On my blog on the Final Friday of each month, I will post the book review that I sent out to my newsletter subscribers at the beginning of the month. If you want primary access to these reviews, you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking this link: http://bit.ly/NewsletterSignUpMelindaFreeland
Sometimes the review will be about a book I read years ago, other times I will have just turned the last page and feel like writing a review.
My reviews will always be about a book I rated with either 4 or 5 stars on Goodreads and/or Amazon. There are soooo many books available for readers to choose from—and to choose to buy—that I want to save readers both selection time and hard-earned money. I want to give you “the best bang for your buck.” So, even though there are some 3-star books that are still “good,” I’ll only post reviews about the “better” and “best” books I’ve read.
Goodreads’ rating system: Amazon’s rating system:
3 stars = I liked it 3 stars = It’s okay
4 stars = I really liked it 4 stars = I like it
5 stars = It was amazing 5 stars = I love it
I selected The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck for October’s book review because author Bethany Turner is represented by agent Jessica Kirkland of Kirkland Media Management. Jessie was one of the agents I signed up to interview with / pitch to at the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference this September in San Antonio. Writers looking for representation always want to research not only the agent, but also the authors whom that agent represents, and the books written by those authors, and any novels that are in any way comparable to the writer’s novels. So, Bethany and her debut novel fit the bill – and I’m oh so glad it turned out to be a five-star experience!
Back Cover Book Blurb
Becoming a Christian is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to Sarah Hollenbeck. Best because, well, that’s obvious. Worst because, up to this point, she’s made her very comfortable living as a well-known, bestselling author of steamy romance novels that would leave the members of her new church blushing. Now Sarah is trying to reconcile her past with the future she’s chosen. She’s still under contract with her publisher and on the hook with her enormous fan base for the kind of book she’s not sure she can write anymore. She’s beginning to think that the church might frown on her tithing on royalties from a “scandalous” book. And the fact that she’s falling in love with her pastor doesn’t make things any easier.
With a powerful voice, penetrating insight, and plenty of wit, Bethany Turner explodes onto the scene with a debut that isn’t afraid to deal with the thorny realities of living the Christian life.
My Thoughts
Hi-lari-ous! So “for real” and relatable! And romantically too cute! Turner’s unique voice will appeal to all. If you want to read an excellent Christian Rom Com – this is the novel for you!
It has been quite a while since I read a book that not only made me laugh out loud, but laugh out loud multiple, multiple times! Turner’s wit started in the very first pages of this novel, and she was like the Energizer Bunny, she kept going, and going, and going with clever comparisons, comments, and remarks that made me keep on laughing and smiling throughout the whole book.
Turner was born in the early seventies like I was, so both of us were influenced by the pop culture of the ’80s. She made several references to that time period in her book, which also made me smile a lot, having a common bond. I especially liked when she mentioned my fav female singer of the time.
Check out these witty lines, some of which refer to ’80s movies and singers:
“Obviously God had placed her in my life, like my own personal Christian Mr. Miyagi.”
“With nary a care given to the feelings of the miserable divorcee who would one day read their work while attempting to bury her pain beneath enough cheesecake to bestow diabetes upon a small village.”
“On my left shoulder was a little white angel in a broomstick skirt and a peasant top – in my imagination bearing a strong resemblance to Roma Downey. … On my right shoulder was a demon in a sexy red dress and stilettos, looking a lot like early Stevie Nicks, but with fewer layers and less eye makeup.”
“Was I actually glowing? I wouldn’t have had difficulty believing it. I remembered that in The Ten Commandments, Charlton Heston had been glowing when he came down the mountain, carrying the tablets. Of course, his hair had also gone completely white at the same time, and that effect of being in God’s presence was slightly less welcome.”
Not only did I enjoy this novel because I adored Turner’s distinctive voice and her knack for writing humorous sentences, but I also loved this book because it was so accurately portrayed the simple fact of something I say all the time: “Christians are real people too!”
A lot of non-believers seem to have a skewed view of what the picture of a “real Christian” looks like. Can a “real Christian” woman be strongly attracted physically to a good-looking man? Absolutely! Do “real Christians” struggle with keeping their sensual feelings under control, knowing sex is supposed to occur only between a married couple? You bet! I applaud author Turner for realistically depicting heroine Sarah and hero Ben—PASTOR hero Ben that is—grappling with this issue.
I also appreciated the “relatability” of this novel – as I certainly could relate to several things Sarah was going through during different parts of this book. I was raised in a practicing Catholic household, but then stopped believing in God in college, then returned to Him with open arms and a love bigger than ever when I was pregnant with my second child.
Although Sarah had never been a Christian before, the story follows her through becoming a Christian, and learning all the “rules” and expectations; and getting to know and understand God better through Bible study, church, study of Scripture; and with the love, help, and suggestions of other Christians. So, even though I grew up knowing a lot of these things, I went through it all again on my journey back to God, but went “super in depth” in all these areas, just like Sarah did, trying to understand and live the life of a Christian.
There are soooo many books stored on my Kindle right now that are on my TBR list, and because of that, even if I really like an author and have a couple of her books downloaded, I still wait to read her next book because I try to “rotate” all the authors around. The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck was so awesome that it raised Bethany Turner up to the level of one of my Top Ten Favorite Authors. The excellence of her debut novel prompted me to immediately purchase her sophomore book, Wooing Cadie McCafrey, and I’ll start reading that book this coming week. I encourage you, and will also tell all my family and friends, to get out there and grab your own copies of both these romantic comedy novels!
