"CHANGING WORLDS," by Amy Martinsen, Walnut Springs Press, $16.99, 214 pages (f)
Mormon Brigham Young University student Anna Barrett has fallen in love with an ex-Mafia man. And as a result, her life is in danger — as if nearly being killed at a girls camp wasn’t enough.
In Amy Martinsen’s "Changing Worlds," Anna works for Kamp Keepers, a company that hires BYU students to work at girls camps throughout the United States. This summer, Amy is sent to Camp Boughlynch in Kentucky. It quickly becomes apparent that Camp Boughlynch is not a normal, safe girls camp.
Luckily, Daniel Santini, a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is there to help protect the campers.
Quickly, Daniel and Amy find themselves falling in love as they perform camp duties (and as they sneak into the kitchen to cook midnight meals that make up for the camp cook's nasty food).
Eventually, Daniel reveals a startling secret: he’s the son of a powerful mob boss in Chicago. Daniel’s Mafia skills come in handy as he and Anna suspect the camp owners of illegal activities. But the real question is whether Daniel will be able to save Anna from his Mafia family.
"Changing Worlds" has a little bit of every genre — action, drama, romance, mystery, gospel and even a little bit of history. As the story unfolds, it's easy for curiosity about what is going to happen to increase.
The emphasis on the power of the Spirit, temple attendance and Jesus Christ’s Atonement can be inspiring. However, dialogue between Daniel and Anna on these spiritual and personal topics feels forced and cheesy.
While the novel tackles some realistic issues and relatable struggles, the plot is not quite believable. Of course, fiction doesn’t always have to be believable, and the unbelievability of this plot may be just what keeps the story from being a little bit frightening.
While the romance seems to move a little quickly, there is no sex, and intimacy doesn’t go beyond kissing. There is no swearing or described violence, but Mafia activity is briefly mentioned.
Katrina Lynn Hawkins is a graduate of Brigham Young University, a Utah native, and a freelance writer. Her email is katrina.hawkins21@gmail.com.