Redbud Corner

Distant Shores #1

by JoHannah Reardon

When a young Chinese girl comes to study at an American university in the quaint little town of Redbud Corner, she meets an intriguing, attractive man who challenges everything she has ever believed in. He tries to persuade her that following the living God will satisfy in a way that wealth and power will never be able to do. Will she listen to him? Or will she choose the handsome, successful man back home in China?

Each of the novels in this series is a complete story.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Romance, Fiction, Inspirational

304 pages, ebook

First published June 16, 2011

About the author

JoHannah is a former Christianity Today editor. She has written numerous novels, a family devotional guide, and an adult devotional. She has written content for the Couples’ Devotional Bible and the Everyday Matters Bible.

JoHannah is married to Brad, who was a pastor for 27 years. He now trains pastors in third-world countries. Read more about how you can be involved with ReachGlobal:

Brad Reardon is a full-time missionary with ReachGlobal. He and his colleagues pass on three things to pastors who have little or no training:

1. How to study the Bible: They train pastors in basic Bible study skills so they can preach truth and disciple their churches.

2. How to obey the Bible: They help pastors to see that the goal of studying the Bible is obedience, as well as to exercise humble servant leadership and loving pastoral care.

3. How to teach the Bible: They equip pastors to proclaim God’s truths with power, conviction, and clarity, and to pass on the training they are receiving to other pastors they know.

Where they are currently training: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, India, and Southeast Asia. They are also setting up training in Liberia, Burundi, Zambia, Congo, Costa Rica, Philippines, Brazil, and Mexico.

Go to johannahreardon.com and contact JoHannah if you would like to help support Brad in this global mission or to ask any questions.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. The main character, Ah Ni, is a Chinese foreign exchange student. I loved seeing our culture through her eyes. I also enjoyed how the author showed people living their Christian lives in a way to influence those around them, and seeing how they affected others in so doing. This contemporary Christian fiction novel was very enjoyable and I highly recommend it.

[Lillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book on several levels: the challenge of someone from China coming to graduate school in the US, the conflict of her Communist upbringing with her encounter with Christianity, and the romance.

[Beth Arocha · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed this gentle yet thought provoking novel-just what i needed in this stress filled time

[Patricia S Winchel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is about a young Chinese woman who left her mother and homeland to get an education in America. Ah Ni is fluent in English but faces many cultural differences and food preferences. She came with the intent to be a strong communist but was influenced by Christianity. Being a Christian myself, I loved that influence. I enjoyed the characters and conflicts of the story. I think this is a good book for young people to read.

[Kara Prem · Rating 3 out of 5]

This read like a story I would have had to read in religion class in high school. The characters were one dimensional, and it read like a morality play where once everyone found God, all would be well. I do admit that I didn't finish the book, I just wasn't in the mood.

[Mary Wolff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay

Although a good story, it lacked depth. Sentences are choppy and amateurish. Hard to finish... I wanted to like it, but couldn't.

[Joleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed Crispen Point, another JoHanna Reardon book, Redbud Corner was a different story. This story seemed to be a book someone much younger might enjoy. The story was too simple, minimal conflict and resolutions weren't well written.
I wasn't all that fond of Ah Ni most of the way through the book. She started out sweet and a hard worker, but she got cocky, then testy at nearly everyone and I coukdnt for the life of me see why Wang Yu liked her. She had some good qualities, like when she became friends with a little neglected girl, but then her idea of conflict resolution with a mean coworker was to tell the boss equally as mean things about her to get her fired. Aside from hitting the girl, Ah Ni was just as vindictive as the other girl, and she never felt bad about it, in fact she was proud of herself.
It was a very quick read, but I'd say that the level should be more for a teenager than an adult.
I like to keep books, but this one I'll probably delete.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah Ni comes to the US by herself from China to attend college. She is fluent in English, but still faces many challenges in her life in the US. She, like most young people, are trying to figure out where they fit into the lives around them, and she is befriended by several students who are involved in church group on campus. She quickly finds out that religion is not for her, at least she doesn't think so, as it's against all she has been taught as a child in China.

The story line and characters were easy to get into and kept my interest until the end. I may have to look for other novels by this author but not in a big hurry to do so yet.

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the author needed to tie up a couple of loose ends and conclude some minor storylines that were left untouched, but I also found it to be one of the better Christian novels that I've read. This is due to the way the author represented Christianity: it was simply an everyday story of Christian friends sharing with their newfound friend, NOT a saccharine sweet over-the-top story. I liked that it was simple and every day, things I could see myself saying. Very quick read, took me only a couple of hours.

[Janaber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt I was given an brief insight on the life/values of those who live in China and come to the United States.

[Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story of a young Chinese student who travels to the United States and is faced with how to deal with Christianity for the first time.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uplifting story.

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learned about cultures and belief systems. Liked this.