Review Tour and Giveaway: Faithful Peace: Anna Bishop Barker
TAKING BACK HER LIFE WAS THE EASY PART.
When she was twelve years old they took her childhood and named her property. When she was thirty-four she crawled to her freedom.
Esther spent two years clawing and scratching through her nightmares to take her life back.
For those two years he had been there – a quiet, solid presence that never failed her, even when she pushed him away.
HE HAD MADE HIS UNEASY PEACE WITH WHAT HE HAD.
John Valentine’s life had been little bits of heaven and huge chunks of hell. Now he focused on his sons and his land, and did his best to curb his need to be more to a woman who did not want more of him.
Until the day he discovered that she wanted all of him.
HE WOULD RECLAIM WHAT BELONGED TO HIM
Eli Babylon had led the Brotherhood of The Father. He was the rightful Leader, and The Wife was his. He had earned her and he would have her.
The reckoning was coming.
Graphics from Tour company and Author's Facebook page
Esther has lived a hard life and is still getting over the repercussions three years after being rescued from a cult leader. That was the only life she knew for most of her life and suffered terrible things.
But now she is lives in the home of a wonderful man and cares for his two sons. She has friends and a support system. She has been traumatized and damaged, but she is tenacious, brave, smart, and witty. But she will always be somewhat different due to her experiences, formal speech, and sometimes social faux pas. Every day she is taking back a little bit more of her life and making choices. She has gained as many new experiences as possible. But she has also been developing feelings for her boss and is unsure what to do about them.
John Valentine knows a bit about survival and having to fight your way back from bad situations. He is strong, kind, patient, and protective. And he has been fighting feelings for Esther for a while, but is worried about pushing her too much.
These two are cautious and wary, but there are others who can see they belong together. Just as they start to wade into their burgeoning feelings and possible progression of their relationship, there is a development that has the potential to send her reeling and possibly change everything.
There is a bit of danger and suspense surrounding them. All Esther wants to do is keep everyone she cares about safe. And she also has years worth of rage built up. John is determined that he will protect those he loves, and he is just as outraged about what she has suffered. But the current situation is precarious and unpredictable.
This is an emotional and inspiring story about redemption, self-worth, acceptance, trust, and true love. The heart of it is Esther's gradual empowerment and John's patience and tenderness. They are a bit awkward and vulnerable, but so sweet together. They have a bond and chemistry, and share amusing banter as well as comfortable silences. I found myself rooting for Esther as she begins coming into her own and wanting to take charge of her life. She has some sass, spunk, and a sense of humor. And John is just one of those heroes that knows he is not perfect but wants to do everything right and be as supportive as possible. But he is also still strong, sexy, and charismatic.
Will John be able to help her through her issues and the current circumstances? Will Esther finally be able to find the peace she has been searching for her whole life?
This book brings back some of the characters we have come to know and love in this series. The author did briefly explain pertinent information so that it could stand alone if needed, but to get the full Faithful experience I recommend reading the first two books about their friends that set up more about the community of Faithful, the relationships, and other events. I still hope we see Kyle return in the future.
Esther has done the work to take back her life after leaving the life she was born into. A wife at 12, she has emotional scars that she has worked to heal after leaving that life behind to find a better life in Faithful, TN. She is sweet and strong, determined to live a normal life despite her memories.
John Valentine is a single father focusing on his sons and his land. But he is also trying to keep the woman in his house, taking care of his sons, from being the distraction he could see her becoming. Her quiet care of his sons is only the first thing that has turned his head towards him. But he knows bits and pieces of her past, and doesn’t want to scare her or wreck the good thing he has going for his boys.
I loved the care with which John pursued Esther. The entire way, his biggest concern was not whether they would work together or not, but whether he could have what he wanted with her without causing her fear or pain. They are already friends prior to the start of this book, and their transition from friends to more causes a little awkwardness and a lot of vulnerability between them. But through it all is John’s need to protect Esther from further harm.
Parts of their relationship and Ester’s arrival in Faithful are included in earlier parts of this series, and though the important parts of Esther’s past are rehashed here, I feel like their whole story is told through the series and this is the most important parts of their story. Readers can read just this book and get a whole story, but for the complete tale, all three books roll together nicely. I cannot wait for Kyle’s story and was excited by the tease at the very end of the book.
Graphics from Tour company and Author's Facebook page
Esther has lived a hard life and is still getting over the repercussions three years after being rescued from a cult leader. That was the only life she knew for most of her life and suffered terrible things. But now she is lives in the home of a wonderful man and cares for his two sons. She has friends and a support system. She has been traumatized and damaged, but she is tenacious, brave, smart, and witty. But she will always be somewhat different due to her experiences, formal speech, and sometimes social faux pas. Every day she is taking back a little bit more of her life and making choices. She has gained as many new experiences as possible. But she has also been developing feelings for her boss and is unsure what to do about them.
John Valentine knows a bit about survival and having to fight your way back from bad situations. He is strong, kind, patient, and protective. And he has been fighting feelings for Esther for a while, but is worried about pushing her too much.
These two are cautious and wary, but there are others who can see they belong together. Just as they start to wade into their burgeoning feelings and possible progression of their relationship, there is a development that has the potential to send her reeling and possibly change everything.
There is a bit of danger and suspense surrounding them. All Esther wants to do is keep everyone she cares about safe. And she also has years worth of rage built up. John is determined that he will protect those he loves, and he is just as outraged about what she has suffered. But the current situation is precarious and unpredictable.
This is an emotional and inspiring story about redemption, self-worth, acceptance, trust, and true love. The heart of it is Esther's gradual empowerment and John's patience and tenderness. They are a bit awkward and vulnerable, but so sweet together. They have a bond and chemistry, and share amusing banter as well as comfortable silences. I found myself rooting for Esther as she begins coming into her own and wanting to take charge of her life. She has some sass, spunk, and a sense of humor. And John is just one of those heroes that knows he is not perfect but wants to do everything right and be as supportive as possible. But he is also still strong, sexy, and charismatic.
Will John be able to help her through her issues and the current circumstances? Will Esther finally be able to find the peace she has been searching for her whole life?
This book brings back some of the characters we have come to know and love in this series. The author did briefly explain pertinent information so that it could stand alone if needed, but to get the full Faithful experience I recommend reading the first two books about their friends that set up more about the community of Faithful, the relationships, and other events. I still hope we see Kyle return in the future.
John Valentine is a single father focusing on his sons and his land. But he is also trying to keep the woman in his house, taking care of his sons, from being the distraction he could see her becoming. Her quiet care of his sons is only the first thing that has turned his head towards him. But he knows bits and pieces of her past, and doesn’t want to scare her or wreck the good thing he has going for his boys.
I loved the care with which John pursued Esther. The entire way, his biggest concern was not whether they would work together or not, but whether he could have what he wanted with her without causing her fear or pain. They are already friends prior to the start of this book, and their transition from friends to more causes a little awkwardness and a lot of vulnerability between them. But through it all is John’s need to protect Esther from further harm.
Parts of their relationship and Ester’s arrival in Faithful are included in earlier parts of this series, and though the important parts of Esther’s past are rehashed here, I feel like their whole story is told through the series and this is the most important parts of their story. Readers can read just this book and get a whole story, but for the complete tale, all three books roll together nicely. I cannot wait for Kyle’s story and was excited by the tease at the very end of the book.
Journey To Faithful (The Faithful Trilogy #1)
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Our reviews
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.
And sometimes, the only way out is through.
Home To Faithful (The Faithful Trilogy #2)
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Our reviews
HOME WAS WHERE THEIR HEARTS WERE….
Decorated Marine and former FBI agent Sam Beckett is going home.
Home to the place he couldn’t wait to leave.
Home to the town that nowhere else in the world could replace.
Home to the people that matter.
Home to the girl that he could never forget and to the battle he would face to win back the woman that she had become.
And home to a predator who waits to take the things that Sam cherishes.
********
Delilah Prescott had a perfect house.
She had spent a lot of time and effort and blood and tears to make it that way.
If she lived and ate and slept alone in that house, well, loneliness didn’t give you scars.
At least not like the ones that fists gave you.
And if she didn’t remember how to laugh or love, again, this was the price she was willing to pay.
But Sam was back.
And suddenly that price seemed too high, and her perfect little house seemed like a perfect little prison.
********
And while Sam and Delilah tear each other’s bodies up with passion while trying to fix each other’s hearts, the predator is watching.
Waiting.
Planning.
Sometimes the fairy tales are true. The woods aren’t always safe.
Anna Bishop Barker
I was born in Kentucky and raised in Florida, so I am a southerner through and through. Since I was old enough to pick up a book, I have been a voracious reader. I wrote the usual poetry and short stories in high school, and I kept the dream of writing in the back of my heart until opportunity and encouragement helped me to realize that dream.
I live in Tampa with my kids, grandkids, dogs, various other livestock, and way more books than is strictly healthy.
Hot Romance.
Suspense.
Humor & heart.
Grown up stories for grown up people. This is what I write. There's also food, music, dogs, the occasional geek reference, and quite possibly an inappropriate joke. There will likely be dead bodies as well.
Three random facts about me:
1. I was bitten by a shark when I was 14.
2. I have read War and Peace. (When I get to the afterlife, I am demanding that week of my life back. Sorry, Tolstoy.)
3. It is my sincere belief that any situation can be improved by eating some cheese.
My life philosophy is guard your inner peace and read dirty kissing books.
I live in Tampa with my kids, grandkids, dogs, various other livestock, and way more books than is strictly healthy.
Hot Romance.
Suspense.
Humor & heart.
Grown up stories for grown up people. This is what I write. There's also food, music, dogs, the occasional geek reference, and quite possibly an inappropriate joke. There will likely be dead bodies as well.
Three random facts about me:
1. I was bitten by a shark when I was 14.
2. I have read War and Peace. (When I get to the afterlife, I am demanding that week of my life back. Sorry, Tolstoy.)
3. It is my sincere belief that any situation can be improved by eating some cheese.
My life philosophy is guard your inner peace and read dirty kissing books.
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