Cynthia
There are so many beautiful things about this story! The setting, Mendocino, is one of my all time favorite places. When I downloaded the book I didn't realize it was Christian fiction, but that is one of the things that made this story & the friendships so beautiful. It also softened the blow for me when a particular event popped up in the story that I did not see coming. I felt like I was surrounded by God & my fictional friends, Ellyn, Sabina, and Twila, and was eager to continue the story. I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd book. P.S. I would give this 5 stars, but didn't because even for this God loving gal, I found parts of it a little cheesy.
I am in the minority with not caring for this novel. It just continued to go on and on, and on and on...
I understand why the author wrote in this style, it helps the reader to understand Bertie, the narrator, but it was hard to get used to. I skipped multiple chapters and when I then continued, there was just more hardships and drama. On a positive note, I did love the character Bertie.
Lots of plot twists, some hard to follow until certain things are revealed.
“There's no way to put a happy spin on a loss like ours, no way to pick the positives out of a steaming heap of shit.” This made me realize that it's okay when I feel like this. As much as I put my trust in God, “this” is still shit!!
I don't know if I've ever been so disappointed in a book before, and I've abandoned plenty but felt the need to see this one through. This book started out SO good, so exceptional as a matter of fact I thought it would be up there with The Help or Sarah Addison Allen's books. But then the author lost all sense of the characters she worked so hard to develop and moved the plot in such a way that she destroyed the entire story and characters. Nothing was then believable and then she went on and on with irrelevant points and descriptions. So bummed this was my last read for the summer before going back to school. Oh well, there's always another book in the horizon.
Yes, heartbreaking and disturbing, but Tina and Lockie form a beautiful-unbreakable bond that saves the both of them.
3 1/2 stars: A slow-moving mystery, character development could have gone deeper-but maybe that's what the sequels are for. I did like it and it kept me reading, but I think most people would think it is not suspenseful enough.
A page turner for sure, and a lot of surprises, some of which I saw coming and others shocked me. But, I have a hard time with the ridiculous dialogue, hence the 3 stars.
I've never read this much of the Old Testament before. I wasn't expecting to learn so much history about the Kings, as well as the prophets. The video accompaniment with Lysa TerKeurst in Israel brought it all to life, and she has a way of talking and writing about the facts in such a story like manner. She brought it all to life. Bonus part, finding more trust in our Heavenly Father!
A very emotional read! I laughed, cried, gasped, cringed, and loved the spiritual undertone. Austin is a character with a huge heart, a daughter and sister who does her best to take care of everyone and hold it all together. Her determination, faith, and hope is what leads her to survive and overcome so many battles.
A decent read, but if you know Gudenkauf's old stuff, this story is nothing compared to those first scary, suspenseful stories of hers.
Beautifully written! Quite a long story, but thank you William Kent Krueger, for allowing me to escape on the journey along with the vagabonds.
One of the best stories I've ever read! A family created with broken hearts, became a family full of grace and love for one another. I fell in love with Harvey. Oh, but Pearl was such a loving, strong woman, too! And all because of a baby named Ivy Rose!
I love how Kristin Hannah weaves a story in with her historical fiction plotlines. Frankie was so young and naive with her privileged background, it's a wonder she survived the whole thing. I enjoyed learning a bit about what went on during the Vietnam War, and it has made me curious to learn more. Now I am sad that I have to wait for Hannah to write and publish her next book.
Such an fascinating story and beautifully written! The way the plot weaves itself together is worth the read. Don't want to give anything away, but I wonder if you will you love Henry as much as I did?
Wow! How far would you go to get revenge?? Even though I figured out part of what was going on, there was plenty I didn't. The story was a page turner and held my interest, but yes, the emails to Mia drove me into a fit at times, but so clever. Though I liked the story, the ending was abrupt, loose ends, and very unrealistic!
Charles Martin is one of my all time favorite authors, however this novel left me wondering if he was the one who wrote it. It is so unlike When Crickets Cry or Chasing Fireflies...it left me missing his beautiful, elegant writing. It is full of redemption and hope like his other books, has flawed characters in need of redemption and saving, but I just didn't connect as I have with his other books and characters.
I loved this story, every character, the setting, everything!! Beautifully written, such a special story.
Such a delightful, whimsical story. I enjoyed the magical mixed in with the reality, reminded me of Sarah Addison Allen's books. Sweet town with sweet characters, and I loved the ending!!
My first horror book, and King novel, that I read when I was 14! I was petrified! I am reading it again before the new movie comes out- just as haunting!
This book started out so well written, and with what I thought had a good plot line. However, the story ended up jumping around way too much, and didnt stick to the most interesting part.
What a gift it must be to weave a story together so beautifully. This story is fiction, but I didn't realize it until the end that this novel is based on the real life of the amazing midwife Martha Ballard.