Eden

by Hannah Gaudette

A standalone novella perfect for fans of James L Rubart!Bethany Holloway’s comfortable world is rocked with the untimely death of her grandmother. Worse, her grandmother’s parting words are of legends and stories—and her charge to Find the Garden of Eden.

When her grandmother’s death brings to light a long-kept family secret, Bethany begins a search for the mother she didn’t know she had. But her search intersects again with her grandmother’s cryptic pronouncements about Eden.

Bethany doesn’t believe in Eden. She doesn’t even know if she believes in God. Can she take on this quest to honor the memory of the grandmother she loved?

Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary

166 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2024

About the author

Hannah Gaudette is a home-school graduate living in the hills of New England. When she’s not writing or playing with the dogs, it’s a safe bet you can find her with a camera in her hands, vlogging her daily life on a farm. She is a life enthusiast, passionate about Jesus, family, and, of course, telling stories.

Reviews

[Kate Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Such a cool concept and an apropos Easter read. 🤍 This totally took a turn I wasn't expecting, and I really enjoyed the spiritual themes near the end. Perfect for fans of contemporary fantasy and allegories.

(I'm still not sure about the grandmother not including the brother. 🤔)

[randomreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovey story about a girl doing her best to fulfill a calling placed upon her by her late grandmother. I enjoyed the descriptions of all the different Middle Eastern settings, particularly the food! I also really liked the character journeys of both Bethany and Julian. Both had flaws and were relativist different points. The climax was my favorite scene! Overall, I think it would be a nice read for those who like treasure hunt stories with some emotional twists. (3.5 stars)

Thank you to the author for providing me with a free review copy in exchange for my honest review!

[D.T. Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure I was going to like this, but Eden surprised me in a good way. The MC's worldview at the opening of the book is, sadly, representative of many of today's Christians. Faith is an afterthought instead of an integral part of life. I loved getting to see Bethany's journey to a more complete faith.

[Cathryn deVries · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars!
Christian fiction is not my usual genre, but I was pleasantly surprised by Hannah’s novella. Her characters felt very real, not at all two-dimensional, and certainly not cheesy. She handled the relationships sensitively, and I loved how we gradually found out how interconnected they all were. I also loved how Hannah portrayed Eden as both physical and beyond physical–but you’ll have to read the novella to find out what I mean by that.

There was a lot of emotion in the story, and I really felt it with the main character, Bethany. Her struggles felt very real, and it was beautiful seeing her move from doubt to faith as she was challenged by those around her and the things she was finding out. Again, not cheesy.

Hannah’s prose was polished and flowed well–something I appreciate–and the first person POV worked very well for this story. Bethany’s voice was clear and consistent the whole way through.

I look forward to reading more of her work.

[Dana Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars - A lovely journey of faith

Eden by Hannah Gaudette is a Christian fiction novella about one girl's journey of faith and quest for the Garden of Eden. When I picked it up for the first time, I was expecting a sort of National Treasure or Uncharted-style treasure hunt, but that's not what it was. The journey the main character, Bethany, takes may carry her to another continent, but the focus isn't on hunting down the garden as much as it is on her personal journey.

Before Bethany's grandmother dies, she gives Bethany instructions to find the Garden of Eden, which Bethany's grandmother claims still exists on Earth. Then, an uncovered family secret launches Bethany on a journey across the world in search of a mother she didn't know she had. Bethany finding her mother is a big part of her emotional journey. There is conflict between Bethany and her twin brother as well as struggles as Bethany comes to terms with her grandmother's death and strong belief in the Garden of Eden.

But most of all, Bethany's journey is one of faith. She is searching for the Garden of Eden, yet she isn't even sure if she truly believes in God.

I like the way Eden handled Bethany's faith. At one point, she says that she thinks God is real, but she doubts he cares about her. Bethany kind of goes about life believing that God is there but that he's separate from her own life. This is a common feeling, and I like that Eden tackled it. I also really liked a part later on where a character tells Bethany that "God isn't afraid of your questions." It reminds me of a documentary I saw years ago about a guy who tried to disprove God through science and history but wound up becoming a believer in the process.

It was a bit different than I expected, but I really enjoyed Eden and would like to thank Hannah Gaudette for providing me with an ARC.

[Megan Caudill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read such a satisfying ending to a novel in a LONG time. Eden did that and more. This isn’t even my kind of genre, but the way the author made every chapter interesting, how there were so many questions to answer and intrigue to explore, the story grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let go. The character was relatable and layered, and the sub characters all had something special to them that enhanced the story and worked well with the main character. And the themes in this story—oh my gosh—everyone needs to read about it. If you struggle with loss, if you ever asked the question “Why does God do this?” Or even “Is God even real when all these horrible things happen?” then read this book and find the answers (then find the Bible and get those answers verified and good renewed).

Oh! Also, not only is this a page turning, intriguing story—it’s a well written novella. The descriptions and dialog beats always stick to the voice of the character and every moment you of grief, want & joy are pressed into the narration and dialog of the main character.

I recommend this novel, and I hope you give it a chance. You’ll come away from reading this with a new outlook on life. I promise.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Christian fiction novella was excellent! It was beautifully written, and the plot kept my interest throughout. The characters were lovable, original, and real. I loved that Bethany took a leap of faith to search for Eden, even when she had doubts. She was also able to see Gods provision and redemption first hand, which is always amazing! I wholeheartedly recommend everyone to read this story.

[Brianna Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eden was an interesting read, I didnt know very much going into it- something very uncommon for me as I typically reasearch what I read a lot before hand. So it was an adventure! Very fitting for the book.

I enjoyed the concept- what if Eden was a place we could still find?

But I loved the theme. Grief and purpose and faith. Why does God allow death?

It was handled so beautifully and I enjoyed Bethany’s journey of seeking to honor and understand her family and their faith.