Book: Faith Moves Mountains
Author: Jenny Carlisle
My Rating: 4 Small Town Stars
Hey bookworms!! Last year, I had the absolute privilege to read an review Hope Takes the Reins by yet another super talented local author, Jenny Carlisle. Well, the sequel is set to release next week and I got an early copy! This gig has its perks, y’all.
John K. and Faith are both struggling with deciding what to do with their lives. Does Faith want to go have a big city adventure while she pursues her medical career? Does John K. want to be a fireman? Or a construction worker? Or literally anything other than the family business? And while they’re trying to make these important decisions, Faith has a creepy stalker and John K. has a lot of survivor’s guilt and maybe also a little PTSD to deal with. Somehow, they manage to help each other even when they don’t necessarily know how to help themselves. And thus, a sweet small town romance is born.
We all knew it was coming after the first book, right? I mean, O.D. has a brother, Hope has a sister… How could we NOT expect them to fall madly in love with each other? The rodeo pageant Queen and the hometown hero, a match made in Heaven. But just because we can see it coming from a mile away doesn’t mean it’s an easy journey for these two. Faith and John K. each have their own struggles. Jenny is a master at putting small town living on the page in a way that’s relatable and not condescending. And once again the quiet steady faith of these characters is so refreshing. The way John K. keeps up a running conversation with God is endearing, but also a lesson in the importance of relationship over religion. The way Faith was unwilling to compromise herself to gain acceptance from a man – give that woman a round of applause! I love to see a girl who “doesn’t put up with any crap” as my dad would say.
I don’t want to give any spoilers here, but let’s just say this one had a little more action and danger than the first one. And I seriously considered dropping my rating half a star because I REALLY wanted John K. to punch someone, and instead he was a really upstanding guy and didn’t resort to physical violence. (But while it may not have been morally right, it would have been so satisfying, ok?) Ultimately, that would be a bad reason to drop the rating. Plus, Jenny did such a good job of highlighting Arkansas’ many charms. The gorgeous views, the arts, the friendly people, the crazy weather. Ok, maybe not so much the weather…but you get the point. It’s fun to read if you live here because you’ll recognize a lot of the places. Faith Moved Mountains is a super sweet, super clean, just overall uplifting story. Keep an eye out for it on January 31!
Krystle Goodman is a crazy cat lady, who loves to drink exorbitant amounts of coffee, and read a shocking amount of books. She lives in Benton with her husband Josh, her son Roman, and their two cats Roxanne and Abby. When she isn’t reading, you’ll find her cooking, painting, or watching true crime shows. Watch for Krystle’s book reviews every other Friday. Send fanmail to: [email protected]
See more of Krystle’s reviews at www.mysaline.com/krystle.