Review: Independence (Significance #4) by Shelly Crane

Independence (Significance #4) by Shelly Crane

"In the fourth and final installment, Maggie and Caleb must tie up all the loose ends of their lives and make a way to be together completely on their own. 

With everything that happened with Bish and Maggie's father,

she's almost reluctant to move on and move out. 

And now she must figure out all of this...stuff...with Haddock. 

But of course, nothing can stay simple for the Jacobsons. 

Enemies who were thought to be dissolved have decided 

to not go down so easily. And old flames come calling for 

more than just Maggie. Caleb is torn between leading 

his family and personal wants. Maggie is torn between 

Caleb and being the leader of their people. But neither 

will let what they need most to be pushed to the wayside. 

They are determined to make it all work, design a plan toward destiny, and make everything right again for themselves and their family.
And then there's a wedding..."

Thoughts:

Oh my god Shelly Crane..........

I don't think I can write this review without either bursting out in tears (and I never cry for books) or smiling like a fool. This book was my most anticipated book of the year, I would say. Shelly Crane is no doubt my favorite author, and this series I a superb example why. I have met Shelly Crane and she is as talented as she is sweet. This book met all my expectations and more!

Maggie and Caleb's relationship grows a lot in this book, and you are able to get a more intimate (har har har) knowledge of the characters and their relationship. In this book you learn just how far the Jacobsons are willing to protect their family, and also get a sense of how close and accepting of each other they are. One of the things I like most about Shelly Crane's writing and more specifically this story is the underlying themes of trust, faith in people, and teamwork that are portrayed in the Significance series. This allows superb character growth, while still writing gracefully.

In this book, Maggie and Caleb explore themselves and each other way more than the other books. Shelly Crane doesn't force it on you, but you still get the sense of a strong - more unbreakable - bond of them. They see each other differently, and understand each other in different ways, that doesn't feel like obsession or lust. It seems as though it would be very hard not to do that in a book, and it confuses me why Shelly's books aren't more popular (well, besides the movie LOL).

The antagonist is freaking scary. Marcus just takes it to a whole new level in this book. But yet again, the author handles it gracefully by incorporating (as I interpreted) warnings about the affect of cowardice and grudges. Including this, the books also focus a lot on destiny and fate, you can see that in Maggie's visions and the very basis of imprinting itself. Shelly incorporates these, teaching the reader that you can change destiny, but you can't outrun fate.

Balancing the hatred and cowardice; Mrs. Crane shows the affect of kindness and forgiveness in the Significance series. The ability to overcome hatred and show mercy, while also implying (like said in The Hobbit) "True courage is knowing not only when to take a life, but when to spare one." That was just one of the things that drew me to the series. Yin and Yang, love and hatred, courage and cowardice. 

I only talked a little about the characters because I think the story deserves more than the Maggie & Caleb part. I feel that every book is a good one if you can learn from, and take those ideas with you for the rest of your life. This series has done that for me, and that is why I love it.

5 out of 5 stars

-M

P.S. Seriously though Shelly Crane, HOTT!

Link to Goodreads here.

Movie trailer here. (Just for investors)