Official Review: Anna's Way by D. F. Jones

bluemel4 · Post by **bluemel4** » 02 May 2016, 18:53

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Anna's Way".]

4 out of 4 stars

Share This Review

Anna’s Way by D. F. Jones is a paranormal romance novel and the second volume in the Ditch Lane Diaries series. The supernatural aspects are explored and fleshed out more fully in this second installment. The book is set primarily in Tennessee during the late 1970s to mid-1980s with playful chapter titles from songs of the era.

After discovering a secret part of Campbell Ridge Cave, 15-year-old Anna along with her two best friends Ruby and Sandy begin to exhibit strange supernatural powers. Ruby is gifted with the ability to see the future, Anna can heal the sick and wounded, and Sandy can see into a person’s past. Anna’s powers of healing continue to grow as she matures into adulthood causing her to seek guidance through prayer. She is answered immediately by Raphael, her guardian angel, who instructs and helps her through the role of being a divine ward. Anna learns that she is instrumental in the fight between Lucifer and The Creator. Healing and medicine have become a large part of Anna’s identity, but her heart belongs to Jerry. Can she juggle the responsibility of being a divine ward and becoming a doctor without losing the love of her life?

Jones takes an already well known religious mythology and makes it her own by using delightful descriptions of Heaven and its organizational structure, angels with unique personalities, and new creative ways to fight. The book has recognizable figures from Christianity, but it provides a new take on Luc (Lucifer) and The Creator’s war over Earth. Using third person alternating points of view, events told from Luc’s side add a fresh and unique voice to widely known stories of his banishment from heaven and the Old Testament. The wards do not all have predictable or obvious supernatural gifts, which adds depth to the new mythology. Heavy topics like Heaven, demons, angels, and The Creator are handled in an original, lighthearted, and non-judgmental way.

Jones has taken her writing to the next level in this exciting new installment. The characters are well-developed, realistic, and engaging. It is hard not to care deeply about what happens to them and how they navigate through their complex and dangerous lives. Anna is kindhearted, passionate, and very human. Jerry is a gentleman and romantic, with a way of delivering truth bombs that make the reader like him even more. As the characters age they deal with adult problems and close friendships that are forced to evolve.

The story never becomes stale or predictable with balanced and multilayered storytelling; there are a lot of twists and turns between the supernatural elements and the romance story. Anna and Jerry’s love is an intoxicating and swoon worthy romance; the sex scenes are steamy and tastefully done. The novel references back to book one, but does not become repetitive or distracting from Anna being the main character of the story. The main message of love in all forms is represented and presented organically throughout.

The world Jones creates is filled with fantastic descriptions that are romantic, dreamy, and exciting. The story is fun and enticing. The scene setting is deftly done and creates a clear mental image. There is a realistic and relatable quality to her writing that is hard to resist.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I was emotionally invested in each character, fascinated by the new mythology, and entertained. Grab a box of tissues because this book is a phenomenal emotional ride. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy romance, supernatural epic wars, and character driven stories.

---
View Anna's Way on Bookshelves | Buy Anna's Way on Amazon

V_bansal2912 · Post by **V_bansal2912** » 02 May 2016, 21:34

Wow...great review...!!

bluemel4 · Post by **bluemel4** » 02 May 2016, 21:40

V_bansal2912 wrote:Wow...great review...!!

Thank you! @"V_bansal2912" The book is really good!

gali · Post by **gali** » 02 May 2016, 21:50

Good to hear that the second book is better as the first, and even surpasses it. Thank you for the well written review.

Congratulations to the author on the great review!

Post by **bookowlie** » 02 May 2016, 22:13

Nice, insightful review! I enjoyed reading the first book in this series, Ruby's Choice, so I am going to add this latest installment to my reading list.

Congrats to D.F. Jones on a glowing review.

bluemel4 · Post by **bluemel4** » 02 May 2016, 22:22

gali wrote:Good to hear that the second book is better as the first, and even surpasses it. Thank you for the well written review.

Congratulations to the author on the great review!

It is so polished and well-written. My notes are full of smiley faces!

-- Mon May 02, 2016 9:25 pm --

bookowlie wrote:Nice, insightful review! I enjoyed reading the first book in this series, Ruby's Choice, so I am going to add this latest installment to my reading list.

Congrats to D.F. Jones on a glowing review.

@bookowlie You are going to love it! I am so glad there is a third book coming out. I couldn't handle having to say goodbye to these characters.

Post by **bookowlie** » 02 May 2016, 22:38

I am glad to see that Jerry is featured in this installment. He was my favorite character in the first book!

bluemel4 · Post by **bluemel4** » 02 May 2016, 22:44

He is one of my favorites!

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 03 May 2016, 01:02

What a truly beautiful review, bluemel4! I was excited for this next installment by D.F. Jones, but after reading your review, I'm even more excited to read it!
Congratulations, D.F. Jones for receiving such a glowing review!

Can't wait to read it!

bluemel4 · Post by **bluemel4** » 03 May 2016, 08:44

hsimone wrote:What a truly beautiful review, bluemel4! I was excited for this next installment by D.F. Jones, but after reading your review, I'm even more excited to read it!
Congratulations, D.F. Jones for receiving such a glowing review! Can't wait to read it!

Thank you @hsimone I loved every minute of this book! I even tried listening to the chapter song before reading it to put me in the mood for what happens next, but I found I couldn't wait for the song to end before finding out what happens!

kimmyschemy06 · Post by **kimmyschemy06** » 03 May 2016, 09:07

Very impressive review. I read the first book and it seems like the second book is even better. Congratulations to D. F. Jones Jones on another well written book.

bluemel4 · Post by **bluemel4** » 03 May 2016, 09:39

kimmyschemy06 wrote:Very impressive review. I read the first book and it seems like the second book is even better. Congratulations to D. F. Jones Jones on another well written book.

Thank you! @kimmyschemy06 This book is even better! I love these characters!

ALynnPowers · Post by **ALynnPowers** » 05 May 2016, 09:12

I must admit that I didn't much care for the first book in this series, but it really sounds like this book is more like what I thought I would be getting when I went into that first book. The supernatural stuff is more my thing than the romance.
So I am glad that you were able to pick up this book and enjoy it! Yay!

Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 05 May 2016, 09:14

Book of the Day!! Already commented, but I do want to say that started and the Prologue is amazing! Can't wait to continue and see how goes, especially after this statement:

The story never becomes stale or predictable with balanced and multilayered storytelling; there are a lot of twists and turns between the supernatural elements and the romance story.

Even more excited to continue!

bluemel4 · Post by **bluemel4** » 05 May 2016, 09:17

ALynnPowers wrote:I must admit that I didn't much care for the first book in this series, but it really sounds like this book is more like what I thought I would be getting when I went into that first book. The supernatural stuff is more my thing than the romance.
So I am glad that you were able to pick up this book and enjoy it! Yay!

Thank you! @ALynnPowers You are going to love this installment. So much humor and supernatural goodness!

-- Thu May 05, 2016 8:18 am --

hsimone wrote:Book of the Day!! Already commented, but I do want to say that started and the Prologue is amazing! Can't wait to continue and see how goes, especially after this statement:
The story never becomes stale or predictable with balanced and multilayered storytelling; there are a lot of twists and turns between the supernatural elements and the romance story.
Even more excited to continue!

It just keeps getting better!