The Curse of Misty Wayfair Two Day Event: Interview with Jaime Jo Wright, Giveaway and Reviews

Interview

Inkwell Inspirations Reviewer Paula Shreckhise asks:
Have you always been interested in the mysterious?

Jaime Jo Wright answers: Always!!! From a young age I was fascinated with anything unsolved, anything secretive, anything treasure-like waiting to be discovered!

Paula: What made you decide to write dual-time novels?

Jaime: Honestly, my friend and mentor, Colleen Coble suggested it to me one night while we were chatting. It was almost a side comment, but it obviously hit home!

Paula: Did research on this book take you on a road trip?

Jaime: Yep! My family went with me to the town Pleasant Valley is based on in Northern Wisconsin and to the lodge where Heidi’s family’s business is also modeled after. It’s always fun to take research trips with the family!

Paula: What interesting thing did you find in your research that didn’t make it into the story?

Jaime: Lots of horrific treatment of asylum patients. I discovered it wasn’t uncommon for people to be admitted for reasons such as grief, scandal, or misbehavior. I also studied many of the so-called “treatments” and how brutal they were to the patients. Some doctors were genuine in their drive to find a cure, others most assuredly seemed more like scientists with a guinea pig than someone passionate to find relief for their patients.

Paula: What genre do you enjoy reading?

Jaime: All kinds, truly. But I do love the gothic mystery or for lighter reading, I’ll gravitate to a cozy historical romance.

Thanks for visiting, Jaime! 

Professional coffee drinker and Daphne du Maurier and Christy Award Winning author, Jaime Jo Wright resides in the hills of Wisconsin writing spirited romantic suspense stained with the shadows of history. Coffee fuels her snarky personality. She lives in Neverland with her Cap’n Hook who stole her heart and will not give it back, their little fairy Tinkerbell, and a very mischievous Peter Pan. The foursome embark on scores of adventure that only make her fall more wildly in love with romance and intrigue. Jaime lives in dreamland, exists in reality, and invites you to join her adventures at jaimejowright.com

Paula's Review: 
The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright is phenomenal and profound.

If I could give it more stars I would. This is one of my top reads of 2019.

Pleasant Valley, in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, connects Thea Reed and Heidi Lane across the decades as does the legend of Misty Wayfair. Thea and Heidi have been searching for acceptance and identity and their journeys intersect in the unlikely place of an insane asylum.

The dual-time story is rich with the mysterious. The narrative is elegant, evoking a setting that pulls you into the story. The characters Ms. Wright pens are flawed, human, and relatable. She aptly portays each time period and connects them seamlessly. The heroes are supportive of the heroines and they are the strong silent types but have their own personalities.

The spiritual truth within these pages is something we all need to ponder: “We weren’t created to find our identity in life. We were created to discover our Creator. In doing so, our identity is defined.”

I love that Ms.Wright starts where the Bible starts: with a Creator and His creation. For Jesus was revealed in Genesis!

Ms. Wright handles the topics of mental illness and autism with finesse and sensitivity. How she presents the contrasts of 1908 and the present shows how far we have come in the care of these disorders.

How could this baffling saga impact a lady from 1908 and one from another century? I had a delightful time as the stories unfolded. This is the kind of Christian Fiction I adore: suspenseful and historical.

Although the book comes to a satisfying conclusion, I am glad not all the threads were tied up at the end. It gives you something to ponder. This story will linger.

This is the third novel I have read by Jaime Jo Wright and she just keeps getting better!

I recommend this novel to those who are looking for an exceptional, thought provoking, engrossing and intense Christian book.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

Susan’s Review:

"Why do people dismiss the dead so easily? Once you're passed, you're no longer important?'
Jaime Jo Wright has brought us another extremely intriguing novel, this one a bit creepy, too. Written in her signature dual time line, it held me completely enthralled. Here's why:
Thea Reed----photographer of the dead, orphan, searching for her story
Simeon Coyle---groundskeeper of a mental asylum, photographs the patients for the records
Heidi Lane---unwanted, anxious, always looking for somewhere to belong
Rhett Crawford---rescuer of those who don't realize they need rescuing.
Misty Wayfair---wrongly murdered, still trying to punish those responsible?
With a character cast like this, how can the reader not be captivated with what lies within the pages of the book? Thea Reed was left on the steps of an orphanage as a small child and has come to Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin in 1908 desperate to find her mother. Everything she hears leads her to a mental asylum, where, if truth be told, all is definitely not well. She agrees to help Simeon Coyle, groundskeeper, photograph the patients for record keeping purposes. It doesn't bother her because her job is to photograph the dead.
The legend of Misty Wayfair has been brought to life again in both timelines. Misty, who was murdered and now haunts the area and death follows in her wake.
Present day: Heidi Lane gets a cryptic letter from her mother, a victim of dementia, that begs her to return home to Pleasant Valley at once. A letter that speaks of voices, ghosts and things that need to be fixed. Heidi sees a ghostly woman at her window shortly after settling in at her sister's lodge, and finds a hundred-year-old photograph album with a dead woman's photo who looks exactly like her. The woman at the window haunts the grounds of the now abandoned asylum. And the legend of Misty Wayfair is once again resurrected as Heidi now has reason to fear for her life.
Can these two women, over 100 years apart, find the answers they seek and disprove the original curse that link them?
Jaimie Jo Wright brought us her debut novel two years ago and it was amazing. Now she is proving that she is only getting better! This book completely captivated me! Completely intriguing, it was, and all through it, my mind kept casting about trying to figure out what was going on. Never once did I guess, either. Wonderful writing, engaging characters and a plot that just grabs the mind, this one is one for the keeper shelf. Highly recommended.

*My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook:
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Read Yesterday's post with two reviews, and a link to an excerpt!

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The Curse of Misty Wayfair Two-Day Event: Giveaway, Excerpt and Reviews

About The Curse of Misty Wayfair:

Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday. Now grown, her search takes her to Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, in 1908. When clues lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a post-mortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simeon Coyle in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within. However, she never expected her personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death.

A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother—who is battling dementia—compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity. When she catches sight of a ghostly woman who haunts the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns—and with it, Heidi's fear for her own life.

As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, can they overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined.

Here's a link to an excerpt from Chapter One!
Come back, read our reviews, and enter our giveaway

Daphne du Maurier and Christy Award Winning author Jaime Jo Wright, pens romantic suspense stained with history’s secrets. Coffee drinker by day, and coffee drinker by night.

Jaime Jo Wright's Social Media Links:

Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon

Bethany Publishing is providing a paperback of THE CURSE OF MISTY WAYFAIR. To be eligible, enter our rafflecopter below.


Trixi's Review:

“A ghost had risen up from the album's pages, beckoned to her, and begged to have her story told.”

This book should come with a warning label: Do Not Read At Night! I mean you are talking an age old curse of Misty Wayfair who is said to haunt the woods that surround an old asylum. Just reading about the legend had my skin crawling...GAH! But as with the other two novels Wright has written, there really is much more to it than meets the eye! Layers upon layers and threads upon threads twist and curl like a ghostly hand to keep you absolutely glued to the pages. And again, as the other two Wright novels, the lives of two women separated by a hundred years of history weave a tale of family secrets that would rather stay buried in the ground. They don't want to give up the ghost, in a manner of speaking!

With her signature snappish prose and words that come alive, Wright had me digging deeper into two families who seemingly have no connection.  As those threads began to knit together,  more and more questions begged to be answered. How did Misty Wayfair connect two women? What do Thea and Heidi have in common? And how can I possibly write a review without giving anything away? Just know that I as I read this, I was both scared out of my mind and yet was too morbidly fascinated not to continue till the end. After all, there were answers I needed to know, almost as necessary as breathing! Really under it all is the lesson two women learn trying to find their identity  and place in the world, but ultimately finding their Creator God had already carved out a place for them in Him. 

“We weren't created to find our identity in life. We were created to discover our Creator. In doing so, our identity is defined.”

Compelling, beautifully haunting, poignant, engaging, and thrilling, this story will wrap itself around you capturing more than just your emotions. It'll remind you of who you are and what you were meant to be in Christ.

*I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House on the author's behalf and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *

Rebecca’s review: 
"You are the reason the voices are never heard. . . . . .come . . . come quickly."

Two women, separated by time and eternity, yet inexplicably drawn together by a postmortem photograph and a cryptic letter crafted by one whose mind has become crippled beyond recognition. Both are determined to find answers to the question that continually rages in their minds; "who am I"?

Dorothea Reed, orphaned at a young age and now a postmortem photographer, is drawn to the small town of Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin to search for clues about her birth mother, never imagining the trail would lead to the front door of a local mental asylum whose residents simply live in order to die. And then there are the unexplained sightings of a local woman who has been dead for years, the cursed Misty Wayfair.

One hundred years later, Heidi Lane returns to her home town of Pleasant Valley after being summoned by her aging mother. Heidi has a myriad of questions about her past that she's not sure her remaining parent can answer; for it appears that someone, or something, is determined to destroy Heidi's thin thread of equilibrium. And what about that old photograph; the one she happened upon in the town's antique store, the woman could be her twin.

It's so rare to read a book with this many layers . . . . and yet every single one of them carries its own weight so beautifully . . . . while together they appear as a single thread. It's magnificent to behold.

"Fix your eyes on the target and let the arrow fly. The rest will follow."

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. 

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook:
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PRICE OF PRIVILEGE SERIES by Jessica Dotta, Reviewed by Kim

I am not really sure how to even review these books without spoilers! This is a three book series that you cannot read out of order.  It is also not one that you can only read the first story. You need to read the entire trilogy. It’s really one story told in three books. 

Honestly, I have a love/hate relationship with this series. What I loved: It has one of the absolute best heroes ever. He perfectly models the love of Christ! (Thank you Courtney and Rachel for pointing that out to me when I couldn’t yet see it!)

😉 This series has the Best. Villain. Ever!!! I mean EVER!! I so didn’t want him to be a villain. He was AMAZING! That is all I can really say without giving anything away!

What I hated: I cannot tell you or I’d seriously be into major spoiler territory! I know! I know! Horrible! But I just can’t. I will say there was a thread to the story that I wish I would have had a more complete picture of. 

*I purchased these books. 

NOTE From Deb: This series is older and many of us are eagerly awaiting new stories from the author. Until they, they tend to be re-read! 

BACKCOVER BLURBS:

This Collection combines all three books in Jessica Dotta’s historical-romance Price of Privilege series into one volume for a great value!

#1 Born of Persuasion:
The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland. With two months to devise a better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, a realm of possibilities opens. However, treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own. But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly.

#2 Mark of Distinction:
London is said to be the glittering jewel of society, a world unto itself—but to Julia Elliston it is a city of shadows. Her life is swiftly dissolving into scandal. And in Victorian society, even a whisper of scandal—substantiated or not—can be the death of a young woman’s reputation. Now under the watchful eye of Lord Roy Pierson, one of most influential men in England, Julia begrudgingly accepts his protection. But Chance Macy’s power is far-reaching as well, and he is eager to assert his claim over her. Thrust into society as the Emerald Heiress, Julia is the toast of London, a celebrated curiosity. But in reality she’s trapped between the clutches of two powerful men. Aided only by a gentleman whose intentions she prays she can trust, Julia must finally take control of her own fate—but outwitting one’s foe rarely goes according to plan.

#3 Price of Privilege:
Having finally discovered the truth of her birthright, Julia Elliston is determined to outwit Chance Macy at his own game. Holding a secret he’d kill to keep, however, is proving more difficult than she imagined. Just when Julia thinks she’s managed to untangle herself from Macy’s clutches, he changes tactics with a risky ploy. As the scandal of the century breaks loose, drawing rooms all over London whisper what so far newspapers have not dared to print: Macy’s lost bride is none other than Lord Pierson’s daughter—and one of the most controversial cases of marital law ever seen comes before Victorian courts. Though Julia knows Macy’s version of events is another masterful manipulation, public opinion is swaying in his favor. Caught in a web of deceit and lies, armed only with a fledgling faith, Julia must face her fiercest trial yet.

Available in digital ebook and paperback or in the set of three digital version:
Buy the Price of Privilege novels at Amazon
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TAKEN IN TEXAS by Susan Sleeman, Reviews by Trixi Oberembt and Susan Snodgrass

Trixi's Review:
Kendall has always tried to prove herself more capable than what her brothers or dad see her as and getting the detective job is a good starting point. This is the first test of what could be a new career for her. She's competent and level-headed, if only others around her would quit treating her like the little sister and girl they still view her as. Going off half-cocked puts her in danger when she sees the abductors face. Ex-boyfriend Cord becomes concerned when he can't get a hold of his Aunt Eve. Driving from Houston to her property, he runs into Kendall knocked out cold on her kitchen floor and his aunt nowhere in sight. After the shock of seeing each other wears off, they must work together to find his Aunt before it's too late! Add to the mix, his own nephew whom he has guardianship of, and the danger factor ramps up. Can they find enough clues to rescue Eve before it's too late? 

Definitely a page turner and plenty of thrilling action to keep the story moving! It left me trying to piece the clues together along with Kendall and Cord. As for the romance, there were reasons they never made a go of it years ago and trying to work past those feelings is a challenge they aren't sure they are up to.  He has plenty of guilt and self-blame to overcome, and she has a drive to prove herself that often distorts her logic and puts her in danger. It's interesting to watch the character growth in these two. Learning to let go of things and place them in the Lord's hands isn't always easy, but must be done in order to move on in life. These two learn that lesson the hard way it seems! Another great suspense and riveting conclusion to the McKade family series. I will miss this clan of law enforcement agents, they became like my own! I can't wait to see what's next from Sleeman, it's always a guaranteed thrilling suspense story.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *

 
Susan's Review:
'You can't claim responsibility for someone's death without also claiming to have power over life and death. You don't have that. Only God does.'

Susan Sleeman takes her readers for quite a thrilling ride on this last in her McKade's Law series . In my opinion, this is the best! This one features Kendall McKade, who is on her first case as a deputy sheriff in Lost Creek, Texas. A missing senior citizen turns out to be the aunt of her ex boyfriend, Cord Goodwin. When she surprises an intruder at the woman's house and is hurt, Cord shows up looking for his aunt and finds her unconscious on the floor. Cord now must find his aunt, keep Kendall safe and also mend his relationship with his new orphaned nephew, who he is adopting. Kendall broke up with Cord because he was so controlling, but now she must depend on his for someone is targeting her.

Sleeman is at her best here, giving us more than one mystery, springing surprises along the way and teaching us a very valuable spiritual lesson. Those wonderful lessons is something she does in every book and it's quite good here. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and highly recommend it. Now I look forward to what Susan Sleeman will bring her fans next. It's sure to be good!

*My thanks to the publisher and author for a preview copy of this book. A positive review was not required and the opinions expressed here are entire my own.

BackCover Blurb: 
A cowboy protector from her past…

A McKade Law novel
Working her first case as deputy sheriff with her ex-boyfriend, Detective Cord Goodwin, Kendall McKade is determined to track the kidnappers—even if it makes her a target. Desperate to find the abducted victim, his aunt, Cord must keep Kendall safe…while also caring for his recently orphaned nephew. Teaming up threatens to rekindle Cord and Kendall’s relationship, but first they must solve a life-threatening mystery.
Available in digital ebook and two sizes of paperback: Preorder now for Feb 1 release.
Buy Taken in Texas at Amazon
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THE BRIDE OF IVY GREEN by Julie Klassen, Reviewed by Susan Snodgrass

'Mercy reminded herself that God did not promise ease and happiness in this life. But He did promise peace and joy, and she was determined to hold on to both, somehow.'

I have sincerely looked forward to Julie Klassen's final of her Tales from Ivy Hill series. I certainly have thoroughly enjoyed reading each book. In fact, I have read all her books, not just this series, and have never been disappointed in one of them.

Mercy Grove has lost her precious girls' school and has simply resigned herself to life as a spinster dependent on the kindnesses of her family. When her brother returns to Ivy Cottage with his new wife, things just don't seem like they will guarantee a pleasant future. And Jane Bell is also facing some challenges in her own life. Can she give up her inn if it means marrying Gabriel Locke? Can she doom him to a childless marriage? In the midst of all this, a new seamstress comes to town and all it not as it seems with this lady.

Surprises lie in store for many here and dreams are on their way to coming true. I laughed and wept during the reading of this book. Julie Klassen has brought this series to an end in a most admirable, satisfying and delightful way. I enjoyed it tremendously. Highly recommended.

*My thanks to Bethany House and the author for a copy of this book. All opinions stated are entirely my own. 

BackCover Blurb:
Much has happened in idyllic Ivy Hill in recent months, and while several villagers have found new love and purpose, questions remain--and a few dearly held dreams have yet to be fulfilled.

Jane Bell is torn. Gabriel Locke is back and has made his intentions clear. But Jane is reluctant to give up her inn and destine another man to a childless marriage. Then someone she never expected to see again returns to Ivy Hill. . . .

Mercy Grove has lost her school and is resigned to life as a spinster, especially as the man she admires seems out of reach. Should she uproot herself from Ivy Cottage to become a governess for a former pupil? Her decision will change more lives than her own.

A secretive new dressmaker arrives in the village, but the ladies soon suspect she isn't who she claims to be. Will they oust the imposter, or help rescue her from a dangerous predicament?

In the meantime, everyone expects Miss Brockwell to marry a titled gentleman, even though her heart is drawn to another. While the people of Ivy Hill anticipate one wedding, an unexpected bride may surprise them all.

Don't miss this romantic, stirring conclusion to Tales from Ivy Hill.

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook:
Buy The Bride of Ivy Green at Amazon
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SEARCHING FOR YOU by Jody Hedlund, Reviewed by Winnie, Susan and Paula!

Winnie's Review:

What a wonderful wrap-up to the Orphan Train series by Jody Hedlund! I’ve loved meeting all these characters and learning more about the history of the orphan trains and their part in our nation’s history. The richly painted settings in both New York City and Illinois in the 1850s intrigued me and made vivid backdrops for the story. Both the main characters and the secondary ones in this series were masterfully created and came alive in my mind.

Hedlund added just the right touches of intrigue, suspense, romance, and inspiration to keep me turning pages and entrenched in the book, while the sweet messages of redemption, forgiveness, and mercy added another dimension to the story. Although the main characters in this story were Sophie and Reinhold, appearances of characters from the other books in the series gave a glimpse of what was going on in their lives and were a fun addition.

Hedlund’s distinctive historical detail and brilliant story-telling have earned these books a place on my keeper shelf. I’m looking forward to another great series in the future.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher/NetGalley. All opinions are my own

Susan's review:

'Was there a chance that God could make something of the messes she'd made?'

Jody Hedlund ends her Orphan Train series with this novel and in my opinion, it's the best yet! What a great finale. This one concerns the youngest Neumann daughter, Sophie. She has been on the run in 1850s New York for a while now. She continues to care for the two younger orphans, Nicholas and Olivia, determined to keep them with her. When she gets involved with a gang member and things turn sideways, Sophie must leave town immediately or something horrible may happen to her.

She disappears with Nicholas and Olivia on an orphan train heading west, but can she find a safe and happy life there? She faces an impossible situation in Illinois when the orphans will be placed in new homes. But she also discovers a familiar face she never expected to see.

Reinhold Weiss, formerly from New York, has finally bought his own farm in Illinois, but his debts are many and he works from sunup to sundown to make it. Reinhold also has a past that haunts him daily. He is not ready to give his heart away to anyone, but will he say no to a long lost friend who desperately needs his help?

The blurb on the back cover reads in part: 'Her search for a place to call home leads her to the last place she ever expected.' That resonates within me because, as believers, God often does things in our lives that we least expect, but always brings the best results. I've experienced it in my own life and it's wonderful. Sophie never expected things to go the way they did in this book; she expected something entirely different. She never thought her life would be anything but a constant hardship. But God had other plans for her.

Jody Hedlund has definitely ended this series in the absolute best way. You can see God's hand all over the pages of this book. I was captivated. Some of her very best work is here. Highly recommended.

*My thanks to the publisher and author for a copy of this book. All opinion stated here are entirely my own. 

Paula's Review:

This one is the third book in the Orphan Train Series, and I highly recommend that you read this whole series as a group for an enjoyable, educational experience.

This book focuses on Sophie Neumann, the youngest sister of the Neumann family. It also deals with what happened to orphans after they were placed in a home in the 1850’s.

The journey is a long one for Sophie. She has experienced all kinds of hardship after her sisters have left New York City. She has fought to keep two small children, Olivia and Nicholas from the evils of harsh city life. Sophie is the only mother they have known since they became orphans.

The “searching” means different things to each character. Sophie’ sisters, Elise and Marianne are searching for her. Sophie is searching for peace and security for the children and herself. Rienhold is searching for a way to be self sufficient and a way to break free of the stigma of memories of his father’s temper. They are all searching for what God has for them. Can they trust that God has everything under control and that He knows best?

This is a fitting conclusion to the Orphan Train trilogy. You can count on Jody Hedlund for a sweeping storyline and great historical detail. She pens characters with flaws that we can identify with. The faith element is such that all can reap the spiritual truths in her books.

The romantic matchups exhibit the uncertainty and lack of confidence that can creep into relationships. Ms. Hedlund shows that honesty is something to be sought in any family connection and that reliance on God is a key to harmony.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

BackCover Blurb:

 
Despite years on the run, Sophie Neumann is determined to care for two young children. She won't abandon them the way she thinks her older sisters abandoned her. But times are growing desperate, and when she falls in with the wrong crowd and witnesses a crime, she realizes fleeing 1850s New York is her only option.

Disappearing with her two young charges into a group of orphans heading west by train, Sophie hopes to find safety and a happy life. When the train stops in Illinois for the first placement of orphans, Sophie faces the most difficult choice of her life.

Reinhold Weiss has finally purchased his own small farm. With mounting debts, a harvest to bring in, and past scars that haunt him, he's in no position to give his heart away . . . but can he say no when his long-lost friend shows up on a nearby train pleading for his help?

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook:

Buy Searching for You at Amazon

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TWIST OF FAITH by PEPPER BASHAM, Reviewed by Kim and Paula

Kim's Review
I’m kicking myself for not reading this book sooner! This story is absolutely brilliant! ❤️ 

Reese is incredible! He is charming, considerate, humorous (sometimes without even trying to be) and will do anything for his family. He seems to have it all together after some really rough things have happened in his life. His growth throughout this story is wonderful. 

Dee, on the other hand, can be a bit prickly, BUT, when you learn more about her and see her start to change, you can’t help but root for her and Reese! I loved her interactions with Reese’s kids and his mama and even Haus the dog. Her transformation is so believable and just beautifully done. 

As for the faith message, it is never too preachy or in your face and really shows what God’s grace and love can do to those who are broken and hurting. I love that! I can’t wait to start Rainey’s story! 

*I was gifted this story and under no obligation to review it.

Paula's Review:

I don’t usually read contemporary works but I’ve been hearing good things about Pepper Basham ‘s newer books. I’m glad I took the plunge!

In this book, we meet Dr. Adelina Roseland ( Dr. Dee), who has a fresh PHD as a speech, language pathologist specializing in accent modification. She is trying to prove herself in order to get a boost in her dream career. She has landed in a place close to her roots: Appalachia. On her first day she encounters farmer Reese Mitchell who is sent by his mother, her landlady, to help unload boxes and show her where her rental house is. Thinking she can get her assignment done and move up to a professorship, she is all business. That is until she reacts to the kindness of the Mitchell family. Dr. Dee gets more than she bargained for and finds a closeness she never had in her own family. Is her quest for a job in Charlottesville a dream fulfilled or is she , out of guilt, trying to live up to the impossible expectations of her dead father.

Reese Mitchell is a challenge to Dee. She offers to help him shed his Appalachian speech patterns before he interviews for a job in Chicago. If he can land this job, he will be able to help keep the family farm. Reese is battling his own demons as well. Can Dee and Reese help each other or will they butt heads?

There are many humorous moments in the story, especially when peeking into the Mitchell household.( seems like Pepper was eavesdropping on some neighbors)! It’s easy to see why Dee had a sense of belonging as they welcomed her into the fold. Along with the fun, Pepper addresses some serious issues. Formost is how to handle unforgiveness. The faith of the Mitchell family is very natural ; even how their challenges are handled show spiritual growth.

The secondary characters were fun to get to know and they fleshed out the story well. I’m looking forward to seeing what develops in the next book.

I gave A Twist of Faith a 5 star rating because it was fresh and fun and relevant . It made me laugh and cry and nod my head “ yes” at the spiritual depth of the overall message.

*I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions are my own *

BackCover Blurb:
Dr. Adelina Roseland has worked ten years in research as an accent reduction specialist to attain her dream job. But a secret wager to transform Appalachian cattle farmer Reese Mitchell into corporate material challenges Adelina in ways she never expected, threatening her new position.

For one, Adelina didn't plan for the faith and friction of Reese, or the unexpected influence of his chaotic family. Now, drawn into a culture she'd tried to forget, Adelina finds the warmth of family, the hope of faith, and the joy of love melting away the deep wounds of her past.

But when Reese discovers that he's a pawn in her climb up the academic ladder, will he forgive Adelina's deceit or will their miscommunication end in two broken lives?

Available in digital ebook, paperback and audiobook:
Buy A Twist of Faith at Amazon