A psychologist paralyzed by fear. A mother propelled by love. A stalker bent on destruction. Psychology professor Dr. Denilyn Rossi contends that the past is either a shadow that haunts us or a force that propels us. The choice is ours, she tells her students. What she doesn’t tell them is that her own past is a shadow she can’t seem to shake. Fear has immobilized her and is taking a … immobilized her and is taking a costly toll.
Adelia Sanchez, however, has embraced Dr. Rossi’s teaching. She is ready to confront fear and render it powerless–using the trauma of her past to propel her to entrap the man who stalked and brutally attacked her.
As Denilyn’s past and Adelia’s present converge at the Kaweah River, a dangerous man bent on destruction threatens them both. Will he uncover the secret Deni and Adelia have fought so hard to protect?
more
This was the first book I read by this author and will not be my last. I did not want to put this book down until I got to the end. I loved all the twists and turns that occurred. I was so wrapped up in all of the characters lives. I loved all the surprises throughout. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit and Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
“I don’t think trust is a feeling. I believe it’s a choice. And on those days when doubt plagues me, I ask for His help to believe what I can’t see. That’s faith, believing what we can’t see. And in this world, we can’t always see goodness.”
What an incredible journey of a psychological thriller! It’s very different from the previous novel I’ve read from Ginny Yttrup. Yet her beautiful, melodic, and haunting first person prose is the same and will draw you into the world of fear and anxiety Deni lives in. The present day of 2017 is narrated by Deni and Adelia in first person present tense. The flashbacks from 2009-2010 is narrated by Deni in first person past tense. The three “separate” timelines and thought processes were a bit difficult to untangle at the beginning, but 1/3 way into the story, the plot emerged in a cohesive and consolidated manner. The author delves into the psyche of the victim and shows that even though the victim is a renowned and well-respected psychologist and professor, head-knowledge and heart-knowledge don’t always go hand-in-hand. It’s a chilling and suspenseful novel that leaves you wondering who the actually villain is until the end.
Deni’s faith journey is rocky and full of doubts, but she finally understands her own mantra that “the past is either a shadow that haunts us or a force that propels us.” Her strength, even in the midst of paralyzing fear, is incredible and admirable.
Anyone who enjoys a well-written, intense thriller/suspense novel would love this book. I was given a copy of the book by Barbour Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Reading this book reminded me of working a thousand piece puzzle. The puzzle frame may be fairly easy to piece together and the inside pieces may appear to go in a certain place until you actually start fitting them together. This book was the same. Just when I thought I had it figured out, a clue would pop up and suddenly, I found myself wrong again! Convergence is Ginny Yttrup’s first attempt at writing suspense and she certainly succeeded in keeping me guessing. The story involves two women who have both been traumatized by unwanted attentions from men and one of these women has been stalked for over eight years. Readers are drawn into the lives of Psychology professor Dr. Denilyn Rossi and her deceased friend Adelia Sanchez and in flashbacks and alternating timelines we are shown their attempts to overcome the fears of being stalked. After a series of troubling events and attempts on her life Dr. Rossi decides that she will no longer be a victim. In her struggle to fight back Denilyn begins to seek the strength that she once derived from her faith in God. She asks a colleague how he is able to believe in and trust in God when bad things happen and he tells her “On those days when doubts plague me, I ask His help to believe what I can’t see. That’s faith, believing what we can’t see. And in this world, we can’t always see goodness.” (p. 98)
Convergence is filled with suspense and “edge of your seat” adventure and it is also a thrilling study of pysychological warfare and the psychopathic mind. It also stresses the resilience of the human spirit and the power of believing in a higher power. We witness Denilyn as she asks God for the strength and guidance that only He can offer and we rejoice as she gains a new awareness of herself and realizes that “God didn’t give me a spirit of fear, but rather a spirit of love, and a spirit of power.” (p. 313).
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys Christian suspense fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
What a fascinating and complex book. I thought it looked interesting from the description because of the focus on river-rafting (my family used to go river rafting on the American River a lot when I was a kid). Once I started reading, however, I realized there was much more depth to the story than just a suspense novel. It is written exactly like a river rafting trip. It started slow, just floating along like the beginning of a rafting trip. Then there were a few bumps, light rapids, as we get glimpses into events in Deni’s past. More events occur in the present, and we hit some class III rapids. The story continues to pick up the pace up until the Class VI climax. It was a tightly-woven plot created to mimic the river that is a focal point of the story, and it just enhanced the tension. Even the title has a double meaning relating to the river and the plot. I was very impressed with this book and highly recommend it. A big thank you to NetGalley, Barbour Publishing, Inc., and the author for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
Thoroughly enjoyed her very first Mystery. Kept me guessing & very intrigued. Very well written. I strongly recommend it.
Very good.
I love Gonny Yttrip. This story is unique of the ones I’ve read — more suspenseful. She kept me guessing throughout the story. Very entertaining.
Convergence is a thriller with a twist of mystery involved. Dr. Denilyn Rossi has given up her practice and taken a job as a psychology professor at Pacific Covenant University. It has been eight long years since a stalker changed the course of her life. She has done everything right to overcome the past…so why is she still running? And why can’t she shake the feeling that it is all going to happen again?
Adelia Sanchez has studied Denilyn’s story and her teaching. She has trained her mind and her body as she prepares to return to the Kaweah River. She is determined to overcome her fear, face her past, and finally confront the man who stalked and assaulted her. Will she be able to stand strong or will fear and doubt creep back in and render her powerless?
Who is the man who lurks in the shadows and threatens both Denilyn and Adelia? The man who has hurt them both and destroyed Denilyn’s marriage as well as her career? When the past and present converge at the Kaweah, who will prevail?
Convergence is a gripping work of fiction that will hold you captive until the last page is turned.
“The past is either a shadow that haunts us or a fore that propels us.”
I fell in love with this quote which just happens to sum up the story of Convergence nicely. First, there is Denalyn, a psychology professor that continues to be haunted by a horrible ordeal with a stalker eight years ago, and fears that a repeat is imminent. Then there is Adelia, a determined woman on an unknown mission to take care of some unfinished business.
Denalyn’s story is told through flashbacks from the current 2017 to 2009, each situation parallel. The switch between times can get confusing, and at times annoying, until you reach the end and all the pieces fall into place. It also doesn’t help that Adelia’s story is also sprinkled in, thus adding more to the confusion. The stalker is a mystery that keeps you guessing until the reveal, though I pegged it early on, connecting certain dots in this sinister plot, but I would not say this book is predictable by any means.
With deep character development, and the entire book shrouded in mystery, Convergence had me turning each page with eagerness, dying to put all the pieces together and know the truth. What Denalyn endured was utterly unthinkable, but sadly could happen in real life, and actually would make an incredible action/suspense movie.
I love the touch of faith and empowerment interwoven in the story and Convergence proves that you can have an epic suspense novel without sex, violence, and bad language. A remarkable and enjoyable read!
Excellent suspense novel written by author Ginny Yttrup, Convergence is an excellent read. I began reading one evening and finished it the next, I just had to know!
A psychologist and psychology professor, Dr. Denilyn Rossi, tells her students that fear can be an impetus that moves them forward or a shadow that keeps them stuck in the past. For Deni, fear from her past is currently holding her back, hindering her from moving forward.
Adelia Sanchez has more than enough reason to live in fear. Her stalker is back. Somehow he found her again and begins leaving subtle hints to let her know it. Then the silent phone calls begin; how did he get her number? As the situation escalates, Adelia feels empowered by her psych profs words and decides to trap the stalker and see him put away for a very long time.
Set along the beautiful Kaweah River in California, the author pens a story that will keep the reader entranced by the characters and the various plot twists, wondering if it will be proven true in their own lives that fear can propel them forward, living renewed lives.
I have yet to read a novel by this author that does not grab me from the first to the last page. Convergence was a bit different in that there is a dedication at the beginning that is so bittersweet and full of compassion.
I highly recommend Convergence by Ginny Yttrup
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own.
Convergence by Ginny L. Yttrup
Not a bad storyline, psychologist being stalked not once but twice but did the right guy get put away the 1st time? Her friend also got stalked and ended up missing presumed dead…..this story is told by both women in flashbacks and as happening now…this left me confused and constantly having to go back and figure out the time frame and the teller…like I said not a bad story just confusing to me. Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for allowing me to read this and leave my honest opinion.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a Ginny Yttrup book and her previous books were all straight women’s fiction, so it was a surprise to pick up Convergence and find it’s suspense. A good surprise, mind you!
Convergence opens with an unnamed woman taking her first tandem skydive. Except someone is watching …
The story then flips to January 2017, as Denilyn Rossi is heading to work—she’s the department chair of psychology at Pacific Covenant University in California. Deni is also a published author, although the success of her first book destroyed her marriage. She’s now been asked to write a second book
It’s not clear whether Chapter One is before or after the Prologue, which is kind of the point—the timeline skips forward and back, back and forward, until it all converges in the present (hence the title). We then skip eight years back in time, to 2009. We don’t know why, but we already know this is significant. The we’re back in 2017, but in the head of another character—Adelia Sanchez. And on it goes.
Convergence is a story that unwinds and reveals layers and secrets as you read. It breaks several of the rules of writing (don’t start with a prologue is just the first). But the whole plot—and the secrets—are unravelled in such a way they pulled me right in. What is the significance of January 9th? What happened eight years ago? How did Deni get that scar on her head? Why is her friend and colleague, Ryan, so worried about her?
I don’t want to say too much more because *spoilers*. Just believe me when I say this is an excellent novel, one with unexpected twists and turns and surprises (and it’s hard to surprise me). The plot is complex without being convoluted, the characters are believable, and the writing is top notch. All in all, it’s a great suspense read.
You know how sometimes when you finish a novel it’s so good that you want to muse on it for a few days rather than starting another book? This is one of those novels. Recommended.
Thanks to Shiloh Run Press and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for 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.
CONVERGENCE is an intelligent, psychological thriller that digs deep into Deni’s (the heroine) fears. You’re afraid right along with her, while second-guessing what is real and what is not. The read, as turbulent a ride as a raft being tossed over white-water rapids, keeps you flipping the pages and keeps you wondering who the stalker is from page one to the final chapters. Yttrup excels at misdirection, and the plot has many I-didn’t-see-that-coming moments.
This is what Christian fiction should aspire to be. It’s by far the best book I’ve read all year.
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.
Convergence, a suspense/thriller novel from Ginny L. Yttrup, is a very interesting read that will at some moments keep you on the edge of your seat. This is my first book by this author. Danilyn is a psychology professor at a small college and once had a stalker who was caught and convicted and is still in prison. Her marriage did not survive all the fear because of the stalker. But it has been years and now she finds herself being stalked again. Of course she is paralyzed by fear once again and can not deal with this. Her best friends since college days are there for her to help her with her fear. There are many turns before this book will converge to its final conclusion. It will keep you guessing as to who the culprit is. I received this book via netgalley and this review is a pleasure to give.
‘You drown not by falling into the river, but by staying submerged in it.’ Paulo Coelho
Wow! Incredibly well written novel that had me wondering from the beginning if it would ever make sense to me. Denilyn, a psychology professor and published author, has a past that is slowly unraveled throughout this book. Stalking, assault, accidents, psychological abuse and more keep you at the edge of your seat the whole time wondering who really is behind it all. It is only as she learns that trust is a choice not a feeling, faith is believing in what you can’t see and to be on the offensive is the best way to finally experience freedom!
‘Sometimes in stillness, when we’ve quieted our minds, we hear from God’.
I received this advance copy through Barbour Publishing, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. All impressions and opinions are my own.
You will be amazed by the number of plot twists in this story. It is a story of faith and friendship. Of love and loss. It is about letting go and trusting that God has everything in his perfect control. The author weaves a magnificent plot that opens a door into the brain of a psychopath. You will be hanging on to every word trying to figure out the clues as you read. It is riveting and you will not want to put it down until it is finished.