Sarah Sharpe has grown up as a carpenter’s daughter, knowing only the rough and work-heavy world of her father’s blue-collar profession. Abandoned by her mother as a baby, she’s lived 21 years content to drive nails at her dad’s side. Following her father into the world of construction was a natural path, and she took it without a second thought, but a harsh comment about her “butch” appearance sends her on a search for identity.
Enter handsome and easy-going Jesse Chapman, the roofer she meets on her first foray into volunteer work for Homes For Hope. In every way, the quirky man is her opposite—confident, a people kind of guy, and most importantly, happy. His likable qualities continue to draw her in—and for some reason he keeps coming back to her. But they can’t be more than friends; he’s made that crystal clear. Except for a handful of times… and the confusion is driving her crazy.
Sarah’s quest for self-definition becomes more tangled than she ever imagined, and she discovers that the journey will take her deeper than clothes and makeup. Filling the void in her heart becomes an obsession she cannot escape. How far is she willing to go to discover who she really is?
my point of view:
This story really grabbed a hold of me, I enjoyed it very much – only wish there was more, lol! I really cannot breakdown what I loved most about this story, as there were so many things. Sarah is a very mature – yet sheltered – young woman who has been raised solely by her father. She is in more ways then one – The Carpenter’s Daughter.
I was quite drawn to her story. Sarah’s total lack of any thing relating to “acting like a normal woman”, ie: makeup, hairstyle, clothing, had me relating to her a great deal. Not so much that I grew up not knowing about these things, but I never really cared about them, lol! But what really captured my heart for Sarah was how lost she was from the beginning of this story. Everything she always believed was true suddenly gets mixed up and turned around and she doesn’t know where to turn.
Lucky for Sarah she has an amazing aunt who helps her to “think outside herself” which gets her volunteering for Homes for Hope, helping to build houses for others in need where she meets Jesse for the first time. This friendship turns into so much more than a simple romance, as he shows her by example that not all Christians are “religious freaks” and that we are never alone when we walk with Jesus. While Sarah works on finding her place in Jesus, she also has to face her father and the demons of his past. I recommend this book highly, it was a joy to read and had me reflecting on how to reach out by example the wonderous way Jesus works in our life!
About Jennifer Rodewald : 
Jennifer Rodewald is a Christian author of fiction who is passionate about the Word of God and the power of story. Four kids and her own personal superman make her home in southwestern Nebraska delightfully chaotic.
Born in Colorado, she experienced both the seclusion of rugged mountain living and the busy streets of a Denver suburb during her growing up years. Somewhere in the middle of college, she married a Husker and found her way back to the quiet lifestyle of a rural area, which suits just fine.
Blessed with a robust curiosity, Jen loves to research. Whether she’s investigating the history of a given area, the biography of a Christian icon, or how nature declares the glory of God, her daily goal is to learn something new. Aiming to live with boundless enthusiasm, her creed is vision, pursuit, and excellence, and she incorporates that pursuit as a Christian writer.
Jen lives and writes in a lovely speck of a town where she watches with amazement while her children grow up way too fast, gardens, and marvels at God’s mighty hand in everyday life.
This description grabbed me at the start of the story. My mom never worked outside the home, but my dad was a hard worker, he put cement in big cement trucks. Then when he got off work he had a side job of Arc Welding. So he was always doing something.
So glad you shared with us today, Judy!
Thanks Judy! And sorry I’m so late replying! 🙁 Wow, it sounds like your dad was a very busy guy!
Oh my goodness! This sounds like an amazing book. Just the thought of being raised to think one way, then to grow up realizing things are different. Can’t wait to read it. Thank you for writing and sharing “The Carpenter’s Daughter”.
I know it will be one you like, Kathy!
Kathy, Thank you! I hope you enjoy Sarah and Jesse’s story when you can! 🙂
This book sounds great! Doggone Jesse for confusing things. 😉
Pop worked at a glass plant that made car windshields & mom was an awesome stay at home mom. We were lucky to have two loving parents.
Thanks for sharing, hope you both have a great weekend!
Appreciate you sharing, Robin!
Robin. LOL! Yes, darn it all, Jesse! 😉 I love seeing all of these interesting jobs! Thanks for commenting here!
I am a farmer’s daughter.
I love that, Beverly! Where would this world be without a farmer? Thank you for sharing!
I love it too, Beverly! I live in farm country, and I so appreciate the work and the struggles that go into that unpredictable occupation. Thanks so much for dropping in!
Hi, my dad was an engine mechanic. I have 3 older brothers and 2 younger sisters. My dad would ask me to help him wash the tools he would use in his garage when he would work in our home garage. I liked helping him, my bothers would help him also. I would play with the rolling car jacks, which was a lot of fun, but then like i said i would wash the tools he would use. I wish I would have stuck around more while he worked on those engines, I would have been a Great mechanic just like my dad was. He would fix engines for race cars and he did a great job on it. I enjoyed reading this blog. The Carpenters Daughter sounds like a very good book and i think the cover is beautiful.
Aw, Alicia, thank you so much for sharing your memories, I absolutely loved reading about your dad and family!
Alicia, thank you for the compliment on the cover… the model is actually my sister. <3 I love these memories you have with your dad. So precious! Thank you for sharing them.
Another new to me author, Paula! Again, you make me want to read the book, too!! My Daddy was a telephone installer at Patrick Air Force Base for over 20 years. My Mom was a telephone operator during WII. When she and Daddy married, they decided Mom would stay home and not work outside of home when the kids came along. That’s how it was til all of us graduated from high school. Then, Mom went back to work for awhile at our church as a prekindergarten teacher at the preschool there.
So glad to introduce you to another awesome author, Trudy! Your parents sound amazing ❤️
Hi Trudy! I love hearing this… and I have a special place in my heart for the AF. <3 My brother is an officer, currently stationed in Colorado (Yay! they're closer than they've ever been in about 20 years!) It's good to meet you here.
My Mother was one of the first Masters Level Physical Therapist. Thing was, she was a polio survivor who was a captain in the Army before she was married to my Father in ‘55. He was a chemical engineer and served in the Pacific Theater. He worked most of his life for Firestone, developing 5 patents for them. My father and his two brothers all have a piece of themselves on the Lunar Module – my Father worked on the switches; his brother worked on the fuel, and his “little brother” worked on the electrical system.
Wow, Andrea, what an amazing family you have! What a great way to be tied to such an incredible part of history!
Wow, Andrea! Oh the stories you must have tucked away! So interesting. 🙂
The book sounds good. My dad worked on airplanes.
Glad you stopped by to share with us, Janice!❤️
Cool, Janice! What did he do on airplanes? Thanks for commenting here!
I call myself the granddaughter of a baker My grandfather had a bakert (bread and cakes), my father was an amateur bread baker(he worked in IT) , and I love baking cake and cookies.
As a lover of both bread and cake, I’m a little jealous right now, Heleen! 😉
I was raised an Auctioneers Daughter💜
My dad ran an Auction Sales Barn and from the early age of 9 I was helping out in what ever area I was needed. I worked in the kitchen selling food with my mom and sisters, then held up items being sold so customers could see them, taking the sheets to the office for the office clerks to create bills, working in the office and working along side my dad as his personal clerk writing down the items, buyers and price. It was the best 30 years of my life. I actually had a chance to tour my old stomping grounds the other day. The company that purchased the property for their fencing business had an open house. I was given the grand tour, right up to touring the old block building by the house, it was built in 1893 when the house was built.
Sorry if my post is a bit long, I could have gone on a lot more by talking about some of the amazing items we sold.
Wow, Betty, that sounds amazing! Thank you so much for sharing your memories with us!❤️❤️❤️
Oh wow, Betty! I bet you saw some interesting things! I love that you have fond memories working with your dad. That’s so precious. <3
Paula, thank you for another wonderful review!
I am a business man daughter 😉
Blessings!
Thank you, Natalya! I am happy you enjoyed it! I appreciate you sharing with us!❤️
Natalya, thanks for commenting here… and yes, thank you, Paula, for this lovely review! 😉 Did your father have to travel much for business, Natalya?
This book sounds interesting! I am a guidance counselor’s daughter.
Thank you for sharing, Lori! I bet you found that very helpful growing up!
Lori, I’m working on a story with a character who is a guidance counselor. We may have to chat!