What We Found in Hallelujah

by Vanessa Miller

Another storm is on the horizon for the Reynolds women. And the only way out is to go through it.


Good things never happen in November—at least not for the Reynolds women. It was the month they lost their patriarch. And the month when fourteen-year-old Trinity went missing during a tropical storm. So Hope Reynolds isn't surprised when it becomes the month she walks in on her boyfriend kissing another woman. Or when she receives a panicked call from her mother about a mistake that could cost the family their treasured beach house.


Meanwhile, Faith Reynolds-Phillips is facing her own financial struggles. She's also looking down the barrel of divorce and raising a daughter who reminds her so much of her younger sister, Trinity, that sometimes it physically hurts. The last place Hope and Faith want to be is in Hallelujah, South Carolina, during hurricane season. Going home will force them to confront the secrets that have torn their family apart. But if they can survive another storm, they'll have a chance to rebuild on a new foundation—the truth.


In the latest novel from prolific writer Vanessa Miller, three women must find the strength to endure the storm and the faith to believe for a miracle.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Contemporary, Audiobook, Womens Fiction, Family

Audio CD

First published November 29, 2022

About the author

Vanessa Miller is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, playwright, and motivational speaker. She started writing as a child, spending countless hours either reading or writing poetry, short stories, stage plays and novels. Vanessa’s creative endeavors took on new meaning in1994 when she became a Christian. Since then, her writing has been centered on themes of redemption, often focusing on characters facing multi-dimensional struggles.

Vanessa’s novels have received rave reviews, with several appearing on Essence Magazine’s Bestseller’s List. Miller’s work has receiving numerous awards, including “Best Christian Fiction Mahogany Award” and the “Red Rose Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction.” Miller graduated from Capital University with a degree in Organizational Communication. She is an ordained minister in her church, explaining, “God has called me to minister to readers and to help them rediscover their place with the Lord.”
· Essence Bestsellers’ List March 2008; May 2008 (Former Rain)
· Essence Bestsellers’ List September 2008 (Rain Storm)
· Black Expressions Book Club Alternate Selection 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010
· #1 Ebook for fiction on Amazon.com November 2010 (Long Time Coming)
· #1 on BCNN/BCBC Bestsellers’ List November 2010 (Long Time Coming)
She has worked with numerous publishers: Urban Christian, Kimani Romance, Abingdon Press and Whitaker House. She is currently working on Something Good with Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins) which releases in March 2022.

In 2016, Vanessa launched the Christian Book Lover’s Retreat in an effort to bring readers and authors of Christian fiction together in an environment that’s all about Faith, Fun & Fellowship. To learn more about Vanessa, please visit her website: www.vanessamiller.com. If you would like to know more about the Christian Book Lover’s Retreat that is currently held in Charlotte, NC during the last week in October you can visit: http://www.christianbookloversretreat...
Vanessa lives in North Carolina with her husband and family. She graduated from Capital University with a degree in Organizational Communication.

Most of Vanessa’s published novels depict characters that are lost and in need of redemption. The books have received countless favorable reviews.

“. . . Heartwarming, drama-packed and tender in just the right places.”—Romantic Times Book Review.

“Recommended for readers of redemption stories.” –Library Journal.

www.vanessamiller.com

Don’t forget to join my mailing list:
http://www.vanessamiller.com/events-j...
Join me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Vanes...
Join me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorvanes...
Join me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vanessamiller01
Website: www.vanessamiller.com

Reviews

[Vanessa Miller]

I figured I would take some time to introduce you to the people you'll me in What We Found in Hallelujah and give you a little behind the scenes info on my writing process.
When I write, I usually find pictures that I believe look like my characters... these are the pictures of the Reynolds sisters.
Hope: The oldest, beautiful, dark skinned... she wonders why she's darker than her sisters (and then a secret is revealed). Hope is a runner, in life and she was an actual track star. She loves adult coloring books and is in love with a man she doesn't think she can have... more about that later. 🙂
Faith: Beautiful and brash. She is angry at the world because of a secret she holds in her heart. She is bossy and unforgiving... until (you have to read the book to discover the... until). Faith will grow on you as you step in her shoes and experience life the way she sees it.
Trinity: Fun, outgoing, adventurous... and she's been missing since she was fourteen years old. Even so, she plays a pivotal role in the book.
Step into the world of Hallelujah, I guarantee you'll be singing a praise, even after the storm.



You can pre-order now at: https://www.amazon.com/What-Found-Hal...

Ruby Reynolds is an artist... she is also a collector of things. She has lost so much in her lifetime, that it's hard for her to let go, even if it's a doll she had when she was child.
The other things you need to know about Ruby is that she loves hard. She also lies... a lot. Her first lie was told at the age of six, when her mother told her to lie about something so devastating that it scared her deeply. Now at the age of 70, she is finally ready to tell her truth... but the truth may cost her everything.
I absolutely fell in love with Mrs. Ruby as I delved into her story and discovered all her secrets... all the storms that caused her pain. And all her joy.
Her children bring her joy... she has three children (Hope, Faith and Trinity) two of them are on their way home, a storm is also headed to the beach town of Hallelujah. Can these women find their praise, even after the storm?
Take a trip to Hallelujah with me and find out. What We Found in Hallelujah is available for pre-order. Go to my website and click on one of my pre-order links: www.vanessamiller.com

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good mix of family drama, relationships, business, love and loss. I really liked Hope and felt for her. Faith had me wanting to shake her at times but deep down I could see the good in her. From the outside looking in on the sisters, I could see both sisters sides when it came to their differences. I was happy the sisters were brought together, despite how, for an opportunity to remember what family is about and flush things out. Now mama was a mess as well and in a way where I was like that sounds familiar for a woman of a certain age lol. Overall, I enjoyed reading about the sisters and their respective lives after leaving home and how they handle being back home, dealing with current life struggles and uncovering family secrets in the midst of a storm. If you enjoy family drama dynamics mixed with a little love and loss, I think you will enjoy this book.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a rare November hurricane approaches the Reynolds home in South Carolina, mother Ruby appeals to her two grown daughters to come home and help prepare the home for the storm and to ready it to become a bed and breakfast. Secrets and lack of communication cause rifts in the family. Several topics covered in the pages. Good women's fiction novel!

[Derica Nyameke · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

I would say I enjoyed the last third of the book the most. It reminds me alot of the Netflix show Greenleaf. The writing was okay. I did find myself rolling my eyes at a number of parts. Some of the characters were super annoying to me unfortunately but I suppose that was kind of the point. I found myself not caring too much about most of their problems. I just wanted to know what happened to their sister to be honest. Atleast it wrapped up nicely!

[Octavia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"All I Can Say Is, Sometimes, Right and Wrong Look Like Twins."

This is an extremely Sincere Inspirational Novel of Revelations that explores the lives of Mama Ruby along with her daughters, Hope, Trinity, Faith, and Granddaughter, Crystal. In Hallelujah, California, Vanessa Miller teaches Readers to trust in God, and everything will be the way it should be. It can be a Wonderful Tool used for battling the Things that may come to destroy or put a wedge between Families also. A very Enjoyable read! ✨

[Toni Shiloh · Rating 5 out of 5]

rtc

[Shakeria Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realized pretty deep in, unfortunately that this book was for a what I consider a very niche audience. I’m not it.

It you like the Tyler Perry storylines where they mom is complete trash, colorism (the dark skin person in the story chases white men, hates their skin, isn’t really part of the family cause of some type of scandal) then this is for you.

The mom does some pretty horrendous things BUT GOD!! God had them all forgive her and still bow down to her and her “power” over them. She kept secret after secret…..stopped them from living full lives ……BUT GODDDDD!
She ends up in the hospital and some kind of way she’s REDEEMED!!! THEY LITERALLY END UP APOLOGIZING HER even though she’s the reason for all of them being broken.

I don’t know…..that’s all I got…..this was ….something…. It had the potential to be so much more……

[Chris Jager · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully penned story of who is family. Vanessa Miller is an author you should be reading if you are not already. She writes stories that bring you into the characters lives with no apology for how very human they are.
I enjoy her books because I love meeting characters right were they are at and Miller is a master at it.

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book's writing style was not for me, unfortunately. I found it repetitive (please give the reader credit to remember what was said just a few pages--or paragraphs!--before!) and overly descriptive, and the characters unrelatable.

It unfortunately quickly became a DNF read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[January · Rating 5 out of 5]

What We Found in Hallelujah by Vanessa Miller
11h 34m narrated by Adenrele Ojo, 336 pages

Genre: Christian Fiction, African-American Fiction

Featuring: Colorism Sisters, South Carolina, Los Angeles, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Sisters, Eccentric Character, Teens, Gullah, Small Town, Missing Person, Hurricanes, Family Secrets, Drama, Prayers, Sermons, Thanksgiving, Author's Note

Rating as a movie: PG-13 for adult situations and content

Songs for the soundtrack: "Heaven" by Mary Mary, "I Told The Storm" by Greg O Quin and Greg O'Quin 'n Joyful Noyze

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

My thoughts: 📱7% 45:52 Ch. 3 - This was just okay until chapter 2 heated it up. This might be a story for print as I can't with these accents. The women are extra country, and the guys sound like southern lawyers, even the one in LA.
📱16% 1:47:52 Ch. 7 - This little girl is working my nerves, and the mama is a trip. I'm looking forward to how it plays out. I reviewed her catalog; there's a Christmas series I may need to squeeze in.
📱66% 7:35:16 Ch. 27 - I don't even know what to say; the mood and depth of this story have switched on me. I'm going to have to take an emotional break.

This story just got better and better. I was very surprised at how the story blossomed, I will be reading another in the new year.

Recommend to others?: Yes. This was a good read. I highly recommend it to those who were interested in Miss Pearly's Girls.

[Shruti morethanmylupus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book must be for a very niche audience and, unfortunately, I do not fall into that niche. Alas, I did not figure that out until after I started reading. I would have given this one star, except that if I had done a bit more searching I would have realized that this author writes Christian Fiction and would not have picked this up.

The overbearing mom was obnoxious. A lot of the characters were annoying and I had no desire to find out what happened to them. I struggled A LOT with the constant harping about how God made them forgive the mom etc etc etc. I don't mind religion in books but this felt so preachy and I just couldn't stop rolling my eyes at the characters.

If you're Christian and/or into Christian Fiction then this might be for you, but it wasn't for me.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Genel F · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

I’ve read other novels by Vanessa and have enjoyed them. This book just wasn’t cup of tea. I don’t often DNF books but this one almost pushed me. Ruby worked each and every one of my nerves from beginning to the end. She was extremely selfish and self absorbed, her family let her get away with far too much, it was definitely giving “I’m the matriarch, so I can’t be corrected.” Faith! Drove me just as crazy as her momma. Her interactions with Crystal and Chris were draining. She completely gave up on a relationship and parenting Crystal because she favored Trinity. Although Chris went about somethings in the wrong way, Faith was extremely annoying with him. I need his patience and grace. Now I did have a little soft spot for Hope. She deserved answers as it pertained to who her mother was. The entire Trinity going missing and DNA to see if it was a matched drive me insane.

[Barbara Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

As this family deals with their various traumas, secrets and even a hurricane approaching they learn to put their trust in God. Ruby, the head of the family, did whatever she could to have a family and now that her daughters are grown, exactly what she did will come to light. Faith, the older sister, is dealing with the survivors guilt and sadness’ that comes with losing her younger sister when they were kids and it is resulting in her not having a good relationship with her daughter now.
When Ruby calls and asks for help in taking care of things with the family home and her health, they all find strength in the Lord while waiting out a hurricane. As they prepare the house, God helps prepare their hearts and mends their relationships.
There us lots of family drama in this one with a reminder to hang on to Jesus no matter what storm you may be facing.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

[Star Gater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson -- Fiction for accepting my request to read and review what We Found in Hallelujah.

Author: Vanessa Miller
Published: 11/29/22
Genre: General Fiction (Adult)--Multicultural Interest--Women's Fiction

Nicely done. Hindsight, this is a big mug of coffee, your favorite chair in comfy clothes read. Imagine spending a couple weeks with people while you are on vacation, and their life goes on. A mother calls her adult children for help and issues from their childhood reappear. I felt like a third wheel.

There were aspects of color, light versus dark, discussed. There was mixed dating talked about. Hints of an eating disorder, marital affairs, and a missing person. All this was done beautifully. The story flowed seamlessly.

Of note, the cultural aspects (light vs dark skin) are not explained. This is written with the assumption that the reader knows. I had one exception. The mother insisted and regardless of what was going on demanded that her daughter respect her. This came across as law not earned. And, inappropriate is an understatement to how I felt.

All-in-all a nice read. Kudos to the author for no profanity and not mocking prayer or God.

[Kristen Fraser · Rating 1 out of 5]

The repetition, oh the repetition of the already established parts of the story made me feel dumbed down. I wanted to like this more than I did but it just felt like the writer was constantly repeating information that was already stated, and it actually stifled my reading process

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What We Found in Hallelujah
By: Vanessa Miller
Thomas Nelson-FICTION, Thomas Nelson
Release Date: 11/29/22
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Multicultural Interest, Women's Fiction

Many of us lean on our faith and family as valued sources for inspiration and encouragement. Author Vanessa Miller writes beautifully about those topics.
In her new novel, the small beach coastal town of Hallelujah, South Carolina serves as the glorious setting for three women's story of resilience, survival, and redemption amid the storms and seasons of their lives.

Miller quickly immerses readers fully into the atmosphere of place and personalities of three Reynolds women, Faith, Hope, and Ruby. Her words deeply capture mother-daughter relationships and family secrets. The situations these women face are complex and shake the family dynamics and structure.

With each page read, I felt as if I knew the characters even more. I am impressed with how Miller gives each their own vivid voice, and she doesn't hold back on the intensity of the elements of pain, uncertainty, and love that each feels. This is the second book that I've read and savored by Vanessa Miller. She brings an abundance of richness and understanding of all that family means to her novels.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson-FICTION, Thomas Nelson. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Princess Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story of loss and a mothers love for her children. As a mother I know I’m not perfect. I will always try my best to do what’s best for my kiddos
I know I’ll make mistakes but I hope they always know how much I love them! 😍🥲

[Brenda Engen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m glad they got help.

[Rhonda McKnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

What We Found in Hallelujah introduces the Reynolds women, a family torn apart by the emotional storms. They have lost people to death, disappearances, broken relationships, and bitterness. When Ruby Reynolds summons her daughters Hope and Faith home to help her clean up a mess she's made of her finances, much is uncovered. There are secrets and there are lies that have been told to keep them. Hope and Faith are estranged from not only their hometown, but each other. They have man trouble and that's just the drama on the left side of the storm.

Miller deals with mental illness in several forms, colorism, grief, a few medical issues, and then there is the question that always lies at the heart of the story...what happened to the third Reynolds daughter- Trinity so many years ago.

I was held captive until the last page and believe me the last pages were tumultuous. I could hardly stand the twists and turns, but I also could not look away. In the end I was more than satisfied with how the story came together. Miller's gift cannot be denied.

[Tammy Cantrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a mediocre read for me. I thought the story carried on for far too long, but it did wrap up with a good ending full of lessons learned and meaning about love, loss, family, and moving forward. The tone was very culturally authentic as a result of being written by a black author and revolving around a black family in coastal South Carolina. I liked it, but it’s not a favorite.

[Laura Robinson (naptimereaders) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story. About the need for family.

Characters weren’t really relatable/ needed more development. Some of the things they said were just a little unrealistic.

Ending was sweet!

[Aminata Coote · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a lot of brokenness in this family, most of which stemmed from secrets and an unwillingness to tell the truth. The three main characters spent so much time avoiding the hard discussions that they made their lives infinitely more difficult.

As the Reynolds women work together to prepare for the storm, they begin to repair the things that had been broken, weaving a stronger foundation for them to build on.

The stories of the present is interwoven with what happened the year Trinity disappeared and Ms. Miller did a great job of showing how some echoes of the past were being replayed in the present. As the Reynolds women learned to deal with the issues in the present, they got clarity on what had happened in the past.

What We Found in Hallelujah was a fun read filled with lots of family drama. There were so many layers that I was surprised at some of the revelations when they came to light. Most of them made sense as I could see how the author had laid the foundation for them. However, the explanation of what happened to Trinity felt a bit implausible (I can't explain further without spoilers, sorry!).

Readers of What We Found in Hallelujah will be reminded that we all face storms in this life but when we hold on to Jesus, we can make it through our storms.

I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher through NetGalley; a positive review was not required.

[Patriciaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky characters fuel a story chockbfull og Godly wisdom and homespun flavor

Part women's fiction, part romance, part mystery, What We Found in Hallelujah delivers on all fronts. When Hope and Faith Reynolds return to their hometown to help their mother hold on to the family's beachfront property, there's only a little hint of the drama to come. The sisters aren't on the best of terms, Hope hasn't been home in nearly twenty years, and both sisters have messy relationships.

Vanessa Miller is a storyteller. She always weaves the expected with the completely unexpected to weave a tale that will keep you turning pages until there are no more. Throw in a quirky cast of characters, one of her strengths as a writer, and a dose of Godly wisdom with a little homespun flavor, and you have a unforgetable story like this one.

I love how Miller finds a way to show the many facets of her characters' personalities so that by the end, the most unlikable characters become sympathetic. What We Found in Hallelujah is a gem of a story you'll want to reread and keep close.

[Aimee Ransom · Rating 3 out of 5]

The entire story has a very religious subtext. Like the entire book is written to demonstrate some biblical messages… my only problem with that is it felt forced or fake in some parts… like they way some characters pray when they’re hurting is like someone who’s been in church their whole life would be praying… except this particular person hadn’t been in church for decades. It just feels like the author’s voice was coming through more than the character’s, so it felt a little disconnected. I also felt like the writing was a little bit too detailed. Example “she put a pinch of salt into the pot of boiling water” instead of “she salted the water”…. But with a lot of the story. Detail is nice, but being able to put your imagination on it helps you connect to the characters more . Overall though, the story was really good and the plot was organized really well.

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Christian Fiction
Theme: Renewing Faith, Forgiveness, Love

Estranged sisters Faith and Hope are called home to Hallelujah, SC after years of absences by their mother Ruby. She needs them to help her fix up the house to become a B&B to keep the bank for taking it after claiming a contractor has stolen her money.

Their sister Trinity disappeared at age 14. Each have their own guilt related to her disappearance and it has affected each of their lives and relationships. They will discover all the secrets hidden by their mother and heal their relationships. They will also finally find out what happened to Trinity.

I enjoyed the book overall. Faith was VERY trying as a character.

[Leah Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this one a 3 because there were parts that I like and parts I didn’t.
I really enjoyed the theme of faith and trusting in God. Charters were problematic but it allowed for showing Gods grace and redemption. I did feel like the book was trying to hard to be “Christian” especially in the beginning. As a Christian I love Christian books and themes but sometimes you just need to be realistic with it. It felt like the first chapter was a big flag waving saying “WE’RE CHRISTIAN” it didn’t really feel natural. But in the end it was a moving story about redemption and grace.

[Des Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second read by Vanessa Miller and it did not disappoint!! I enjoyed the overall plot, and the various twists and turns that occurred.

Faith was so irritating to me, but her character development was great.

This book lost a star because it was long for no reason lol. Like?? Some details could’ve been left out. Monday took forever to come (iykyk). But all in all, I enjoyed this book!

Triggers: Grief, Loss, Colorism

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD!!! The characters were flawed, really made terrible decisions at times and treated each other AWFUL. It made me like the book even more. It was REALISTIC. I loved how it ended. Top notch women’s fiction. This author is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

[Tongeia · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the narrator was speaking as the characters, her take on the South Carolina accent was a bit much at times and got on my nerves.

Story was a bit long but an important message -put your trust in God(always).