Book Review: Atheists Who Kneel and Pray

Title Atheists Who Kneel and Pray
Author Tarryn Fisher
Release Date July 13, 2017

Yara Phillips is a wandering muse.

She dates men who need her, but always moves on to something new, never staying in one place for very long.

David Lisey is in need of a muse.

A talented musician lacking lyrical inspiration. When he first sees her, he knows he's found what he's been looking for.

Yara believes she can give David exactly what he needs to reach his full potential:
A broken heart.

David’s religion is love.

Yara’s religion is heartache.

Neither is willing to surrender, but religion always requires sacrifice.

Review

Atheists Who Kneel and Pray feels different from other Tarryn Fisher books I've read. Don't get me wrong, it's still Tarryn Fisher. The words are beautiful and they make you feel things, deep and aching things. So the way the story is told feels much the same as her other books, but the heart of the story feels different.

I didn't feel as gutted and emotionally raw after reading Atheists Who Kneel and Pray. This felt like a more soothing and sweet love story than what I might have normally expected from Tarryn. I loved seeing this from her. I know that she can craft a story that will tear you down before building you up, so it was nice to see something a little more tame.

When I finished this book, I instantly wanted to rate it five stars. I loved this book. It touched me in ways that I needed. That being said, I'm only rating it four stars now that I've had a bit to digest the story and think it over. Here's what I had some issues with...

1. Why didn't David search for Yara after she left? She left after six weeks of being married. He didn't start searching for her until their second anniversary had passed. Like, what? How can you go so long without searching for the woman you love?

2. How in the ever living hell could David get with Petra after Yara left? Yes, I understand that Yara left David. I understand she moved on. I understand that he moved on. I understand all of that. But why Petra? Why HER of all people? He claimed to still be in love with Yara after all that time, but yet he started a relationship and became engaged to the one woman that caused such anguish for his wife. I do not understand.

3. The ending was abrupt. I loved that David and Yara reconciled. I wanted them to be together. Because of that, I needed more. I needed to see them come together in love again. We see that for a brief period before the book ends, but I need more to believe in their happily ever after. I feel like Yara and David have a rough road ahead of them to get to their HEA and I wanted to see more of that. That real and raw pain it takes to get to the HEA is what makes it so much sweeter. I definitely missed it here.

Rating

☆☆☆☆☆