Jumper by Jeff LaFerney
Summary:
After spending three years in jail and others completely alone, twenty-four-year-old Cole Flint discovers an amazing ability—he can time-travel and teleport. He’s a jumper. So what should the motorcycle-riding, cage-fighting tough guy do? He should protect an innocent eighteen-year-old girl who happens to be in possession of the Staff of Moses. Following the direction of a trio of angels who are determined to shake things up in the Middle East, Cole pairs up with Hannah Carpenter and her pet grizzly while he also tries to change his past and learn the mystery of his birth. Curiously, the King of Jordan knows all about Hannah, and he’s determined to gain possession of the staff. He’ll do anything to possess its power, but is it possible that he’s no more than a pawn, manipulated in time along with Cole and Hannah? Jumper is a mysterious roller coaster of action and a time-traveling adventure that will keep readers guessing right to the very last page.
*A copy was provided for an honest review*
My Review:
♫♫♫♫-Allegro!
I really enjoyed this book, very much! It was fun to read, and really intriguing. There was a GREAT story line and a world that is very imaginative.
As all great stories, there were many plot twists that I didn't see coming and like-able characters. For example, Cole. Cole may seem like the typical "bad boy" type. But, not really. He has an interesting story. Also, Hannah was great. She was strong throughout the book, even when she was confused about many things.
Although, with characters that I love, there also have to be characters that I don't like. Lauren, a reporter you meet early in the story, didn't really give me the same feelings I had for Cole and Hannah. Personally, I found her to be slightly obnoxious and prying. I thought I'd warm up to her later in the book, but I never did. Of course though, this is a personal preference.
Some parts of the novel were confusing with the constant time traveling. But hey, it's a time travel book. What book about time travel are you going to find that isn't confusing at some point? Even though I was confused at parts of the book, I ended up knowing very clearly what had happened throughout the story by the end.
The end of the book was good. It may not have ended exactly how I thought, or wanted, it to end, but it gave clarity to everything. The epilogue of the book may have been a little open ended, leaving the possibility for a second book.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this short, fun book! I'd recommend it to many. Put it on your to-read pile!
And now, here's an excerpt so you can get an idea of what the book will be like! Enjoy!
As the king’s car shifted into gear, Akmal-Adnan caught sight of the Carpenters making their way into the Church of Moses rather than back down the mountain. “Wait,” he ordered. “That girl…it’s her.” The order to hold was passed to the other drivers.
“It’s going to storm, Rich. Don’t you think this can wait until tomorrow?” Kristina asked.
“It’ll only take a minute. I’m dying to see it with my own eyes…photograph it. Don’t you want to touch it?”
Deafening thunder exploded, but Richard wasn’t to be denied. He withdrew his camera as the family entered the door to the historic stone church. There it was…with an increased, bright-blue hue. “Can you believe it?” he asked excitedly. An incredible bolt of lightning could be seen through the open remains of the uncanopied portion of the Basilica followed almost immediately by another tremendous explosion of thunder.
He slid his hand along the staff reverently as he shot picture after picture. It possessed breathtaking beauty. Purity emanated from the polished gem, and again, it seemed a living entity. The family, in awe and reverence, gathered around the staff in admiration. Another brilliant flash of lightning and a horrifying peel of thunder broke them from their trance.
“We need to go,” Sarah begged. “I’m scared.”
“Okay, you’re right. Let’s each give the thing a heft and get out of here.”
“It’s time,” Cassiel ordered Perisa. “Go to Cole Flint, and send him now.”
Perisa disappeared as Richard gave the staff a yank. It stood firm. Kristina tried next. Still, no movement occurred. Sarah nervously glanced to the sky as she gripped the staff and another thunderclap, louder than any other, shook the mountain. She gripped, yanking on the gem with no luck and then ran, her father and mother following closely behind her. They exited the church as huge drops of rain began to fall. Richard put his arms around his wife and daughter before realizing that Hannah wasn’t with them.
Hannah seemed under a trance. Her family fled before she could try to dislodge the staff herself. Slowly, she reached forward and grabbed hold with her right hand. She felt peace as her palm gripped the radiant gem. The staff was warm to the touch, as if it flowed with energy and power. It felt right in her hand, like a comfortable tool—as if it belonged to her. Only a mere few seconds passed, but Hannah felt as if time wasn’t of any essence. This rod that once divided the Red Sea beckoned her to lift it. She felt relaxed as she tightened her grip and wasn’t surprised in the least as it slid out of the rock without any resistance at all. The Staff of Moses balanced comfortably—delicately—in her right hand. In a sort of dazed wonder, she walked with it to the church exit, and right as she stepped out from the church, her father glanced back to look for her. Hannah Carpenter possessed the Staff of Moses.
King Adnan saw Hannah exit the church with the staff and gave a quick order. “Take it! Take it now!” Within seconds, doors flew open and Royal Special Forces, amidst a torrential rainstorm, aimed their weapons at Hannah.
Lauren caught a glimpse of the girl from her news-van window at precisely the time she exited the church. She quickly took out her cell phone and began recording the scene as the Jordanian military police surrounded Hannah and the Carpenter family. Lauren could see the fear in the girl’s eyes despite the driving rain as guns pointed menacingly at her.
Out of the pouring rain, a bright-blue motorcycle appeared, its muscular driver in a blue, sleeveless shirt and dark, blue jeans materializing from thin air. The machine landed on the stony, muddy ground with a sideways skid and slid to a momentary stop right before the girl. Hannah’s attention diverted from the gunmen to the stunning, dark-haired rider. With no hesitation, Cole Flint, the time traveler, stood quickly, lifted her, set her facing him on the seat, and accelerated in an incredible burst of speed toward the stone church. From the viewpoint of the Carpenter family, the government entourage, and Lauren Molina, it appeared that he drove right through the stone wall. The girl, the staff, and the mysterious rider had simply vanished.
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