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The Misadventures of Trisha Lee #1
Finding Fireflies
I’m Trisha Leigh Lee. I’m 32 years old, accident-prone, a church secretary, and still single.
But I’ll always have my memories of Aaron, the guy of my dreams, as we chased fireflies at twilight. Compared to him, the options at the Highpointe Baptist Church’s singles group just add insult to injury.
Then a misunderstanding lands me in jail (I promise, I took care of the ticket). That’s where I meet Jordin, a young prostitute with major problems. Somehow, I’ve gotta help her. Of course, that’s the perfect time for Aaron to reappear in my life. Then Jordin gets herself kidnapped by an underground prostitution ring.
This story isn’t for the faint-hearted. I face off with jilted women desperate for a second MRS degree, survive bad catfish, captain pontoon boats, and fight old people for their motor scooters.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Buy now and enjoy a madcap, rock-the-church journey + mystery that pulls no punches (and features a sweet side of romance). Perfect for fans of Stephanie Plum looking for a cleaner read with plenty of sass.
Read All The Misadventures of Trisha Lee
Finding Fireflies - Book 1
Saving Sparrows - Book 2
Flipping Fates - Book 3
But I’ll always have my memories of Aaron, the guy of my dreams, as we chased fireflies at twilight. Compared to him, the options at the Highpointe Baptist Church’s singles group just add insult to injury.
Then a misunderstanding lands me in jail (I promise, I took care of the ticket). That’s where I meet Jordin, a young prostitute with major problems. Somehow, I’ve gotta help her. Of course, that’s the perfect time for Aaron to reappear in my life. Then Jordin gets herself kidnapped by an underground prostitution ring.
This story isn’t for the faint-hearted. I face off with jilted women desperate for a second MRS degree, survive bad catfish, captain pontoon boats, and fight old people for their motor scooters.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Buy now and enjoy a madcap, rock-the-church journey + mystery that pulls no punches (and features a sweet side of romance). Perfect for fans of Stephanie Plum looking for a cleaner read with plenty of sass.
Read All The Misadventures of Trisha Lee
Finding Fireflies - Book 1
Saving Sparrows - Book 2
Flipping Fates - Book 3
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2015
65 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
A.C. Williams
32 books20 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 22, 2017
I enjoyed this book so much! I was immediately drawn to Trisha. She had a lot of things bringing her down- lack of a love life, living with her parents and not yet having the kind of life that's 'expected' of a thirty year old woman (husband and kids). But instead of letting it bring her down, or feeling 'desperate to find her man' (which is what I went into the book expecting- and was glad to see that the book was NOT about her constant search for Mr. Right!) this book went into what is a primary value of a Christian life- sharing love in practical ways and caring about others. Trisha felt compassion by a chance meeting with a young woman who was forced into prostitution, and she (in her own plucky and awkward way) reaches out to her in friendship.
Trisha is also involved in a church singles group. She's worried about the criticism that some of the people in the group might have toward the girl she's trying to help, who was living a life of prostitution. The girl ends up being in their singles group and social circle, and Trisha has a moment where she allows her own prejudices to convict her- and then she gets over it.
It's also obvious that she likes Aaron, her longtime friend, and wants something more- but she's happy to let their friendship take priority over any longing that Aaron might return her feelings.
The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 was the constant nicknames that were used for Trisha's acquaintances- 'Legal Dude,' 'Jilted Girl,' "Air Force Guy.' It was kind of annoying and made me feel like Trisha was being kind of juvenile. She didn't really like those people, and so she just gave them these 'labels' without really getting to know them. I guess that's the author's way of showing Trisha's faults she needs to work on, but the constant nicknames took me out of the story. I would have wanted to know these characters by their names, and a little more about them.
Trisha is also involved in a church singles group. She's worried about the criticism that some of the people in the group might have toward the girl she's trying to help, who was living a life of prostitution. The girl ends up being in their singles group and social circle, and Trisha has a moment where she allows her own prejudices to convict her- and then she gets over it.
It's also obvious that she likes Aaron, her longtime friend, and wants something more- but she's happy to let their friendship take priority over any longing that Aaron might return her feelings.
The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 was the constant nicknames that were used for Trisha's acquaintances- 'Legal Dude,' 'Jilted Girl,' "Air Force Guy.' It was kind of annoying and made me feel like Trisha was being kind of juvenile. She didn't really like those people, and so she just gave them these 'labels' without really getting to know them. I guess that's the author's way of showing Trisha's faults she needs to work on, but the constant nicknames took me out of the story. I would have wanted to know these characters by their names, and a little more about them.
March 16, 2017
I'm not usually one that dislikes many books, but I really couldn't get into or enjoy this book at all. I found myself anxious to finish it and get it over with (I read a book in its entirety no matter what). The book didn't even get interesting (plot-wise) until the last 10-15 percent of the book, pretty boring up to that point.
The author really had a fantastic concept/storyline for this book and it could have been great, but the main character, Trisha, was entirely too annoying and immature for being in her early thirties. She acted more like a teenager in her decision making and thought processes compared to where she should have been in life at the age of 32.
The humor in this book I thought was not appropriate at times with the subject of sex trafficking involved. Sex trafficking is a very real, very horrific thing going on in our world today and I don't find it right to be the main subject in a humorous novel.
There were also a lot of mistakes and bad wording throughout the book making it hard to read.
I really dislike having to give a bad review... I feel awful, but I feel the need to be honest for other readers.
The author really had a fantastic concept/storyline for this book and it could have been great, but the main character, Trisha, was entirely too annoying and immature for being in her early thirties. She acted more like a teenager in her decision making and thought processes compared to where she should have been in life at the age of 32.
The humor in this book I thought was not appropriate at times with the subject of sex trafficking involved. Sex trafficking is a very real, very horrific thing going on in our world today and I don't find it right to be the main subject in a humorous novel.
There were also a lot of mistakes and bad wording throughout the book making it hard to read.
I really dislike having to give a bad review... I feel awful, but I feel the need to be honest for other readers.
Read
April 28, 2025I believe this is an important novel for today's Christians, and I am eager to read more by Williams.
April 26, 2022
Loved loved this book! It's got so much heart and humor while dealing with some heavy topics. It hits on prostitution and human trafficking, but you never get really detailed descriptions or anything, just hints and facts presented by characters in conversation.
Trish was a wonderful narrator and I loved everything about her. And aggressively shipped her with Aaron. ;) Also she has the same birthday as me, so that was another mark in her favor. :P She leads us through a series of mishaps, and onto a camping trip with a church group and a former prostitute, and honestly its just a fun, touching book! Definitely was laughing out loud at several parts.
I highly recommend it and am really looking forward to the sequel that I know is coming!
Trish was a wonderful narrator and I loved everything about her. And aggressively shipped her with Aaron. ;) Also she has the same birthday as me, so that was another mark in her favor. :P She leads us through a series of mishaps, and onto a camping trip with a church group and a former prostitute, and honestly its just a fun, touching book! Definitely was laughing out loud at several parts.
I highly recommend it and am really looking forward to the sequel that I know is coming!
August 9, 2015
HILARIOUS! Plan to read over and over again!
At $0.99 for Kindle, it may be the best entertainment value I've ever purchased. Finding Fireflies is one hilarious story! I was laughing so hard at the end, that I couldn't see because of the tears. I think this book should be read by every woman! The serious subject matter juxtaposed against the first person account of a young woman and her perception of the world is just wonderfully done. I look forward to other works from AC Williams!
At $0.99 for Kindle, it may be the best entertainment value I've ever purchased. Finding Fireflies is one hilarious story! I was laughing so hard at the end, that I couldn't see because of the tears. I think this book should be read by every woman! The serious subject matter juxtaposed against the first person account of a young woman and her perception of the world is just wonderfully done. I look forward to other works from AC Williams!
September 28, 2018
This book was a fantastic blend of sobering and tough real-life issues with comedic elements. The main character was constantly tripping over herself and failing so bad it was hilarious.
Yet when the book did take the time to slow down and show us a serious side, it was at times sobering, and at other times extremely relatable. I think we all struggle a bit with how much to try to measure up to those around us vs just being ourselves and letting them see our faults. This book captured that tension brilliantly, and showed some of the beauty of being vulnerable.
The bit about sex trafficking was sobering, but also felt very real. It's something that I think we all need to be aware of, though we might not be in a position to do anything about it.
February 14, 2017
The situations this girl gets herself into.
June 13, 2025
With a great first line, hooking the reader from page one, line one, this story has a lot to live up to in the rest of the three hundred plus pages. This was my first book by A.C. Williams, and I’m happy to report she did not disappoint.
I picked this book because like the main character, Trisha Leigh Lee (even the story behind the name is humorous), I am a pastor’s kid. I understand those struggles as you fail repeatedly while everyone’s eyes are on you as the pastoral family. Full disclaimer, my failures did not land me in jail, but still. I relate.
Trisha struggles do include some that I haven’t faced, other than jail time. By my thirties I was married with four kids and my life was pretty settled. Even though she’s 32 in the story, this is really Trisha’s coming-of-age story. She’s realizing who she is and who she’s been and who she wants to be. And it’s all because of a prostitute with firefly earrings. Even though our paths may have been different, I still get Trisha and her struggles. I think a time of introspection and revelation about who you are comes for all of us. Maybe it does more than once.
She also still lives at home because working for the church doesn’t pay the big bucks. This is one place where my experiences and Trisha’s differ, and I don’t quite relate. Not the working for peanuts part. I get that. But the way her family interacts. Yes, she still lives at home, but her parents don’t treat her like an adult at all. Their interactions are more like those I’d attribute to a parent of teens. Having been a parent of multiple teens, I know the signs. Of course, I’ve never lived at home at 32, maybe that’s the way those situations work.
But that’s not my only point of divergence with Trisha’s family. I am a pastor’s kid and a pastor’s wife. While I know the life in the fishbowl mentality that can take place, it’s something I actively fought against when raising my children. Even though I felt the “we’re to be an example” mentality when growing up, my parents balanced it. We would make mistakes. We were human. Even the pastor. And that was okay. But Trisha’s family seem to have jumped into the fishbowl with both feet. They seem to be driven by a need to portray perfection and it’s taken such a hold that when Trisha messes up, embarrassment and damage control are the first reactions. It’s no wonder Trisha is so consumed with always being exactly what she thinks others want of the people in the positions she holds.
While I couldn’t relate to this mindset of Trisha’s family, I know it exists. And it does provide the story with a lot of opportunity for humor as Trisha’s natural inclinations are far from the perfection she feels she has to exhibit. And when you add her tendency to land herself in unusual situations because she may react more on her feelings than her thinking, there’s a lot of humor packed into the pages of this book.
I loved all the people in the singles group and Trisha’s friends. Everyone is there. And at first, some may seem like caricatures, but give it time. Trisha’s just coming to age. The growth will be worth the wait. I also love how Trisha, even though there is this push for perfection, listens to the nudge of God in situations that go counter to her family’s wishes. While it’s true she might want to slow down and actually form a plan at some point, when God uses Jordin to get hold of her heart, Trisha is tenacious about following His lead. And when things go sideways (as they often do with Trisha), she has a friend to encourage her. Her family will come around. One day they’ll see she did the right thing, even though it wasn’t the expected or perfect thing.
This book is a perfect example of don’t judge a book by its cover (Not literally, the cover is as fun and quirky as the book). You may be tempted to think this will just be another fun, humorous story. It is, but it is so much more. Inside this singles group the story revolves around, you’ll find friendship, hints of romance, unexpected support, and a good dose of danger. But most importantly, there’s growth and understanding that will gently get the reader to examine their own ways of looking at others and encourage them to step away from performing to portray perfection to those around them and start living only for the One who created them.
I give Finding Fireflies five stars and look forward to reading the next in the series.
I picked this book because like the main character, Trisha Leigh Lee (even the story behind the name is humorous), I am a pastor’s kid. I understand those struggles as you fail repeatedly while everyone’s eyes are on you as the pastoral family. Full disclaimer, my failures did not land me in jail, but still. I relate.
Trisha struggles do include some that I haven’t faced, other than jail time. By my thirties I was married with four kids and my life was pretty settled. Even though she’s 32 in the story, this is really Trisha’s coming-of-age story. She’s realizing who she is and who she’s been and who she wants to be. And it’s all because of a prostitute with firefly earrings. Even though our paths may have been different, I still get Trisha and her struggles. I think a time of introspection and revelation about who you are comes for all of us. Maybe it does more than once.
She also still lives at home because working for the church doesn’t pay the big bucks. This is one place where my experiences and Trisha’s differ, and I don’t quite relate. Not the working for peanuts part. I get that. But the way her family interacts. Yes, she still lives at home, but her parents don’t treat her like an adult at all. Their interactions are more like those I’d attribute to a parent of teens. Having been a parent of multiple teens, I know the signs. Of course, I’ve never lived at home at 32, maybe that’s the way those situations work.
But that’s not my only point of divergence with Trisha’s family. I am a pastor’s kid and a pastor’s wife. While I know the life in the fishbowl mentality that can take place, it’s something I actively fought against when raising my children. Even though I felt the “we’re to be an example” mentality when growing up, my parents balanced it. We would make mistakes. We were human. Even the pastor. And that was okay. But Trisha’s family seem to have jumped into the fishbowl with both feet. They seem to be driven by a need to portray perfection and it’s taken such a hold that when Trisha messes up, embarrassment and damage control are the first reactions. It’s no wonder Trisha is so consumed with always being exactly what she thinks others want of the people in the positions she holds.
While I couldn’t relate to this mindset of Trisha’s family, I know it exists. And it does provide the story with a lot of opportunity for humor as Trisha’s natural inclinations are far from the perfection she feels she has to exhibit. And when you add her tendency to land herself in unusual situations because she may react more on her feelings than her thinking, there’s a lot of humor packed into the pages of this book.
I loved all the people in the singles group and Trisha’s friends. Everyone is there. And at first, some may seem like caricatures, but give it time. Trisha’s just coming to age. The growth will be worth the wait. I also love how Trisha, even though there is this push for perfection, listens to the nudge of God in situations that go counter to her family’s wishes. While it’s true she might want to slow down and actually form a plan at some point, when God uses Jordin to get hold of her heart, Trisha is tenacious about following His lead. And when things go sideways (as they often do with Trisha), she has a friend to encourage her. Her family will come around. One day they’ll see she did the right thing, even though it wasn’t the expected or perfect thing.
This book is a perfect example of don’t judge a book by its cover (Not literally, the cover is as fun and quirky as the book). You may be tempted to think this will just be another fun, humorous story. It is, but it is so much more. Inside this singles group the story revolves around, you’ll find friendship, hints of romance, unexpected support, and a good dose of danger. But most importantly, there’s growth and understanding that will gently get the reader to examine their own ways of looking at others and encourage them to step away from performing to portray perfection to those around them and start living only for the One who created them.
I give Finding Fireflies five stars and look forward to reading the next in the series.
April 28, 2021
Oh boy, where to start. I gave this 2 stars because I admire the themes that the author is trying to get across such as loving your neighbor, not making snap judgements and opening yourself up to friendships as well as helping those in need. That being said, this book had a lot of issues for me. There were several typos and grammatical errors but nothing horrendous. The main character Trisha had a lot to be desired. She came across as borderline stupid and ridiculous. I think she was supposed to be written as quirky and naive but her reactions and actions to different situations came across as idiotic, shallow and lacking in all common sense and intuition.
My biggest issue is around the theme of human trafficking. I appreciate when an author brings this subject to people's awareness. It is one that has been on my heart for years. While I appreciate what this author was trying to do, it is a topic she should have done more research on. Most rescue homes for trafficked persons are in some way connected to the police as they are often the ones used to rescue them (at least that's the case in my state). In Jordin's case, she goes to the home on her own where at any good home, she would have received extensive counseling. More than likely she would have revealed things that would have been taken to the police and seen her put into protective custody. Why would a traumatized girl be encouraged to get a job in the area she was trafficked in? Why would she go to a singles group and then a retreat on her own after her ordeal and knowing the sensitive information she knows? Would her counselor have ever encouraged her to do that after what she's been through? When you've been missing for several days, you know highly sensitive information and you've been beaten up, once found, police protocol would have been to send you immediately to the hospital, not in the backseat of a police car with your 2 friends to drop them off. And if you are hit in the head with a bowling ball, you would also have been carted off in an ambulance.
Unrealistic situations aside, my biggest issue is the use of the word prostitute in this book. It is not a word used by those rescuing people out of the sex traffic trade. They use "victims of sex trafficking" since they are well aware that the majority of women and men are not in it by choice. It is a common misconception so I understand why it was used in the first part of the book. However, Trish had a 3 hour conversation with the head of the organization that was used to help people in Jordin's situation get out. I would assume that Trish would have been educated on how to refer to those being victimized in that meeting yet the term prostitute is used throughout the second half of the book. To me, this is a big no no. If the author did her homework, she would've known how derogatory that term is to a person who has been trafficked and would have known not to use that terminology from the point of Trisha's education onward. It makes the story come across as disingenuous and I don't think that was the author's intent at all.
Content:
Sexual: mention of sex trafficking but no details
Violence: some one is shot and one person is kidnapped and beat up, nothing graphic
Language: none
My biggest issue is around the theme of human trafficking. I appreciate when an author brings this subject to people's awareness. It is one that has been on my heart for years. While I appreciate what this author was trying to do, it is a topic she should have done more research on. Most rescue homes for trafficked persons are in some way connected to the police as they are often the ones used to rescue them (at least that's the case in my state). In Jordin's case, she goes to the home on her own where at any good home, she would have received extensive counseling. More than likely she would have revealed things that would have been taken to the police and seen her put into protective custody. Why would a traumatized girl be encouraged to get a job in the area she was trafficked in? Why would she go to a singles group and then a retreat on her own after her ordeal and knowing the sensitive information she knows? Would her counselor have ever encouraged her to do that after what she's been through? When you've been missing for several days, you know highly sensitive information and you've been beaten up, once found, police protocol would have been to send you immediately to the hospital, not in the backseat of a police car with your 2 friends to drop them off. And if you are hit in the head with a bowling ball, you would also have been carted off in an ambulance.
Unrealistic situations aside, my biggest issue is the use of the word prostitute in this book. It is not a word used by those rescuing people out of the sex traffic trade. They use "victims of sex trafficking" since they are well aware that the majority of women and men are not in it by choice. It is a common misconception so I understand why it was used in the first part of the book. However, Trish had a 3 hour conversation with the head of the organization that was used to help people in Jordin's situation get out. I would assume that Trish would have been educated on how to refer to those being victimized in that meeting yet the term prostitute is used throughout the second half of the book. To me, this is a big no no. If the author did her homework, she would've known how derogatory that term is to a person who has been trafficked and would have known not to use that terminology from the point of Trisha's education onward. It makes the story come across as disingenuous and I don't think that was the author's intent at all.
Content:
Sexual: mention of sex trafficking but no details
Violence: some one is shot and one person is kidnapped and beat up, nothing graphic
Language: none
December 10, 2018
3.5 stars.
Well that was... fun. :D I feel bad saying that considering the topic, but the writing style was funny and relatable and awesome. Things also hovered just on the line of believable, but it worked because of the style and it never went *too* far. :) Honestly, the cover is what first attracted me to this book (that, and I got it for free), but the blurb hooked me. And the blurb is a great representation of the rest of the book's style. I laughed. A lot. And I needed laughter, so that was good.
(Except my sister (who shares my room) wasn't too pleased when she got woken up late in the night by it. Hey, I tried to laugh as silently as possible, but it's hard! I also tried to go to bed on time, but the book was hard to put down.)
One thing that drove me crazy was how little details in scenes didn't always match up. And... the MC seemed a little over-sheltered. I'm a home-church going, homeschooled Christian girl. I know about sheltered. But she seemed way more unaware than I'd have thought... especially for someone in her thirties. I get not dating. I get living at home. I get all that. It's more just her unawareness that doesn't seem to match up with the rest of her attitude. But then again, maybe I'm not as sheltered as I think. (After all, I did spend a month or two helping to get a school to train people to rescue people from human trafficking up and running.)
Overall, though, I did really like the MC. Her many flaws (well, the kind of flaws church secretaries have) made her all the more likable.
Also, yes, this book is about human trafficking. I was cautious when I started it, unsure how the author would handle the topic. But while the author didn't sugar coat things or skirt around stuff, I think they handled it well. Human trafficking is such an important topic to raise awareness on (as demonstrated in the book). And while the character who was trafficked did mention her past and such, it wasn't very descriptive or anything like that.
Though I still wouldn't recommend this to young or sensitive readers.
Content:
Sexual content: Despite the topic, there was no actual scenes or descriptions of any of it. The book describes the sexually trafficked woman's life, but not that part in detail. Some women are described as wearing immodest clothing, and one or two times a girl briefly admires a guy's physical features.
Violence: Lots of violence. Lots of action. Guns, shooting, almost drowning, injuries, threats, crazy bad guys...
Language: There wasn't exactly any language, but it wasn't exactly totally clean either. I think there might have been some in between words... I read it quickly, and I tend to bleep them out in my own mind and forget. So... I'm not sure. It wasn't a ton of language, but I think there may have been one or two uses.
Well that was... fun. :D I feel bad saying that considering the topic, but the writing style was funny and relatable and awesome. Things also hovered just on the line of believable, but it worked because of the style and it never went *too* far. :) Honestly, the cover is what first attracted me to this book (that, and I got it for free), but the blurb hooked me. And the blurb is a great representation of the rest of the book's style. I laughed. A lot. And I needed laughter, so that was good.
(Except my sister (who shares my room) wasn't too pleased when she got woken up late in the night by it. Hey, I tried to laugh as silently as possible, but it's hard! I also tried to go to bed on time, but the book was hard to put down.)
One thing that drove me crazy was how little details in scenes didn't always match up. And... the MC seemed a little over-sheltered. I'm a home-church going, homeschooled Christian girl. I know about sheltered. But she seemed way more unaware than I'd have thought... especially for someone in her thirties. I get not dating. I get living at home. I get all that. It's more just her unawareness that doesn't seem to match up with the rest of her attitude. But then again, maybe I'm not as sheltered as I think. (After all, I did spend a month or two helping to get a school to train people to rescue people from human trafficking up and running.)
Overall, though, I did really like the MC. Her many flaws (well, the kind of flaws church secretaries have) made her all the more likable.
Also, yes, this book is about human trafficking. I was cautious when I started it, unsure how the author would handle the topic. But while the author didn't sugar coat things or skirt around stuff, I think they handled it well. Human trafficking is such an important topic to raise awareness on (as demonstrated in the book). And while the character who was trafficked did mention her past and such, it wasn't very descriptive or anything like that.
Though I still wouldn't recommend this to young or sensitive readers.
Content:
Sexual content: Despite the topic, there was no actual scenes or descriptions of any of it. The book describes the sexually trafficked woman's life, but not that part in detail. Some women are described as wearing immodest clothing, and one or two times a girl briefly admires a guy's physical features.
Violence: Lots of violence. Lots of action. Guns, shooting, almost drowning, injuries, threats, crazy bad guys...
Language: There wasn't exactly any language, but it wasn't exactly totally clean either. I think there might have been some in between words... I read it quickly, and I tend to bleep them out in my own mind and forget. So... I'm not sure. It wasn't a ton of language, but I think there may have been one or two uses.
August 4, 2021
I've owned this book for YEARS, but wasn't sure if it was really something I wanted to read. I never read the back cover -- I only looked at the cover -- and wasn't really sure if it was something I'd like.
Then it was re-covered and relaunched as book #1 in the Misadventures of Trisha Lee and I realized it might be something I'd like. So I read it.
I'm so glad I did!
At times I did want to smack Trisha and her family members on the backs of their heads. They were naive. They were judgmental. They were discovering new things and reaching out to new people and realizing life exists outside of themselves. It's a lesson I wished they'd learned earlier in their lives, but it was nice to watch them discover these things.
Trish spends a lot of time in her head, so you'll get to know her thought process well. You'll also get to see her change and grow (which she does!). Overall, this reminded me of the Christian, clean version of a Stephanie Plum novel. Some excitement and some mystery with plenty of laughs (and significantly more character development). I'm looking forward to the next book!
Rated PG/PG-13 for content (the book addresses human trafficking).
Then it was re-covered and relaunched as book #1 in the Misadventures of Trisha Lee and I realized it might be something I'd like. So I read it.
I'm so glad I did!
At times I did want to smack Trisha and her family members on the backs of their heads. They were naive. They were judgmental. They were discovering new things and reaching out to new people and realizing life exists outside of themselves. It's a lesson I wished they'd learned earlier in their lives, but it was nice to watch them discover these things.
Trish spends a lot of time in her head, so you'll get to know her thought process well. You'll also get to see her change and grow (which she does!). Overall, this reminded me of the Christian, clean version of a Stephanie Plum novel. Some excitement and some mystery with plenty of laughs (and significantly more character development). I'm looking forward to the next book!
Rated PG/PG-13 for content (the book addresses human trafficking).
January 25, 2022
Fiction as Real as Life but Funnier
This might be one of the most realistic and funniest books I’ve ever read. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. I’ll have to pace myself for maximum enjoyment.
Picture it, Cleveland suburbs 1996, a Mainline denomination church basement singles mixer. Lots of flannel and cheap pre-axe cologne. While I wouldn’t go back, thank you husband of 22 years, this book took me on an updated trip down memory lane. Spoiler alert: nothing has changed in church singles groups.
Trisha Lee, as a single church secretary and small group leader, has every stereotype and pointless controversy flung at her like poo from monkeys and she deflects and dodges like a veteran zookeeper. And that’s before she went to jail and befriended a prostitute.
I loved the nonstop humor that enhanced and underscored the real issues of sex trafficking victims and dangers they face.
Aaron is a solid, everyman hero. The supporting characters are fun too because we all know them. Jilted Girl, Nerd, etc. are people we all know. I loved how A.C. manages to write them as their archetype without making them cardboard cutouts.
Highly recommended hilarity.
This might be one of the most realistic and funniest books I’ve ever read. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. I’ll have to pace myself for maximum enjoyment.
Picture it, Cleveland suburbs 1996, a Mainline denomination church basement singles mixer. Lots of flannel and cheap pre-axe cologne. While I wouldn’t go back, thank you husband of 22 years, this book took me on an updated trip down memory lane. Spoiler alert: nothing has changed in church singles groups.
Trisha Lee, as a single church secretary and small group leader, has every stereotype and pointless controversy flung at her like poo from monkeys and she deflects and dodges like a veteran zookeeper. And that’s before she went to jail and befriended a prostitute.
I loved the nonstop humor that enhanced and underscored the real issues of sex trafficking victims and dangers they face.
Aaron is a solid, everyman hero. The supporting characters are fun too because we all know them. Jilted Girl, Nerd, etc. are people we all know. I loved how A.C. manages to write them as their archetype without making them cardboard cutouts.
Highly recommended hilarity.
March 23, 2024
I agree with some of the reviews that Trisha is annoyingly naive, but I think that's part of the point. Her ignorance on the things happening in her town is unfortunately too common and Ms Williams uses that to point out the church’s tendency to become isolated from the harsher side of life. The story encourages people to step outside their comfort zones and do something, anything, to help the vulnerable and lost. And she gets her point across with awkward humor and compassion, because who wouldn't feel awkward bringing a trafficking victim to a singles group? I found Trisha's inept rescues brilliant and inspiring. God can use anybody!
June 27, 2021
Awkward, quirky, and downright hilarious, Trisha Lee is the heroine that I didn't know I needed. Battling pimps with bowling pins and her own insecurities with a sense of humor and Christian grace, I found myself relating to Trish as she tries to follow Jesus and love others.
It's funny and serious at the same time. You can't help but feel as invested as Trish does with Jordin. You also will feel all the awkwardness she does, and AC Williams does an excellent job of balancing the two emotional aspects.
It's funny and serious at the same time. You can't help but feel as invested as Trish does with Jordin. You also will feel all the awkwardness she does, and AC Williams does an excellent job of balancing the two emotional aspects.
July 10, 2018
Who knew a single church secretary's accidental arrest could begin a series of events that would take down a human trafficking ring in her own hometown? Although the heroine's antics sometimes felt over-the-top, I enjoyed watching her character arc. I also liked the message of compassion for victims instead of condemnation for poor life choices. Five stars for an engaging read!
May 11, 2019
Loved it
An industry we dont want to think about or acknowledge where young girls are forced into sex trafficking is the center of this adventure. Romance and a most unlikely heroine come in to make the story complete. Along the way this church secretary and leader of the singles ministry must face the truth about her own flaws.
An industry we dont want to think about or acknowledge where young girls are forced into sex trafficking is the center of this adventure. Romance and a most unlikely heroine come in to make the story complete. Along the way this church secretary and leader of the singles ministry must face the truth about her own flaws.
April 13, 2020
LOVED this book!!! I could soo relate to Trish and her struggle to help people yet wanting to appear to have it all together. My heart wants to help, but sometimes, I just don't know how. A good reminder to follow God's leading, which is many times simply a tug at your heart.
February 6, 2021
Silly. Fun. Great message! I love every single minute of this book. Love the underlying chistian theme showing you can have a silly romantic comedy while still living your faith. Very real and scary topic but light hearted. Fantastic read!
January 8, 2022
Finding Fireflies isn't the sort of book I typically pick up, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself anyway! It was a strong story about an important issue, set against a familiar church culture backdrop. I'm intrigued to read the rest of the series!
February 11, 2017
Sweet story
I really enjoyed this book. It was fun. suspenseful. and romantic. Human trafficking is a very real and scary thing. Thank you A.C Williams for caring
I really enjoyed this book. It was fun. suspenseful. and romantic. Human trafficking is a very real and scary thing. Thank you A.C Williams for caring
May 21, 2019
This book was slow to start but got into real a life issue and in the end ws very good.
August 29, 2019
Good Amount of Action
Delightful read. Trisha was a little slow in recognizing that Aaron was in love with her. But this was a good read. Please check it out....
Delightful read. Trisha was a little slow in recognizing that Aaron was in love with her. But this was a good read. Please check it out....
March 1, 2020
Really good. Funny
February 19, 2025
Good book, but lacks plot twists and richness.
October 19, 2017
Humor, romance, faith, human trafficking, and suspense--all in one great book. Really? Yes, really. The characters were real—flawed, funny, and faithful. Entertaining, encouraging, and educational about human trafficking.
February 20, 2017
A Jewel on so many levels
When I started reading, Trisha Lee drove me nuts with all of her insecurities. There was something, though, that just kept me reading. As I read, I liked this book more and more. There is heart and kindness, courage and gentle Christianity. Real people making a difference. I applaud the author who handled sex trafficking so realistically, yet not sensationally. Well done!
When I started reading, Trisha Lee drove me nuts with all of her insecurities. There was something, though, that just kept me reading. As I read, I liked this book more and more. There is heart and kindness, courage and gentle Christianity. Real people making a difference. I applaud the author who handled sex trafficking so realistically, yet not sensationally. Well done!
February 21, 2017
Sweet and funny
this book was funny and sweet. Hard though to believe a 32 year old woman had never been on a date. But getting to know her character I found she lacked self confidence in relationships. Her self confidence with rescuing people was admired.
this book was funny and sweet. Hard though to believe a 32 year old woman had never been on a date. But getting to know her character I found she lacked self confidence in relationships. Her self confidence with rescuing people was admired.
February 12, 2017
Funny and different
I enjoyed the story surrounding Trish, Jordin and her friends. It was entertaining as well as informative, I was hoping Trish would have a love interest and am glad she did.
I enjoyed the story surrounding Trish, Jordin and her friends. It was entertaining as well as informative, I was hoping Trish would have a love interest and am glad she did.
April 9, 2019
This book definitely was an eye-opener for me. It dealt with issues that I have never really thought about before, and did so in a beautiful way. I appreciated how the author gently dealt with the issues without telling too many details.
I really liked how the main character was so quick to act once she knew it was the way the Lord was leading her in. I also enjoyed how content she was being older, and yet being unmarried. Although it wasn't the main theme of the book, it was woven in throughout the storyline, and I appreciated that.
The style of writing this author had took a bit of getting used to, but I absolutely loved it in the end!
I am so glad I read this one, and it is a book that will definitely keep me thinking!
I really liked how the main character was so quick to act once she knew it was the way the Lord was leading her in. I also enjoyed how content she was being older, and yet being unmarried. Although it wasn't the main theme of the book, it was woven in throughout the storyline, and I appreciated that.
The style of writing this author had took a bit of getting used to, but I absolutely loved it in the end!
I am so glad I read this one, and it is a book that will definitely keep me thinking!
May 16, 2025
Thoroughly delightful book. I empathize with the protagonist waaaayyy too much, from her clutzy-ness to her frustrations with the church she grew up in. Even when I was vexed with Trisha for her behavior during the climax, I remained invested in the story. I love that the themes tackle, head-on, issues that are considered too taboo to be discussed in church, but they do so with humor and grace. This is a story I can easily recommend.
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