Kregel Publications – Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner

About the Book (from Barnes and Noble)

ISBN-13:9780825448065

Publication date:05/19/2026

Pages:336

Synopsis

Can she protect her gym students before her past catches up?

When Chloe Ainsworth’s older sister reappears after fourteen years, she brings with her the news that Chloe’s abuser is back in town. Chloe is a coach at her childhood gym and fiercely protective of her young gymnasts. She won’t allow them to suffer the way she did, but she’s desperate for an ally—one who can help her make her case.

Law student Dare Shepherd works at the local legal clinic, where he meets Chloe and hears her out. He believes her case but can’t get the clinic director on board. As he learns more about her story, he finds himself bound by a deepening personal care for Chloe.

They band together in search of answers, and suddenly the stakes skyrocket. It’s clear they’re onto something, but will they be able to find the answers before it’s too late?

My Thoughts

This novel tells the powerful and compelling story of a former gymnast who wants to save other young gymnasts from suffering the same kind of sexual abuse that she did as a child. When her predator returns to town, Chloe is even more motivated to take him to court in order to make sure that he never hurts another young athlete. the case gets complicated as others are involved, including Chloe’s sister Ginny who returns to town about the same time as Coach Alex does. The mystery is how in the world Chloe will be able to face the giant. She is indeed a modern-day David facing huge odds that she can prove her case and keep the coach away from the girls. The story was riveting and heart-breaking at times, but it is also one that held me captivated and cheering for Chloe and her lawyer Dare, a young law student who takes on the case pro bono. There are plenty of twists and surprises which kept me engaged and turning the pages as fast as I could. This is a fast-paced legal suspense with a little romance and plenty of thrilling moments. The characters were realistic and even though I really didn’t like Coach Alex, he was realistically portrayed as a sleazy make who takes advantage of his position. The main characters were likable and relatable, and the plot was well-crafted to tell a story that is thought-provoking as well as a warning for parents to be aware of the backgrounds of those who teach their children. The love that Chloe felt for her young students was evident as she was determined not to back down even when she was in danger. Great story told in a thoroughly engaging way with a perfect pace.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and I purchased my own copy to keep. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Rated PG-difficult topic of sexual abuse by a predator/coach

About the Author

The award-winning, best-selling author of more than 35 books, Cara Putman graduated college at 20 and completed her law degree at 27. FIRST for Women magazine called Shadowed by Grace “captivating” and a “novel with ‘the works.’” Cara is active at her church and a full-time Clinical Associate Professor on business and ethics to undergraduate and graduate students at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Putman also practices law and was a second-generation homeschooling mom for twelve years. Putman obtained her Master’s in Business Administration from Krannert and her J.D. from George Mason University Antonin Scalia School of Law. She serves on the executive board of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization she has served in various roles since 2007. She lives with her husband and four children in Indiana. You can connect with her online at: caraputman.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

ISBN-13:9780825448232

Publisher:Kregel Publications

Publication date:06/18/2024

Pages:288

Believing the bitter lies you tell yourself leaves little room for the sweetness of truth
Coal miner Joshua Morgan managed to do the impossible—he broke away from the stranglehold of the iron-fisted Barton family and the Company Store, to whom all the miners in the Appalachian Mountains are indebted. But it cost him the life of his young daughter, who was run down by a posse led by Thomas Barton while coming to collect Joshua’s payment to the store.
Five years later, a sweet but slow-witted young girl lands on his doorstep, and Joshua’s desire to protect her from the clutches of the Bartons increases his thirst for vengeance. Joshua sets out to discover where the girl came from in order to take down the Barton family once and for all.
His journey leads him to the truth about the day his daughter died, a reality he finds hard to accept. But when confronted by Thomas Barton himself, Joshua is forced to rethink the dark lies brewing in his heart. If he broke away, could Thomas have also? Despite his misgivings, can Joshua join forces with a man he once despised to free the miners from the tyrannical Barton family?

My Thoughts

This novel is one of the most heart-tugging books that I have ever read about the plight of the coal miners and those who took advantage of them for profit. Joshua and Raney escaped the life of coal mining and took up farming but not before they lost their beloved daughter Anna to one of the cold-hearted Bartons who owned the mining operation. Joshua is eaten up with grief and bitterness as well as the need for revenge, but a small child leads him in a new direction. Once they find Aughtie wandering their property, they vow to keep her safe from the Bartons and anyone else who might seek to harm her. The portrayal of the characters is realistic and dynamic as they undergo changes in heart and mind thanks to the example of the child who has a mental deficiency but whose simple love and desire for peace and forgiveness stirs everyone around her to do better than they thought possible. Along with his good friend Clive, Joshua comes up with a plan to overthrow the power of the Bartons, but the danger is real and the lives lost are heartbreaking. This is a story of resilience, determination, and the power of change and forgiveness on a small mining community. It is also the story of family and how family is more than blood kin. Finally, it is the story of survival in spite of overwhelming odds and evil that is all-encompassing. I enjoyed the story, especially the realistic dialogue and details of everyday life for the miners and their families. The story was paced just right for the story that was unfolding, methodically painting the need for change and the power that one family held over hundreds of others because of a company store and the greedy quest for black gold. The fact that Aughtie is a child with what we know as Down’s Syndrome makes the story even more gut-wrenching as her understanding of what is happening is more clear than that of most of the adults in charge of her care. My favorite character was Joshua, a man who went from desperation for revenge to dependence on God’s help to find justice for the miners. With multiple layers in the plot and in the lives of the characters, this is an epic novel that captivated me from the beginning and held me enthralled until the satisfying conclusion.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cindy Sproles is an author and speaker. She is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries and the cowriter of the popular He Said, She Said Devotions written with her cofounder, Eddie Jones. She is a novelist and best-selling author. Cindy’s devotions and articles are published in Christian newspapers across the eastern seaboard, including having been used to represent legislature for the protection of the elderly. She is a speaker to women’s conferences addressing not only the heart of women but also their biblical responsibilities to their families. As a teacher and speaker for Christian Writers Conferences, Cindy teaches writing skills and how to write placing God in the forefront. She is a contributing author to CBN.com and is the Executive Editor for www.christiandevotions.us and a freelance editor for Ironstream Media. Cindy has served in the past as an acquisitions editor and also a managing editor for publishers and she now uses that experience to mentor and coach new writers through her mentoring service, WRAMS (Write Right Author Mentoring Service) she shares with Lori Marett. She is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference, held each February at the Cove, the Billy Graham Training Center, Asheville, NC. She is a certified life coach and mentor, an eldercare specialist, and a special needs advocate. Cindy is an Appalachian-born and raised mountain girl, and her novels strive to show life in the mountains during the1800’s. Cindy is a best-selling, award-winning novelist with her books having been named Novel of the Year multiple times. She is the mother of four adult sons and lives in the mountains of East Tennessee with her husband. Cindy can be contacted at www.cindysproles.com or by emailing cindyksproles@gmail.com.