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On the Brink #1
Whitewashed
Eighteen-year-old Patience McDonough has a plan. Despiete her parents’ objections, she will attend Verity College in Hades, Mississippi, and live with her grandparents. She’ll complete her degree in record time and go on to become a doctor. But things at the college are strangely neglected, her class work is unexpectedly hard. Grand gets called out-of-town, and Poppa starts acting weird─so weird she suspects he has Alzheimer’s. On top of that, she has to work extra hours at her student job inputting financial data for the college─boring! But soon her job gets more interesting than she’d like” she finds millions of collars are unaccounted for and that something creepy is going on in the Big House basement. She discoveries secrets tying her family into the dark beginnings of Verity, founded on a slave plantation, and she is forced to question the characters of people she has always trusted. Finally, confronted with a psychotic killer, Patience has to face facts─her plans are not necessarily God’s plans. Will the truth set her free?
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2015
34 people are currently reading
488 people want to read
About the author
Amy C. Blake
8 books74 followersI’m a pastor’s wife, writer, and homeschool mom. I have an M.A. in English from Mississippi College. I’ve written short stories and articles for various publications, including Focus on the Family, Mature Years, Significant Living, Encounter, and Vista. I’ve contributed to Barbour’s Book Lovers’ Devotional, Every Good and Perfect Gift, and Heavenly XOXO for Women. I've also won several awards for my writing.
I’m currently writing two series for the Christian market with homeschooled main characters, series that are enjoyable for everybody—homeschooled or not. My Levi Prince juvenile fantasy series follows thirteen-year-old Levi through his adventures in Terracaelum, a haven for mythical creatures. The Trojan Horse Traitor, The Fall of Thor's Hammer, and The Fay's Apprentice are now available in paperback and Kindle.
My On the Brink suspense series follows the journeys of three homeschooled friends—Patience, Natalie, and Christy—as they step out on the brink of adulthood…and danger. Whitewashed, Colorblind, and Tie-Dyed are now available in both print and Kindle formats.
I’m currently writing two series for the Christian market with homeschooled main characters, series that are enjoyable for everybody—homeschooled or not. My Levi Prince juvenile fantasy series follows thirteen-year-old Levi through his adventures in Terracaelum, a haven for mythical creatures. The Trojan Horse Traitor, The Fall of Thor's Hammer, and The Fay's Apprentice are now available in paperback and Kindle.
My On the Brink suspense series follows the journeys of three homeschooled friends—Patience, Natalie, and Christy—as they step out on the brink of adulthood…and danger. Whitewashed, Colorblind, and Tie-Dyed are now available in both print and Kindle formats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 16, 2017
Whitewashed by Amy C. Blake
Timeframes: 1864 and 2014
Location: Hades, Mississippi
Main characters:
Patience
Poppa, her Grandfather
Grand, her grandmother
Moses, Poppa's best friend
Dirk, jock she works with
Jason, nerd she works with
Lily Rose, overly pierced, goth-like student Patience also works with
3 stories are going on at once.
1864: A story of a family that just gave their slaves freedom. But because of the evil ways of the father and his equally evil son, several deaths occurred, including the beating of a slave boy to death and a household slave that was hung. An underground tunnel had been started by the good son to help slaves escape, but when his evil twin returned from the war, he continued the same reign of terror as his father.
Present day: The house and the tunnel are the spot where a college now stands. But something odd is going on down in the tunnels under the administration building. There are mysterious voices protecting things they don't want found. Thirty years they've protected this and now they plan to exact some sort of vengeance against who? Well, that's for the end.
Also present day: Patience is living with her grandparents who live next to the college she's attending for the summer term. She, Dirk, Jason and Lily Rose have jobs entering financial data from basement boxes into computers for the first time since the school started. Patience is becoming more and more aware of something fishy going on. There are noises and people coming from the basement, and now there's a massive discrepancy in the financial records to the tune of 6 million dollars.
She suspects nearly everyone, from the horrible president of the college, to the financial guy, and office manager. Even one or more of her co-workers seem suspicious, especially Dirk, who she just found out is the President's nephew. Everyone around her is exhibiting what she sees as guilt.
Just as she thinks she's got it figured out, her world turns upside down, and she puts her life and that of others in danger.
Very clean, Christian storylines, biblical truths are expressed by the characters, and lived out. The mystery keeps you turning pages, and you pretty much don't know who the "people" are in the tunnel until the end.
The push to get the financial records on the computer turned out to be confusing. I can't tell you why because it would give away a big portion of the story...but it just didn't make sense.
It may have been a bit young for my taste, (18-19 year old characters) but I can't fault the author for her choice in target audience. One thing I found amusing was all the references to Patience's accute sense of smell. She gagged at this, and wanted to puke at that. Constant mentions of stink and odors, including her Poppa's dog she offered to shampoo. It was creative, I'll give you that.
All in all, it was a good book.
Timeframes: 1864 and 2014
Location: Hades, Mississippi
Main characters:
Patience
Poppa, her Grandfather
Grand, her grandmother
Moses, Poppa's best friend
Dirk, jock she works with
Jason, nerd she works with
Lily Rose, overly pierced, goth-like student Patience also works with
3 stories are going on at once.
1864: A story of a family that just gave their slaves freedom. But because of the evil ways of the father and his equally evil son, several deaths occurred, including the beating of a slave boy to death and a household slave that was hung. An underground tunnel had been started by the good son to help slaves escape, but when his evil twin returned from the war, he continued the same reign of terror as his father.
Present day: The house and the tunnel are the spot where a college now stands. But something odd is going on down in the tunnels under the administration building. There are mysterious voices protecting things they don't want found. Thirty years they've protected this and now they plan to exact some sort of vengeance against who? Well, that's for the end.
Also present day: Patience is living with her grandparents who live next to the college she's attending for the summer term. She, Dirk, Jason and Lily Rose have jobs entering financial data from basement boxes into computers for the first time since the school started. Patience is becoming more and more aware of something fishy going on. There are noises and people coming from the basement, and now there's a massive discrepancy in the financial records to the tune of 6 million dollars.
She suspects nearly everyone, from the horrible president of the college, to the financial guy, and office manager. Even one or more of her co-workers seem suspicious, especially Dirk, who she just found out is the President's nephew. Everyone around her is exhibiting what she sees as guilt.
Just as she thinks she's got it figured out, her world turns upside down, and she puts her life and that of others in danger.
Very clean, Christian storylines, biblical truths are expressed by the characters, and lived out. The mystery keeps you turning pages, and you pretty much don't know who the "people" are in the tunnel until the end.
The push to get the financial records on the computer turned out to be confusing. I can't tell you why because it would give away a big portion of the story...but it just didn't make sense.
It may have been a bit young for my taste, (18-19 year old characters) but I can't fault the author for her choice in target audience. One thing I found amusing was all the references to Patience's accute sense of smell. She gagged at this, and wanted to puke at that. Constant mentions of stink and odors, including her Poppa's dog she offered to shampoo. It was creative, I'll give you that.
All in all, it was a good book.
did-not-finish
November 11, 2018 This is a mini ‘Books For Christian Girls’ review. It is not a full content review and will not receive one. These mini-reviews are years old and just for clarity on the rating the book received on Goodreads.
7/14/2015-
“Too harsh of a topic for me, personally. Lots about slavery, prejudice, and the Civil War.”
*Main Content-
Racial slurs; Fighting & Blood (semi-detailed); Salves are whipped & killed (up to semi-detailed); Many many mentions of deaths, suicides, & hangings (semi-detailed).
7/14/2015-
“Too harsh of a topic for me, personally. Lots about slavery, prejudice, and the Civil War.”
*Main Content-
Racial slurs; Fighting & Blood (semi-detailed); Salves are whipped & killed (up to semi-detailed); Many many mentions of deaths, suicides, & hangings (semi-detailed).
February 18, 2015
A girl named Patience. Can't we all relate to not always living up to who we are called to be? I purchased this book because it was written by a fellow homeschool mom in our area. I related to so much more in this story; the strong desire to do things our own way; the overwhelming feeling that comes from all the hats we wear; and seeing someone we love be swallowed up by Alzheimer's. Having just completed a study on the book of Esther, I was astonished when those scriptures were interwoven in the story. Some of my favorite stories tie the past to the present and that's just what Amy did with Whitewashed. Burdens of the past (a Civil War era plantation), visions of the future (becoming a doctor). The mystery of this story kept me turning the pages - I couldn't figure out who it was that wanted vengeance, but I enjoyed how it all came together. I have clear images in my mind of each of the characters and look forward to seeing how they develop in the rest of this series.
September 12, 2020
Patience McDonough's big heart and determination to attend Verity College in Hades, Mississippi bring her face-to-face with mystery, evil, and a family history that connects her with the past and founding of Verity College on a former slave plantation. Patience, who does not live up to her name, loves her grandparents dearly and is convinced her grandfather has Alzheimer's disease. She struggles to keep up with her studies as she works to pay her way and tries to discover what's behind mysterious goings on at the college. She has trouble deciding who can be trusted and who is the trouble-maker. Suspenseful, with poignant and funny moments, Patience also faces challenges to her faith.
February 13, 2020
Hades, Mississippi, Verity College. Why would Patience McDonough, who could have picked almost any other college, choose a small college? Small-town history, small town roots and her Grand and Poppa live there.
This story is a time-slip novel that has Southern charm and chuckles.
Patience is a very sharp 18 year old who wants to be the kind of doctor with an emphatic bedside manner. She discovers a mystery during her part-time job on campus in the Summer of 2014. Patience doesn’t live up to her name and she knows it. In her investigation, she reminds herself: “God is the God of life and light, not of death and darkness.”
The story starts out with a small-town flavor in a college that has seen better days. Patience finds out that truly everyone is connected in some way. The history of the mansion that is the Administration Building holds many secret, past and present.
Her old friend Moses says: “ Truth and Mercy worked hand-in-hand to make the way for forgiveness. Truth shows you the sin you need to root out while mercy helps you do the rooting.” She learns a lot and grows in grace.
The author wove a wonderful mystery out of the intriguing historical background story. I am ready for the next book in this series.
*I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions are my own.*
This story is a time-slip novel that has Southern charm and chuckles.
Patience is a very sharp 18 year old who wants to be the kind of doctor with an emphatic bedside manner. She discovers a mystery during her part-time job on campus in the Summer of 2014. Patience doesn’t live up to her name and she knows it. In her investigation, she reminds herself: “God is the God of life and light, not of death and darkness.”
The story starts out with a small-town flavor in a college that has seen better days. Patience finds out that truly everyone is connected in some way. The history of the mansion that is the Administration Building holds many secret, past and present.
Her old friend Moses says: “ Truth and Mercy worked hand-in-hand to make the way for forgiveness. Truth shows you the sin you need to root out while mercy helps you do the rooting.” She learns a lot and grows in grace.
The author wove a wonderful mystery out of the intriguing historical background story. I am ready for the next book in this series.
*I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions are my own.*
May 24, 2018
This story is something rare: a clean, Christian, amazing thriller. On top of that it’s a thriller that keeps you guessing to the very end. The characters were all true to life but I found Patience to be especially charming. This is a book you will not want to put down.
March 6, 2016
I couldn't put this book down! Amy C. Blake did an amazing job creating a captivating, suspenseful, Christ-centered story full of action and mystery. The plot is full of surprises and keeps you guessing right along with Patience, the main character. Whitewashed is suitable for any age. I love how Amy tied in characters of all ages. The book is laced with solid Biblical teaching and American history. I recommend this book for children, teens, and adults. It would make a great read aloud. While it is a contemporary novel, it addresses issues of slavery in the south, which would make great teaching moments for children learning about the Civil War.
April 24, 2015
Kept me interested and up too late
This book did a good job of building characters. From the Southern stereotype to the dynamic heroine, images were born from well written descriptions and dialogue. Suspense was built and maintained and built again. Throughout the story, a message of mercy was delivered, and this reader experienced some self reflection. I will look forward to reading another book by this author.
This book did a good job of building characters. From the Southern stereotype to the dynamic heroine, images were born from well written descriptions and dialogue. Suspense was built and maintained and built again. Throughout the story, a message of mercy was delivered, and this reader experienced some self reflection. I will look forward to reading another book by this author.
February 15, 2015
This is truly an edge of your seat story. The tension builds chapter by chapter, action by action until you can hardly put it down. I had my suspicions but was proved wrong, or was I??? I liked the back and forth of present to 1864 on a plantation. Descriptions of situations made me feel as though I was right there. Highly recommend this book. I was given a copy by the author for a fair review.
February 28, 2015
Whitewashed is a great read. The storyline goes from 1864 to present time making the book intriguing. I really enjoyed the story. A perfect combination of history, contemporary, and mystery. I thought it was quite the page turner. Five stars
April 2, 2017
This was such a good book I literally couldn't put it down. I finished it in one day which has been pretty unusual lately. LOL! Now I'm ready to start the second book in the series. This is one of the best books about racism and other things I've read in quite a while. I highly recommend it.
October 10, 2017
Loved it!
Once I figured out all the players and weird characters in the book it was an interesting journey to who done it. I would read this one again just to follow the history.
Once I figured out all the players and weird characters in the book it was an interesting journey to who done it. I would read this one again just to follow the history.
March 29, 2019
This book is exciting and full of mystery. It always kept me on the edge of my seat!
I would recommend 'Whitewashed' to kids from 12+ yrs.
It's a really good book, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did!
I would recommend 'Whitewashed' to kids from 12+ yrs.
It's a really good book, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did!
March 5, 2016
Whitewashed was an enjoyable tale that moved at a fast pace and will keep the reader guessing until the end. This is my second Amy C. Blake book and I am an official fan! I really enjoy Blake's writing style and storyline development. She weaves her tales carefully but not too slowly while including relevant background material in enjoyable ways that does not feel like a data dump. Whitewashed was a story I couldn't put down and every time I thought I figured out the mystery, the plot twisted. The story begins with Patience leaving home for college in her grandparent's hometown in Mississippi where she always planned to attend. When she arrives, things at Verity College and her envisioned life there are not quite as she remembered or hoped. She is quickly thrown into a mystery with roots reaching back to the 19th century and begins to question everything and everyone she has trusted. As the story moves, surprises pop up that change Patience's view on people she loves and the mystery she is trying to unravel. The climactic twist wraps up the mystery and leaves Patience with a new outlook on everything. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves good mysteries with well developed plotlines and characters.
April 27, 2015
What a delightful debut by author Amy C. Blake! I knew this was my type of story when I read the description: spooky happenings in an old plantation house turned college Administration building; a murder mystery from the past; and quirky characters in a small Southern town. I loved the fact that, although the protagonist is a college-aged young woman, a number of important characters are elderly. And the author deals realistically with problems the elderly—and their caretakers—face. I look forward to (hopefully!) reading more about Patience, her cantankerous grandpa, and the other unique characters of Hades, Mississippi.
May 30, 2016
Closer to 2.5 stars. The mystery is intriguing overall, and the mix of past and present are good. However, I found it to be a real suspension of disbelief that a college sophisticated enough to have such high caliber majors and complex summer classes would be non-computerized, that a college president would have that much power, and that there wasn't a board in charge of overseeing how everything was run. The contrast between how backwards the school was technologically didn't mesh with what was going on. Maybe the book should have been set in the 80s or a time where this would have made more sense.
May 13, 2015
Not many books can bridge the gap between young adult and contemporary genres; but, Amy C. Blake has written such a novel.
There are mysterious things happening.
There are spiritual soul searchings.
There is a family's lineage tied to one college.
This novel is everything, but typical. All plots are developed neatly and with satisfying results. The characters are well developed. The pace and setting written with exquisite detail.
Amy Blake can rival Terri Blackstock at her best and has quickly made a fan of me.
There are mysterious things happening.
There are spiritual soul searchings.
There is a family's lineage tied to one college.
This novel is everything, but typical. All plots are developed neatly and with satisfying results. The characters are well developed. The pace and setting written with exquisite detail.
Amy Blake can rival Terri Blackstock at her best and has quickly made a fan of me.
February 28, 2015
Whitewashed
Patience moves in with her grandparents to go to college in their home town of Hades. This story involves past and present which eventually has a connection and that is part of the mystery. A lot of mystery involved in the school, I could not figure out who did it. I really enjoyed all the characters in the book but especially Patience. I was given a copy of the book for a honest review, definitely a good one.
Patience moves in with her grandparents to go to college in their home town of Hades. This story involves past and present which eventually has a connection and that is part of the mystery. A lot of mystery involved in the school, I could not figure out who did it. I really enjoyed all the characters in the book but especially Patience. I was given a copy of the book for a honest review, definitely a good one.
January 2, 2016
This is an interesting novel that has snipits from civil war days then current days....keeping you on your toes as to the background history of a college and it's founders family. Not lacking in adventure and keeps you guessing who is actually wanting vengeance. The ultimate question is if they will get vengeance or if it will truly be God who does:) Good read.
I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 3, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. The struggles Patience went through and her doubts and fears rang true. Along with Patience, I was kept in the dark about "who done it" until the end. Whitewashed left me contemplating the need to offer and receive forgiveness in our lives so the hurts don't fester and further wound us or others. I look forward to reading the second in the series.
February 17, 2015
By the author: If you enjoy page-turning suspense, you'll love Whitewashed. Geared especially for older teens to young adults, it's also fun for older readers. If you're a homeschooler, you'll appreciate the fact that Patience is a lifelong homeschooler headed off to college.
February 18, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book. Amy is a very good writer. I liked how she showed how decisions made in the past do affect their families in the future. I was given a copy of the book to read and to provide an honest review.
February 23, 2016
Good read
This was a a good read with many twists and turns. Faith is what keeps Patience, the main character, going through everything that happens during her first summer at college.
This was a a good read with many twists and turns. Faith is what keeps Patience, the main character, going through everything that happens during her first summer at college.
March 19, 2015
Blake spins a tale of intrigue, loss, suspense, and forgiveness. Whitewashed is a book well worth reading.
April 23, 2018
Summer school
Patience goes away to college and apparently passes three classes of summer school with excellent grades, all while putting in something like 8 or 10 hours a day working on a data entry job for the college, and even more hours tutoring fellow student Lily Rose. She would go to class in the morning but when she got out of class it would be dark. Little things like that bother me no end. I am not sure I will read more of this series. The storyline was passable but strings were left hanging.
Patience goes away to college and apparently passes three classes of summer school with excellent grades, all while putting in something like 8 or 10 hours a day working on a data entry job for the college, and even more hours tutoring fellow student Lily Rose. She would go to class in the morning but when she got out of class it would be dark. Little things like that bother me no end. I am not sure I will read more of this series. The storyline was passable but strings were left hanging.
November 11, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was very complex with the character plots due to switching point of views. I believe this added to the book in the sense of deepening the story line.
August 20, 2017
Enjoyable read!
Enjoyable, took a while to figure the title connection but good flow between past and present story lines. Good suspense throughout.
Enjoyable, took a while to figure the title connection but good flow between past and present story lines. Good suspense throughout.
September 28, 2018
Exciting and unique story line
Although a bit predictable, this story has lots of twists and turns to satisfy a mystery lover, with a bonus history lesson thrown in!
Although a bit predictable, this story has lots of twists and turns to satisfy a mystery lover, with a bonus history lesson thrown in!
December 17, 2021
Parts of the story I like very much, but I had a difficult time following the ending when the protagonist was trying to decide who the villain was.
August 10, 2025
New to me author (I have had a lot of those already in 2017). I was a bit leery as I saw the subject matter of this book.. Racism. It absolutely exists and is horrible but I was a bit anxious to see how it was handled in a novel. Would it be horrible one sided (doesn't matter which side) or would the author balance it out? It is important, to me, that this isn't a blanket indictment of all caucasians... and it wasn't. In no way did Blake sugar coat a thing.. and she shouldn't.. but she also showed that there are decent people out there who don't judge by color. This was a good and thought provoking work. Looking forward to reading more of her books. (less)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews