Fiction Full of Faith

Review & Giveaway of Her Good Girl by Elaine Stock

February 21, 2019 in my point of view


Sometimes digging deep frees you to bloom.

Sadie Tremont’s will to survive is killing her. Almost 18, she’s battled one mysterious illness after another. Tara-Lynn, her mom, insists she’s the only one with the ultimate cure. Sadie can’t depend on her dad to help when his only interest is underground caving. Her grandmother too easily counts on God to help, but Sadie has stopped waiting for miracles. Callie, a café owner and new friend, might help but can she be trusted?

Then there’s Sky, Sadie’s new boyfriend who offers a sliver of joy, peace, and self-respect. When he schemes that the only way for Sadie to be happy is to escape with him from her native West Virginia hills by killing Tara-Lynn, she’s trapped.

She can’t partner with Sky to hurt the mom who has hurt her for years . . . or can she?

When tragedy strikes and threatens Sadie’s dad’s life and the shaky ground the Tremont family stands on, will they pull together or give in to the weakened earth beneath their feet?

my point of view:

I was so taken with the ‘blurb’ of this story that I knew it was something I just had to read! What I did not anticipate is how deeply it would affect me emotionally. Sadie and her relationships got to me in a big way. The memories it evoked in me of growing up with my own grandmother touched me so much. Seeing Sadie as an almost 18 year old trying to navigate what the big wide world has in store for her was so beautifully written I wanted to cry with her every step of the way.

This story is not a romance, but more about a girl coming of age and her complicated relationships…with her parents, grandmother, boys and God. Elaine takes the mother / daughter relationship to a whole new level, one of which I could say, while not familiar with this specific issue, I can most definitely relate to. I loved how the relationship between the father and daughter was written as well, don’t all of little girls want to be daddy’s girl? The most important journey of all is the one to (with) God…and Sadie gets the help of her grandmother and a new friend to help her along this path. Callie is an absolute angel in the storm, God’s timing and placing her just where and when the Tremont family needs her!

This book was my first read of Elaine Stock, but it won’t be my last! It is extremely well written, and I kept finding myself caught so deeply into the relationships that I was surprised to realize the story time line was as short as it turned out to be. Elaine has a great way of writing about Sadie’s past without making you feel as if you are ‘jumping’ around in story world. I hope I am saying that right, lol, as I usually have a difficult time with “flash backs” in novels, and get rather frustrated by them, but that was NOT the case here, at all! They delving into the character’s past was not only seamless, but just perfectly placed within the story. All in all an extremely we written story about families and God and the love we all share.

 

 

About Elaine Stock

Elaine Stock is dedicated to uplifting and encouraging all readers through the power of story to see hope during both the bright and dark times of life. She is the author of several award winning novels, notably Her Good Girl, which was graced with the Outstanding Christian/Religious Fiction in the 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards, 2018 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal in Christian Fiction and the 2018 American Fiction Awards in the Christian Inspirational category.

Elaine is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Women’s Fiction Writers Association. For fun and occasional eyebrow lifts of amazement, she hangs out on Twitter and Facebook, and of course, Goodreads.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Elaine has now been living in upstate, rural New York with her husband for more years than her stint as a NYC gal. She enjoys long walks down country roads, visiting New England towns, and of course, a good book.

Elaine Stock is being so kind as to offer one of our wonderful readers a free e-book version of Her Good Girl! Simply comment on this post and tell us what your favorite past time is (besides reading, lol!)! Contest will be open for one week from today and winner will be notified via email!

Previous Review & Giveaway of Beyond the Waves by Lynette Bonner!
Next Review & Giveaway of Proven Love by Mary Manners!

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Comments

  1. That was a very good synopsis of this story, Paula. I already have the ebook. You make me want to pull it up, but I’m so behind right now.
    I wish you well Elaine. Thank you for writing stories that promote the love and strength of Christ.
    Thank you both!
    Blessings
    Kathy

    • Hi, Kathy. I’m thrilled and honored that Her Good Girl is in your reading queue. May Sadie’s story bless you with hope of better tomorrows. I’d love to know what you think of the story when you do read it…drop me a line from my Contact Page from my website (www.elainestock.com).

      And thanks for your kind words and encouragement in my writing.

  3. Paula, thank you for sharing Her Good Girl with your viewers and hopeful new readers. You made me tear up with joy: I’m so glad Sadie’s story has touched your heart.

  4. Great review. This sounds like a great read. I love the cover. My favorite pastimes is spending time with my family.

    Tighefan42 atgmaildot com

    • Hi, Tammy. Thanks for visiting with me and Paula Marie. Doesn’t Paula have a lovely blog?!!

      I hope you’ll get a chance to read Her Good Girl. I’m blessed to say that it has won 3 awards in Christian Fiction–a very big honor.

      Cherish your family, they’re absolutely priceless.

  5. I like to read westerns and watch westerns on tv. Gunsmoke, High Chappell, The Virginian, Alias Smith and Jones, Laredo.

  6. Is drinking coffee considered a pastime? Because if so, that’s mine 😂

    I also love to cook (and bake!)

  8. I’m very intrigued by Her Good Girl”. Would love to read and review this book! My favorite pastime besides reading is shopping in antique and thrift stores. My motto is, ” If someone loved it before, I will love it, too!”. Thank you for the exciting chance to win a copy of this book:)

      • Hello, Crystal. I appreciate your visit and your wanting to read Her Good Girl. I hope Sadie’s story will inspire you with hope.

        My husband loves anything old and when we explore new towns to us we compromise: I go into the antique shops so he can have his fix, and he strolls into book shops so I can have mine.

  9. This book sounds sooo good! I just added it to my wishlist. I love taking care of all my rescue animals and cooking.

    • Ann, you sure know how to make this author happy by saying you just added Her Good Girl to your wishlist. May Sadie’s story bless your tomorrows with hope.

      My husband and I are cat lovers. Right now my husband is sitting on his rocker holding his beloved furry son in his arms. Happy times!

  10. This sounds so cliche but, my favorite past time would be spending quality time with my friends, pets and family. I haven’t read the love languages book yet but I’m pretty sure mine is quality time. I love it so much. 😊

    • Hello, Xia. This world surely needs beautiful arts and crafts to cheer everyone up. Before I focused on my writing I did needlepoint and back as a child I took art and dance lessons. Now I really cherish my time to write.

  14. I loved the review and synopsis of the cuts story. Coming of age stories hold a place near and dear to my heart as I worked with so many students who had difficulty finding the right path with little to no support. One of my favorite time period is the westward movement. Mail-Order Bride stories especially. I would love to win a free copy of this book!

    • Deborah, thanks so much for your visit and for sharing your love for children. It’s sad how many families are broken and how often this brokenness is hidden, which is a major theme in Her Good Girl. I hope you’ll read the story and be encouraged by its message of hope.

  15. I wouldn’t have thought about actually reading this book until I read Paula’s review! I’ve read a few coming of age books, and some are good, but others aren’t! After reading Paula’s review, I’d love to read the book! Paula, you stated everything so well!!

    • Hi, Trudy. I hope you’re enjoying your weekend!

      I’m so touched that you’re interested in reading Her Good Girl. Paula’s review had wowed me when I first read it–she really “got” the story! I like to say it’s a coming of age novel about a whole family. I hope you’ll get a chance to read and enjoy it and be blessed by the hope it offers.

  16. My favorite pastime is reading. If I’m not reading I’m looking for books to add to my tbr list And books to share with my group. I also enjoy watching lifetime movies.

    • Good morning, Joyce. Thanks for visiting!

      I’ve always appreciated the power of written words, reading before I stepped into the kindergarten door for the first time. Though I admit I do enjoy my movie nights on the weekends.

      I hope Her Good Girl is now on your TBR list.

  17. It sounds like my family when I was growing up. My mom and I had some really bad times and I was estranged from my family for years. I had contact with my brother and sister but it was limited, and my dad I couldn’t contact him at all without my mom finding out and taking her anger at me out on my dad. Praise God for answered prayer I was able to be united with my family and took care of my mom after she suffered a stroke.

    • Hi, Pam. I’m sorry for your difficulties but I’m thankful your prayers were answered. One of the most amazing results from writing Her Good Girl is the many exchanges of bittersweet stories such as yours that people have shared with me about their mothers (or someone similar they knew of). Although Sadie’s story is fictional, it is based upon a composite of several case studies I have read in my research on MBP and other mental illnesses and emotional disturbances. These these do exist; these relationships do exist. May God continue to bless you, and so many others, in strength to continue on despite obstacles. Keep your face riveted onto Him.

  18. Hey, ya’ll we have a winner! Deborah has won the ebook of Her Good Girl! Elaine will be contacting you soon regarding the prize!

    Thank you all so very much for participating, you are all a blessing to me! Please continue to visit often, as there is a print giveaway happening right now for the Coffee with Narelle Atkins, and a new release review for Proven Love posted today with a giveaway!

  19. Paula, it was an honor and a most enjoyable time for me to appear on your lovely blog. Thanks for the dynamic opportunity you’ve provided to meet your lovely viewers. And most of all, thanks for taking the time to get to know me, as well as promoting Christian fiction.

    Congratulations, Deborah. I’ll contact you right now!