Jennie L. Hansen

Title: By The River
Author: Jennie Hansen
Pages: 221
Year: 2015
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
This story begins with a chilling discovery by the main character, Kira Paxton, while she is out jogging. Then everything seems to spiral out of control. She becomes the target of an unknown shooter while getting into her car in the mall parking lot. Her home is vandalized. She receives a phone call threatening her life. More happens in the story, but she resists moving back in with her wealthy father who is overly protective to say the least. She is 24 years old, but she thinks her father still sees her as a little girl. She also has to deal with an over-protective brother as well. She gets saddled with her brother’s dog, Jasper, more often than she would like and he tends to chew up her shoes with great frequency.
Ford Kettering is out jogging when he hears a woman screaming. He races to her rescue. Ford and Kira soon form a friendship, but is Ford the nice guy he appears to be? He soon becomes a suspect of the local police detective investigating a homicide case as the victim is one of the students from his high school where he is a teacher. As Kira and Ford’s relationship blossoms, the threats to Kira grow as well. Can the culprit be discovered before it is too late?
The book had some really great tension-filled moments and I liked Ford’s character. In my opinion, there were a few too many scenes with Jasper as well as her dealings with her overprotective brother and father. After everything that Kira endured, I thought the big reveal at the end was a bit of a let-down. The story has no cursing and lots of suspense. There is some LDS content, but nothing preachy.
My rating is 4 stars.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”… (mere)

What a WONDERFUL tale this story weaves!

Trust and Betrayal!
Hopes and Fears!
Longing for a Home and Loving to go Home!

Iliana Teresa Angelica Medina Sebastian has just turned 15 and it falls upon her to produce an heir for her grandfathers ranch.

She will marry to keep her families honorable heritage.

Ross Adams know that the ranch belonging to the Spanish aristocrat is everything he has ever dreamed about owning and has contracted to run the ranch and marry Don Sebastians granddaughter.

Ben's ranch boarders the Sebastian ranch and he will do anything to acquire both the ranch and the granddaughter.

Travis Telford is a horse runner and is looking forward to the day he can settle down with a wife and a ranch of his own.

Wait until you see how the author entwines the lives of these 4 people together...SO GOOD!

A hard book to put down :)
LOVED IT!… (mere)

The setting of this historical novel is in the late 1800s, after the Mexican/American War. Unrest still existed and flare-ups by the Mexicans and by Indians occasionally occurred. There was often much resentment by the Mexicans toward the Americans, but this was not the case in a small New Mexico town where the Sebastian Hacienda was located. Therefore, it was upsetting to some when Don Sebastian sold the land to an American - Ross Adams - with a stipulation he marry Don's granddaughter, Lliana, and their son become heir. The bordering neighbor - Ben Purdy - was especially angry..He must have that land or be destroyed!

Travis Telford was a cowboy who headed round-ups of horses to sell to the Americans. He discovered the Sebastian ranch to have some of the finest horses he often included in the round-up. He soon became friends with Mr. & Mrs Adams and soon after, he became more involved in their family than he ever dreamed possible.

This tale has a lot of action and suspense. The author effectively intertwines the lives and individual situations in her usual well-written, smooth manner. This book will not disappoint the reader!

The Title has a definite connection to the plot. The book cover is "fitting" except too dark to be eye-catching. If it were lighter and more defined it would be much more effective in attracting readers. The characterizations were very well create and realistic. The background scenes were described in a clear way so the reader could easily visualize them.

My review of this books offers a Four and a Half Stars rating.… (mere)

In general, I try to avoid religious fiction, regardless of the religion. This book pretty well reaffirmed why I do that. It came across as preachy and at times, self-righteous. I really wish the author had left out the religious part. I recognize that it's a big part of her life, especially as I share the same religion and am very active in my church. I just think that in this case, the story would have been better served to leave it out.

I also didn't really connect with the action going on. It just seemed so contrived and so seat-of-your-pants. Every time the characters would come through one challenge, another (bigger and better, of course) would present itself and they'd miraculously come through it as well. They're not unscathed, which was nice, but still. Seriously? I just couldn't swallow it.

Here's what did work for me: the way Jennie Hansen presented domestic violence. She was careful to treat it with respect, while not glorifying it in any way. She showed very well that any group of people, regardless of religion, race, social status, economic status, can be affected by domestic violence. She showed how the victim loses themselves in trying to please their abuser and how they end up distancing themselves from the people who could help them. That part of the story was compelling and the reason that I give this book a 'meh' rating and not something else.… (mere)