Blog Tour: Journey To Faithful: Anna Bishop Barker

by - Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Journey To Faithful 
(The Faithful Trilogy #1)Anna Bishop Barker
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Release Date: August 15, 2017


WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU………….

“I don’t have anything to give a good woman, Laura.”

Jake Beckett is a man frozen in the loss and grief of the past - a man who accepts that the existence that he has is the penance that he must pay.

“My faith died a long time ago, Jake.”

Laura Howard is a woman also mired in the past – a woman who has battled the monsters, but who fears that she may have lost the war.

Two strangers struggling to fight their way out of invisible chains, they must travel together toward safety, freedom and peace.

Faithful, Tennessee is the destination. For both of them, maybe, finally, a home, a sanctuary, a place where they each can find peace.

And in each other, maybe they can find passion, laughter, acceptance.

Love.

But the past always follows and evil can find the best concealed path.

Sometimes, the only way out is through.

When Jake Bennett's brother, Sam calls him saying he needs a favor, he has no idea how it could change his life. This small town Doctor has closed himself off and just lives for work and his family. So he is not going to let his brother down. Jake is sad, lonely, lost, and still grieving, but keeps it bottled up. 

But when this favor ends up with him taking two women back to his hometown of Faithful, Tennessee and watching out for them, he is unprepared for his own reaction. He doesn't like change or anything that throws him off balance. He is more of a man of action than words. But he had no idea what he was getting into.


Laura Howard is naturally beautiful, sassy, smart, and brave. She's been on her own awhile and has her own past issues and insecurities. She recently became involved in a situation with Sam that has left her and her friend, Esther needing help. Esther Has her own challenges, and definitely needs some time to heal and figure out her own life. This is their journey towards safety, freedom, acceptance, and family. And it is being led by a man who is not sure of anything.


Jake hasn't had such a strong reaction to a woman in years. But he doesn't think he has anything to give to someone. And Laura struggles with her own faith in the future and her own self worth. But being in close proximity makes resistance futile. They find a connection and chemistry neither expected or are sure they are ready for. But they will both have to decide if they can share their secrets and demons, and if they are willing to take a risk. Neither is sure they are a safe bet due to their own doubts. But those around them would love to see two good people find some happiness. 


There are interesting side characters in this town and more stories that need telling especially Sam, Delilah, Kyle, John, and Esther especially. Jake's grandmother, Mercy, and her friend, Grace cracked me up. They were spitfires with good hearts, and stole every scene they were in. . I even fell in love with the dogs. It was told in multiple point of views giving us access to many of the characters. There was a layered danger and suspense plot running in the background along with the romance and struggles with faith. 


This was a heartfelt, sexy, funny, emotional story of hope, healing, loss, love, family, faith, and living life to its fullest. This author vividly created the scenes and the town of Faithful and gave the characters depth and complex back stories. I really liked both Jake and Laura and could understand their reservations and feelings. I enjoyed getting to see a more vulnerable side of Jake under his stoic, guarded facade. And seeing the women find a place where they had the potential to blossom. There really was a lot going on in this book. There were twists and surprises that kept the story interesting and added more drama. 


Many things were resolved, but there are still a few lingering story elements to bleed into the next book in the series. I am truly interested to see where she takes the next couple of books because I am already interested in the characters. My only real issue was with some stylistic choices as far as transitions, timing, and flashbacks that took me out of the story a bit. But overall, I enjoyed this journey and immersion into life in Faithful with a group of strongwilled people with close ties and plenty of issues to deal with. It kept me tense, made me laugh, surprised me at times, and touched my heart.


I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. 
Jake Bennett is quick to help his brother when asked, but never expected he’d be transporting 2 women across several states and keeping watch over them in his hometown. He carries baggage he hasn’t had to face and as a result avoids relationships with women outside his family and friends.

Laura Howard finds herself in a situation beyond her imagination, needing help from strangers for the safety of herself and her friend, Esther. Finding herself in Faithful, Tennessee, she finds a peace she didn’t expect, and feels at home with a man she knows hasn’t healed from his own past.

It always melts my heart a little when strong men teach the women in their lives to find their own strength. Even as Jake struggles with letting Laura into his life, he knows she and Esther need to find their own strength and protection within themselves. I love the way he knows exactly how to push them without overwhelming so that they begin to learn their own strength.

It took me a little bit to really dig into Laura and Jake’s story, as I was so interested in what was going on with Esther and her background. But once Esther settles into the background and Laura is able to worry less over the fragile woman, Laura’s own story grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go.

This book took me through so many emotions I wasn’t expecting. I wasn’t expecting the shifts from elation and hope to grief and sadness. But what I am coming to expect from this author is that every time she breaks my heart, she finds a way to give a little bit of hope, even if there can’t be instant resolution. There is one particular storyline that had me sobbing as it played out, and I can’t help but hope for a silver lining for that character at some point.

As the first in a series, Journey to Faithful did a fantastic job of introducing a completely new set of characters and giving just enough information to have me itching for each character’s own story. I am looking forward to more from the town of Faithful, Mercy, and Aunt Gracie. While Mercy and Grace stole every scene they entered, the other characters intrigued and touched me as well.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
© 2017 by Anna Bishop Barker

She saw him get up from the table, his long, powerful body rising and unfolding. She stood there and allowed her eyes to sweep him from top to toe and back.

God, she had never seen such a man in her life. As he strode toward her, adjusting for those that moved by him, his step never faltered. She locked eyes with him as he walked, and she felt as if the world stopped moving.

When he reached her, they stood for a moment, looking at each other, and Laura prepared for him to say that they were leaving. But instead, he held his hand out toward her, palm up. She glanced at it then looked once more into his eyes.

His murmured “Dance with me” came to her ears, and she was lost.
Anna Bishop Barker


Anna Bishop Barker is a lifetime romantic who has always dreamed of writing. She lives in Florida with her family of kids, grandkids, dogs, lizards, and love.

Her hope and vision is to write the kinds of books that she loves to read—books with humor, some intrigue or danger, and chock-full of romance and hot sex, with possibly some tears, but always a happy ending. Just not for the bad guys.

Please follow Anna on Facebook and Instagram. Announcements for newsletter sign-ups, website information, and blog postings will be there first. Also, feel free to contact her via email, post on her author site, or message her.

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