I recently started with Blogging for Books which is through Waterbrook Moltnomah.com. I selected Wildflowers From Winter by Kate Ganshert.
She is a Christian romance author. I was hooked at the first line. "The summer that I turned twelve, I tried to kill myself". How could you start a book with that first line and not keep reading?
Bethany Quinn is the main character of the book. She is the girl who tried to kill herself at age twelve. As the book unfolds, we find out why.
Following the death of her father, she had a stressed relationship with her mother. Her grandfather, Dan, and her best friend, Robin, are the two constants in her life. She made the decision to leave her hometown of Peaks to go to college and Robin stays behind. She later finds out that her friend as become a Christian. This is a problem for Bethany who believes that the church and Christianity changes people in horrible ways. Her experience with the church has been a bad one.
The story takes place ten years after she left town. She is an architect in Chicago and her mother calls to tell her that Robin needs her. She thinks about going back to home but doesn't until she gets the call that her grandfather has had a heart attack.
Once home, she reconnects with Robin and spends time with her grandfather and his farm hand, Evan. Robin's husband dies as does Bethany's grandfather. Her grandfather leaves her part of his farm and leaves the other party to Evan. This leaves Bethany with a hard decision to make.
We see how the people around her turn to God for answers and comfort, even in times when there is little or no hope for the situation. We learn that Bethany think that they are week for doing so and that she thinks people use religion as a crutch. We learn that it is all because of her experiences with her childhood pastor and how he believed and taught others.
Bethany learns that God doesn't wait until you are ready. She learns to trust and love and has the chance to see what a relationship with God really is and what she has been missing in her spiritual and personal life.
The story is well written and you can connect with the characters on a personal level. I did find it to be a little predictable but in a great way. It was a wonderful story and you need to have tissues ready for the last few chapters. In fact, I was thrilled to read that she is working on a second book to continue the story of the town of Peaks.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BloggingforBooks.orghttp://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
She is a Christian romance author. I was hooked at the first line. "The summer that I turned twelve, I tried to kill myself". How could you start a book with that first line and not keep reading?
Bethany Quinn is the main character of the book. She is the girl who tried to kill herself at age twelve. As the book unfolds, we find out why.
Following the death of her father, she had a stressed relationship with her mother. Her grandfather, Dan, and her best friend, Robin, are the two constants in her life. She made the decision to leave her hometown of Peaks to go to college and Robin stays behind. She later finds out that her friend as become a Christian. This is a problem for Bethany who believes that the church and Christianity changes people in horrible ways. Her experience with the church has been a bad one.
The story takes place ten years after she left town. She is an architect in Chicago and her mother calls to tell her that Robin needs her. She thinks about going back to home but doesn't until she gets the call that her grandfather has had a heart attack.
Once home, she reconnects with Robin and spends time with her grandfather and his farm hand, Evan. Robin's husband dies as does Bethany's grandfather. Her grandfather leaves her part of his farm and leaves the other party to Evan. This leaves Bethany with a hard decision to make.
We see how the people around her turn to God for answers and comfort, even in times when there is little or no hope for the situation. We learn that Bethany think that they are week for doing so and that she thinks people use religion as a crutch. We learn that it is all because of her experiences with her childhood pastor and how he believed and taught others.
Bethany learns that God doesn't wait until you are ready. She learns to trust and love and has the chance to see what a relationship with God really is and what she has been missing in her spiritual and personal life.
The story is well written and you can connect with the characters on a personal level. I did find it to be a little predictable but in a great way. It was a wonderful story and you need to have tissues ready for the last few chapters. In fact, I was thrilled to read that she is working on a second book to continue the story of the town of Peaks.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BloggingforBooks.orghttp://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
sounds prefect! being added to my list :)
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