Twelve-year old Ophelia recounts her journey from rags to riches to regret, set in motion by a serendipitous encounter with Samantha Raider over a violin. Sam, a strong-willed, talented seventeen-year-old dancer, seeks to break out of the bubble of privilege she has been trapped in since her mother was murdered and her father retreated into solitude.
She devises a plan to connect with others through generosity, relinquishing treasured items at a yard sale in exchange for the right to visit the objects at any time. As Ophelia’s mother and Sam’s father fall in love, Sam tangles herself in a web of danger stretching from Ophelia’s Bronx, New York neighborhood to the heart of the Darfurian genocide. After discovering she is armed with a unique weapon, Sam finds herself pitted against her mother’s killer and an entire army people who supports the genocide in Darfur, Africa.
Jeffrey Clay Johnston, born October 9, 1950, Detroit, Michigan. Jeff's family drove out Route 66 to California in 1959 in a Plymouth station wagon they located in Garden Grove until 1963 when his parents divorced. Jeff's 13th birthday was spent on a move back to Michigan with his mother, three brothers and the clothes on their back in a Greyhound bus no less. Jeff graduated from Walled Lake Sr High School in 1968 and enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1969-71. His family moved to Arizona in 1969 and when he got out of the corps he went to Phoenix where his home would be for the next 9 years. Jeff received an AA degree from Phoenix College in 1976.
Jeff and brother Chuck took a year to backpack all over the USA and wound up in Alaska. Jeff built homes with a contractor and Chuck crewed on a salmon boat. The backpack travel continued for Jeff in Europe and Africa. Then it was back to college in Phoenix, graduating from Southwestern College with a BA in pastoral theology 1982.
Jeff married Lorraine in 1977 and they have two girls Lindsey and Aubrey. Jeff enlisted in the Army in 1986 as an airborne infantryman and served in Germany with the 51st infantry LRS until 1989 and after discharge moved to Washington state and built a home for the family.
Once again, Jeff felt the call of duty and joined the Army Reserve and became a drill sergeant for six years finally discharged in 2006. Jeff got his private pilots license in 2005 and enjoys flying his Cherokee 160, playing golf, and drums. Jeff satisfies his creative side with drawing and painting and writing.
This book was free gift from the author. Thank you.
“Twelve-year old Ophelia recounts her journey from rags to riches to regret, set in motion by a serendipitous encounter with Samantha Raider over a violin. Sam, a strong-willed, talented seventeen-year-old dancer, seeks to break out of the bubble of privilege she has been trapped in since her mother was murdered and her father retreated into solitude.
She devises a plan to connect with others through generosity, relinquishing treasured items at a yard sale in exchange for the right to visit the objects at any time. As Ophelia’s mother and Sam’s father fall in love, Sam tangles herself in a web of danger stretching from Ophelia’s Bronx, New York neighborhood to the heart of the Darfurian genocide. After discovering she is armed with a unique weapon, Sam finds herself pitted against her mother’s killer and an entire army people who supports the genocide in Darfur, Africa.”
***
I loved the premise, especially…“relinquishing treasured items at a yard sale in exchange for the right to visit the objects at any time.” What a wonderful idea! But one that went nowhere, as did quite a few other threads in the story.
I found the two main female characters, Sam, who is seventeen, and Ophelia, who is twelve, to be unbelievable. Neither of them speaks, nor acts, as girls of these ages would.
Supposedly, the story is Ophelia’s, telling of her rags to riches life, but in actual fact the story is more Sam’s, and in the telling it often becomes confusing as to which girl is speaking, because they both sound exactly the same, despite their age difference.
Another problem I had was trying to fix a time line of events. Everything seems to happen so quickly, and it’s all tell and no show.
The whole story, from beginning to end, is just too far fetched to be believable, and in the case of the wedding massacre, downright ridiculous.
Good Raider (Bond and Benevolence) by J. C. Johnston is a first reads win and I'm giving my honest opinion. Sam's (Samantha) mother was murdered in a home invasion in New York City. Her dad turned into a recluse. He sheltered Sam her entire life. Sam is now 17. This story is told by a 3rd person who knows Sam well. Sam got accepted at Juliard in NYC. Every year her dad had a huge yard sale. Many of the help who worked for the rich people in Greenwich, CT. came to the sales. Sam decided to put up her old bike and violin. She loved riding her bike and playing the violin. However, she liked dancing more. She decided to follow the trail to where things went. A minister had a little girl in the Philippene Islands named Lele who would love the bike. She gave her violin to Ophelia, the story teller. She made a deal with her. She would come over to her place to teach her until she left for Julliard. Ophelia's mother, Gina agreed. Gina was from the Dominica Republic. Mr. Raider took the subway to Gina's home. It was in a bad part of the city. Gina and Mr. Raider talked in the kitchen. Gina made dinner and Mr. Raider called it excellent. Read on to see how Sam's opinion of her father changes drastically.
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and I truly enjoyed the character of Sam. How she turns from a good spirited young girl, to a woman changed by tragedy, betrayal, and the loss of all of her mother figures.
This book is told from Ophelia's perspective, but she isn't the main focus, it's Sam. The changes she goes through the decisions she makes, focused on her. You do see hints of Ophelia but not as much as you'd expect from a story written in first person. It threw me a little bit at first but I grew to like it.
Another thing that I enjoyed was the starkness of the differences between Ophelia and Sam's background. Sam grew up in one of the richest communities, where as Ophelia grew up in the Bronx. The writer seemed perfectly at ease with both settings.
I am so happy I got a chance to read this book. It's one of those that show the best and the worst of humanity side by side. Where the evil may seem insurmountable but the good slowly chips away at it little by little. It helped restore my faith in humanity a little bit.
I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my review which I freely and honestly give.
Told through the eyes of a young teen, trying to process things beyond her ability to reason, Bond & Benevolence by J. C. Johnston is a powerful and moving journey told at a pace that allows for thoughtful reflection as each scene goes by. Two girls struggle through a jungle of ugly truths, harsh realities, and the kindness in the hearts of truly unselfish people who try to make a difference in the world, one person at a time.
From two polar opposite worlds, Sam and Ophelia meet and begin what is a beautiful friendship much like two sisters, one caring for the other. At seventeen, Sam has only known a world of wealth and privilege, but losses in her life have caused her to look beyond herself and learn the importance of the world around her, and how one kind word or deed can make a difference. The younger Ophelia has known only poverty, the sounds of guns and sirens in the night and to be taken under Sam’s wing and being allowed into her world is like a fairytale come to life. When that fairytale begins to grow darker and scarier and the world once again threatens to become ugly, Sam’s spirit and resilience shines through once again as she takes her mission of caring on a global level that takes her to the nightmares of Darfur.
J. C. Johnston shows great heart in this tale of benevolence and charity, no matter what evil may lurk in the shadows. By allowing Ophelia to tell the story through her eyes, it becomes even more powerful, as no matter how mature a young teen is, their viewpoint is still different than that of an adult, there is more simplicity in her emotions as she sees the world through the eyes of youth. The pace and plot deepen as the story progresses and becomes a labyrinth of uncovered truths, and a deep dedication to making the world a better place.
Mr. Johnston has done a remarkable job bringing his story and characters to life with both a touch of realism and a lot of heart. 4.5 Stars! I was gifted this copy from J. C. Johnston in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Bond & Benevolence Series - Book 1 Publication Date: September 14, 2014 Publisher: Delegate Publishing Genre: Teen|YA Fiction Print Length: 218 pages Available From: Amazon Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
I received the book from the author for an honest review. This was such a touching story that I cannot help but be impressed with the author’s writing. This is a coming-of-age book with much more substance than the average read in this genre. It is a book that has all the elements of self-discovery at that age, and where you fit in; as well as the decisions we make during dramatic adjustments in our lives—that has a huge impact in us, and what we, as human beings, can do for our fellow citizens of the world with what we have if we are willing to look deeper and conquer our own fears. We can never underestimate the influence we have in the simple act of giving. The way the author highlights it just gives it more substance.
The book can be divided in two parts: part one is where we meet all the characters in a normal every day setting with a young woman that has the desire to play music, and the other to do good for those she meets; becoming an integral part of people’s lives as she touches and helps people. Part two is more dramatic: with a definite shift after a violent and tragic act. We see how these two young women’s lives are shuttered due to this action and their wish to find recompense in a world that didn’t make sense. Their bravery and courage just touches your heart.
Both Ophelia and Sam had to do that was best for them. Both were strong in their individual roles. But, the young woman, Sam, impressed me so much more. Her maturity and wisdom throughout the book just fascinated me; giving advice in very difficult situations and standing up for what she believed in. You can never doubt that this woman was destined to become a great ambassador and leader for people and nations. Her drive and her willingness to do what is best are truly remarkable.
The supporting characters were also interesting, since the topic was about corruption in countries and how the western world exploits this for their own greed. Each played a valuable role within the story, and it was interesting how they all meet in the beginning to really be a supporting structure for Sam and Ophelia at the end.
Truly a great book that I enjoyed entirely; it was such an easy and quick read that I couldn’t believe that I have reached the end of the book so quickly, and might I add: with a cliffhanger…my word. Please tell me there will be a follow up.
Bravo Mr Johnston. You are a new author definitely to look out for. A lot of the times, I avoid Young adults or new adults genre.
But I enjoyed Good raider immensely. The dark tale was well told and the book moved along well. A very well planned and paced book! ( as a budding write myself, I was amazed). There was a cliffhanger but I am defeintely buying the second in the serie soon enough.
Sam and Ophelia provide a beautiful contrast and topics of corruption and exploitation was interestingly explored here.
Please read the book and let me know your thoughts.
I received this book for an honest review from NetGallery.
First I would like to say that before picking up this book, I was incredibly excited to read it. My expectations of it weren't too high, but after having read the short summary of the plot my interest had sparked.
Good Samaritan has plenty of potential with its side plots, a great deal of actions and some humorous scenes. This book is supposed to be a powerful and tragic story, unfortunately that's where it falls short. I'm sad to say that I'm rather disappointed with this book, especially after having expected more from it. It has a wonderful premise that we all could learn from, but in this case went nowhere.
The key issue this book is faced with is its lack of descriptive writing. Most books I've grown fond of while reading provides you with that unique and magical setting of place or atmosphere. I want to feel as if I'm actually there, see what they are seeing, and feel what the characters are experiencing as if I'm breathing their air. Good Samaritan is written through the eyes of Ophelia and she provides us with her and Sam's (the main character) story and decisions. Despite the fact that Ophelia is a twelve-year-old girl, she has provides us with no deeper reflection over what just happened whatsoever, nor does she provide us with any character or setting descriptions. You just feel as you are left there all alone to guess how the characters feel and fantasize over what each setting might look like. Ophelia (and even Sam) seems rather cold to me when life changing events occur and plenty of things are unaddressed. Sam just seems like an utterly bizarre character, and nothing like the person I had expected from the description of the book. I'm not even sure if I can call her "good". Perhaps my views of her would change if I knew more about what was going on in her head...
The writing itself is very simple. For some it might be a relief to read a short and simple text, but to me it seems as if it would fit a more younger audience. The violence in this book isn't graphic, nor are the feelings of the characters overwhelming.
All in all, I must conclude by saying that I'm a bit frustrated as I know that this book has plenty of potential but I simply can't get over the bizarre characters, story and lack of descriptive writing. However, I am rather curious to know how Sam will get out of the troublesome situation she has ended up in, but I'm not sure if I'll pick up the next book...unless J.C. Johnston provides us with a more reflective and descriptive story.
First let me thank Mr. JOHNSTON for the honors of reading this. Story. It was not my normal kind of book but o vs I started reading, I did not want to stop. I was sad, HAPPY, laughed and cried reading g this. There r things u will not see COMING unroll u read it. Get ready for a shock. SAM is a honorable, living, kind and most definitely one of a kind 17 year old girl. She is willing to sacrifice her life to right her father's wrongs. I give this a 5 stars and love love the cover. This cover goes perfectly with the story.. The story is fantastic and a must read.
I have received this for free and a Goodreads giveaway for honest review Wasn't really my genre .it was alright but you guys should still check it out.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free in a Goodreads Giveaway. This is a first read copy.
The Bond and Benevolent Series was written on the premise of relinquishing material things and becoming more benevolent to others who are less fortunate.
The book is a coming of age novel where two teenagers, a college age and a high school student, meet and become friends. They come from different socioeconomic backgrounds and learn about each other and their families. The events of the book, lead these two characters from New York and Connecticut to the Philippines and Africa. I found some of the decisions the girls made a bit unrealistic and I was disappointed in the ending. I think it is a good read for middle school and high school students.
Thank you, Mr. Johnston, for allowing me to read this book.
Weird, just weird. Partial narration by a 12-year-old girl, who sounds 35. A 17-year-old girl who is more worldly, capable and knowledgeable than most adults who likes to give away her things to good homes. Two music prodigies, two dance prodigies, a top fashion designer, and a pregnant Hispanic girl are the main characters. Another character is beheaded at her own wedding! They spend money like the Trumps, and travel to the Dominican Republic, before finding out that the 17-year-old's father is an EVIL man. Then it becomes the girl's mission to travel to Darfur in Africa to right all of the "wrongs" that have been done there. There were some interesting parts, but it all kept going back to...weird, just weird.
It took a long time to read this book. An editor would have helped. There are incomplete sentences, statements with no indication who is speaking, people are confused with each other in the text. The plot was bewildering. The title is bewildering -- It is listed as Bond & Benevolence at the top of the cover page -- in much smaller letters on the cover page is Good Raider in letters that blend into the color of the cover. These are just a few examples of this confusing book. I never got the point of the book and never realized any character development. This book was provided to me by a Goodreads giveaway. Please, writer, get some professional writing help.
This book should not be underestimated. If you're looking for a powerful read then this is the book for you. If you are looking for a book that shows the resilience of the human spirit then this is the book for you. I think this book is a substantial read for all readers as it definately has a strong message of benevolence and righting the wrongs of this world.
You will fall in love with Sam as she stepas into womanhood, tearing down the walls of callousness and replacing it with love and care in her travels. I wish to read the next installment which will be out in the next week.
I received this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review...
I was very disappointed in this book. I've noticed that this book has very little gray area with it's readers... you either liked it or hated it. Unfortunately, I strongly disliked this book. It did not intrigue me or hold my interest whatsoever. The story was overall very bizarre in a unflattering way. The characters were unconvincing and unrealistic. I felt like the storyline was weak and sloppy, almost lazy, and poorly written.
I received this book as a first read. The premise is interesting and it gets off to a decent start but as the book moves along it just requires so much suspension of disbelief. The story became so far fetched that it became farcical. The characters were never really developed and the dialogue was pretty basic. With some tweaking and editing it could've been a better book. It has potential but the execution just fell a bit flat.
I received this book from GoodReads First Reads. This was a fast, easy read and would be a great book for a young adult. I especially thought it was interesting that one of the main characters, Samantha, who is described as a seventeen year old rich suburbanite, was from Greenwich, CT.-I live less than half an hour from Greenwich.
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. It started out really good and I got drawn into the story, but then it took a very unexpected twist and broke my heart. Warning: it ends with a cliffhanger so I will have to get the next book to see how it turned out.
This was a beautifully written inspiring book. It was one of those books that touch your heart. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a really great book. I won this book on Goodreads Thank you
I won this in a goodreads giveaway in November, 2014, but the book has never shown up. Have any of the rest of you who were chosen received your copies? Thanks!
I've just won a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways. After I've received it, read it, and formulated my opinions, I'll post my honest review. Stay tuned!