with one of the most respected banks in the country offers just such an opportunity. But it could be more than he bargained for.
Dorothy wants the best for her son, John. She has raised him as a single mother for his entire life. She has never told him who his father was. To do so would illicit a great scandal that would ruin his father’s career. But she can no longer keep John a secret. She can’t bear to go through life never telling Andrew that he has a son. She arranges a quiet meeting with Andrew to tell him about his son. Knowing does not change much. Andrew is too afraid of scandal to introduce himself to his son. Instead, he watches as John takes a position in his company.
This book is full of bad decisions and a lack of communication. Dorothy told John his whole life that his father was dead. She also never told Andrew that he had a son, which means he never had a chance to be a father. Because neither of them informs John of who he is, there is nothing to stop him from falling into a sexual relationship with his boss’s daughter. Unbeknownst to him, she is his half-sister. She falls in love with him, but John is only interested in sex. He is not picky where women are concerned. Anybody willing is fair game. He doesn’t care who he hurts in the process.
I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars. The underlying story about a failing bank and Andrew’s efforts to keep it running is compelling and enjoyable. I enjoyed following Andrew and Dorothy's story and hoped for a happy ending. John’s story was more conflicting and not as enjoyable. In some parts of the story, he has a very selfish interest in matters. In others, he appears to care about others. It is the picture of a boy who is becoming a man and not quite sure how to exist. The book had quite a few typographical errors, so it would benefit from a good edit. The whole relationship between the half-siblings was quite cringy. I kept hoping that one of the parents would speak up and admit to the affair for the sake of their children. The fact that this was only resolved with John leaving the country was disappointing. I hope that future books in the series eventually address that.
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Stride
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Alex Kininmonth’s Stride is raw, gritty, and pulls no punches.
John is up-and-coming in the world. Once a soldier, he is now well-versed in the world of finance and ready to embark on a new venture. A meeting with one of the most respected banks in the country offers just such an opportunity. But it could be more than he bargained for.
Dorothy wants the best for her son, John. She has raised him as a single mother for his entire life. She has never told him who his father was. To do so would illicit a great scandal that would ruin his father’s career. But she can no longer keep John a secret. She can’t bear to go through life never telling Andrew that he has a son. She arranges a quiet meeting with Andrew to tell him about his son. Knowing does not change much. Andrew is too afraid of scandal to introduce himself to his son. Instead, he watches as John takes a position in his company.
This book is full of bad decisions and a lack of communication. Dorothy told John his whole life that his father was dead. She also never told Andrew that he had a son, which means he never had a chance to be a father. Because neither of them informs John of who he is, there is nothing to stop him from falling into a sexual relationship with his boss’s daughter. Unbeknownst to him, she is his half-sister. She falls in love with him, but John is only interested in sex. He is not picky where women are concerned. Anybody willing is fair game. He doesn’t care who he hurts in the process.
I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars. The underlying story about a failing bank and Andrew’s efforts to keep it running is compelling and enjoyable. I enjoyed following Andrew and Dorothy's story and hoped for a happy ending. John’s story was more conflicting and not as enjoyable. In some parts of the story, he has a very selfish interest in matters. In others, he appears to care about others. It is the picture of a boy who is becoming a man and not quite sure how to exist. The book had quite a few typographical errors, so it would benefit from a good edit. The whole relationship between the half-siblings was quite cringy. I kept hoping that one of the parents would speak up and admit to the affair for the sake of their children. The fact that this was only resolved with John leaving the country was disappointing. I hope that future books in the series eventually address that.
******
Stride
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Stride by Alex Kininmonth
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Kibet Hillary
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What is Andrew so afraid of that he would just want to watch and not meet his son and acknowledge he is the biological father? My curiosity is piqued to learn more, especially the interaction between father and son. Many thanks for the amazing review, @Amanda Collier.
“It just hurts too much to admit what is wanted so badly when there’s no guarantee of its availability.”
- Dr. Larry Crabb
- Dr. Larry Crabb
Latest Review: Sooner Secrets by Shelley L. Levisay
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Etimbuk Eshiet
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This review makes me really curious about the emotional weight of the story. It sounds like a powerful mix of drama, secrecy, and family tension. The part about John unknowingly entering a relationship with his half-sister is heartbreaking and frustrating—such a complicated situation. I agree it would have been better if the truth came out earlier. Still, I’m intrigued to see how the characters grow from their decisions.
