Life is too perfect… Imagine living in a quaint, beach front cottage on the Hawaiian island of Maui. You have an amazing job, combined with the pleasure of working from home. Lunch breaks become a daily picnic on the sand. Dessert is always included because of your marriage to a famous pastry chef. Life could not be any better. Or so it seems… The writer falls in love with the baker… When … baker… When French born, Nikki Sabine Moueix travels to Hawaii for a special work assignment, her job of writing an article about a famous Swiss pastry chef generates more than a magazine piece. They fall in love, get married, and Nikki Moueix becomes Mrs. Ruggiero Delémont.
The perfection turns to panic… When another assignment calls for Nikki to spend three weeks in France, Ruggiero’s schedule prevents him from joining her. She travels alone, advancing straight into danger. After a threatening confrontation, Nikki wakes up in a French hospital with no knowledge of her past. When she fails to check in, Ruggiero panics and pushes for an immediate investigation. But as he closes in, Nikki’s new found friend moves her to another city. It becomes a game of hide and seek with Nikki as the prize.
CIRCUMVENT allows readers to form a bond with Nikki as they yearn for her to remember. They will cheer for Ruggiero and his relentless determination to locate his beloved wife. This is a story about two people who never lose their faith in God, and find amazing friends to help them along the way.
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Circumvent by S.K. Derban is a contemporary Christian suspense that will intrigue you and keep you guessing.
The characters are well drawn and realistic. The setting is exotic in Hawaii moving to Lyon in France. With comprehensive descriptions we can view the scenes in our mind’s eye.
We witness that even when a character can remember very little, they can still remember that they love God. This highlights the importance to really know God, so that even if all else fails, we will remember Him. We are reminded that God has our name engraved on His hands. He will never forget us. We see this symbolised in the novel as a bracelet is engraved with a name.
A name change signifies a change in circumstances.
There is the theme of trust. God can always be trusted. The evil one seeks to deceive us as he may even be disguised as goodness.
True love means leaving home to search for the one who is lost. Likewise Jesus will leave the ninety nine to search for the one.
Circumvent was an engaging read. I think it would translate well into a movie… any producers please take note.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
How could his wife just disappear? All Ruggiero knows is that he sent his wife Nikki to Hawaii. Now she seems to have dropped off the face of the earth.
The reader is let into both sides of the story. While her husband may not where Nikki is or what caused her to disappear, the reader does. I think that made the book a mystery with certain suspense elements. I was not quite sure if the husband and wife would be reunited. That was really the only part that I wondered about.
Besides enjoying the main characters, I did enjoy the supporting cast. Especially the experienced sergeant and his wife. Having a book set both in Hawaii and France was fun.
Disclaimers: The first time I started this book, I stopped because there were too many personal details at the beginning. While the couple was married, I almost found out more about them than I wanted. For me, I felt like it was a swinging door – part way open then closed. Some people will not have a problem with the descriptions, but they made me a bit uncomfortable. There were also some minor swear words (less than ten for sure throughout the book) that might catch readers off guard that were expecting this to be a completely clean book.
I did read this book as a part of a book tour, but I already owned it. So was not given a complimentary copy because I did not need one. The first time I started to read the book, the beginning chapters through me off. (See above as to why.) I knew if I signed up for the promotion, I would in fact read it. I have had many positive interactions with this author online, and I knew that I wanted to support her by reading her book.
Overall I enjoyed the book. Because of the disclaimers (especially the few chapters in the beginning), I give this book a 4.3 rating. If you enjoy mysteries that are clean overall, this is a good book to read.
Circumvent
By S. K. Derban
Nikki and Ruggiero Delemont have what seems like a perfect life. They live in Hawaii, Nikki working from home, and Rugi as a pastry chef. Life is busy but relaxing. But when Nikki gets an assignment that takes her to France their world is about to get upended.
Nikki’s assignment is an article, or rather a group of articles, set in France. But when Nikki doesn’t get back to Rugi letting him know that she arrived safely, he’s more than a little concerned. What follows is a search that brings more questions than answers.
Circumvent is a mystery that even though the reader sees both sides of there are some things that even the reader is left to wonder and speculate about.
In all honesty, I was a little leary with the first few pages as I felt in my opinion it was straddling the fence for belonging in the “clean read” classification. But from there on I had no real concerns.
The pacing of the story is just right with the various characters reacting well to their unique situations. Each character change is identified so the reader knows whose viewpoint is being presented.
Overall I would say that this was excellent reading.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectation but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Take a bit of international intrigue, a dash of psychological thriller, and a blend them into a story of romantic suspense involving a couple with a strong marriage and a good life, and you might have an inkling of the elements that make up S.K. Derban’s Circumvent.
The loving relationship between Nikki and Ruggiero Delémont draws the reader in to their life in Hawaii, and adds to the tension of Ruggiero’s search for her in the aftermath of an unprovoked attack in France. With no memory of her past, Nikki tentatively places her trust in the wrong person, and links to a far more dangerous man are uncovered as Ruggiero begins his search for her.
In Circumvent, S.K. Derban has crafted a story of a happily married couple whose lives are disrupted by the machinations of others, but retain their faith in God as they find their way back to each other. With engaging leads, likeable secondary characters, and a plotline that keeps the pages turning, this was a story I did not want to put down.
While Contemporary Romantic Suspense from modern authors does not typically appeal to me as much as those of the mid-20th century, Circumvent is an unexpected mix of elements and hits so many of the right notes. Recommended with a note that this is a work of Christian fiction that portrays more of the intimate marital relationship than some readers may expect.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary digital copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Circumvent is a modern suspense story that had me intrigued from beginning to end. This is the first novel I’ve read by S.K. Durban but it will not be my last. She has a way of grabbing the readers attention and not letting go until the very end. I loved all the little plot twists and of course the setting (who doesn’t love France!) captured my imagination, and had me dreaming of not only the sights and sounds, but also the delicious foods that are mentioned.
My heart went out to Nikki and her plight but her husband Ruggiero and Detective Kanaeholo, and their friendship, completely stole my heart, and were hands down my favorite part of the novel. I did feel like Nikki was quite naive but under the circumstances I can’t say that I blame her. I admired the fact that she never let go of her faith, and the fingerprints of God are all over the story.
What really got me was how plausible this story was, which is a scary thought! Circumvent is a wonderful read, full of twists and turns, combined with faith and heart. Great weekend read!
*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.
S.K. Derban is a new-to-me author, but this will not be the last of her books that I shall read. I enjoyed Circumvent, a contemporary suspense story. As Nikki journeys alone from her home in Hawaii to a work assignment in Lyon, France, the unexpected happens. She finds herself in the hospital with no idea who she is nor why she is there. And the mystery continues to grow as her husband, Ruggiero, Chef extraordinaire, and their friend Detective Kanaeholo begin the international search for Nikki. I liked these two men and their friendship. They are strong and determined to get to the bottom of her disappearance. Derban keeps the reader’s interest high with a few twists to the plot, a thread of faith in God, delectable food references (“Ruggiero’s macadamia nut, cream pie masterpiece featured silken folds of Kona coffee cream layered over a bed of chocolate.”–who could resist that!) and delightful setting descriptions. I would love to go to France as described by the author, the open-air markets, intimate bouchons serving delicious regional cuisine, and the traboules, covered shortcut passages from one street to another. Readers who enjoy inspirational mysteries with a sweet romance between a married couple will not want to miss Circumvent.
I read a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher, TouchPoint Press, given to me through JustRead Publicity Tours. I was not required to write a review, and the opinions are my own.
amnesia, suspense, France, cozy-mystery, investigation, culinary, romantic, law-enforcement, Christian-fiction ****
Fast paced and with exquisite imagery this tale that travels from Hawaii to France with a lot of suspense is quickly read and enjoyed. The characters are well developed and the story held me to the end. Well done!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book copy from TouchPoint Press via Net Galley. Thank you!
Another amazing book from S.K. Derban!! All of the characters are so diverse and unique and I love getting to discover their different personalities! The way the several locations are described make it so much fun to visualize! Very creative and definitely one of my favorites 🙂
Nikki has the perfect life – she is married to a man who adores her and whom she loves with all of her heart. She has the job we all dream of and even better she is able to fulfill her work duties from the beaches of Hawaii! She receives a dream assignment to head back to her beloved France for several weeks but unfortunately her husband can not join her.
Despite her husband’s nervousness (he loathes using technology!), Nikki plans her assignment back to France right down to a shuttle to the airport. It was this off-chance decision to take the shuttle to the airport that alters her future. She is targeted by a ring of criminals (due to her lone female flying status) to transport something that we assume is of great value and illegal into France. This is only the beginning of the nightmare that Nikki and Ruggiero must endure.
When Nikki doesn’t respond to multiple calls and texts, Ruggiero pictures the worst possible situation and his suspicions are confirmed when all traces of Nikki have been wiped clean – no record of her on the flight out of the US, no passport usage and no arrival in France. She has literally been erased. I can’t even begin to imagine the fear Ruggiero faced – no only was he in a different country all together, no one could explain how his wife could just “disappear” from flight records when it was clear that she went on the plane. He turns to his friend in local authorities and the pressure to find Nikki ramps up.
While Ruggiero is desperately trying to discover what happened to his wife, Nikki finds herself in a hospital with no memory of who she was or how she even got there. She turns to her physician and rescuer – the only person she does have a memory of. But not everything is quite what it seems. Our rescuer may not be the knight in shining armour we are originally led to believe he is and may have some ulterior motives up his sleeves.
This was a novel that I could not put down – I had to see what happened to Nikki (does she remember, do the criminals hurt her further) and Ruggiero (can he discover what happened to Nikki and where she is, and if he does find her – can he adjust to her loss of memory). It was an intense story full of surprise, hope and love – I loved every moment of their story!
Intrigue, amnesia, Hawaii, and France….all things exciting that made this book a joy to read. I even appreciated the Christian references and that they were not afraid to pray.
I enjoyed reading this book and the mystery kept me guessing as to who was involved and why. There were some surprises that I did not expect, but looking back I should have been a little suspicious. I can’t imagine being in Nikki or Ruggiero in various situations – from Nikki not remembering who she was to Ruggiero being worried about his wife. While the police might have thought Nikki was running away from her marriage, he knew better and this made him more determined to find out what happened to Nikki. They have a very strong relationship and they both know when something isn’t quite right.
I think it was smart of the author to tell the story from both Nikki and Ruggiero’s point of view. I was able to connect with the characters better and understand the range of motions they each experienced at various times during the story.
Definitely worth reading and we give it 4 paws up.
Nikki and her husband, Ruggierio, have the perfect life in Hawaii. They are madly in love, they have their dream jobs, and they live in paradise. However, when a dream assignment takes Nikki to France by herself because Ruggierio can’t go right away, Nikki quickly finds herself in danger. Waking up in a French hospital not able to remember a thing, she quickly makes friends with the doctor who found and saved her. Will Ruggierio be able to find her and help her regain her memory? Is the good doctor really a friend or foe?
Such a great suspenseful story! I completely enjoyed every minute of it! I quickly fell in love with the characters and found myself trying to figure it all out. Will Ruggierio find Nikki? Will she remember him if he does? Who is Maurizio really? I couldn’t put it down until I had all the answers! It was a great story and I definitely recommend it!
One disclaimer, this book has a little more innuendo than I usually read. I just want others to be aware.
**I received this book free from the author for review. I was not required to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book caught my attention from the beginning. I enjoyed learning things about France: the festivals, the traboules. I enjoyed Nikki. She was a bit naive and trusting, but under the circumstances it made sense. She trusted her “savior”. I liked that she never forgot God, and felt Him close even during trying circumstances. Ruggiero, her hubby, was another favorite. He seemed to have a very patient personality, and didn’t get too worked up over much. Probably my favorites were detective Kanaeholo and his wife, and the hotel manager Samy from France. Both of them impressed me very much with their willingness to help out someone they didn’t even know, their compassion and the detective’s faith.
The book was full of suspense and twists as they tried to find out what happened to Nikki after she disappeared. It was an interesting take on terrorism and very realistic in a sense. It definitely kept me hooked to the end as I cheered for Ruggiero to find Nikki and regain their happily ever after.
I appreciated the uniqueness of this plot. There were just a few things in the book that I felt might not be appropriate for a younger audience, so I would recommend this to mature readers.
I received my copy of this book from the author. I was not asked to review positively. All opinions are my own.
Posted by Aimee S
I have to admit to being a bit disappointed with this book. Since it was listed as Christian suspense I was looking forward to an author who proved that a really good suspense story could be written without profanity, gore, and explicit sex scenes. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen here; not because there are the aforementioned things, there aren’t, but because the story was more Harlequin romance than a thriller.; and I don’t do romance if I can help it. Granted there is a mystery when Nikki disappears on her trip to France, but that mystery is resolved a little over halfway through the story. Then it becomes more Women’s Fiction Romance than anything else.
I really liked the characters and the description of the scenery. I could have done without the explicit details of Nikki’s wardrobe and makeup, but that’s just me. I was also disappointed in the resolution of the “mystery” and the ending. They both just ended. I kept thinking there would be a twist and some unexpected excitement but there just wasn’t. It could have been a much better suspense/thriller and still remained true to the author’s Christian foundation. I hate I can’t rate it higher.
I received a review copy from Book Buzz and this is my honest opinion.