About the Book
I am weak, but Thou art strong/Jesus, keep me from all wrong/I’ll be satisfied as long/As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Katie
and Joanna meet on a train headed to Cheyenne, Wyoming. They start
talking and find out they are both headed there to become mail order
brides. They quickly become good friends. When they get on a stagecoach
with three other young women, Katie becomes suspicious. What is going to
happen to them? Or is it really possible that nothing untoward is
happening?Buy on Amazon
written by Faith Blum
113 pages // published in 2016 // Christian romance
My Review...
This new novella from Faith Blum tells the backstory behind the plot in The Solid Rock. Sort of like a companion book, it retells the story from a different point of view -- the view of the 5 young ladies who are mail-order brides. Except that they're being duped by outlaws. (If you want to read the full story, you have to read The Solid Rock too, preferably before Just a Closer Walk for the complete experience.)
One of my favorite things about the book is probably the sprouting relationship between Katie and Joanna. Through their mutual experience as mail-order brides to Cheyenne, they met, shared a little heartbreak and the need for a friend. I think their friendship is one that will last a long time. (And I wouldn't mind reading more stories about them and their future families!)
Just a Closer Walk touches on some mature topics. Of course, there is much romance hinted at throughout, as the 5 ladies are looking for marriage; the plot also includes much about a woman from a saloon, especially in regard to how the other ladies respond to having her in their presence.
Christian romance readers will especially enjoy it. I like how author Faith Blum brings in the Word of God and how her characters easily fall into the simple act of praying.
I think it's a fairly quick book, perfect for an afternoon read, or something to fill your time before bed.
Just a Closer Walk is available on Amazon in ebook format.
P.S. Like and vote for this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
About the Author
Faith Blum started writing at an early age. She started even before she could read! She even thought she could write better than Dr. Seuss. Now that she has grown up a little more, she knows she will probably never reach the success of Dr. Seuss, but that doesn’t stop her from trying.When she isn’t writing, Faith enjoys doing many right-brained activities such as reading, crafting, playing piano, and playing games with her family. One of her dreams is to visit Castle City, Montana, to see the ghost town she chose for her characters to live in. She currently lives on a hobby farm with her family in Wisconsin.
Website | Writing Blog | Bookish Orchestrations Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Amazon
Giveaway
Faith is doing an amazing giveaway! She’s giving away a paperback of the novel that inspired Just a Closer Walk PLUS a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card. There are multiple ways to enter the giveaway. Once you have completed one of them, go to Faith’s Blog and make a comment saying what you’ve done.
- Sign up for my New Releases Newsletter (you’ll get a free eBook, too!).
- Pin the giveaway picture on Pinterest.
- Tweet about the giveaway (there will be a tweet about the giveaway pinned to my twitter feed if you would like to retweet that. Otherwise, make your own tweet and tag me in it: @Faith_Blum)
- Visit and/or Like Faith Blum on Facebook.
- Follow Faith on Twitter.
- Share the giveaway in some other creative way.
Tour Schedule
June 27Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections-Tour intro
Rebekah Lyn Books-Book Review
June 28
Rachel Rossano's Words-Book Spotlight
Lesa Mckee-Author Interview
June 29
Kaiser Writes A Blog-Book Spotlight
The Abrahamic Adventures-Book Review
June 30
Stephany Tullis BLOG-Character Interview
Joyful Peacock-Author Interview
Bookish Orchestrations-Book Spotlight
July 1
In the Bookcase-Book Review
Ramblings-Guest Post
July 2
Perpetual Gardener, Writer, and Mormon-Book Review
Majestic Golden Rose-Book Review and Author Interview
Laurel's Leaves-Author Interview
July 3
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections-Giveaway announcement
Excerpt
Katie took a deep breath to calm
herself. There was really no reason to be quite so nervous. She had been on her
own for more than ten years now and done quite well for herself. Naturally, she
would be a little nervous as she left her hometown for the first time to go all
the way to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Cheyenne was a wild place, but if Katie knew
anything about herself, it was that she could handle wild people and wild
places.
She stepped inside the dark train
car and waited for her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. In the back corner
sat a young woman all alone. The woman fidgeted like a cat scared of its own shadow.
Perhaps she could help calm her own nervousness by helping someone else.
Katie strode up the narrow aisle
to the seat where the young woman sat. “May I sit next to you?”
The young woman looked up at her.
Her blue eyes were full of fear. “Yes, if you’d like.”
Katie smiled. “Thank you. I’ve
never traveled outside the city before and wouldn’t mind a little company.”
The young woman bit her lip. “I
don’t know how good of company I’ll be, but you’re welcome to try.”
Katie chuckled. “My name is Katie.
What’s yours?”
“Joanna.”
The train whistle blew and the
train jolted as it started on its way. Katie watched the city fade away into
the distance and decided conversation probably wasn’t the best idea at the
moment.
The train clacked on and the murmur
of voices surrounded them. Katie wasn’t sure what to talk about with this
stranger and the motion of the train lulled her into a fitful nap.
She woke with a start sometime
later and looked around. A piece of paper in Joanna’s hand caught her eye.
“What is that?”
Joanna looked up at her. “A
letter.”
Katie smiled. “Do you have a
sweetheart waiting for you?”
“Not really.”
Katie’s smile faded. “What do you
mean?”
Joanna’s eyes darted around as she
tried to decide what to say.
Katie put her hand on the girl’s
shoulder. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“I’d like to tell someone.”
“But you aren’t sure you can trust
me?”
Joanna met her eyes for the first
time since they’d met. “Yes.”
“Your secrets are safe with me.”
Joanna smiled shyly. “Thank you.
This letter isn’t actually written to me. My friend Mildred wrote to a man in
Cheyenne who was looking for a wife. He wrote back and sent her the tickets to
go out there. She panicked because she suddenly wasn’t sure she wanted to
become a wife on the frontier.” Joanna clenched her hands together and fell
silent.
Thank you for posting this! I love the review. :D
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