Journey to Forgiveness by Laurean Brooks ~ 4 stars

Journey to Forgiveness

Laurean Brooks

White Rose Publishing

About the book:

When Jenny Hinson's abusive father deserts the family, the responsibility of the family's Tennessee farm falls to Jenny and her mother. Four years later, in 1938, boll weevils infest the cotton crop, plunging the Hinsons into dire financial straits. At the invitation of a Chicago aunt, Jenny takes the train north to find work to support her family.

Electricity has yet to reach Chicory Valley. But not only is Jenny introduced to it in its tapped form in Chicago, but encounters a few jolts along the way when she challenges the infuriating Austin Grant over a luggage mishap. Sparks fly outside the Kankakee train station when Jenny discovers her missing vanity case under Austin's arm, and labels him a thief. Then, after Austin coaxes money from her aunt's congregation to “supposedly” rebuild a tornado-stricken town, Jenny determines to find enough evidence to expose him and his nefarious deeds.

Why did Austin pull money from the mission strongbox and stuff a large roll into his pocket? Wasn't this the proof Jenny needed to convict him? Then why was she reluctant to report the theft? And why did her heart somersault at every encounter with the notorious Austin? Surely, she wasn't in love with him! Jenny's personal convictions would never allow a relationship where trust is blatantly missing.

Can Jenny muster the courage to ask Austin the tough question that will ultimately make or break their relationship? And how will she handle the strained relationship with her father? Can Jenny forgive his brutality? Will she relinquish love for a life of bitterness? Find out as you follow Jenny's struggles in Journey to Forgiveness.

My review:
Laurean definitely has a fun writing style. The main character, Jenny, is always getting herself into trouble and funny situations with her overactive imagination and lack of control over her tongue. In some places, I thought the phrasing or dialogue could be tweaked a little to make it more smooth or realistic, but for the most part I really enjoyed it.

I loved that they went on a mission trip to help people right in their own area! That really impressed me, and I loved that Austin wanted to do that with his life. The whole theme of forgiveness was good, and I liked the way Laurean portrayed the need for it through the character’s situations. At times, it seemed like the characters where “discovering” something, or saying that they “hadn’t thought of something that way” when they already had, so that area could have been improved.

But, all in all I thought the author did a very good job, and it is a good book with an important message that was fun to read. Lots of potential in this author, in my opinion.