Online for Authors Episode 2-25-25

​Rising Above: A YA Novel of Struggle and Triumph with Author Jake Lynch

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Jake Lynch, author of the book Broken to Beautiful. Jake Lynch is an author specializing in contemporary religious fiction and action-adventure novels. Having grown up under the teachings of Rick Warren, he has a strong devotion to God and actively seeks to love on others. While writing stories is entertaining, his main mission is to help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to bring hope and healing into the world.

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In my book review, I stated Broken to Beautiful by Jake Lynch is a YA contemporary Christian fiction that follows a loner high school student from the point of suicide to a place of love and beauty - all because of her walk with Christ.

Krystal struggles to fit in. In fact, she struggles to be seen at all. After years of loneliness, she decides that suicide is her best option. Thankfully, she does not succeed. Instead she meets a hospital janitor who helps her see that she may be more than she thought. As she comes to know God and allows Him into her life, she reaches out to others, helping them find answers to their own issues.

Krystal's character is very believable. As a once shy child, I remember those feelings of wanting to fit in but not quite knowing how. Jake did a great job showing readers her journey, and how, despite a religious transformation, the path forward wasn't all easy and paved with gold.
Jake also introduced a host of other characters, allowing readers to find the one they related to most - changing oneself to meet other's expectations, not knowing who you really are, being angry at God for something bad happening in your life, moving to a new location and having no friends, finding yourself pregnant and now an outcast. Essentially, whatever the issue, accepting Christ is a great place to start.

On the flipside, I felt Broken to Beautiful was too long and would have had a better punch had it been shorter. I would have reduced the characters as well as reduced the long scripture references. Additionally, some of the description was repetitive. Despite these issues, I enjoyed the book.

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Purchase Broken to Beautiful on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4dwCeEy
Ebook:https://amzn.to/4dwCeEy
Audiobook: https://amzn.to/4eD2D4o

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