In this sequel to What Remains in the Wilderness, Vala Lee must face the aftermath of painful discoveries, mourning one man's imprisonment, and celebrating another's freedom. When a young guardsman, sworn to imprison or eliminate Remnant Christians, grows close to the family and the diner she once called home, Vala must decide if the life God called her to is one of hiding for the sake of survival or of living boldly in faith.
Thomas Reid has made a name for himself with the Guard and his Commander, when he is instrumental in bringing in one of their most wanted Remnant followers. But one mission that leads him to a small diner and an encounter with its proprietors, Micah and Sarah Joyner, could cause him to question everything he's promised his life to, and the God he suspects they're guilty of following.
B.R. Goodwin is a Georgia native, married to her college sweetheart, and the mother of three wild animal children she adores. When she isn’t writing Christian Fiction, she’s reading, hiking, bee-keeping, soccer mom-ing, homeschooling, or planning her family’s next big adventure while drinking copious amounts of tea and coffee.
Above all else, the heartbeat of everything she does in life, friendship, and writing is with an eye to sharing the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ with everyone she meets.
She recently dove head & heart first into the contemporary rom-com genre and is having the time of her life cackling at her own jokes and dreaming up swoon-worthy storylines for her characters.
Unputdownable story about living boldly and faithfully for Christ in the face of persecution. This one needs to be read hand in hand with the first one in the series, but know that the story and writing improves as it goes, and the characters mature. I accidentally saw the last page before I was far into the book, and knowing what happened helped me get through some of the hard parts. But seriously am going to need the next book asap.
Another excellent and poignant novel from BR Goodwin. Heartbreaking and healing, WR 2 leads us in a journey to the comfort and sustaining hope that only Jesus can provide.
Update: I just reread this book in preparation to read Book Three because it had been over three years since I’d read it. I really have no idea where my brain was to only have given this 4 stars originally. (Although it appears I somehow only left a review on Amazon—so more evidence that I was in some kind of brain fog). It’s a beautifully written story and the characters stay with you. There were several places that I was barely able to hold it together. Powerful. Emotional. And full of the gospel message which really resonated with me the first time as well. — This second book in the series delivered some twists and turns I wasn’t expecting. One in particular that might have deserved a book being thrown. But that’s what makes a book worth reading. What I love best is that Goodwin never holds back on proclaiming the gospel. Just like some of her characters, there’s bold faith and a clear presentation of the salvation message. And characters who struggle with decisions of sharing that message during times of oppression and persecution. We need more books in YA that mean something. And this one achieves that.
I received a complimentary copy and was asked to leave a review.
I am loving this series and cannot wait for the third book to come out! Love this fictional storyline and the underlying theme of living for Christ in the face of persecution. I’ve really enjoyed the first two books!
This book continues the saga of Vala Lee and her friends as they find themselves united with others like them. Vala must face more hardships and learn lessons on what it feels like to be loved and protected, even when it breaks her heart. Starting over and being grateful is not always as easy as it seems. Rejoicing and pain sometimes go hand in hand. But when the guard again inserts itself into the diner will their safety be threatened again? What will Vala Lee do? Can she move forward in boldness, or will she succumb to the anger and pain that plagues her?
I loved this book and hope there is a book 3 in the series!
If you haven’t read book 1, do so now. It’s a must!
Book 2 finds us in the hideaway of the Remnant in the Appalachian mountains. Vala and Luca are separated. He is in prison with The Guard and she is in the mountains with her brother and Brian - the two young men Luca traded himself for.
Thomas Reid, a Guardsman, is unsure what to do with his growing feelings for Sarah, who he suspects is Remnant and with Luca, who refuses to recant the faith he found while undercover with the Remnant. How can Luca be so committed to a faith, a book, a man Jesus Christ?
Vala finds that she doesn’t want to hide anymore, she wants to live and spread the gospel. So she does, with the woman married to the man who ruined her life. What will happen to Vala now?
This book had me in tears about 90% of the way through it. As a believer, you know that the events in this book, though fictional, are all plausible events we could see in our future. It was a good reminder for me to be careful what I cling to.
The ending was perfection and I cannot wait for book 3!
Eeeekkkk!!! I have been waiting and waiting for this sequel! After that cliffhanger in book 1, I have been positively dying to know what would happen next to Vala and her friends. Luckily, the waiting was worth it!!
Book 2 opens a bit differently than expected, giving you insight into previously unknown scenes leading up to that big climactic ending of the first book. After that “big event” that changed everything for Vala (can’t say what it is because MEGA SPOILERS!), our beloved heroine is much changed. For a while, the book takes a more character-driven approach, I’d say. You really get into Vala’s heart and head and see life through her eyes as she grapples with her internal struggles. Then all of a sudden, things take a turn, and when that happened… oh, boy. I kept scrolling through the pages, anxious to see what would happen. I truly had no idea what to expect or where the author would take the story. Of course, I had my hopes of how things would turn out, but I really feared there wouldn’t be a happy ending! To find out if there did end up being a happy ending… well, you’ll just have to read the book yourself! But I will say… THAT ENDING 🤯🤯🤯 I have SO many questions!!!! I need book three STAT!
I loved revisiting Vala and seeing her grow and mature in a beautiful, inspiring way! We also get to meet new characters as well as get to know previous characters better, which was fun! The sibling relationship between Caleb and Vala was so sweet! Though, my favorite relationship in this book was between Reid and Sarah. 😍🥰❤️ They are an unexpected pair with a bit of an unconventional romance, so I loved seeing their journey, along with Reid’s character arc!
Bravo, Brianna, for another excellent YA dystopian that not only captures the reader’s imagination, but their heart as well. Thank you to you and Vala for challenging all of us to be better and bolder Christains, no matter the cost!
If anyone is looking for a Christian dystopian thriller/adventure/romance… um, what are you waiting for? Get this book (or both books, if you haven’t read book 1) and start reading ASAP! You will not regret it! 5/5 Stars!
If you are looking for a YA series that focuses purely on Christian Faith and holding to your values through turmoil, this is the series for you.
I should have been clued in with that title and with the brutal road book one took me on. But I was not prepared to FEEL so much. Mostly sadness, fear, and pain. How numb you can be when someone you love is gone. All the wishful thoughts of the things you would have done differently. But through it all a I felt the redeeming truth and light that kept me hanging on. Hoping for everything to end happily. All I can say is, not yet.
And on top of all that we experience what happened to her love, Luca. Painful. It was Painful to read. He was tortured until the end and the one solid truth was his faith and how it held him up. 😭
“You traded everything. Your entire life…for what?” Luca looked at me with understanding. “For the Truth.”
We are also introduced to The Guards side of things. One boy in particular, Reid, feeling unsure and everything he was taught feeling wrong and stuck in an awful situation. He breaks and sees and feels the truth in the end.
This book was even more heartbreaking than the previous book and idk how fans waited so long for book three. It’s been just as disheartening, but with the beautiful hope for light and things to heal and for a HEA. If only I didn’t get so invested in the characters I read about. 😅
I mean.. WHAT? Brianna does it again. I am truly blown away. Add this series to your TBR right now. I felt every single emotion in this book. I cannot express how amazing this series has been. I finished this one in the same day I started it because I couldn’t stop. I’m on a book hangover and this is one that settles deep inside of your heart and you won’t ever forget it. I am SO EXCITED FOR BOOK 3!
—Quotes ✨ “On hikes, he always… he’d find stray wildflowers. Ones that didn’t stand… that weren’t in bunches with others… And he’d slowly weave together bouquets, presenting them to me at our final destination. A gift of lonely flowers, made whole together.” ✨ It had been as if God himself opened my eyes. No fever or flu could have prevented me further from seeing my need for a savior. For Jesus. Not for salvation from a fever or sickness, but from myself and my own sin. The relief in knowing that I didn’t have to save myself by being good had felt all-consuming. That night I’d committed to follow Him, no matter the cost.
INCREDIBLE SERIES ♡♡♡ Read and then listen to these songs after, and you'll see why I put them here. Grab your tissues! It's a sad, sad story 🤧😭 but it is so worth it.
Songs to go with characters and chapters -
Luca and Vala- The Jesus Way by Phil Wickham 💞
Mae- "She never let our circumstances hinder her joy. It just consumed her, and poured out. Overflowed." Song- Can't Steal My Joy by Josiah Queen
Luca- "He may kill me, but only my body. I am not afraid to die, Thomas. Are you?" Song- The Jesus Way by Phil Wickham because of these lyrics, "If you strike me, I will embrace you. And if you chain me, I'll sing His praise. And if you kill me, my home is heaven. For I choose the Jesus way." ✝️
Chapter 11, pages 116-118 (Luca)- Still Waters (Psalm 23) by Leanna Crawford
Chapter 12, pages 127-129 Love You to Death by Josiah Queen and Die A Begger by Josiah Queen
Chapter 32, page 320 (Reid)- Jesus's Fault by Zach Williams
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU B.R. GOODWIN for writing this series, it has done more for me than you will ever know 💔🫶🏻
This book developed the characters a lot more, and deals with issues of faith, grief, loss, and doing what is right even at great cost.
Book two introduces a new perspective: Thomas Reid, a member of the guard, who also happens to have a little crush on Sarah Joyner. It was interesting getting Thomas' perspective as he grapples with his work, and the faith of those he has been sent to investigate.
Vala is struggling with the guilt of her last moments with Luka, the joy of being reunited with her brother, and the restlessness that comes from feeling that God has called her to so much more. I loved the way Goodwin used dreams as a way for God to speak to and direct Vala.
This was a fantastic succession to book 1. The pacing is different but well-timed with new characters, relational intrigue, emotional process, and some of that high-suspense action we got lots of in book one. We get to take in more of Vala’s story now intertwined in someone else’s. It’s a wonderful tactic that keeps pulling you back to see where things are going. Then, right when you’re in the midst of it, things pivot. Goodwin has done a great job in her debut series, leaving you wanting more. This storyline is built solid on themes of grief, relational process, faith, redemption, and intrigue.
I am completely wrecked. Shattered. Oh, my goodness. I have never had to stop reading a book so many times to ask myself if I should keep reading through the pain. And man, was this painful. I'm surprised I could even see the words through the tears. But this book is so rich with faith and hard truths. My heart was shattered so many times, but the author constantly pours Truth into the heartache, slowly healing you.
If you love dystopian, strong faith, flawed characters, and books that will rip you to shreds and then slowly, achingly stitch you back up, piece by piece, then read this series!
This story is beautiful. I loved the ending. Did it make the heartache worth it? Maybe, maybe not, but it was still beautiful. And forgive me for preaching but that is exactly what God does. Can God erase our unwanted past, can He erase our mistakes? No. But does God turn our mourning into dancing? Our sorrow into joy, absolutely. Just like the characters learned, no one is out of God's reach to redeem.
I can't stress this enough. I don't cry, rarely and maybe three times in my life it was from a book. But this book!!! Multiple. Multiple times.
What Remains When Flowers Fade picks up right where book one, What Remains in the Wilderness, ends and continues the story about living boldly and faithfully for Christ in the face of persecution, this time from a new perspective.
Heartbreaking and healing, What Remains When Flowers Fade, shows the power of small acts of obedience and how trusting God fosters hope that not only comforts but sustains.
BR Goodwin has mastered leaving readers wanting more! Get ready to sit on the edge of your chair through the emotional roller coaster and twists you don’t see coming. The last two words of the book change everything!
I have been waiting to read this book for a while now and it was quite the rollercoaster!! At times I wanted to give up on it, but I am so glad I didn’t. Vala really matured in this book. I loved seeing her obedience and faithful commitment to God and the way He spoke to her in dreams. There were lots of heartbreaking moments and the most gut wrenching cliffhanger, but I’m a real sucker for books where believers walk out their faith inspite of all the challenges and that’s exactly what this book was. Can’t wait to read more!
*crying into the abyss* Wow. That’s it. That’s all I’ve got. This is the second book of a gripping series, I loved it from the first line. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve sobbed and been ready to throw the book at the wall. I love when I read a book and I learn so much. These books have a special place in my heart they’ve challenged my faith and have helped me grow closer to God. I’m so grateful I got the chance to read these and I can’t wait for book 3.
I love the faith content in this book so much! This is the second book in the What Remains series and it wrecked me in the best way, but the faith was so beautiful and unapologetic, it eases the pain you feel for the characters. The redemption story in this book has all the tension and conflict that reality brings with struggle, especially when love is involved. I cannot wait to read book three when it releases in January!
In fact, I liked this one more than the first! And I have a feeling the third book will top this one judging by the set up.
Goodwin is a masterful storyteller. I love her romcoms, but I need more dystopian from her! Read this book in one day; I couldn’t put it down. So so so good!
A beautiful well written story. The characters are honest and relatable. It was a great overall message to trust in the Lord. The loved the u nexpected ending. Thank you B.R.
I liked this better than the 1st. Characters were better developed and I like where she took the story. Was a little surprised by the ending. Not sure if I'm happy with it - we'll see where she goes with the 3rd book - there BETTER be a 3rd!
I cannot say enough about this book. It keeps you wanting more with each page you read. Goodwin has a true gift for writing a gripping series that will give you more than you could ask for. You won’t be able to put this book down!
Wow, the emotions in this book are impossible to put into words. From crying, to laughing, to sobbing… this book will take you there. But through it all, B. R. Goodwin manages to beautifully show that God can make something beautiful from something painful. Highly recommend this book!!
Wow what a faith based and inspiring story. Keep tissues ready but know that God doesn't leave His children alone. This is edge of your seat page after page. I wish there was a book 3 . Is it really Luca ? I highly recommend this story.
Make sure you’ve got some time when you start this because you won’t want t to put it down!! The characters introduced in this book are so good, while still also following the original MCs!
This book is an excellent sequel to the first book. I like how there was some overlap to the events of the first book, but from a different POV. It gives the reader a fuller picture of the events. This book will take the reader on a roller coaster of emotions in the best way possible. I laughed, cried, was angry, and saw joy in the sweet moments. Also, there were some plot twists that kept me turning pages and has left me eagerly awaiting book 3. Most importantly, this book is saturated with strong faith elements that the reader will find both challenging and encouraging. This is a series I would highly recommend.