Customer Reviews

A Slow Burn (Defiance Texas Trilogy, Book 2)

5 star:		(75)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Our journey here on earth is not a fairytale filled with perfect people and happy-ever-after, syrupy endings. Few authors dare to touch on the subjects of child abuse, drugs, alcohol, mental disorders, and family dysfunction. The time is now for the church to realize that one in three women sitting on the pews experienced some form of abuse. Dysfunction is everywhere and in most households "normal" is only found on the dishwasher selection cycle.

Bravo to Mary DeMuth, one of the finest fiction authors within the Christian marketplace, for stepping out in faith to awake the church to truth: The measure of a person's life is not how well they cover up their flaws. Rather, the measure of a person's life is measured by how far they have come by the grace of God.

DeMuth's fresh, vulnerable, from-the-heart writing is a much-needed voice from the wilderness of truth. She reminds readers that Jesus did not come to make the perfect more perfect. He came to set the captives free. DeMuth's captivating lyrical style, interwoven with real-life characters, exposes the dirty little secrets tucked away in the hearts of the broken and wounded while placing the Light of Jesus on grace, forgiveness and redemption.

I highly recommend both Daisy Chain and A Slow Burn. They will change the way broken people are viewed and provide hope and healing to all.

After I had finished reading Mary E. Demuth's first book in the Defiance Texas Trilogy, "Daisy Chain," I wasn't sure the author could meet the new standard that she herself had set for Christian fiction. I was overwhelmingly surprised as "A Slow Burn" captured my heart and kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

A missing girl turns Defiance, Texas and those who love her inside out. When death finds her, all of the unanswered questions create a whirlwind of distress that no one could have ever imagined. Jed Pepper faces an enemy; he may have thought it was his father, but he learns there are greater forces at work than those that are seen. Emory believes her life is over after the loss of her daughter, but from beyond the grave God's purposes prevail; her life is only beginning. Ouisie thinks life couldn't get worse, yet when it does, God uses her anger and pain to ultimately bless her betrayer. In an effort to display God's glory, Demuth takes you to hell's doorstep. You briefly look in and get a glimpse of the pain, emptiness, and desperation that comes from being separated from God. Just when it is almost too much to bear, Demuth gently draws you back into the loving arms of God. "A Slow Burn" brings you face to face with a sovereign God who is not moved by circumstances, but by faith. Through the captive story telling of Mary E. Demuth you find yourself face to face with the God who is faithful; He truly works all things together for good.

Demuth's writing is brilliant and her message vital; God takes it all...the pain, the shame, the brokenness, and He works with even a little faith. Good luck putting this one down! You'll find yourself finishing this book and begging for more. Let's all hope Mary is diligently at work on the third book! :)

Author Mary DeMuth captures the essence of living with guilt and addictions against the pleasures of God's grace and love. In her second book in the series Mary allows the reader to experience the pain of a mother losing her only child and her struggle to let go of the guilt she feels at how poorly she fared as a mother when her child was living. In the story the reader is taken on a journey through the grasps of death and the breaths of life. This book will cause you to stop what you're doing and take time every day to enjoy what you are already have. It will give you a fresh perspective on happiness and a desire to do the best with every moment of every day. I highly recommend this series to those looking to be entertained by a good mystery and challenged by life's worst tragedies.

A Slow Burn by Mary DeMuth is the second book in the Defiance, Texas trilogy. Emory Chance is "perfect in every way, but flawed to her marrow." Devastated after the disappearance and murder of her daughter Daisy, Emory can't forgive herself for not being the mother her daughter needed and deserved. Hixon Jones has determined to show Emory the love of God no matter how hard she pushes him away, eventually falling in love with her. Emory's spirit was broken again and again from childhood throughout her entire life: molested, abused by her malevolent mother, she's like a sack of broken glass: the shards are poking through, slicing anyone who comes near. DeMuth's writing is a revelation. Hixon's relationship with God is a beautiful message to every reader; his struggle at the police station to do the right thing resonates. How do we treat others? Do we speak the truth in love or does love cover a multitude of sins? She never gives a sermon in her books, and yet the reader can't help but close the back cover with a deeper and richer understanding of God and his love. DeMuth carefully renders a haunting portrait of a woman so haunted by her past sins that she can't see any way out from under them and makes Emory's incomprehensible actions understandable. This is a deeply moving and multi-layered story from a masterful author.

Mary DeMuth's second book in the Defiance Texas Trilogy was every bit as good as the first. With flawless transition, Mary continues to craft a rich story of man's timeless quest for peace and purpose. Like Daisy Chain, this book addresses serious issues faced by many this century, and is often dark and difficult to read; yet at the same time, it is captivating and hard to put down. While many pages are filled with despair, they are bound together with a more prevalent hope. Surely any reader will identify with one or more of her authentic characters, join their journeys to forgive themselves and others, and collect nuggets of personal redemption along the way.

This is the second book of fiction that I have read written by Mary DeMuth. Just like the first one, Daisy Chain, this one A Slow Burn kept me up all night, I simply could not put it down. Her character development is amazing, the descriptions of Defiance so real, I immediately feel transported to this slow town in hot Texas. I can almost hear the dialogues and the scents, sounds, the wind, the heat from the fire are so vivid, I truly feel I am right there and not in the comfort of my little house in CA. Mary has a way with words that make them jump off the page and become alive. It is a delight to read such well written work.

I do not read a lot of fiction as most is so formulaic, and half way through the book I can usually predict the ending, not with Mary DeMuth's fiction. Her characters are not black and white, good and evil, but a little of both and many shades of gray, much like most of humanity. I can easily identify, although reluctantly, with Jed, Hap, Emory, and Ousie, all of whom I share experiences and feelings with. The only one I wished I could identify with is Hixon but if I am truly honest with myself I have a long way to go to be like him. Although this is fiction, it forced me to think, to reflect, to readjust, to reconsider and redirect - all the while keeping me at the edge of my seat as I followed the lives of the people in Defiance. Mary DeMuth shows that there is hope, there is redemption, and there is grace in this fallen world.

This is a book that will force the reader to think, it will challenge common wisdom and conventions and it will vividly depict the immense and incredible love of Jesus. There is only one problem with this book, that the third book is not available yet. I cannot wait to learn what will happen to my friends in Defiance.

What would you do if you were called to the morgue to identify the body of your thirteen-year-old daughter? What emotions would course through your soul as you were hit with the realization your drug and alcohol abuse may have played a part in the loss of your only child? What guilt might you attribute to her young friend, Jed, who was the last person to see her alive?

Emory Chance is a mother living through such an unthinkable situation. She seeks to find out who murdered her daughter, and why. Things like this just don't happen in their small Texas town. Others deal with problems of their own: Hixon, a man who believes God has told him to marry Emory, though they have little in common, and Jed, the boy reeling under the regret of not walking his friend home after they had last played together. The lives of these three characters intersect in unusual ways, up to the last pages of the book.

A Slow Burn is the sequel to Mary DeMuth's novel, Daisy Chain. It's important to read them in the correct order. Ms. DeMuth's writing is stellar--deep and flowing. The characters come alive and may remind you of people you've known in your past. Huge topics of forgiveness, regret, guilt, and blame are dealt with. This book will grab your emotions and give them a hard twist before leaving you with a satisfying ending. The two books would make a wonderful Christmas present. I give A Slow Burn one of my rare five-star ratings!

I've been reading christian fiction for a long, long time. Over the course of time I have seen quite a few changes in the writing of said fiction. I enjoy a good love story - something that takes me away and brings me back again with a feeling of contentment and time well spent.

Even so, I do step out of my comfortable reverie and read fiction that is a bit more edgy and compelling. Something that keeps me guessing and hoping. When I was asked to be an influencer for "A Slow Burn" by Mary Demuth I jumped at the chance. The opportunity to read cut-to-the heart fiction and then to share it with everyone I can think of is prettyy cool all on it's own.

That said, "A Slow Burn" gets my vote. It's a "real living" kind of story - pain, angst, tenderness and redemption all rolled into one. It's not a safe story - Emory Chance is raw and hard, living in a hard and judgemental time. The death of a child, the shame of a life of poor choices and how they came about, and the ability to be loved even when one feels unloveable can only be salved by God's grace and mercy and the committment of the wise among us.

So, friends, family, and interested others, I hope my copy makes it to you and that you in turn will puchase a copy to send on to someone else. Pay it forward!

A Slow Burn Book Two
Mary DeMuth
Zondervan
Copyright © by Mary E. DeMuth

This is the second in a trilogy about 13 - year old Daisy, who was murdered in the first book, Daisy Chain.
This book takes you through angry, un-swept, tear wet pathways of redemption.
Forgiveness and life change are definite themes throughout the book.
Emory, Daisy's mother is the main focus and a much greater understanding of who she is gets explained. For me, she went from a distant neighbor to more of a woman needing a friend stronger than her sins.
She battles drug addiction, guilt and her fair share of anger and she also relives a lot of memories of growing up.
Hixon, a favorite of mine from the start really shines in this book. The way he loves, his devotion to God even when no one was looking and the fruit of the Lord's Spirit in his life was wonderful.
Many others are seen more clearly this time around and Jed Pepper's mother Ouisie shows more power than the first time around. Speaking of Jed, I welcomed him with "open arms" when he shows up.

One thing I noticed in all of those who made up this story is how not one of them are all good guys or all bad guys. They all do good and bad . . . just like those of us who walk outside the pages of a book.

The book is fiction but there is truth found nestled in places. Like a place where Hixon reflects on a time God gave him words for a troubled teen he took in and loved.

"He's an orphan.
He is wounded. All he knows is self- protection. All he knows how to do is push back. He cannot trust on his own. Your love must come longer and stronger than his resistance."

Dealing with hurting souls myself (and haven't we all experienced pain within?) and being connected with others who do the same makes counsel like this stand out. Shine through.

My favorite part of the book is when Ouisie comes over to help Emory clean. There was something comforting about the scrubbing, creating order and making the rented house more a home.

I will be glad to finally have things revealed in the last book and look forward to reading it and finding out who the main characters will be!

Sandy W. [...]

Mary DeMuth reaches into the closets of the heart, exposes the harsh reality of the bleakest human conditions, and then shines the light of God's love and redemption. In A Slow Burn, the second book in her Defiance, Texas trilogy, I was once again compelled to tarry alongside desperately hurting indiviuals and see beyond the brokenness and destructive choices to the souls crying out for God to fill their emptiness, although they didn't yet recognize to Whom they were crying out. And while the story is fiction, the searing of my heart was as real as the pages I held in my hand.

A Slow Burn is truly a gripping novel. The focus is on Miss Emory, who is wracked with guilt over what has happened to Daisy. Anyone who is a mom can identify with the self-reproach and the second-guessing, the "if onlys." And Emory certainly has a boatload of maternal regrets. As she painfully discovers, her continued poor choices and ineffective coping mechanisms only magnify her despair, her grief, her bitterness, and her unwillingness to reach out to Jed, Daisy's broken-hearted friend who blames himself for her disappearance. To protect her own vulnerability, she lashes out at Ouisie and Hixson, the two friends who repeatedly offer kindness, support, and loving truth. Don't they realize she is beyond redemption? And why do these cryptic letters keep arriving in the mail, containing prayers and instructions to visit difficult places and uncover gaping wounds that she'd rather leave alone?

What will it take for Emory to realize how deeply she is loved? This is a masterful story to ponder long after the last page is turned.