AC Chenier’s romantic novel is set in mystical ruins in Egypt and its two lovers are ordered together by destiny. Despite pulling Kelly and Neil apart and forcing them back together several times, there is little suspense that the pair will ultimately end up together. The reader is told repeatedly that the attraction between the two is incredibly powerful, inexplicable, and like nothing either character has ever felt before.Watch movie online The Transporter Refueled (2015)
But the description and the chemistry ends there. Readers are deprived of really sensing the passion that Chenier claims exists between the two. Sparks are flying, but it’s hard to believe. In fact, the dialogue between all of the characters is really difficult to believe. Instead of using conversations to develop characters and personalities, they seem oddly formal and forced—like the author is trying to cram background information into people’s casual—or worse, romantic—chats. One gets the sense that the characters are speaking for the benefit of communicating something to the reader, not for the sake of really expressing themselves to one another.
Most disappointing is the fact that the premise has great potential. The Templar Knights is a fascinating topic that almost seems wasted since Chenier glosses over the secrecy surrounding them until about two-thirds of the way through the novel. Even at the end, the mystery that Chenier presents is left unsolved and the reader is still left in the dark. The mysticism of reincarnation and the notion of soul mates is rather intriguing, though. Throughout most of the novel, the reader and the main characters are trying to uncover the exact nature of this chronicle—not because it’s particularly complicated, but because for so many pages, there is no conflict. Kelly and Neil are just in love and curious about the Templar Knights. But through visions, dreams, and hypnotist sessions, the significance of the Knights in both their lives is revealed and, just like Kelly, the reader is asked to take some leaps of faith.
Ultimately, the passion Chenier wants Kelly and Neil to feel for one another is muted. There’s no friction nor playful banter. In terms of plot, there’s not much conflict, and the reader is never flying through pages to have a secret revealed. And yet the story is compelling enough to keep reading until the end.
By having fate force the main two main characters together, author AC Chenier misses the opportunity to tell a really passionate love story set against the backdrop of the romantic Templar history. But the story that’s written is compelling enough to keep the reader engaged until the end.
~Erin Greenhalgh for Indie Reader