Ashburn

I.C.E. Agency #1

by Julia Erickson

Cara Stephenson, a talented graphic designer at Silver Strand Technologies, never thought she'd see her childhood best friend again... but when he suddenly reenters her life ten years later, he's a completely different man. What is he hiding, and why should she trust him?

Bryce Reynolds is a man on a mission- a top-secret one at that! He never dreamed the girl down the street would one day become his link to the destruction of Ravenmeister, Inc.- a front for black-market arms and ammunition. Will he crumble underneath the burden of all his secrets?

When the hunt for a missing technology developer in possession of a priceless prototype drags Cara and Bryce on a high-adrenaline ride through the streets of Paris, Venice, and Munich, they must work together to find what they're looking for... and survive the trip!

Genres: Christian Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Christian, Mystery

326 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Julia Erickson has always adored reading. As a little girl, she even read while rollerblading, floating in the pool, and climbing trees. Her love of words and expressive personality naturally flowed into writing her own stories. Off the pages, Julia is also a budding graphic designer, photographer, and blogger. She loves to sing and dance and has her own handcrafted-jewelry business. Sparkle and style and colors are some of her favorite things. Growing up homeschooled all the way (Thanks, Mom!) allowed her to nurture her many hobbies. She loves her Lord and Savior, and believes the Bible is the best and truest story ever told.

Reviews

[Shantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

So ... contemporary isn’t really my thing. I usually don’t get into suspense either. But I decided I should attempt to slog through Ashburn by Julia Erickson, because I was trying to participate in the Homeschool Authors Read-To-Win contest; and I had bought it already, so better just read it! Well, let me tell you, friends, there was no slogging! Nope. I adored this book! Adored it! I have never enjoyed a contemporary novel so much in my life—and Ashburn has definitely made my list of favorite books in addition! ^_^ It was exceptional.

Cara Stephenson is a talented graphic designer. Bryce Reynolds is a mysterious man on top secret business. They were once childhood friends. Now they’re thrown together again; about to go for the rides of their lives. Does God have a plan amidst the secrets, struggles, and chaos? Or will Bryce’s many enemies ruin everything?

Eek!! I just loved this book so much! From beginning to end, I was hooked! The crazy action. The intriguing suspense and secret agent stuff. The adorable, heart-melting, sigh-worthy, godly, beautiful romance(!!). The luscious trips to Italy and France, that may or may not have involved some danger. The hilarious, wonderful, perfect touch of humor. The sincere, conservative, deep faith theme. The awesome, relatable characters ... *huggles book* It was great. From start to finish. I wasn’t bored once. And guys, that’s saying something! Usually I dislike contemporary stories. I really enjoy a select few. Well, Ashburn—I loved! I squealed, and gushed, and laughed, and gasped, and cried. It was a perfect mixture of all the things I love.

There were a few moments here and there that it wasn’t “all professional”. For example, the first chapter was pretty wordy. Like too much. It kind of broke the natural-feeling flow. But I’m pretty sure that after chapter one, (or maybe after just a few pages), that vanished entirely, and I was sucked completely into the story, without complaint! ;D

It was a grand, romantic, mad-dash, heart-tugging adventure—with bursts of laughter erupting time and again.

I love, love, loved Bryce Reynolds! What a wonderful guy! ^_^ He is hilarious. And totally “cool”. And just sweet, and protective, and gentlemanly, and godly. And this super awesome secret agent with weapons, missions, and street fighting skills like none other. *grins* Altogether an epic character. I can’t say enough for this brilliant character.

I also loved Cara. She was real. She was sweet, and shy, and fun, and courageous. I really enjoyed journeying with her and watching her grow and everything else! And I love that she has loonnnggg blonde hair! *flails* She was pretty epic too!

And Penny!!! Bahahaha! She’s the best! *hugs her* What a fantastic lady! She is so cute, and hysterically funny, and just all her own! I so can’t wait to read her story!

Also loved Monty, Naomi Stephenson, Angel, and Mark, and probably some others that I’m just forgetting at the moment. Spectacular characters, Julia Erickson, you did a fabulous job with them!

What else can I say? Well, I could probably gush on forever; but I’ll try to stick to the main points. The humor of this book was priceless. I love humor. I love to laugh. And this book is definitely perfection with that. You just have to read it to know. It’s grand. Absolutely grand! *big grins* The Italian guys ... hehe! The “cousin”. The bewildered but amused taxi driver. If you like humor, people, then Ashburn is the book for you!

The action/suspense/secret agent stuff was incredible. I'm not always into that; but I LOVED it in this novel. Awesome. Soooo "cool". Keeps you on the edge of your seat and scrambling to figure things out!

The faith and romance aspects. *Heartfelt sigh* I think why I usually don’t really like contemporary, is because it just has a “worldly” feel most of the time, no matter that it’s Christian-fiction. Well, that is definitely not the case with Ashburn. In this story, we see real faith, real trust, real seeking after God. We see sacrifices being made in order to stay true to God; we see characters conversing with God, asking for His guidance. They’re truly following. God is the center of these characters’ lives—not just some religion that they fit into their busy schedules.
The romance. How many contemporary books have I read that I just shake my head at the romance ... It’s not beautiful. It’s not godly. It doesn’t have depth. I’m like crying inside, “Where’s my fantasy? Where’s my fairytale? Where’s my historical fiction? I don’t want this! I want a good, old-fashioned love story!” Yeah. So I just don’t like contemporary. However, it wasn’t like that with Ashburn. In fact, I absolutely ADORED the romance in this book! ^_^ First off, the two main characters were homeschooled. The guy checks himself and won’t enter a relationship if the girl isn’t on the same track as him when it comes to God. They both have purposed to save their first kiss for marriage. Like, eeepp!!! It was utterly adorable, godly, beautiful, deep, and just swoony, my friends! Praise the Lord for His amazing, original design for romantic love! It is truly a sight to behold!

Have a fangirled enough? No. Well, perhaps for this review. Now is the time for you to buy your copy! *grins* Seriously though, go read Ashburn. It is truly a gem among contemporary novels.

[C.B. Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's taken me so long to review this... only because I loved it so much a review would have been senseless blabbering. To be honest, spy stories are some of my absolute favorites, and this book was just plain AMAZING. I am definitely getting the next book ASAP! The characters were neat, and the plot was really great. I was looking for a fun, intriguing read, and this. Was. It. Well done, Erickson!

[gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read anything much like this and I loved it. The agent aspect of it reminded me much of the TV shows I watch, but in book form (which, by the way, is so much better)!

Special agent Bryce Reynolds is given a top-secret mission. One that involves a friend that he hasn’t seen in ten years…Cara Stephenson. Can he keep all these secrets from someone who knew him so well? Cara is just a talented graphic designer at Silver Strand technologies. Then suddenly her childhood best friend shows up into her life. Before much time has passed, they are both on a mission for a missing technology developer who has a priceless prototype that he may have been kidnapped for! Will they find him? Will they even survive their trek through Venice and other places?

Oh, the characters were so great. Bryce was my favorite. He was so cool. I loved all the top notch gadgets he pulled out for special occasions. He was so kind and protective. He knew how to stand his own ground. Also, I loved how he liked to tease Cara. It was hilarious! Cara was smart, creative, and great at improvising in tough situations. The little bit of romance between them was sweet and not at all inappropriate.

The plot was fast paced and filled with action. But it also had some scenes that felt…normal. I don’t get that a lot in books. It was nice. There was gunfights and street fights and a motorcycle chase! It was definitely exciting. I also loved reading about the different places they went to. Venice, Paris, and much more!!! It was really neat. I almost felt like I was there and knew what it was like.

I would recommend this to teen and up. The violence could be a little scary for younger people. Those who love spy and agent novels will really enjoy it.

You can check out this review on my blog too, at: https://aheartredeemed.wordpress.com/... Thanks!

[Micaiah Keough · Rating 3 out of 5]

WOW. I read this almost two years ago now. Thought it was high time I should put a review up when I said I would... XD Thanks to Mikayla for reminding me. *wink*

First off, I still remember this story really clearly. Which is a compliment. Secondly, I enjoyed it. There were a few things that detracted from my enjoyment, but, honestly, thinking back, overall it was pretty good! Not great, but good. It was fun, and interesting, and had action.

The few things I didn't like so much:

1) The romance, though not bad, was really superficial. Also, there were quite a few guys who liked Cara - which I can definitely see happening. It just felt sorta eye-roll-worthy. XD
2) *SPOILER ALERT* I thought the way a character came to God was strange. It didn't feel like they were accepting Jesus because they knew they needed Him... *END SPOILER*
3) There was one scene where characters are deceiving someone to get away - which, I know, is a part of the spy business, but this felt a bit weird. :P

However, the characters were pretty well done. I like that the author switches settings multiple times to other countries - it's cool! And, I mean, it musta been somewhat good because I was reading instead of *cough* doing school, so?? *is guilty* XD Also, the epilogue was cute. And really sweet. <3 And oh my word! Blake seemed like a fun character - so *maybe* I'll read book two sometime? Time will tell, I suppose.

Overall, it was pretty clean, a fun spy story, interesting, and not a bad debut novel! I would recommend it to people who enjoy contemporary/Christian/romance/YA novels (YUP, all those things mixed together...) and spy stories. *nods*

P.S. I like the cover! I thought it was cool when I noticed that the name of one of the buildings in the cover photo was the name of Cara's work-place in the book. XD XD

[Sarah Grace Grzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. Spy\action\thriller isn't really my genre, but my sister and I are good friends of Julia Erickson, so I just had to read it. I was hooked. I literally could not put it down. Julia's writing style is just so sweet, and the characters are all phenomenal. You get to know them and their stories, but without the "back-story dump" some authors are prone to do. Cara is so sweet, innocent and vulnerable, yet slightly calloused by life, and afraid to trust God after what happened to her family. She is just so sweet and spunky and I loved all her little quirks.
Bryce is the man. He is just so awesome. I appreciated his chivalry towards the female characters, especially Cara. I liked how respectful and protective he was towards her. His strong faith in God was so encouraging, and I liked how he didn't "shove" it down Cara's throat. One thing stuck out to me about him though: he didn't seem to have a "flaw". In my opinion, every good character should have a "flaw". It makes them much more relatable, and realistic.

Some of my other favorite characters are Markdown and Angelwing. They are SO adorable! Their relationship is so sweet.

Overall, I loved this book. I appreciated how clean it was. Limited violence, no language, drugs\drinking, adult content. At times, Bryce and Cara's relationship bothered me a bit, but that is just my personal conviction, and not necessarily "wrong". The plot was original and very good. A great book. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone younger than perhaps 14, just because of the spy\action part, and the limited about of romance. Love this book! Go check it out! Also check out the review and interview my sister and I did on our podcast: http://our-favorite-things.weebly.com...

[Hailey Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a long review, so bare with me.

Plot/Storyline rating: 4 ½ stars
My personal convictions rating: 2 stars

The Positive:
This book was gripping from the first page. Such a cool story…a spy, secret agent, catch-the-bad-guy kind of deal.

Julia’s writing style is absolutely adorable. That’s the first thing that came into my mind when I saw her blog and then read her writing…cute cute cute. This is the strongest debut novel I have yet to read from a Homeschooled Author. (www.homeschooledauthors.com)

Plot/Storyline: 5/5
The plot was well set out and kept my attention the entire time.

Characters: 5/5
Very well-developed characters…especially Cara and Bryce, the main characters. There were a lot of characters in this book, but Julia did a wonderful job of helping her readers keep them straight.

Writing: 5/5
As I said above, Julia’s writing style is entirely adorable. I would love to read more of her books (except for the romance content—see below).

Dialogue: 5/5
Perfect. I loved all the inner thoughts of the characters that were so well-placed around spoken thoughts.

Want-to-read-ability: 5/5

I could not set this book down! It kept my attention all the way through.
The Negative:
As for my personal convictions, I can only give this book 2 stars. It really bothered me that the two main characters, Cara and Bryce, obviously attracted to each other, spent so much time together unsupervised. For most of the book, the characters are alone together. I might have different feelings about this had the characters been engaged or at least dating/courting, but the characters were supposed to just be friends.

Also, there is a lot of physical contact between Cara and Bryce before they are officially in a romantic relationship. Lots of hugging, hand-holding, sitting together, slipping-his-arm-around-her-waist kind of things. And Bryce combed and styled Cara’s hair in one scene. Even though there was no kissing, I felt that kissing would almost have been better than so much ‘holding each other.’ The extent of their physical contact made me uncomfortable.

There was a lot of emphasis placed on outward appearances. I know…there has to be chemistry somewhere for two people to be attracted to each other, but it seemed quite extreme in this book. Between Cara and Bryce, there were more inward thoughts about what the other person looked like than about the status of their relationship with the Lord and core beliefs.

Bryce is the guy girls can only dream of. He was far too perfect. He seemed able to read Cara’s mind and know exactly what she wanted. He made sure she could go to the salon and wear pretty dresses…and he was far more aware of what she wore than was realistic. Perhaps it’s just my experience, but most guys I know (speaking of my dad and brothers) are pretty clueless when it comes to girl’s clothes and nails and hairdos. For young girls, Bryce could easily put wrong ideas into their heads of what guys are really like.

I’m not going to tell you to or not to read this book, I just want anyone who reads it to be aware of the romance content of this book. Personally, I would not let any of my younger siblings read this book until they are at least my own age (seventeen), but that is because of my personal guidelines for reading material.

[Claire Banschbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

A fast paced spy novel that pretty much starts up from page 1 and doesn't really slow down. Kara and Bryce were great characters although I feel like their relationship happened super fast. There were some great moments between them and some truly hilarious banter. :)

Getting glimpses of the different cities was neat. Not enough high speed chases. :P POV shifted frequently with breaks between every few chapters, but you got to know the characters pretty well.

The one big issue I had was Bryce gets shot in the chest not very far from the heart. And 24 hours later is discharged from the hospital and promptly goes on a mission. That actually is not possible. He'd have been in intensive care for awhile and closely monitored. So that wasn't super believable.

If you like Christian fiction and action/spy/international thrillers, then check this book out!

[deborah o'carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Originally posted on The Page Dreamer: https://thepagedreamer.wordpress.com/...)

I don't usually read agent-y type books... which is something I should stop saying since this is actually the third agent-y type book I've read in the last month or so. XD But still, the point is that contemporary isn't usually my thing. But I decided to check it out on the recommendation of a friend (thanks, Shantelle!) and was so excited to get to borrow it from another friend (thanks, Sarah!). I really enjoyed this one. :)

I loved the characters in this book, and especially how the point of view switches back and forth between Bryce and Cara. Bryce and Cara! Great characters. They're so sweet together (the growing romance was so adorable), and I absolutely LOVE the bickering dialog between them -- it was the best. :D So much fun. Also, the Rapunzel thing was funny. XD ...Long golden hair. You'll have to read it to find out. ;)

Bryce is the best, by the way. He's just such a great character. Definitely a favorite. :) Also, I positively NEED a pair of his agent-y sunglasses! Those would be super handy to have. *thumbs-up* Cara was nice too. And like I said, they're so CUTE together and I adore their fun conversations -- they're just such a blast to read. ^_^

There was a Christian thread going through the story, which was nice. Also it's one of the few books I've read which was about homeschool graduates. Both Bryce and Cara were homeschooled, which was neat. :) I didn't really have much in common with them, despite that, but still neat. :P The book is also quite clean, for those wondering about that.

Some of the plot seemed to get a little lost in the background at some points so in a way a lot of it wasn't totally wrapped up (but it didn't matter by the end, I guess), and I didn't always agree with the way some things were handled (also, to be honest, the elaborateness of the ending honestly freaked me out, but I'm probably alone there. XD), and other than that I just enjoyed the ride.

Oh! And one of the most cool things of all about this book (you know, aside from the characters and the sweet romance and the banter) was the international chase and mystery and adventure! We travel all over with Bryce and Cara -- Georgia to Venice to Paris to Germany... it was awesome to be immersed in all those countries and just gave it an international-spy-thriller feel... which I suppose is exactly what it is. ;)

So! A Christian romance spy suspense fun adventure with just the right mix of humor, dialog, romance, and edge-of-your-seat action, it was overall a very fun read for me, and I definitely recommend it if you'd like something kind of light and agent-y to read! :)

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashburn, by Julia Erickson tells a story of action, danger, excitement, and faith in a setting of big cities and Europe. The main character's are Cara Stephenson, a graphic designer who has her shares of past pain, and Bryce Reynolds, a secret agent who works for the government, also Cara's childhood friend who disappeared without saying goodbye.
These two are brought together and swept up into a dangerous mission that turns out being life- changing. Faith is born in the midst of heartbreak. Love is discovered. Perilous situations barely survived.

Ashburn was a wonderful read. (: The secret agent stuff was awesome! Weapons, mini drones, it's really interesting! It kind of makes you want to carry a knife in your boot or something! He, he.:D Yea, the agent life is fascinating.

Julia Erickson's description was very good. The way she wrote the action and parts with the secret agents was like it came naturally from her mind to the page. The book was very well written. And the way she described the restaurants interior and all, it sounded like she knew what she was talking about.

The character's were also wonderful.
Bryce was so charming and teasing, and sweet.<3 And he has a wonderful relationship with God, and conservative- No kissing till marriage, serious about not being unequally yoked... I don't usually read a book with such conservative characters. And about some amazing secret agent, too! Bryce was wonderful. (:

Penny was funny. :D Her bright, different style, humor and endearment fit perfectly together. (: It'll be nice to read her story in *Diamond*, which I've started. (:

Cara was a nice character, too. She didn't seem to be one of those female character's that shun a man's help and try to be so strong, etc. She had her stuff to figure out, yeah. But she was a nice character.

Markdown and Angelwing were a sweet young couple, I must say. <3

And Bryce and Cara's romance was sweet. BRYCE was sweet!! The end- you'll see if you read it. ;)

Yes, so, a GREAT book. The action and stuff kind of reminds me of The Hardy Boys. But better, of course, and Christian, and for an older audience. I would say teen+
So, it seems not very many people have read Ashburn, but if you've discovered it, (which you have if you're reading this review, obviously), then READ the book!
(and by the way, you don't have to be a great fan of technical things to enjoy this) (:

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age Appropriate For: 13 and up for mild violence and mild romance
Best for Ages: 13 and up

When I first started this book, I was a bit worried. The first chapter was very wordy and everything was described in so much detail it was causing the story’s pace to drag. However, I am happy to say that after the first chapter or two, the author found a nice balance and was less wordy.

This book, though modern, definitely has old fashioned spy charm. Some of that may be due to the obvious influence of the 1980’s TV series, Scarecrow and Mrs. King. There is plenty of action and excitement, without any gore or innuendo that is so prevalent in modern suspense books and movies.

Cara and Bryce were so great together. Bryce was charming yet a man of great character, having overcome a lot of challenges in his past. Cara was sweet even though she has let some of her past hurts define her. Together, they make a great team, not only for the mystery, but also for helping each other with their faith and love. Their romance was sweet, but not very mushy (aka, no kissing.)

The plot of this book was exciting and kept me turning pages. I mean, who wouldn’t love a mission that took you all around Europe? Risks were often high, injuries happen, and the action only takes brief breaks.

I highly recommend this story to those who love old fashioned mystery and suspense books and TV shows, sweet, clean romance, and lots of action.

I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

[Katelyn Snell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought a copy from Julia and I love it! The spine is bent from the many times my sister and I have read it. Perfect blend of action, espionage, and romance.

[serena482* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book! Ok I wasn't sure whether to rate it 4 or 5 Stars so it's 4.5 stars. I don't much like the love stuff in it. It has a few scary parts in it but not much. I would recommend this for ages 14-up.

[Lauren Lotter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review coming...suffice to say I loved it enough to stay up until 1 am to finish it!!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bare with me, folks. This is a pretty long review. Writing a review of a book can sometimes be difficult, especially when you know the author personally like I do. Despite that, I will strive to give as honest and unbiased a review of this book as possible. To be clear, these viewpoints are not about the author herself, but rather, these are my opinions of the characters and book. This is not meant to be a personal attack on the author in any way. I simply want to speak the truth and hope that it will both give the author wisdom in moving forward with her next projects and also make others consider some things they may not have thought of before while reading this book.

First off, the biggest struggle I had was with how similar the heroine, Cara, was to the author. They had the same look and personality: long, Rapunzel like blond hair, tall, a bubbly personality, outgoing, friendly, and fashionable. Cara even lived in Georgia, too. Most readers probably wouldn't care about this if they don't know the author, but I wasn't able to look past it. The similarities kept me from being able to enjoy the adventure on my own. As a writer myself, I realize pieces of the author always go into their work, as it should be. But there is a big difference between personal experiences and tastes influencing someones work and fully transporting an almost exact replica of yourself into print. The only difference between them was that Cara wasn't a Christian. I wished that Cara had been given her own unique character traits and personality so that the character would have been more distinctive as an individual. For most, this wouldn't be a problem at all. It was only something that bothered me a bit since I know the author.

Cara and Bryce were both devoid of flaws, aside from the lying Bryce was doing throughout the book. They both needed some more noticeable blemishes. I struggled to find any distinctive character flaws in Cara specifically who wasn't a Christian but acted morally righteous and pure of heart. Only one place did she really make a mistake or mess up, which was in Chapter five when she took the Lord's name in vain, as if it proved she wasn't a Christian. I wasn't convinced. Also, I didn't agree with the fact that God's name was taken in vain at all. I'm not sure if it was meant to be taken that way by the author or not, but that is how it looked. I even asked my mom about it because I thought I had read it wrong. I didn't think such language was needed.

I didn't agree with how Cara's character was portrayed and the mild, probably unnoticed and unintended, underlying message it sent to young women. Cara was so drop-dead gorgeous that all men between the ages of sixteen and thirty were finding her irresistible. Yet in reality, even super models aren't every man's ideal type. Brunette, blond, short, tall, skinny, amply curved... guys are all looking for something different for their ideal girl. It was just unrealistic that EVERY guy she met was head over heals and experiencing love at first sight.

I also felt that because of their conversation and actions, Bryce and Cara's attraction went only skin-deep. It wasn't until two-thirds of the way through the book that they began liking character qualities about one another. Cara wasn't drawn to Bryce's easy-going personality, or his kindness, she was drawn to his floppy hair, his muscles, his tanned skin, his smile, the sparkle of his eyes... it was all vanity. It was all superficial. It was a shallow romance that made the characters appear shallow too. There was even a point where Cara came face-to-face with Bryce shirtless just to clinch the deal and prove she was paying more attention to his outer appearance rather than the man within (even if Cara was uncomfortable with the situation). Let me just say, I'm not condemning this book or judging the author. I'm just pointing out something to consider and think on.

I felt that the romance could give young girls an unrealistic and harmful view of love that isn't pleasing to God. Physical attraction and outer appearance aren't the only things that matter in a relationship. Because of all that outward based attraction, it made both characters seem vain rather than being down to earth and easy to relate to. It also, I felt, sent girls the message that looks are all that matter to guys. It implied that you have to be acceptably beautiful on the outside with makeup, cute clothes... the works, or you won't ever have a guy take any interest in you. While it wasn't an outright message of the book, the actions of the characters did imply it and could be misconstrued. It's a dangerous mentality to convey, purposefully or not, especially to younger Christian girls who are still gaining wisdom and are dealing with the peer pressure of fitting in, trying to find their own identities, and being bombarded by media to look and act a certain way. I was disappointed to find such an appearance based romance in a Christian book. Where is the Christ-like love for one another; a love that is based on actions and a person's heart and love for the lord? One might argue that their romance couldn't be Christ centered because Cara wasn't saved. But Bryce was and yet, all he did was praise Cara's beauty.

What it comes down to is this: that I wished the romance had contained more substance and depth of character. I wanted it to not just be based on good looks but on loving a young woman for her inner beauty and a young man for his strength in character. I don't feel that came through as a strong enough message considering the character's actions, verbal praise, and their inner thoughts about one another's looks. Cara and Bryce both possessed qualities that would have been desirable and worthwhile. I just wanted them to appreciate each other for those good qualities (both in their thoughts and verbally) and not just have it be based on appearance alone. Let me just say, that the romance specifically wasn't something that every reader would have a problem with and this was only a mild, recurring problem that I noticed throughout the book; nothing that would detract from a readers enjoyment. Also, this isn't written with the desire to be nit-picky, but just to encourage the author in her future attempts to work on enhancing the romance with a love filled with Christ-like qualities that the character's possess rather than it being based solely on mutual outward attraction. It will give the characters even more depth. I also wished that Bryce and Cara had shown their love for one another when the other person wasn't easy to love. A love that can overcome the sick days, the broken days, the angry and bitter filled days, is a strong love indeed. If you can love at the lowest point, that is the strongest love of all because it's an unconditional love.

In the end of the book, Cara does accept Christ but I didn't really like how it came about. Rather than her heart being drawn to God because she was open to it and ready, she gave herself over to God because she was afraid Bryce was going to die. It felt like the acceptance of Christ was based on her love for Bryce not her love for God and a desire to be His child. The love for Bryce wasn't something that would be able to prop up her faith long term and so I couldn't help wondering if her Christianity would actually stick and if she would have accepted Christ had Bryce not been shot.

My last and final complaint is just that there were some things that felt too obvious to me. The meaning behind Cara's code name, “Diamond,” and Mitch being a bad guy rather than just an overbearing flirt... it took away some of the intensity and climactic elements of the book.

On the whole, this book wasn't devoid of good points. I must say the author has quite a talent for descriptions. The writing style itself was excellent. I was pleasantly surprised on more than one occasion. Also, the plot itself was still fun and adventurous. It just didn't redeem all the negatives in my eyes. I was disappointed with this manuscript and the quality of the authors work. If you don't know the author in person, you would probably enjoy this book because you'd be able to enjoy Cara's adventure as it was meant to be.

[Allison Hilleson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, spy's are another one of my favorite plot devices! I loved the characters they were fun and diverse and the interaction between them was wonderful. I never wanted to put the book down.

The only quibble I have with the book is there are a lot of very very short scenes and the POV changes frequently and suddenly BUT it didn't interrupt the story flow. I never felt lost and I was never confused for more than a second. Also it wasn't until nearly halfway through the book that we learns what Cara's religion/thoughts of religion were. But I truly didn't want to put the book down, I was engrossed in the story and the characters.

Note: If you haven't seen the movie Courageous yet and plan to, I might watch it before reading to far in this book. There is a scene with a few movie spoilers :)

[MissMae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashburn by Julia Erickson

(may contain a few spoilers)

I love this book!!! The characters are truly wonderful, with both strengths and flaws. Cara, the main character, is a lovely young girl who has pulled away from God. In the story she falls in love with a childhood friend and through him she also finds God again.
Bryce is the godly young man every girl admires. He has a pure, defined character and his balance of smarts and emotions is very awesome.
This is an amazing story. The writing style keeps you hooked. I admit that the day I started this book, I did little else besides read it! I sent it as a present to my best friend and she loves it just as much as I do, too.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It's among my favorites in the contemporary genre. It's difficult to find books that contain romance and are clean, especially contemporary books--but Ashburn definitely is.

To the authoress: Thanks for writing this wonderful story! You've done an awesome job and I can't wait to read the sequel.

-Mae

[Kelsey Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! The writing is youthful, descriptive, and full of personality. Julia Erickson has a way with words. Although the situations in this book aren’t exactly realistic, with suspension of disbelief, readers can get swept up in this crazy ride and have a lot of fun with the appealing protagonists and twisty-turning suspense. The banter was fantastic. The romance is sweet and godly. I recommend this book for teen/young adult readers who want a fast-paced, clean, and enjoyable story featuring a God-honoring romantic relationship.