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Annie's Journey #3

Finding Sarah: A Phoenix to Behold

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Abandonment, betrayal, heartbreak, and lack of trust.Sarah Wilkinson has found passion as a painter whose skillful talent was shaped and influenced by many, including two past female artists who came from different worlds and different centuries, yet both defied the odds against women becoming successful artists.Evolved from the Annie’s Journey series, Sarah was living in a tent painting the wild animals of the Serengeti in East Africa when Annie met her. They quickly became close friends, but what Annie was unaware of is the heartbreaking childhood Sarah experienced before she struggled to find her way into the competitive art world. As a result, it was Annie who would force Sarah to confront her destiny and make a choice that would forever change her life.Her father, in a letter written just before his death, referred to Sarah as a phoenix that rises from the ashes to new heights. Follow along as Sarah surpasses one pitfall after the other, painstakingly getting closer to finding her sense of purpose.Can artistic success help Sarah escape the ashes of her childhood to believe in second chances and allow her inner phoenix to soar?

300 pages, Paperback

Published March 22, 2024

2 people are currently reading
24 people want to read

About the author

Nina Purtee

5 books11 followers
Nina Purtee is a worldwide traveler, philosopher, and award-winning, adventure/romance, women’s fiction novelist.

Nina draws from her travels to embrace multicultural characters seemingly from different worlds, and allow them to compromise, co-exist, accept each other’s traditions, and even find love.

Throughout her historical Annie’s Journey Series, Nina “shares her gift and craft of writing for young women with a strong element of inspiration or timeless message.”

“Purtee’s sheer brilliance of her pen adroitly explores themes of love, loss, resilience, and courage.”

A “natural storyteller,” Nina loves to dig into the heart of her stories with touching insights added along the way.

Her love of the sea and sailing brought Nina to the coast of Florida where she calls home when she is not traveling the globe seeking new experiences to write about.

Learn more about Nina at www.ninapurtee.com

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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Ashley.
414 reviews26 followers
April 2, 2025
Tropes:
closed door romance
women's fiction
self identity
FMC painter
love triangle

Finding Sarah is part of the Annie's Journey saga, only this time the FMC is Sarah, Annie's artist friend who lives primarily in Africa. We knew at the end of book 2 that we'd get more from Sarah and the love triangle she had found herself in, however, I expected this book to pick up where Crossing Paths left off. I was wrong, and I'm glad. I liked getting Sarah's back story on how she came to be a painter, how she came to be associated with El Amir, and her love story with Hans.

I found Finding Sarah to be full of self discovery and identity. Sarah lost both of her parents, turning to art as her outlet for emotions. This soon morphed into an internship, scholarships, art schools, and opportunities one could only dream of. It was a long emotional journey for Sarah, one I enjoyed more than, dare I say Annie's original journey, but I think serendipity knew what it was doing for her. The final love triangle wasn't who I expected, and that was a nice surprise. I found Sarah sweet and very likeable. I'm glad she got her HEA.
Profile Image for Kez Marie.
1,293 reviews76 followers
April 1, 2025
I loved experiencing Sarah's emotional journey from childhood to adulthood. She experiences loss and abandonment, but uses it to fuel her passions for painting and to find her own identity. Along the way she meets new friends and begins to experiment with her sexuality and gain her confidence. The people she meets helps influence her life and choices, but it's her natural talents that help her get noticed in the world of art, and her interpretation of animal portraits.
It was great to see the characters from the first two books pop up in Sarah's life and experience the different points of view of them meeting. I particularly enjoyed Sarah's introduction to El Amir through her artwork, and his influence on helping her achieve her goals and believing in her talent.
Her artwork enables her to travel around the world and enhance her talents, and help heal from the traumas of her past. I loved the symbolism of the phoenix and Sarah's journey of rebirth and personal growth, and the themes of resilience, creativity and connection.
Profile Image for Nicola Doyle.
515 reviews15 followers
April 2, 2025
Okay so this was a good read and educational at the same time. I learned so much about art and also about wildlife in Africa. Especially the secretary bird! It was a great premise for a story.

The book was written well. It flowed clearly and concisely. Any artistic terms were explained well and language translations were provided. Nothing was left unanswered.

The characters were great and I liked Sarah. She was a nice person who had gone through so much in her life. I'm glad she had art. Sarah's friendships are explored among several characters including Annie, Yvette, Amelia, Sam and Hans. I really liked all the characters and they interacted well together.

The book is written in first person from Sarah's point of view. It was more of a monologue style for the most part. It felt like I was sitting with Sarah listening to her regale her adventures in life. This worked so well.

I recommend this if you're into women's fiction, adventures, saga etc. Also if you like art and African wildlife!
Profile Image for BiblioSizzle.
199 reviews48 followers
April 1, 2025
What would you have to do to find your true purpose? That’s what this book asks, as we follow Sarah through turmoil and heartache through her journey of self discovery. At its core, this is a coming of age story, as our FMC tries to find herself in order to make her late father proud. This book is heartfelt and warm and also sad at parts. I enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Reader Views.
4,960 reviews367 followers
February 16, 2024
“Finding Sarah: A Phoenix to Behold” by Nina Purtee is an emotionally absorbing coming-of-age novel of adventure, self-discovery, and resilience. Introduced in the author’s “Beyond the Sea” and “Crossing Paths,” Sarah Wilkinson now takes the spotlight in her own story with this novel. We are completely caught up in artistic Sarah’s journey from darkness to light. She is an artist- a painter of wildlife, who is inspired by two other mentor artists, and her journey is both moving and transformative. Not just to her, but hopefully to readers, too.

She has a difficult past of loss and abandonment to overcome and is on her path to success, and this is what makes Sarah and her story so dynamic. She is a fighter, a survivor, and a phoenix who rises from her ashes. But can she grasp true happiness and love? Her troubled childhood says no, but Sarah has an indomitable spirit that propels her forward. Readers can follow Sarah on the plains of East Africa and vicariously experience a romantic, artistic slice of Sarah’s life.

Purtee shares her gift and craft of writing for young women, and there seems to be a strong element of inspiration or timeless message that underpins the plot of this story. By all rights, Sarah could have thrown in the towel given her tragic past. But she doesn’t, and this is a beacon to young women who have that spark to recover and reclaim from the darkest of times.

Besides self-exploration, romance, and adventure, you have a character with heart. Purtee is a natural storyteller, able to transport readers into realms of imagination and possibility. Sarah is a character you can identify with; one you can admire and root for. The first-person point of view brings a personal feel to the narrative. But besides character-building, this author has an immense talent for conveying mood, setting, and growth. You feel that you are right there in the same exciting locations with Sarah. It’s nice to see conservation as one of Sarah’s passions. This is a character with a cause, with a conscience.

I think readers will come to adore and respect her for who she is, and readers will be entertained and informed by her exploits. The author has really brought a fictional character to life for me by creating her as multi-dimensional. One thing that always stands out in a very good character who finds herself, is the opportunity for readers and fans to connect with her on their own journey of finding themselves. Purtee brings a fresh, meaningful take to the adventure romance genre, and sprinkles in heartwarming moments and a sense of humor. If you are looking for that perfect blend of travel, romance, suspense, and purpose, “Finding Sarah: A Phoenix to Behold” by Nina Purtee, is a must-read.

Profile Image for Book Reviewer.
4,973 reviews455 followers
October 14, 2024
Finding Sarah follows the journey of Sarah, a young woman who navigates the complexities of her life after the traumatic loss of her mother and subsequent abandonment by her father. The novel paints an intimate portrait of Sarah’s inner turmoil, her artistic evolution, and her personal relationships as she grows from a shy, uncertain girl into a woman ready to embrace her talents and dreams. Set against the backdrop of Sarah’s passion for painting and her love for animals, the story weaves in themes of resilience, grief, and finding one’s place in the world.

What struck me immediately about Finding Sarah was how vividly Sarah’s emotional journey is portrayed. Her struggle with grief and abandonment felt so real and relatable. From the early chapters, we see her turning to art as a way to process her pain, especially after her mother’s tragic death. The scene where she shares her first painting with her grandmother felt particularly poignant, as it not only reveals Sarah's growing talent but also shows the quiet way she and her grandmother bonded over their shared grief. Author Nina Purtee does a beautiful job of giving these moments emotional weight without over-explaining.

The plot itself is strong, and Sarah’s growth from the shy girl hiding behind her art to the confident artist ready to take on the world kept me invested throughout. One of my favorite parts of the book was the detailed depiction of Sarah’s artistic process. There is this wonderful scene where she becomes inspired by a book on falconry, visualizing the majestic flight of falcons and translating it onto canvas. This moment highlights her creativity and her ability to draw meaning from unexpected sources, which I found inspiring. The way Purtee ties in the idea of the phoenix symbolizing Sarah’s rebirth and growth was a clever touch that added a layer of symbolism to the story.

I’d recommend Finding Sarah to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction with strong emotional depth and a focus on personal growth. It’s a story for anyone who has ever felt lost or unsure of their place in the world but found solace in their passions.
Profile Image for Teresa Brock.
869 reviews74 followers
April 9, 2025
Finding Sarah
A Phoenix to Behold| Book 3 of 4
Nina Purtee
03/04/2024
Porto Banus

First of all, this book was so immersive that I felt like I was right there in every location that was described. The way the author brought those places to life made them feel tangible, and now, after finishing the story, I can’t help but feel a strong desire to visit them myself. It’s a rare gift to make a fictional world feel so real. This book is a rich exploration of identity and self-discovery, weaving together the complexities of personal growth and the journey to understanding oneself. It’s a powerful reflection on how we come to know who we truly are and understand where we came from.

This book covers a lot of emotional, real and raw topics, but uses the transformative power of art to help Sarah find her way and I feel as if that was the perfect way for Sarah to be part of and be able to look back at her journey. The transformative power of art lies in its ability to evoke deep emotional responses, challenge perceptions, and inspire change. Purtee is a natural storyteller, with the ability to transport readers into realms of imagination and possibility. Sarah is a character you can identify with; one you can admire and root for. Thank you for having me along for this books journey!
Profile Image for Alis Page.
352 reviews11 followers
March 20, 2025
Finding Sarah: A Phoenix to Behold is the third book in the Annie’s Journey series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone.
The pacing of the book was steady, with short chapters. Normally, this would add to the drama, but in this case, it felt more like stepping through Sarah’s life one chapter at a time, with each snippet revealing a new layer. The prose flowed beautifully—like a steady current, neither meandering aimlessly nor rushing uncontrollably, but carrying me forward with a graceful momentum. Sarah’s character was brilliant, and I loved seeing her grow and develop throughout the story.
I wouldn’t call this a full-on romance novel, though romance is definitely woven into the story. It’s so much more than that. It’s about life, growth, and the journey of someone destined to be an artist. The artistic elements added such depth and colour to the book, making it even more enjoyable to read.
If I had one small critique, it would be the repetition of the phrase, “I have found a friend for life.” It seemed to be said about almost everyone Sarah met, which didn’t feel entirely realistic. That said, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story.
1,186 reviews27 followers
March 31, 2025
This is the third in the series following a group of young people in their journeys of self-discovery across the world. This has definitely been my favourite of the three - so far!
We have gotten to know Sarah a little in books 1 & 2 as the artist Annie met in the Serengeti who it transpired had a history with handsome Hans who we met as part of the sailing regatta in book 2. This story goes way past this, and we meet Sarah as a child and follow her to the days proceeding the ending of book 2.
I loved reading about Sarah's upbringing and experiences this far, I found myself tearing up on multiple occasions.
Experiencing Sarah's time in Africa was magical, I really felt like I could envisage it all.
Sarah had undoubtedly been through so much in her young life that seeing her journey in early adulthood was incredibly heartwarming.
We got a little glimpse into the secret we partially discovered in book 2, but the author is keeping us hanging on that one.
Book 4 will focus on El Amir, and I cannot wait to get to know the elusive Arab with the golden eyes better!
452 reviews13 followers
April 6, 2025
Book 3 of Nina's that I've picked up as part of the ongoing series. There are a number of characters that you can't help but get invested in once you've started with book 1.

We've followed Annie and her journey in the first two books and we met Sarah but only learned a little about her.

This book gives us Sarah's life story from her losses as a child and her experiences as an artist. I thought her relationship with Amelia was great and it was sad that Amelia moved on.

Sarah's story is interesting and we learn of her introduction to El Amir and how he fits into everything where she is concerned.

I like how the story joins the previous two so there's consistency and we find out the backstory to Hans's relationship with Sarah too. Sarah seems to live a dozen lifetimes with all that she's been through but there's a lot of positives and you can see the symbolism of the phoenix shine through.
Profile Image for Lisa.
5 reviews
July 24, 2024
An inspiring, triumphant must read, Finding Sarah: A Phoenix to Behold is Nina Purtee’s 3rd book in her series. I was curious about Sarah after she was introduced in Beyond the Sea: Annie’s Journey into the Extraordinary and Crossing Paths: The Road to Destiny, so I was excited to get to read her newest book and learn more about Sarah. Finding Sarah tells the story of how Sarah endured unthinkable events in her childhood, yet she was able to overcome as she discovered her passion for art and conservation that opened a whole new world for her. It was fun getting to know Sarah and see her overcome her past! I love the analogy of Sarah being compared to a phoenix rising!

As an author Nina’s descriptive writing and storytelling has matured and her characters have become even more beloved! I can’t wait for Nina’s next book to continue the journey!
369 reviews12 followers
April 7, 2025
This the third book in the Annie’s Journey series and focuses on Sarah Wilkinson. Sarah is a talented and promising artist, encouraged from a young age by her Grandmother and Amelia, her caseworker. She is championed by El Amir and his support and sponsorship takes her to Byron Bay, Australia and Tanzania, Africa discovering wildlife and lovelife as well as her artist flair in the process. With wonderful descriptions of the Serengeti I was transported to the gazelles, wildebeest and pink flamingos. I note that I have read the previous two books in the series and whilst I would recommend this, the book can be read as a stand alone as there are good references to Annie’s story, particularly around El Amir. The themes of destiny, love, betrayal and trust run through the whole series and the parallels of Annie’s two suitors and choices and those of Sarah were not lost on me.
5 reviews
March 21, 2024
As the third book in Ms. Purtee's Annie's series beginning with Beyond the Sea and Crossing Paths, Finding Sarah completes the backstory of Sarah's life from a young age until she is a young adult ready to embark on the future she has figured out. As a young artist, it is intriguing how Sarah grows in both skill and confidence in her paintings of the wilds of Africa. Sarah has many significant relationships with fellow artists, a mentor and new and memorable friendships that she develops as she continues down her path to being the artist she is destined to be. I definitely recommend this entire series (which still has more stories to come developing more depth to the original characters). You will enjoy following these characters on their epic adventures!!
Profile Image for Chris.
1,498 reviews13 followers
April 1, 2025
This is an enjoyable look at the life of Sarah, who we met in Beyond the Sea. Sarah has a series of tragedies in her life and it is her art that helps her survive. This book follows her journey to create a life of her own. The story is filled with friends that become family and exotic places. It was fun to see Sarah and Annie’s relationship from Sarah’s perspective. While I am reading the series in order this book can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I recommend this to readers that enjoy stories about taking chances and figuring out how to live the life you want. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!

Thanks to Love Book Tours and the author for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Melanie Ollila.
335 reviews8 followers
April 1, 2025
Nina Purtee is hitting her stride in her third novel. I enjoy series that introduce characters in a book that become the focus in the next. Annie and Ramone turn over the attention to Sarah.

Sarah is a gifted artist that has had a difficult life filled with loss, the first with her mother when she was just 10. I enjoyed the deeper character development in the book and the story going back in time to what shaped Sarah. But wrapping up the ending of her story that was revealed in book 2.

Her coming of age, her growth as a powerful woman discovering her beauty. So many tropes in this book, she has three men in the end that can see her talents and want to be by her side, will she have the confidence and trust to move forward, to rise from the ashes of her past?
Profile Image for Hopey’s Library.
119 reviews17 followers
April 9, 2025
This is the third series in the Annie’s Journey Series and the story revolves around Sarah Wilkinson. At a young age she has always had a passion for art with the support from her teacher and grandmother. With a rocky childhood and the loss of her mother in an early age art has always been her comfort. I enjoyed and loved how she was sponsored, guided and explored her love for art and famous artists like Rachel boheir and Rachel Ruysch. It made me love art even more as the story and Sarah describes her journey and love for art. This book I can say can be enjoyed as a stand-alone and would be perfect for art lovers.

Thank you for this gifted book LoveBookTours and author Nina Purtee !
Profile Image for Charlotte.
584 reviews21 followers
April 14, 2025
Sarah was a minor character in the previous two books in this series, but we really get to know her in this one. Sarah had a very complicated childhood, but like a phoenix rises from the ashes to become the best person she can be.

Like the previous installments, Finding Sarah takes us on a journey of self discovery, visiting some beautiful places and making some lovely friends along the way.

I think this was my favourite book in the series so far with the most engaging storyline. However it's littered with errors such as being set mainly in England in the beginning, yet referring to dollars, 8th grade/freshman year and car pool lines. All of which are American.
Profile Image for Sue Wallace .
7,432 reviews142 followers
April 5, 2025
Finding Sarah by Nina Purtee.
A Phoenix to Behold.
This was a good read. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. I found it slow to begin with. Once I got into it, I did enjoy this book. I did like the different friendships she had with Yvette, Sam, and Hans. I did feel for Sarah. I liked the writing style and the story. I did like the art side. I also loved the wildlife in africa. Very descriptive. I loved it when she was in Africa. The lions zebras. All the different animals. Plus the different places she visited.
Profile Image for Tracey Moore.
141 reviews6 followers
April 4, 2025
Finding Sarah: A phoenix to behold is the third book in the series but can be read as a standalone like I did. But after finishing this book, I will definitely be going back to read the first and second book of this series.

This followed the story of Sarah on a journey of self-discovery and overcoming her past that she endured throughout her childhood.

I found this book an enjoyable read. The authors, storytelling and descriptive writing throughout the book was amazing and the pacing of the book was perfect.

A highly recommended read especially to anyone who enjoys reading women's fiction with a focus on personal growth.
Profile Image for Stacy Bradley .
242 reviews1 follower
April 3, 2025
This book took me by surprise, it had me relating to sarah on so many levels,it had me feeling sad with her, angry for her and happy with her.
Reading her progression from the start to the end with her art and sponsorships getting to experience different countries and cultures in Africa and France and Australia making her own path and extended family I of loved yo of seen artwork she did especially the phoenix.
16.9k reviews164 followers
March 12, 2024
She is an artist who is trying to find her place in the world. She has been inspired by two different artists and she is about to find a letter from her father. How will this shape her future? Will she get to where she wants to be? Will she find the inner peace? See how she will get on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
Profile Image for Jennifer Loschiavo.
1,152 reviews18 followers
March 13, 2024
Very inspiring coming of age story. Dragged a smidge for me but i still fell in love with her story and will keep it in my library. I love artist pieces, kinda reminded me a bit of age of light. I really enjoyed it overall.
409 reviews15 followers
March 31, 2025
This is the third book I've read by Nina Purtee in the Annie's Journey series. Sarah had featured in Annie's story, and I loved getting to know more about her.

Finding Sarah has a melancholy start. Sarah had a difficult childhood with a lot of loss. We follow her through her youth, and it really comes across how her childhood has shaped who she has become.

Even into adulthood, Sarah seems to have one set back after another, but she's an incredible character with so much strength. I really enjoyed the firm friendship between her and Annie.

The book is set in far off places. I particularly enjoyed reading about Sarah's time painting in East Africa. Everything is described so well, and I found it amazing to read the way Sarah's ideas are put onto canvas.

A beautiful, inspiring, and emotional read.
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