Tuesday, January 21, 2014

First Chapter Review: Dreamer by Phillip L. Davidson


Dreamer by Phillip L. Davidson is a gritty faith-based military thriller. In the interest of full disclosure, I have been paid by the author's publicist to promote this book through a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book.

BLURB: The fiery relationship between Captain David Eliott and beautiful lover and wife Sonny creates a drama that will cross continents. She is the light of his world and suddenly disappears under the worst circumstances, which causes David to again become the man that he swore to forget. This military drama is full of intrigue and redemption.

Phil Davidson's book Dreamer is dedicated to preserving the bond of brotherhood that military members commit to, shows the power of faith in overcoming life's most adverse situations, shows the strength of families working through challenges, and the healing from trauma that occurs by becoming bold enough to face the enemies of your past.

COVER: While this cover doesn't hint at more than dreams and dreaming, it's stunning. It seems an odd choice for a faith-based military thriller, but I feel it works because it's beautiful and because dreams are so important to the plot. Will the cover keep guys from picking it up? I don't think so. I believe the blurb along with the cover will make them want to give this book a try.

FIRST CHAPTER: David is dreaming again of his days back in Vietnam, his men, and those tense days when he tries to learn why Jude did what he did. Waking up alongside Sonny, he begins his day while she walks to the chapel for mass. Along the way, she feels an evil presence that disturbs her, and she knows events from her past are anything but forgotten.

KEEP READING: I'm definitely intrigued by this book. Though the language is not what one would expect in a Christian fiction novel, I appreciate that Davidson has maintained the realistic nature of soldiers in combat. Dreamer's opening is intense. David and his men are knee-deep in rice paddy water escaping to safety. Davidson also brings conflict quickly into the story, so the hook is there.

What soon becomes evident is that these events took place in the past and David is dreaming again. The reader is then pulled into the present day story of David and his wife, Sonny. And after David leaves, the reader learns about a secret from Sonny's past that ends the chapter with a cliffhanger.

I definitely wish to continue, but the book needs more substantial editing. Almost every--if not every--instance of the word "off" is spelled "of," and though the blurb says the wife's name is Sonny, it's stated as "Sunny" throughout the first chapter. And while typos and grammar errors shouldn't be the main focus of a book, if there are enough of them, they become distracting.

I'm thinking the overall story arc will win me over and I'll be glad I read it. Since I've been privy to author interviews from this tour, I know the message and intent behind the writing of this story and that makes me want to continue even more.

Those who enjoy military thrillers and books with supernatural elements will want to check this one out.

File Size: 615 KB
Print Length: 383 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1440149283
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Phillip L. Davidson; 2 edition (September 4, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00EZVKPFU

View the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xkMUady7xU

Purchase information:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dreamer-Phillip-Davidson-ebook/dp/B00EZVKPFU/


Phillip L. Davidson is an attorney who lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Karen. He is a former infantry Captain who commanded a group of Cambodian and Vietnamese Kit Carson Scouts on a night ambush team in the Mekong Delta. Phil’s life in the military has provided him with a wealth of war stories. He has used his creative insight to produce a military action adventure of epic proportions. Dreamer is a must read book. He is currently at work on a second novel.

Visit the author online at http://www.phildavidsonbooks.com/.


I received a digital version of this book from the author's publicist. This publicist paid me to promote this book via a virtual book tour through Pump Up Your Book. This fee did not include a review. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.


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