Title: Dandelion Dust
Author: Faith L. Potts
Genre: Christian Contemporary (with light romance)
Setting: United States
Publisher: Faith L. Potts
Source: from author (in exchange for honest review)
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars
Dandelion Dust by Faith L. Potts
Charity always had a dream. It was simple, really. Find a guy, fall in love, and get married.
The day she met Ryder, Charity knew he was the man God had chosen for her. But she never expected their relationship to be tested and tried through the fires of a freak accident. Suddenly, her world is thrown into chaos, and the bleak, white walls and sterile smells of a city hospital fill every spare minute. And then there comes the dreaded news. It was likely Ryder would never make it out of the hospital bed.
As her carefully laid plans for the future come crashing down around her and the sun seems to set on her dreams, can Charity still find hope in the dark of night?
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I don’t usually read Christian Contemporary, but I’m glad I made an exception for Dandelion Dust. It was a pretty good book, much as all the rave reviews before me have stated, and I enjoyed it. Finished it up pretty quickly … and I’ve been slow with reading lately!
(Just a completely unrelated note, but there’s been so many books with the word ‘dandelion’ in the title recently. Come on, authors!)
PLOT: 3/5
For the most part, I liked the plot and felt that it was well-done. I did have a couple issues, though they’re minor ones (and have more to do with me than with the book … but then the reader is half of the story, right?).
(SPOILERS FOLLOW)
First …
During this book, as the blurb indicates, Charity’s boyfriend Ryder is badly injured in an ATV accident. He’s in a coma for weeks on end.
But, after several weeks of not knowing whether he’s going to live or die … Ryder wakes up. You’d think his family and girlfriend would rejoice. Wrong.
Ryder is crippled from the waist down, yes, but that doesn’t change the fact that HE’S ALIVE. I was furious when the reaction of his loved ones was so dramatic. Who cares if he’s crippled? HE. IS. ALIVE. GOD SAVED HIS LIFE MIRACULOUSLY. Nothing. Else. Matters. But. Life.
He’s not dead. He’s with us still. And in the modern world, legs aren’t as important as they used to be anyway. So … that just made me mad.
(END OF SPOILERS)
Second, the last couple chapters were kind of slow and did a lot of summarizing-of-time which, though necessary, is not my favorite thing. But I suppose it had to happen.
There were a lot of positives, though! I found it both intensely interesting and heartbreaking. It kept my attention and had me hanging on the next word for much of the book. So yes, you should read it, despite my little rants. I may go on and on about what’s wrong with a book and then love it, you know. That’s just how I roll …
(MORE SPOILERS)
This is a personal thing and not related to the book at all, but …
I hate promise rings. I’m sorry. I just think they’re the dumbest things on the planet. Never have I hated anything so much as I hate promise rings. “I promise that someday I will promise to marry you.” Like, what? It’s like the way to commit without committing at all. It reminds me of three-year-olds who say they’re going to marry each other when they grow up.
(END OF SPOILERS)
CHARACTERS: 3/5
Uh … don’t shoot me, but I didn’t emotionally connect to any of the characters. I liked them okay, yes, but I just didn’t love them.
And … since they didn’t really stand out to me in a big way, I don’t have much to say here. I do feel that they were well-developed and the author took time with them. The fault lies with me.
SETTING: 4/5
Contemporary isn’t my usual genre. Most of the time I dislike books set in the real, modern world. This one was well-done, though. Really good.
WRITING: 5/5
Extremely well-written. Definitely made the book that much better! Charity’s voice (through Faith) was quite incredible. Very enjoyable, gave the book a special & original flare.
CONTENT: 1.5/5
Language: n/a
Violence: Ryder is almost killed in an ATV accident. Some details, although it’s never actually described. Some hospital stuff, nothing gory or scary.
Sexual: I think Ryder and Charity kiss a couple times, but no details.
Other: There are hospitals throughout this book. Hospitals are scary. *shivers* I hate hospitals …
Okay for all young adult readers. Easily-frightened readers -12 cautioned for scary and stressful situations.
OVERALL: 4/5
A sweet but sad (and then hopeful) Christian book. Definitely worth reading for lovers of Christian Contemporary!
~Kellyn Roth~
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p.s.
Have you read this book? Do you enjoy Christian Contemporary? Have you ever driven an ATV? I haven’t, and now I know I never will be … just kidding. Like that’s gonna stop me the first time I get a chance! 😛
16 Responses
I’m glad to hear your thoughts on this book!! I should read it. It sounds like something I’d enjoy.
And yes, I have/do drive ATV’s. I bought my own quad when I was 13, and we’ve been all over the place ever since. It’s so much fun!!!
It was a pretty incredible book, and I do think you’d like it. In some ways, Charity reminded me a little bit of Lindy, actually.
Oh, cool! That’s awesome! Someday I want to do that … we don’t really have the property, though. There’s not a lot of even semi-flat areas here, and even so it’s all tree-covered and bumpy and rocky. 😉
Okay, that was hilarious. You just kind of repeated my entire thoughts on this book. (And yes, Promise rings do sound pretty dumb :P) I felt like shaking Charity and Ryder’s family when they were so sad. “Oh dear, the poor boy who ALMOST DIED can’t walk…” And I hate hospitals, too. Once we visited someone in the hospital, and I got so nauseous… I can say hospitals make me sick. Literally. 😛
And no, I don’t really have a desire to ride an ATV. Not only this book, but I hear too much about ATV accidents. (Also, what did you think about Drew’s guilt?)
CutePolarBear
Really? Haha, that’s hilarious. I did read your review at some point, so maybe I was inspired? 😉 (YES! If some boy ever gives me a promise ring, I’m gonna be like, “Sorry, Charlie, but I’m going to wait for an actual ring …” 😛 ) Mmhmm, it was ridiculous! I’ll just repeat myself: HE. IS. ALIVE.
Honestly, danger doesn’t have that much effect on me … 😉 (I thought it was kind of silly? I mean, how could he have prevented that. But grief does weird things to people.)
I think you can only say that if your love interest is named Charlie. XD Yeah, it’s like, if you want to marry me, give me an engagement ring. If not, don’t! Breaking an engagement isn’t a sin, anyway, so if you do give me an engagement ring, it’s not like we HAVE to get married.
Hmm, is that danger-defying spirit the ‘F’ in your MBTI personality? (BTW, I took it again- I’m an INTP, with 93% introverted. :P) (Yeah, grief does do weird things to some people. I’m not one of those people, though, so I just get confused and sometimes somewhat annoyed when people can’t think logically when they’re so sad. But I just didn’t understand why he felt guilty; if he had found Ryder later, and so he died, then sure, feel guilty. But he found Ryder just in time!)
CutePolarBear
True … XD I’d probably use his actual name … Yes, exactly! What are they afraid of? If you need to break the engagement because it turns out it’s not going to work, then do so, but you don’t have to do a non-commitment commitment. And isn’t dating itself kind of a “I will marry you someday” promise? If you’re a Christian, that is?
So, yeah, I’ll just say, “[insert name here], your lack of commitment and at the same time your feeble attempts at commitment have made me decide that this relationship is not going to work ….” 😉
No, F is feeling which is more like … having emotions. And I have none. So I’m T. 😉 Seriously, though, feeling vs. thinking is more about how you make your decisions – whether you decisions based on logic or your emotions. I’m INTJ or ISTP … and I really don’t know which because I can be cautious (J) or throw everything to the wind (P).
(Yes, I didn’t really get the guilt. “I saved my brother; I feel so bad …” 😉 It annoys me when people are irrational, period. Of course, my rational is more like, *emotionlessly jumping off a ten story building* 😉 But only sometimes. I can be really cautious, too …)
I think of dating, or courting, as a “Would a marriage work for us?” question, to put it simply. So what does a promise ring do? Keeps the other men away until we decide that we should pursue that question? It honestly seems a bit selfish, now that I think about it.
Ah, okay. Oh, dear, you have no emotions?? I guess you really won’t get married… 😛 Yeah, I can be cautious, too, (maybe) but I think I’m usually impromptu. I mean, what good are plans, anyway, if they just won’t work later?
Irrational or illogical people are soo annoying. One of my pet peeves. (too bad the country’s full of them) But for some reason I’m attracted to reading their ILLOGICAL arguments. A-hem. 😉
Yes, exactly! Dating (or courting) is basically just a couple spending time together to see if a lasting relationship is going to work out and if God has it in mind for them, etc. And promise rings are kinda selfish when you look at it that way! I suppose it’s a way for a fellow to “claim” a girl without having to actually commit … 😉
Yes, I’m afraid I won’t … 😛
I’m the same! I can’t help but read their arguments!
Yeah, that’s the way I think about it.
Is this sort of a bad habit? “Oh, I disagree completely with this person, so I’ll read their articles or watch their TV show because… I like to get annoyed?” XD
Uh … no comment. 😉
Seriously, though, I think it’s probably a good thing to be informed on the various sides of the argument just so you can combat it more thoroughly. I do that, sometimes, too. 🙂
Yes, I agree with that. That’s also why you should read some books with opposing worldviews. But when you keep reading the same illogical arguments, over and over… XD
Yes, it gets tiresome quickly. XD
Okay, no offense, but I was laughing through this whole thing(the comments, not the review)………. You guys are so funny! Now, the review……….
I absolutely hate it when people freak out, ’cause the guys never going to be able to see again. Not going to able walk…….. WHO CARES???????? BE HAPPY HE’S ALIVE KID!!!!!!!!!!!! HE WAS IN COMA???????? AND YOU’RE MAD BECAUSE HE IS NEVER GOING TO WALK?????????? IF THAT HURTS YOUR RELATIONSHIP, YOU NEED TO RETHINK YOU’RE LIFE!!!!!!!
Okay…………….Done with my rant……………..
I should probably not read this book if it makes me this mad just reading the review…………….
How people act sometimes…………Er………Book characters…………
😉
Okay, I am officially crazy.
No, none taken! We can have some funny comments … 😉
I know! HE. IS. ALIVVVVVEEEE!!!! If his being crippled is a problem, then you seriously need to rethink your relationship!
Okay, even your REVIEW make we want to shake them by the neck. Like…dumb and proud people are my pet peeves. I just want break every bone in their body…okay, that’s a little harsh, Enni!
Yes, dumb and proud people are quite annoying! Almost break-bone-worthy. 😀