Driven by Sara Davison is what I read this week. It’s the third book in the Night Guardians series, one you won’t want to miss. But first the photo. I captured the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee from the screened-in porch of our apartment. It was our first morning in Tiberius and the apartment was quite an adventure to find. It was on a one-way street and we went in on the wrong way EVERY time!
Now on to Driven by Sara Davison.
Children aren’t the only ones who can disappear…
Driven by ongoing grief and relentless dreams, Holden determines to track down a child. A child his brother Gage abducted eight years earlier. The rescue that might have saved Matthew Gibson’s life had cost Gage his. Proving his brother hadn’t sacrificed his life for nothing might be the only way Holden can start fully living his again. And it could be the last chance he has to find his way back to the wife he loves who is also mired in grief and a crisis of faith.
Mikayla Grant has nightmares of her own. A road trip with private investigator Jax Rodriguez–a man she is strongly drawn to even though his primary goal seems to be to drive her crazy. That surely can’t be the way to heal from a terrible loss. Can it?
Holden, Mikayla, and Jax follow the missing child’s trail from Toronto to Chicago. But their mission is not as secret as they thought. Someone knows they are coming and will stop at nothing to prevent them from finding the child Gage rescued.
And to make sure that no one ever hears from the three of them again.
Driven by Sara Davison:
This emotionally charged book drew me in from the first chapter on. After Holden Kelly and his wife lose their unborn baby son, Holden dreams about the last boy his brother Gage rescued. The boy that cost Gage his life. (You can read about Gage in Vigilant. (It isn’t necessary at all to read the other two books in this series to enjoy this book. However, reading them will fill in a lot of backstory.)
Six months pass
Holden and Christina have grown apart as each grieves separately for their son. Christina turns inward. Holden takes it as a good sign when she agrees to attend a dinner party, hosted by her best friend and Holden’s former sister-in-law, Nicole and her husband Detective Daniel Grey. Nicole’s sister Mikayla Grant is there along with private investigator, Jax Rodriguez. Mikayla takes an instant distrust of the handsome PI.
After dinner, Holden slips away to Daniel’s office to get rid of a headache and finds a photo of the boy he dreams about. Daniel is still trying to find the boy who was stolen from his abusive father by an elusive organization that rescued children from those types of situations.
When Mikayla sees the photo…
She recognizes the boy as a kid from her neighborhood. And the search is on. Mikayla, Jax, and Holden leave for Chicago the next day and search for the boy. When Jax says he was a boy scout, Mikayla challenges him to camp out instead of stay at a nice hotel which brings much laughter.
I loved the way Davison worked in the growing attraction of Mikayla to Jax. She respects the way he handles their situation, and his heartache that she can relate to. What none of them knows is the organization is on to them and will stop at nothing, even murder to keep them from finding the boy.
Of course, they do find him, and that brings danger. Just when Holden believes he might have a future with his wife, he might not live to see it. Same with Jax and Mikayla…and Daniel. This organization will stop at nothing.
One thing I like about this series that deals with this organization is the way it handles the subject. In every case, the stolen child is in a better environment with parents who love them, and many of the children were in danger of being killed by the abusive parent.
I really enjoyed Driven by Sara Davison! You can get it on Amazon for $3.99.
As I said earlier, this book presents a moral dilemma. Leave children with abusive parents or do something about it. One character in the series joined the organization, and it cost him dearly. Another played it by the book and that cost him dearly. Leave a comment with your thoughts on the matter…
What I'm Reading--Driven by Sara Davison. #Christianfiction This is a book you won't want to miss! Read my review! And leave a comment to be entered in a February drawing for a book from my library. Share on X
Discover more from Patricia Bradley
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Comments 36
My initial feeling is that you first remove the child from an abusive situation, placing them with Christian parents who can teach them the Truth and treat them right, then reach out to the parents, whether in or out of jail, and try to bring them to Christ, and teach them the (a?!) right way to raise children. Obviously, a lot of decisions would be subjective, based on each particular situation. Also, I am a sheltered former homeschooler, so don’t have a load of real-world experience in this kind of hard situation. 🙂
Looking forward to hearing other people’s opinions!
Author
Monique, you have the right idea. It’s just that here it isn’t always easy to remove children from abusive parents. Thanks so much for wading into a difficult question!
That is quite a picture! I have never made that journey, so I continue enjoying the trip vicariously.
I like your review of this book. I proofread each book in the series so I hope you didn’t find any errors. I also reviewed each one. What you said about being able to read this one by itself is true, I personally recommend reading the series in order. I especially suggest that if someone hasn’t yet been introduced to the series.
Author
Yes, Edward, I think it would be better to read the other two first, especially since they’re very good reads, but this one would be enjoyable even if you haven’t read those. 🙂
I hope you get to go to Israel someday. I’m so glad I went–I almost didn’t go. I signed up the last possible day to go. lol
I don’t think I said what I meant this morning. I meant to express that anyone who plans to read them all will benefit more by reading them in sequence. However, any of them are good reads all on their own.
My main reason for this additional comment is that I failed to respond to the dilemma you posed, or maybe I should say that the book posed. I think it’s a dilemma because there doesn’t seem to be a perfect answer. I agree with Tim that prayer is very crucial in these cases. The actions taken often vary from case to case. When I was young enough to get actively involved in things like this, we seldom were even aware of such things going on. That makes it terribly difficult to offer an answer about which path to follow.
Author
Edward, I agree. And the book didn’t pose an answer, either, because maybe there’s not one. It’s a hard question, and I can see how the woman who was the head of the organization could get involved–I’d like to know her back story…
Questions like these are always difficult, and sometimes there is no right answer; sometimes not even a good answer. Children should not have to suffer an abusive situation. How to prevent that, or how to fix that are questions that must be answered on both moral and legal grounds, and what is within a person’s capabilities. I think the first tool is prayer. The next depends on a person’s relationship to the child and/or the abuser. This is where it gets tricky. Sometimes what one person sees as abuse, another might consider OK. As an extreme example, one might consider teaching a child about God is abusive because it interferes with the child’s right to make their own decision later.
Again, I think our first tool is prayer; for the child, the abuser, and for direction on how we should proceed.
Author
So agree, Tim, that prayer is the first thing we should do. It is a hard question to answer. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Is there ever a right answer in these situations. I’ve seen children removed and put in foster care that turned out horribly. Seek God first and pray, pray, pray. Blessings
Author
I know, Lucy. I’ve seen the same thing. Prayer is so important! Thanks for stopping by.
Good but you should add that there was no other way to reach the apartment and we pursued from every other direction. That was even the only approach available to regular building residents. Yes, an exciting, unforgettable time.
Author
I know, Delores–we tried to get there going in the right direction, but that proved impossible. lol It was a fabulous trip!
I agree with comments already made. Much prayer needs to happen before making decisions for a child in an abusive situation. Unfortunately history shows us that foster families are not all alike, so the possibility exists of moving a child from one abusive situation into another. Prayer, prayer, prayer!!
Author
Yes, Betti, much prayer needs to go into each sitution! There are so many good foster parents out there, but then again there are those who are in it for what few dollars they can get…and for other reasons. Thanks for stopping by.
The picture in Tiberius draws me there. So want to go.
Author
I hope you get to go one day, Lisa! And I hope I get to return. To see Capernum–Peter’s home town–and the Sea of Galilee was amazing! Thanks for stopping by.
This is a tough situation to know what to do so I agree with others to pray and rely on experts. Foster care seems to be a last resort. I have some of this series on Kindle as I have heard great things about Sara Davison and this series.
Author
Gloria, it is a great series! I’ve really enjoyed it and now have to catch up on Sara’s other books! Thanks for stopping by.
I like the cover and it sounds like a good read. I like the missing child idea. Thanks for the chance.
Author
It was very interesting, Lynn! So glad you stopped by.
This book sounds like a Great read! Thank you for sharing about it. I strongly agree that a child needs to be removed from an abusive home. Have a Great weekend and stay safe.
Author
Alicia, it is a great read! So glad you stopped by.
Thank you so much, Patricia, for highlighting Driven on your blog – I deeply appreciate it and am so happy you enjoyed it. Everyone’s comments are very interesting – it’s definitely a moral dilemma with no easy answers. This series doesn’t offer any (I hope) but I believe that everyone who said that the journey to finding those answers begins (and ends) with a lot of prayer is exactly right.
Author
I agree, Sara! I loved this series and this book. Thanks for joining us! What’s next?
Sounds really good. Thanks for sharing!
Author
Megan, Driven is very good! The whole series is good. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Pat, Thank you for your wonderful review of Driven. Sara’s series sounds like a must read.
Enjoy your weekend!
Author
Thanks, Caryl! I’m looking forward to above freezing temps! Thanks for stopping by.
I agree if a child is being abused, remove them from the situation. Book sounds great! Stay safe and warm in this crazy weather.
Author
Shelia, the book raises this question…how far should someone go to remove a child from a dangerous family. Thanks for stopping by. And you stay safe and warm, too! This too shall pass!
Beautiful photo. It sounds like a really interesting book, very intriguing. Thank you for sharing.
Author
Thanks, Diana. I think you also love the one for Tuesday. It was sent to me by one of the readers and it is AWESOME. Now to find the perfect verse. I think you’d love this series.
These sound like great books. Quite a puzzle how to proceed when a child is beings abused. I believe things should be done within the law. But what if the law doesn’t protect the child?
Author
That is the question this book raises…and how far to go, Paula. Very intriguing. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pat, this book series sounds like one that can really stop and make a reader think. I’m going to check it out. I love your picture of Tiberius. I haven’t been to Israel yet, but it’s definitely a place I’d love to see!
Author
Jeanne, I believe you’d love Israel. I hope to go again someday. And The Night Guardian series is wonderful! Thanks for stopping by my blog!