Just Allissa

by Katja H. Labonté

What’s so special about an ordinary girl?
Everything in Allissa’s life is average and unimportant—except her Daddy. Handsome, witty, brave, and strong, he’s everything she is not. But of all the people in the world, he treats her like she’s truly special.
When a routine day takes a startling turn, Allissa learns that her Daddy’s love goes far deeper than she ever imagined. Why would he give up so much for her? Does she truly have worth beyond what she sees? And could there be more love waiting for her, even if she’s just Allissa?

Genres: Contemporary, Short Stories

20 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2024

About the author

Katja H. Labonté is a Christian, an extreme bibliophile who devours over 365 books in a year, and an exuberant writer with a talent for starting short stories that explode into book series. She is a bilingual French-Canadian and has about a dozen topics she’s excessively passionate about (hint: that’s why she writes). Katja writes both contemporary and historical fiction, as well as non-magical historical and contemporary kingdom fiction, and covers themes of worth, love, peace, and Christian growth. She spends her days enjoying little things, growing in faith, learning life, and loving people. You can follow her life journey, find free books, browse her services, and more on her website and blog.

Reviews

[Katja Labonté]

I still have a very soft spot for this little story. 😉 Now available on Amazon for 99¢, or download it for free here: https://littleblossomsforjesus.wordpr...

[Sophia E. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet short story with a beautiful reminder of where true worth lies! It was bittersweet and definitely had its sad moments, but it was so worth it to see her growth (though it was realistic in the fact that there was still growth needed) in the end!

[Andrea Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little story packed a punch! It was emotional and encouraging. I wish Allissa could have seen how truly beautiful she is. That was one thing that felt unresolved. Yet, she did surround herself with people who saw her beauty—soul-deep and virtue-driven beauty—and that’s a great first step to seeing her worth for herself. True beauty is a pure heart, and that was well on display here.

[Abigail Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Just Allissa" is super sweet short story.

[Hannah Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely sweet short story!

[Sarah Rhomberg]

This story was a little too fast-paced for me, but it was sweet, nonetheless. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Virginia Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can honestly say I did not see THAT coming!

This is my second read from this author. The first being, An Old-Time Christmas which I highly recommend! Both of these are free to download via her website, https://littleblossomsforjesus.wordpr...

As for my thoughts on the book...

Pros:
Allissa was very relatable in that she saw herself as boring, plain, and insignificant. I feel that way as well at times, so it was very easy to connect with her in that way. We see very little of the other characters. The plot came as an unexpected shock that made my jaw drop. Nicely done! There were encouraging reminders that we are never just (insert your name here) in God's eyes.

Cons:
Personal preference here but there were some sappy bits here and there. For a short story, it was nice, but I feel there was potential to expand upon some things further. The story jumped around a lot and didn't offer room for any extra details. Allissa, for example, as much as I did like her character, there wasn't much development. (Again, I realize this is a short story, so I get that it has to move quick, and details need to be sacrificed)

Overall:
Solid 3 stars. This is a good filler book with a great message. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys good, clean Christian fiction or short books with an unexpected twist.

[Autumn Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sweet story, with a great message!

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, whimsical, and full of humor. This epistolary children’s novel was just I needed after several intense books. Mary Elisabeth’s narrative was perfect, and I enjoyed reading about the various antics and situations she found herself in. Without giving spoilers, I’ll just say that one particular situation with a cow and a toboggan had me laughing out loud. The storyline involving Mary Elisabeth’s mother touched my heart, and the ending was perfect.

This book is perfect for a family read-aloud, or when you need something calming before bed.