The Price

Circle of Destiny #1

by Jim Kraus, Terri Kraus

Value priced "The Price" is the first in a historical four-book fiction series about the California Gold Rush by the writing team of Jim and Terri Kraus. When the lure of gold pulls Joshua Quittner away from the small church he is pastoring, he must choose between material wealth and peace with God. Only when he discovers the true meaning of love and sacrifice does Joshua find true fulfillment.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Christian

360 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 2000

Reviews

[Book2Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I loved this book. What an excellent writer, or perhaps his wife makes this as superb as it is. And it is a trilogy, am nearly with book two already, which is even better. I love these books. Pirates of the Caribbean next.

[AnonymousReaderPerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's telling when a book truly gives you moments of peace that seem so hard to secure in times of high anxiety. I really identified with Joshua in a lot of respects, and the authors constructed a believable, sympathetic, yet flawed protagonist. Hard to balance all of those things and still keep the pages turning.

[Olivia Lyndaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, but I must say that it totally took me off guard at the way it ended! There is nothing wrong with it, but I was totally NOT expecting it to end like that. But it is a good book.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story. This is the first of four books. Loved the storyline. Good characters.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is 1842, and Joshua Quittner is a poor farm boy. That is, until he is accepted into the prestigious Harvard seminary. New teaching, friends, and adventure soon follow. The beautiful Morgan Hannah Collins wins Joshua's affection--from first sight--but he knows it couldn't possibly work out between them, so he tries to push thoughts of her out of his mind. But--what if he did stay in Cambridge, start a church, and earn enough money for them both?

That dream is taken away when he is called home to see his sick father. The people there need him, so he would live there and be the pastor.

As time goes on and his parents urge him to marry, he grows fond of a young lady named Constance. This must be the wife he was meant to have.

Then, out of the blue, Hannah, his college friend, arrives. She says she likes this countryside--could she possibly want to stay? Apparently not, for as Joshua is called away to dinner with Constance, Hannah walks out of his life.

Joshua's two other college chums visit at different times.
The lure of gold reaches Joshua's ears, and he decides to follow. He could find enough to build a wonderful church in his hometown!

His trek to California and his adventures after he arrives will keep you reading and guessing. Will he ever find his true destiny, or did he pay too high of a price?

I like how the story switches back and forth from Joshua's journal. It is a very interesting and thought-provoking story, and I'm sure I'll like Book 2, as well!

*Edited to add: Upon skimming this book and reading the end of it a second time, I like it much less than I did the first time. There is little meat, little maturity, and too much romance.

[Jen Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series. Peaked my interest in learning more about who the first woman doctor was. Based in 1800s, story of four friends who meet at Harvard and their subsequent lives.--Josh's perspective

[Fatbaldguy60 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this series. Good flavor of the time, along with a good story with characters you care about.

[Cws]

YA Kra

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book of the year!

A fun historical fiction read with a bit of adventure and plenty of romance.