Benjamin

by Kathryn Mattingly

ISBNs moved to this edition
After a brief affair with a man that would exit her life as completely as he had entered it, Victoria Agostini makes the heartfelt decision to raise their son Benjamin, alone. Through a dramatic set of events, the boy’s special gift leads her back into the life of this man who unknowingly fathered Benjamin, and she is suddenly faced with the complications of this reunion. Wondering whether father and son are mere mortals or something more, her confusion about faith and the complexities of love present difficult questions. Answers are hard earned as she struggles to protect what matters most to her–Benjamin.

294 pages, Hardcover

First published May 8, 2013

About the author

Kat Mattingly is an award winning author, public speaker, and college educator. She has taught numerous writing courses at several private colleges. Her debut novel, Benjamin (2013) was a New Century Publishing finalist and her short story collection, Fractured Hearts (2014) includes five award winning stories. Here newest release, Finley's Song, (2025) and her fifth novel, Katya (2023) are award winning novels. Other titles include Journey (2015) Olivia's Ghost (2016) and The Tutor (2018) Kat lives on the high desert in Central Oregon with her husband, Dennis, and a Maine Coon cat named Atticus.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be an honest and entertaining read. Even though you find yourself frustrated by Tori's attitudes, emotions and actions that defy her friends' counsel, you may see a glimpse of her in yourself. Forbidden love for the real father of her gifted child Benjamin and the desire to see the man fulfill his God-endowed path, drives her to do things that put her in danger. Along the way she examines questions about God that were dead to her until she faced this struggle. Does she follow her altruistic plan and put her love aside or will she see what's real in front of her?

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my debut novel and I am giving it 5 stars, because if I don't believe in my own work, who will? :)) I hope that if you take a chance on my Benjamin, you will enjoy it. The book starts out in the Rogue River Valley of Oregon on a rafting trip and then shifts to Portland, OR, before concluding in Rome, Italy. It is a story of love: love between a mother and a child, love between a man and his God, love between a woman and two different men, and how all these different types of love drive us to do what we do for better or for worse.

[Sarah Emm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathryn Mattingly’s Benjamin was a page turner, to say the least, and pulled me in from the opening chapter. I found myself forgetting my to-do list and reading straight through the novel so I could see what was going to happen. I finished it in one day. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding Daniel and Benjamin and their special gifts, the romance, the danger, and the struggle with faith experienced by the characters. I felt as though I was living the stress right along with Tori as she faced tough decisions and did everything she could to protect her son. I couldn’t wait to see how this story would end, and I was very happy with the outcome. I look forward to more from Ms. Mattingly!

[Hemmie Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful and mysterious read, told to us by the narrator who is also the main character. At the beginning of each chapter, the author gives us a snippet of what's to come, which spurs us on to read the chapter in order to discover the significance behind the words. There are moments of tension and twists in the plot, making this a very enjoyable read.

[Pamela Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kathryn Mattingly designed an intriguing plot full of interesting characters. Parts of this story put me in mind of one of my most cherished books - The Thornbirds. In the midst of my busy week, I kept glancing longingly at Benjamin...and yet, I was hesitant to finish. Did you ever experience the desire to drag out a novel because you didn't want it to end? Very enjoyable read!

[Anna Kathrynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly entertaining, I could not put it down, there really should be a movie on this book! I hope the author writes more just like this one. A must read for anyone wanting an intelligently written, fast page turner and a feel good read.

[Jennifer Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down! This is the perfect enjoyable read for a nice spring (or summer) day!

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping debut that blends religion, romance and suspense! Who could ask for more?

[Carol Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Behavior of the main character was unbelievable

Sorry, I really wanted to like this book. However, the main character 's actions were so ridiculous, I found myself being irritated the majority of the book.

[Joseph Falank · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a near-death experience on a rafting adventure, Victoria Agostini finds herself inexplicably drawn to her rescuer, a mysterious man named Daniel, who shares with her not just a few intimate nights, but also a peculiar eye color. Their affair doesn't last long however - each going their separate ways at the trip's conclusion - but the effects are indeed long-lasting. The result that becomes of their short-lived relationship is Benjamin, a son. A son as mysterious and peculiar as his father. Very quickly we discover Benjamin is...different.

To say anything further of the story or characters runs the risk of spoiling a spellbinding trip into a supernatural romance that's full of mystery and struggles with faith. Certainly this book cannot be confined to a single genre, which makes it a truly wonderful read in that the author is confident and not afraid to go places beyond the limits of just being, say, a love story or a mystery. Author Kathryn Mattingly hits you early on with an event that, I feel, is huge in the life of Benjamin and his mother. Usually a story builds many chapters and drops many clues before such a revelation, but Mattingly takes a risk and catches you off guard, letting you know this story cannot be predicted and isn't following tropes. You really don't know what is coming next.

A great read that starts out with a bang and only gets better.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benjamin is the story of an extraordinary boy with healing powers and the dramatic twists leading his mother to seek out the boy’s unknowing father who plays a significant role in the Catholic Church. Tori confronts death, denial and treachery in the battle to protect her son, his gifts and his father; but can she save them all from a man bent on revenge and willing to do anything to get what he wants? This suspenseful love triangle weaves romance and deceit among the rich imagery and tradition of the Catholic Church. Essentially, Benjamin is a love story dealing with the love of God, the love between a man and a woman, and the protective love a mother has for her son.

[Stacie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the premise of the story was really interesting, but the main character, Tori, drove me crazy with her self-righteousness and awful decision-making. The writing style was too forced for my personal tastes. Also the ending was so quick - all the build-up for a final decision covered by 2 pages. Disappointing.

[Mary]

A cross between a romance and a suspense