Faith Blum

I am fairly new to the audiobook world and was excited to listen to my first western!

The first thing that caught my attention when I started listening was the simplistic yet engaging writing. There is a kind of innocence that you feel when you’re listening, which was a nice change of pace from what I’ve been reading lately. The narrator has a nice voice that matches what I imagine Carsten would sound like, which heightened the audiobook for me. It’s like he’s telling his own story, which was really neat.

I do wish the narrator would’ve had a bit more emotion behind his voice. A lot of the time I felt like it felt flat and devoid of emotion, though I know Carsten and other characters conveyed many emotions throughout the story. I also had a hard time keeping the different narrators straight, as the narrator did not change his voice enough to make the different characters distinctive, at least for my ear.

It is clear that Carsten is a sweet soul but because of the sins of his past no one will let him prove that he is a changed man no matter what he does. This to me was so frustrating as I was listening. Who wants to have their sins constantly held over their heads, especially when they have repented? I do feel like despite the conflict this was a surface-level story and would’ve liked to have seen more internal thoughts and emotions explored.

Carsten with his group of friends were some of my favorite moments. I love the light, witty banter and seeing how they support Carsten is a nice juxtaposition to the other townsfolk that are suspicious and judgmental of poor Carsten. There is a moment where grace is acted out and it was my favorite moment and something I always appreciate in stories like this.

I left this audiobook with a pretty sweet message. Trusting God and others when things seem bleak can be one of the hardest things to do, but boy oh boy can God do some amazing things when you do.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.… (mere)

“Be Still My Soul” is a wholesome redemption story about a boy raised in thievery who grows into a changed young adult who tries to prove himself better than his past.

Even though my introduction to teen Carsten Whitford is as he attempts to steal a necklace from a churchmate’s home, I can’t help by like him. With the knowledge of how he was raised, it’s easy to empathize for and root for him. Years later, 18-year-old Carsten is a changed man, but he struggles to prove his innocence when he was arrested for a crime he didn’t commit.

I enjoyed the faith aspect in this story. Carsten’s relationship with God is inspiring and his prayers feel genuine and sweet. I love a good redemption story, and this one has elements of mystery and suspense as well.

The narration of the audiobook version, by Brantley Brumley, is a bit wearisome for me in the beginning. As the story progresses and I become more immersed in the story, the “reading” feels a little more natural, though I’m still well aware I am being read to. (The narrator could use a bit more inflection.) Still, the story is interesting and engaging, and I’m curious about the rest of the series.

First Line (Prologue): Trying to live in two worlds was near impossible.
Series: Mysteries of the West, book 1
Genre: Christian Western, Mystery & Suspense, YA
Author: Faith Blum
Audio Length: 3 hours and 57 minutes
Page Count: 198
Reading Age: YA

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.… (mere)

I Love To Tell the Story is the second book in the Librarians of Willow Hollow series, and while it can be read on its own, it's better read in series order to gain a better idea of the relationships among both the librarians and the people they serve.
The pacing is a bit slow, and it took a while for all the new characters to be introduced and everything to be situated, but after that the story picks up and unfolds character dynamics, giving readers a glimpse of the four librarians that each have a book to themselves. That scene in particular is a favorite.
Lillian's kind heart is evident in her treatment of those around her, and she reached out to those who needed it, even when they were cantankerous (ahem, Crow).
I felt that some scenes dragged on a bit, and I would have liked to see more of her relationships with some of the characters, but overall this was a sweet addition to the Horseback Librarians of Willow Hollow series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required.… (mere)