It’s no small thing to review a book written by the premiere editor in Christian fiction. The lady with the sterling reputation known as much for her robust fun-loving personality as for her enormous and diversified professional skills, Karen Ball is the author of the 3-book “Family Honor Series” which began with Shattered Justice followed by Kaleidoscope Eyes and concluding with What Lies Within. I’ve read all three novels, having just finished what I believe is the final book in the series.
What Lies Within tackles the complex character of the eldest sister Kyla in the remaining Justice family consisting of her younger sister Annot (Annie) and her brother Avidan (Dan). Kyla operates their deceased father’s construction business and has maintained its quality workmanship and business integrity, acquiring the respect of her father’s workmen and the clients she’s served. The novel presents us with Kyla and her dispassionate fiancé Mason, also the owner of a construction company, working their way toward a marriage Kyla seems ill-suited to consummate.
The empty restlessness Kyla is experiencing is fueled by her attraction to the man who owns the coffee shop she frequents. While she has no recollection of the handsome man, he knows who she is the first time she enters his shop even though he hasn’t seen her for many years.
Their paths continue to intersect as Kyla takes on a dangerous project right smack in the middle of an angry gang’s turf. Little does Kyla know just why the man who owns the coffee shop and who seems entirely too young and athletic to walk with the cane and the limp he sports is so capable of protecting her and her project while it is under construction.
The conflicts are many, there is sabotage and betrayal, injury and insult, peacemaking and sacrifices, while a few of the heroes and enemies get confused in the process.
It’s difficult at times to tolerate Kyla, nicknamed “Sister-Mommy” by her siblings. Her hurt is deep caused by a long-kept secret only her brother knows—or so she thinks—and the wall she’s erected around her emotions is made of solid concrete, only occasionally allowing God to penetrate it. She fluctuates between bravery and stupidity, passion and foolishness, spiritual longing and faithlessness, absolute control and completely losing it.
Technically speaking, I’m not fond of the full female face on the cover—the likeness does not fit my vision of Kyla, nor did I particularly like the female face on Kaleidoscope Eyes. The cover of Shattered Justice was excellent. If the female eyes alone were present on the cover of What Lies Within, I believe I’d like it better. Also, I would have preferred longer chapters because the short chapters made the reading choppy for me, not necessarily faster moving, but these are subjective assessments, nothing more than my opinion.
The story was a good conclusion to the series, fitting the previous references to Kyla in the other two books preceding it. And I’ve always liked the way Karen handles romance. She gets it. My favorite Karen Ball novel remains The Breaking Point, the realistic portrayal of a couple who falls in love, marries, and survives the crises which first drive them apart.
Father, I pray Karen would have the time she needs to write. She’s a busy lady, so help her work to afford her the time she needs to complete what she must do and still be able to incorporate her novel writing into her schedule. Please continue to inspire her work at all levels and give her discernment when questions demand answers. Watch over her in all she does, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
*Please remember to pray for Kristy Dykes.*