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Virtuous Heart #1
All Things New
Book 1 in the "Virtuous Heart Series"Debbie Jensen has spent the last nine years keeping house for her widowed father and raising her younger brother and sister. But now her father is remarried, and Debbie must forge a life for herself. On vacation at the spectacular Oregon coast, she meets two men and is forced to confront the secret that has been locked within her.
Donna Fletcher Crow is a veteran author and speaker. She has written numerous works of fiction and is also the recipient of numerous literary awards. She lives in Boise, Idaho.
Donna Fletcher Crow is a veteran author and speaker. She has written numerous works of fiction and is also the recipient of numerous literary awards. She lives in Boise, Idaho.
204 pages, Hardcover
Published December 15, 2003
2 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Donna Fletcher Crow
67 books125 followersDonna Fletcher Crow loves to give books away. If you would like a copy of one of her best-selling Lord Danvers Investigates series, go to her website: http://www.DonnaFletcherCrow.com
Donna is the author of 50 books, mostly novels dealing with British history. The award-winning GLASTONBURY, The Novel of Christian England is her best-known work, an Arthurian grail search epic covering 15 centuries of English history.
Donna authors 3 mystery series: The best-selling Lord Danvers Investigates Vitorian true-crime series; The Monastery Murders; and The Elizabeth and Richard Literary Suspense.
Donna and her husband have 4 adult children and 14 grandchildren. She is an inveterate researcher and an enthusiastic gardener. You can see pictures of her research trips and her garden, learn more about her books, subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and read her blog at: www.DonnaFletcherCrow.com
Donna is the author of 50 books, mostly novels dealing with British history. The award-winning GLASTONBURY, The Novel of Christian England is her best-known work, an Arthurian grail search epic covering 15 centuries of English history.
Donna authors 3 mystery series: The best-selling Lord Danvers Investigates Vitorian true-crime series; The Monastery Murders; and The Elizabeth and Richard Literary Suspense.
Donna and her husband have 4 adult children and 14 grandchildren. She is an inveterate researcher and an enthusiastic gardener. You can see pictures of her research trips and her garden, learn more about her books, subscribe to her monthly newsletter, and read her blog at: www.DonnaFletcherCrow.com
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 15, 2022
I sometimes enjoy books about someone who has a mental illness, because, having dealt with mental illness myself, it's a subject I can relate to. But I have to be careful, because I am an empathetic person, and if I see things from certain perspectives, it can really mess me up.
In this case, I think I probably shouldn't have read this book. Debbie's mental state is somewhat of a roller coaster. . . first she's saying that she was raped, then it turned out she'd been a willing party who screamed rape (which is frustrating, because it makes actual victims look like liars), and then later she referred to it as rape again. Maybe the author was trying to change the story, and missed a line? I don't know, but it was confusing for me.
Also, there was the abortion. I knew, from the horrific nightmares she was having, that she had something to do with a baby's death, but I assumed she'd witnessed it, maybe been in a car accident with one, or something. Then she starts acting absolutely insane, cleaning her hands and saying something about "there's so much blood". . . creepy. Now it sounds like she literally murdered a baby with her own hands. As it turned out, she had an abortion, and somehow blames her mother (who died of cancer) for it, even though her mother never even knew that she had been pregnant. She blames her mother for everything, as it turns out, but also worships her. . . so, that twists my brain up like a pretzel.
I did think that her relationship with Greg and his daughter was sweet and endearing, and found myself intrigued by the underlying mystery with Ryburg, (which is apparently a company whose name is a conglomeration of the owner's first and last names, both of which are so long and confusing that it's easier for me to remember the name of the company. . . apparently she likes long names for the men in this book!) but I felt that there really wasn't enough attention given to the mystery, since most of the book was centered around Debbie's mental illness struggles and her return to faith. Important subjects, but overwhelming ones for me.
In this case, I think I probably shouldn't have read this book. Debbie's mental state is somewhat of a roller coaster. . . first she's saying that she was raped, then it turned out she'd been a willing party who screamed rape (which is frustrating, because it makes actual victims look like liars), and then later she referred to it as rape again. Maybe the author was trying to change the story, and missed a line? I don't know, but it was confusing for me.
Also, there was the abortion. I knew, from the horrific nightmares she was having, that she had something to do with a baby's death, but I assumed she'd witnessed it, maybe been in a car accident with one, or something. Then she starts acting absolutely insane, cleaning her hands and saying something about "there's so much blood". . . creepy. Now it sounds like she literally murdered a baby with her own hands. As it turned out, she had an abortion, and somehow blames her mother (who died of cancer) for it, even though her mother never even knew that she had been pregnant. She blames her mother for everything, as it turns out, but also worships her. . . so, that twists my brain up like a pretzel.
I did think that her relationship with Greg and his daughter was sweet and endearing, and found myself intrigued by the underlying mystery with Ryburg, (which is apparently a company whose name is a conglomeration of the owner's first and last names, both of which are so long and confusing that it's easier for me to remember the name of the company. . . apparently she likes long names for the men in this book!) but I felt that there really wasn't enough attention given to the mystery, since most of the book was centered around Debbie's mental illness struggles and her return to faith. Important subjects, but overwhelming ones for me.
March 28, 2018
A story of love and self-discovery set on the lovely Oregon coast. What is the secret Debbie has so long kept locked within herself? Read it for enjoyment, then consider if you might have a friend who would be helped by Debbie's story.
April 28, 2016
A sweet story, but highly predictable.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews