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Both Sides of the Border
Inspired by True Current Events. Dolores, Ernesto, and Emilio Sanchez are on a quest to America to find work and to save their family, who has been devastated by their father's accident and the drought in their home country of Honduras. But making their way to America would be too expensive for a family stricken by poverty. With only their faith in God to see them through, the teenaged siblings set off for their new home, despite the threat from the cartel, corrupt police officers, starvation, and death. Meanwhile, Eva Jordan is determined to start a new life on the American side of the Mexican border, hoping to shake off the scars from a horrible marriage. Despite her mother's concern for her daughter living so close to the border, Eva decides to take a vacation to the other side to sharpen up her Spanish and relax before her new job begins. She is struck by the beautiful towns of Mexico, but slowly, her eyes are opened to the dangers that are knocking at her front door. When a hurricane washes away the border walls, will the two sides collide in hatred or unite in perfect harmony?
- GenresContemporary
344 pages, Hardcover
Published March 30, 2021
6 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 17, 2022
Both Sides of the Border is a contemporary, realistic fiction novel that gives readers an immersive picture of life in coastal Texas (hurricanes and all) while also showing readers the difficult life of illegal immigrants making the hard trek through Mexico toward the Texas border.
08/17/2022 Note: I apologize for the unconventional nature of my review. Looking back, I wish I'd phrased some things differently and not written this review so informally. However, my criticism still stands, and I will leave this review here just in case it proves useful.
Characters: The two main characters are Eva and Dolores (the two girls pictured on the front cover). Eva is actually a new college professor and I think she was married and then got divorced, too? (All before the book starts.) I mention that because I was really under the impression that she was pretty young, somewhere between seventeen years old to around twenty-five years old. And I don’t really know how old Dolores is.
Eva as a character was actually one of the biggest problems I have with the story (she’s not always bad but sometimes she’s…interesting…) She literally has a doctorate’s degree and she still thinks and talks like the teenage girl I thought she was at first. Maybe it’s totally just me but I felt like she also had a bit of an I-know-everything attitude, except in truth, she didn’t even know what a cartel was. Or that Mexico can be very dangerous. She doesn’t even know to be wary of strangers. Good thing she met Steven, huh? Or maybe not…
And that brings me to the second major problem I had with the characters. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WITH STEVEN?!?! He was so nice! And handsome! And smart! And helpful! And genuine! And then BOOM! Just out of absolutely nowhere, he’s actually a you-know-what (two words long, first word starts with a b, second word starts with a g, ignore this if you don’t want the book spoiled)?!?!?!?! Writers out there, please, please, please don’t ever trade a good plot and ending for that “surprise” element! Surprises don’t matter if the story isn’t satisfying and/or doesn’t make sense at all (e.g. the ending to GoT)! Anywayyy…I thought Dolores was pretty sweet and in general I liked her POV better than Eva’s.
Violence: 13+ Moderately graphic. This probably doesn’t include all the graphic content but most of the graphic stuff is describing things that actually do happen in some of the shadier parts of Mexico. There’s some gang violence, some talk of rape/prostitution, and some of the characters witness multiple people falling off of trains or being crushed underneath them. As far my knowledge extends, what is described is true to fact and does actually happen in parts of Mexico. I do think that the author could’ve written those parts of the story better, though, because the violence would always come and go very suddenly. The characters would have a huge reaction to it and then like two seconds later, they’re totally fine and never think about what happened ever again. This isn’t realistic at all(!!!) and made the story feel choppy.
Romance: Hmm…not much romance in this one. Eva had a bit of a three-second crush on her tour guide in Mexico and then kinda-sorta dated Steven for most of the rest of the story.
Spirituality: Dolores prayed a lot throughout and she set a really good example doing that...A priest helped Dolores and her brothers while they were journeying to America…And during the hurricane that swept through Texas, Eva ended up getting swept to a church and found the verses written on the walls of the building comforting before she received help from the people there.
Writing: Terry Overton has a great grasp on English language and grammar but there is room for improvement for her as a storyteller and writer of fiction. Just based on Both Sides of the Border, one can tell that she has good potential and is driven to get her ideas out to the world. Her writing addresses important issues and is filled with in-depth research. At times, this book did read more like a textbook than a novel, though, and quite a bit of the story felt sluggish. The plot sometimes moved way too fast in places it shouldn’t have (e.g. what in the world happened with Ernesto and Emilio laughing and clapping when that young dude fell off the train and got his legs cut off?!?! And then they just forgot about something that graphic so soon and sat back to “enjoy the ride” or whatever?!) and moved wayyy too slowly in other places (I could swear 85% of Eva’s POV was her eating food and staring all lovey-dovey at Steven! And the other 15% consisted of her mom saying the same two things over and over and over (and over) again!)
And really, all of that would have been more worthwhile if the characters actually learned more and changed more than they actually did…Both of the main characters did embark on their own big journeys, didn’t they? And journeys are meant to get people somewhere, not just physically but mentally and spiritually as well! Without a clear arc with any of those characters, the story fell a bit flat and made the characters’ journeys less rewarding.
The idea for Both Sides of the Border was a great one and I was actually really, really looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, it ended up disappointing. I’m not saying no one will ever enjoy reading it because there were certainly some enjoyable aspects to the story, but it just didn’t live up to expectations. However, if I had the choice to undo me reading the book (what a cool power that would be! :D), I would actually choose not to because I did learn new things from it.
I was given a copy of this book by the author. Please note that all opinions expressed are completely my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
08/17/2022 Note: I apologize for the unconventional nature of my review. Looking back, I wish I'd phrased some things differently and not written this review so informally. However, my criticism still stands, and I will leave this review here just in case it proves useful.
Characters: The two main characters are Eva and Dolores (the two girls pictured on the front cover). Eva is actually a new college professor and I think she was married and then got divorced, too? (All before the book starts.) I mention that because I was really under the impression that she was pretty young, somewhere between seventeen years old to around twenty-five years old. And I don’t really know how old Dolores is.
Eva as a character was actually one of the biggest problems I have with the story (she’s not always bad but sometimes she’s…interesting…) She literally has a doctorate’s degree and she still thinks and talks like the teenage girl I thought she was at first. Maybe it’s totally just me but I felt like she also had a bit of an I-know-everything attitude, except in truth, she didn’t even know what a cartel was. Or that Mexico can be very dangerous. She doesn’t even know to be wary of strangers. Good thing she met Steven, huh? Or maybe not…
And that brings me to the second major problem I had with the characters. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WITH STEVEN?!?! He was so nice! And handsome! And smart! And helpful! And genuine! And then BOOM! Just out of absolutely nowhere, he’s actually a you-know-what (two words long, first word starts with a b, second word starts with a g, ignore this if you don’t want the book spoiled)?!?!?!?! Writers out there, please, please, please don’t ever trade a good plot and ending for that “surprise” element! Surprises don’t matter if the story isn’t satisfying and/or doesn’t make sense at all (e.g. the ending to GoT)! Anywayyy…I thought Dolores was pretty sweet and in general I liked her POV better than Eva’s.
Violence: 13+ Moderately graphic. This probably doesn’t include all the graphic content but most of the graphic stuff is describing things that actually do happen in some of the shadier parts of Mexico. There’s some gang violence, some talk of rape/prostitution, and some of the characters witness multiple people falling off of trains or being crushed underneath them. As far my knowledge extends, what is described is true to fact and does actually happen in parts of Mexico. I do think that the author could’ve written those parts of the story better, though, because the violence would always come and go very suddenly. The characters would have a huge reaction to it and then like two seconds later, they’re totally fine and never think about what happened ever again. This isn’t realistic at all(!!!) and made the story feel choppy.
Romance: Hmm…not much romance in this one. Eva had a bit of a three-second crush on her tour guide in Mexico and then kinda-sorta dated Steven for most of the rest of the story.
Spirituality: Dolores prayed a lot throughout and she set a really good example doing that...A priest helped Dolores and her brothers while they were journeying to America…And during the hurricane that swept through Texas, Eva ended up getting swept to a church and found the verses written on the walls of the building comforting before she received help from the people there.
Writing: Terry Overton has a great grasp on English language and grammar but there is room for improvement for her as a storyteller and writer of fiction. Just based on Both Sides of the Border, one can tell that she has good potential and is driven to get her ideas out to the world. Her writing addresses important issues and is filled with in-depth research. At times, this book did read more like a textbook than a novel, though, and quite a bit of the story felt sluggish. The plot sometimes moved way too fast in places it shouldn’t have (e.g. what in the world happened with Ernesto and Emilio laughing and clapping when that young dude fell off the train and got his legs cut off?!?! And then they just forgot about something that graphic so soon and sat back to “enjoy the ride” or whatever?!) and moved wayyy too slowly in other places (I could swear 85% of Eva’s POV was her eating food and staring all lovey-dovey at Steven! And the other 15% consisted of her mom saying the same two things over and over and over (and over) again!)
And really, all of that would have been more worthwhile if the characters actually learned more and changed more than they actually did…Both of the main characters did embark on their own big journeys, didn’t they? And journeys are meant to get people somewhere, not just physically but mentally and spiritually as well! Without a clear arc with any of those characters, the story fell a bit flat and made the characters’ journeys less rewarding.
The idea for Both Sides of the Border was a great one and I was actually really, really looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, it ended up disappointing. I’m not saying no one will ever enjoy reading it because there were certainly some enjoyable aspects to the story, but it just didn’t live up to expectations. However, if I had the choice to undo me reading the book (what a cool power that would be! :D), I would actually choose not to because I did learn new things from it.
I was given a copy of this book by the author. Please note that all opinions expressed are completely my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
October 4, 2021
Characters: Dolores and Eva both had interesting perspectives, but I felt rather distant from them. I think that was due to the writing style (more on that later).
Language: Clean.
Moral: Dolores and her brothers trusted God for protection on their journey, and Eva learned to depend more on God. Catholicism was treated as Christianity in this book, which isn't true, but there weren't really any theological discussions.
Plot: This novel wasn't so much plot-driven. Instead, it was journey-driven. The author focused a lot on Dolores and her brothers' travels from Honduras to America and Eva's vacation to Mexico. As a result, I found a lot of this novel repetitive. I did, however, appreciate the research the author obviously put into writing this story. All the locations had a really accurate, detailed feel to them as if the author had either been to these places or done extensive research.
Random comments: At one point, one of the characters prayed for the soul of someone who'd just died. Also, I found it strange that Dolores and her brothers never discussed the morality of crossing illegally into another country. I wasn't a fan of the "open borders" mentality that some of this book seemed to be pushing. Yet other times, the legal channels of immigration seemed to be advocated for. I wish there had been a little more clarity surrounding immigration.
Romance: Clean. Just a few kisses.
Writing: I'm one of those readers who enjoys experiencing the characters' emotion along with them rather than being told what they're feeling. This novel leaned more toward the telling side of things.
Overall: Even though this novel wasn't for me, I'd still recommend it to readers who enjoy Christian fiction and contemporary fiction focused on political problems.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Language: Clean.
Moral: Dolores and her brothers trusted God for protection on their journey, and Eva learned to depend more on God. Catholicism was treated as Christianity in this book, which isn't true, but there weren't really any theological discussions.
Plot: This novel wasn't so much plot-driven. Instead, it was journey-driven. The author focused a lot on Dolores and her brothers' travels from Honduras to America and Eva's vacation to Mexico. As a result, I found a lot of this novel repetitive. I did, however, appreciate the research the author obviously put into writing this story. All the locations had a really accurate, detailed feel to them as if the author had either been to these places or done extensive research.
Random comments: At one point, one of the characters prayed for the soul of someone who'd just died. Also, I found it strange that Dolores and her brothers never discussed the morality of crossing illegally into another country. I wasn't a fan of the "open borders" mentality that some of this book seemed to be pushing. Yet other times, the legal channels of immigration seemed to be advocated for. I wish there had been a little more clarity surrounding immigration.
Romance: Clean. Just a few kisses.
Writing: I'm one of those readers who enjoys experiencing the characters' emotion along with them rather than being told what they're feeling. This novel leaned more toward the telling side of things.
Overall: Even though this novel wasn't for me, I'd still recommend it to readers who enjoy Christian fiction and contemporary fiction focused on political problems.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
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November 16, 2021Man, I'm ashamed that it took me so long to finish this book...but at long last, I have arrived! Review to come!
February 1, 2022
Sometimes books are your cup of tea and thats totally okay. I don't think all books are meant to be and this one was one of them. Let me say that I thought it was well written and did have some very interesting aspects. You can tell the author is passionate about the topic she wrote despite being a fiction book. I don't necessarily consider this a true Christian book as Catholicism was treated as if it was and for my belief system that is not so.
The book may not have been for me but perhaps it is for you! SO give it a try.
I received a copy of this book for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
The book may not have been for me but perhaps it is for you! SO give it a try.
I received a copy of this book for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
May 23, 2021
Terri did a wonderful job of showing the realities of life. on both sides of the border. The innocence of children and what they experience is all too real. The Other Side of the Border is an exceptional telling of the hardships of many while keeping the descriptions appropriate for middle school age and up. My favorite character was Eva's mother, who responded exactly as mine would have. She made me laugh and provided needed comic relief during stressful moments.
December 27, 2021
Wow. I must say, Both Sides of the Border has been one of the most interesting and thought-provoking books I’ve read this year! That said, I have many, many thoughts and opinions about this story (a lot more than I anticipated, really) regarding several different topics, so find a comfy chair and some popcorn ‘cause this is gonna be a long review! (Which *coughs* what else is new for me?) XD
Warning: There may be a few spoilers in this review, but I’ll be sure to give a shout out to them beforehand.
The Writing Style
If I’m correct, I believe this is the first fictional book (even though it’s based on true events) that Terry Overton has written. That said, I could see that there are a few areas she could work on like showing the characters’ actions instead of telling them. Sometimes the writing seemed a little choppy as well and could have used some more description in certain areas (again relating to the “show don’t tell” aspect).
I will say, her grammar was well done and I can see how her writing style would be great for the other books she as written (which are non-fictional), but for this genre of book I think a little more storytelling could’ve been involved than the “lecture” sounding style (like what is used for school textbooks and such). As mentioned before, this is her first published fiction novel so there’s always certain places to learn and grow in when dabbling with new genres (as is the case for all writers). And, even though there might need to be a bit of a learning curve for writing fiction, I appreciate Ms. Overton for taking the step to try this new genre and share her work with the world (because I think all writers know how intimidating it can be)!
The Plot
I have a few opinions on the plot regarding two different aspects of it, so let’s just take them one at a time, shall we? ;)
First off, we have the plot’s story. I really enjoyed reading about Dolores and her brothers’ journey to America along with Eva’s simultaneous tour throughout Mexico and I thought the idea of this was really unique! I liked seeing what each woman experienced and their reactions to those experiences, for Dolores and Eva were both being exposed to brand new things that they had never seen before. However, the whole time I was wondering, Are the women ever actually gonna meet? Plus, the book’s summary talks about a hurricane and half way through the story there was still no mention of either happening. The characters do meet of course and the hurricane does eventually happen, but both occur at the very end of the book (near the last 10% to be honest). This was kind of disappointing because if it’s mentioned in the summary I personally expected it to happen sooner. And by the time it did occur, it was so fast and had to be wrapped up quickly.
This kind of ties into the second part of the plot I want to mention: the story’s pace. I haven’t read many journey types of books before, so I think I just wasn’t used to the steady pace of the plot, but at the same time it did seem a bit slow in some areas (and could have easily been sped up). Also, as I said before, I wish the climax came sooner and that we could have spent some more time dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane as well as seen more interaction between Dolores, her brothers, and Eva. But other than that, I definitely respect the book and its journey-driven aspect (which has even sparked an interest in me diving into that type of genre more)!
The Characters
Eva: I enjoyed Eva’s POV and seeing her learn new things on her trip through Mexico. I have to agree with some other reviews I’ve seen though, and say that for her age (which I don’t think was exactly specified), she didn’t always think..maturely I guess? Due to some things the book mentioned, it sounded like she was in her mid-late twenties or even early thirties since she had already been married and divorced. She did act like an adult in her speech, but sometimes her thoughts (especially in regards to liking Steven) seemed a bit more on the young adult/teenage side. I would think that (again, in respect to her relationship with Steven) she would have been more wise and even cautious with dating someone she had just met (especially since she had already gone through a divorce). Plus, she also didn’t seem to know many things about how dangerous Mexico was or what cartels were or and didn’t even practice the whole “stranger danger” rule, yet she was a (possibly) middle-aged woman and even a new college professor.
But, I did appreciate how genuine her interest was in learning new things about the culture of Mexico (that I didn’t even know), her thirst to learn Spanish (which I found relatable since I’ve been learning that language myself the past two years), and her excitement to take a step out of her comfort zone on a week long tour in a foreign country. I also appreciated her trust in God even after discovering some heartbreaking news and that she was okay with not knowing why certain things happened at the moment. (Details on that below.)
Steven: Y’all, I LOVED Steven. He was just so sweet and helpful and kind to Eva and I was really starting to ship them by the time the tour began making its way back to the U.S. Albeit, I do think his relationship with Eva was quite sudden and I personally, would NEVER dive into dating a man if I’ve only known him for like, a week or two. But, I mean, he was so handsome and friendly and (here comes a spoiler)
This revelation, however, occurred in the last three to four pages of the book, so it left me speechless when I finished the novel and I didn’t have much time to mentally process what happened (nor were there any answers to some of my questions about him). This is a nice surprise element in some senses, but I do think, in most cases, it would be best to not create a sudden plot twist like that in the last 2% of the book, because I think audiences enjoy more explanation afterwards for why such a surprise occurred (which isn’t possible if it’s so late in the plot). Then again, I think by not giving much explanation or by answering those questions I have, Terry Overton made it more relatable to Eva’s own unanswered thoughts and questions about Steven as well.
Honestly, my feelings are kinda mixed about it, so let’s just say, (spoiler coming again) I wished we had more explaining behind that, but…it’s a plot twist, y’all. And I LOVE plot twists. And this one totally caught me blind. So, even though it was extremely sudden, I liked it. XD
Dolores: I honestly didn’t relate to Dolores that well, but I enjoyed seeing how much she loved her brothers and what risks she was willing to take to keep them safe. I also think Terry Overton did a good job at describing her emotions and how fearful she was at some parts (for herself and for her brothers). Like Eva, I also appreciated how much trust she had in God despite some circumstances and how compassionate she was with other people she met on her journey to America.
Eva’s Mom: Yes, yes, I know Eva’s mom didn’t have a large role in this book but I just had to stick her in this review ‘cause that woman Cracked. Me. Up. I could see how she was getting on Eva’s nerves here and there but her concern, “busy-body” behavior, and her constant comments about the caravan had me laughing way too much. XD So, thank you Ms. Overton for including a character that kept bringing a smile to my face!
Spirituality
I must admit, this aspect had me confused during most of the book. I believe the main religion portrayed in the novel was Catholisim (which makes sense since it’s pretty prevalent in Central America) but a few times I felt like it held some Christian beliefs too and that made it hard to know exactly what the characters believed. There were also some comments made that I don’t agree with (for example, a baby died and when the baby’s mother died later, Dolores said they are in heaven together but that’s certainly not true if the mother was not a Christian). However, I did like how Eva and Dolores showed a lot of trust in God despite their worries and difficult situations.
Content Cautions
Language: Clean
Violence: Hurricane damage; there were a few dead bodies seen; the dangers of Mexico were discussed including gangs, drug cartels, rape and brothels (which is very realistic especially in the shady parts of Mexico); there were a few deaths described when characters saw people fall off or run over by trains; one character gets injured from a hatchet (or whatever the weapon was).
Romance: Eva admired (and maybe even had a tiny crush for a brief moment) on her tour guide; Eva ended up dating Steven and kinda fell in love with him (which, personally, I don’t see possible in a one to two week time span); Eva’s previous marriage and divorce were briefly mentioned.
Other Random Comments
One issue I did have with this book was the topic of immigration. I don’t have any problems with legal immigration, but this book definitely focused on illegal immigration and never really specified the morality of that. It did seem as if Dolores and her brothers were immigrating illegally to America (even if they had intentions to return to Honduras after getting enough money) and that appeared to be promoted in a good way. Even though the morality of that wasn’t deeply discussed, the whole idea didn’t settle well with me because illegal immigration is something I don’t agree with. So I would have liked it if that topic was cleared up a bit.
On the other hand, even though I wasn’t a fan of the cloudy immigration aspect, I really, really enjoyed learning more about Mexico and its culture! Terry Overton described the culture so well it seemed as if she went there herself and experienced everything Eva did (which I think is actually true)! That said, it's obvious she put a lot of effort in her research! Also, as I already said before, I loved how Eva was learning Spanish and it was fun reading some the Spanish words mentioned and seeing how many of them I could understand!
In conclusion, even though there were some disappointments with this book, there were enough things about it that I enjoyed, so I don’t regret reading it at all! More so, if you’re someone who reads nonfiction and you want to try out a fiction book, I would actually recommend that you start with this one (since it still has some nonfiction elements in it) and use it as a stepping stone to other larger fictional genres such as Fantasy and Science Fiction (which are a far cry from Both Sides of the Border, lol). ;) That said, I wouldn’t recommend this novel to everyone, but I know there are some people out there who would enjoy this type of book and I think, if you find the idea of this novel interesting, you should definitely give Both Sides of the Border a go!
I want to thank the author for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Please note that all thoughts and opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
Warning: There may be a few spoilers in this review, but I’ll be sure to give a shout out to them beforehand.
The Writing Style
If I’m correct, I believe this is the first fictional book (even though it’s based on true events) that Terry Overton has written. That said, I could see that there are a few areas she could work on like showing the characters’ actions instead of telling them. Sometimes the writing seemed a little choppy as well and could have used some more description in certain areas (again relating to the “show don’t tell” aspect).
I will say, her grammar was well done and I can see how her writing style would be great for the other books she as written (which are non-fictional), but for this genre of book I think a little more storytelling could’ve been involved than the “lecture” sounding style (like what is used for school textbooks and such). As mentioned before, this is her first published fiction novel so there’s always certain places to learn and grow in when dabbling with new genres (as is the case for all writers). And, even though there might need to be a bit of a learning curve for writing fiction, I appreciate Ms. Overton for taking the step to try this new genre and share her work with the world (because I think all writers know how intimidating it can be)!
The Plot
I have a few opinions on the plot regarding two different aspects of it, so let’s just take them one at a time, shall we? ;)
First off, we have the plot’s story. I really enjoyed reading about Dolores and her brothers’ journey to America along with Eva’s simultaneous tour throughout Mexico and I thought the idea of this was really unique! I liked seeing what each woman experienced and their reactions to those experiences, for Dolores and Eva were both being exposed to brand new things that they had never seen before. However, the whole time I was wondering, Are the women ever actually gonna meet? Plus, the book’s summary talks about a hurricane and half way through the story there was still no mention of either happening. The characters do meet of course and the hurricane does eventually happen, but both occur at the very end of the book (near the last 10% to be honest). This was kind of disappointing because if it’s mentioned in the summary I personally expected it to happen sooner. And by the time it did occur, it was so fast and had to be wrapped up quickly.
This kind of ties into the second part of the plot I want to mention: the story’s pace. I haven’t read many journey types of books before, so I think I just wasn’t used to the steady pace of the plot, but at the same time it did seem a bit slow in some areas (and could have easily been sped up). Also, as I said before, I wish the climax came sooner and that we could have spent some more time dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane as well as seen more interaction between Dolores, her brothers, and Eva. But other than that, I definitely respect the book and its journey-driven aspect (which has even sparked an interest in me diving into that type of genre more)!
The Characters
Eva: I enjoyed Eva’s POV and seeing her learn new things on her trip through Mexico. I have to agree with some other reviews I’ve seen though, and say that for her age (which I don’t think was exactly specified), she didn’t always think..maturely I guess? Due to some things the book mentioned, it sounded like she was in her mid-late twenties or even early thirties since she had already been married and divorced. She did act like an adult in her speech, but sometimes her thoughts (especially in regards to liking Steven) seemed a bit more on the young adult/teenage side. I would think that (again, in respect to her relationship with Steven) she would have been more wise and even cautious with dating someone she had just met (especially since she had already gone through a divorce). Plus, she also didn’t seem to know many things about how dangerous Mexico was or what cartels were or and didn’t even practice the whole “stranger danger” rule, yet she was a (possibly) middle-aged woman and even a new college professor.
But, I did appreciate how genuine her interest was in learning new things about the culture of Mexico (that I didn’t even know), her thirst to learn Spanish (which I found relatable since I’ve been learning that language myself the past two years), and her excitement to take a step out of her comfort zone on a week long tour in a foreign country. I also appreciated her trust in God even after discovering some heartbreaking news and that she was okay with not knowing why certain things happened at the moment. (Details on that below.)
Steven: Y’all, I LOVED Steven. He was just so sweet and helpful and kind to Eva and I was really starting to ship them by the time the tour began making its way back to the U.S. Albeit, I do think his relationship with Eva was quite sudden and I personally, would NEVER dive into dating a man if I’ve only known him for like, a week or two. But, I mean, he was so handsome and friendly and (here comes a spoiler)
This revelation, however, occurred in the last three to four pages of the book, so it left me speechless when I finished the novel and I didn’t have much time to mentally process what happened (nor were there any answers to some of my questions about him). This is a nice surprise element in some senses, but I do think, in most cases, it would be best to not create a sudden plot twist like that in the last 2% of the book, because I think audiences enjoy more explanation afterwards for why such a surprise occurred (which isn’t possible if it’s so late in the plot). Then again, I think by not giving much explanation or by answering those questions I have, Terry Overton made it more relatable to Eva’s own unanswered thoughts and questions about Steven as well.
Honestly, my feelings are kinda mixed about it, so let’s just say, (spoiler coming again) I wished we had more explaining behind that, but…it’s a plot twist, y’all. And I LOVE plot twists. And this one totally caught me blind. So, even though it was extremely sudden, I liked it. XD
Dolores: I honestly didn’t relate to Dolores that well, but I enjoyed seeing how much she loved her brothers and what risks she was willing to take to keep them safe. I also think Terry Overton did a good job at describing her emotions and how fearful she was at some parts (for herself and for her brothers). Like Eva, I also appreciated how much trust she had in God despite some circumstances and how compassionate she was with other people she met on her journey to America.
Eva’s Mom: Yes, yes, I know Eva’s mom didn’t have a large role in this book but I just had to stick her in this review ‘cause that woman Cracked. Me. Up. I could see how she was getting on Eva’s nerves here and there but her concern, “busy-body” behavior, and her constant comments about the caravan had me laughing way too much. XD So, thank you Ms. Overton for including a character that kept bringing a smile to my face!
Spirituality
I must admit, this aspect had me confused during most of the book. I believe the main religion portrayed in the novel was Catholisim (which makes sense since it’s pretty prevalent in Central America) but a few times I felt like it held some Christian beliefs too and that made it hard to know exactly what the characters believed. There were also some comments made that I don’t agree with (for example, a baby died and when the baby’s mother died later, Dolores said they are in heaven together but that’s certainly not true if the mother was not a Christian). However, I did like how Eva and Dolores showed a lot of trust in God despite their worries and difficult situations.
Content Cautions
Language: Clean
Violence: Hurricane damage; there were a few dead bodies seen; the dangers of Mexico were discussed including gangs, drug cartels, rape and brothels (which is very realistic especially in the shady parts of Mexico); there were a few deaths described when characters saw people fall off or run over by trains; one character gets injured from a hatchet (or whatever the weapon was).
Romance: Eva admired (and maybe even had a tiny crush for a brief moment) on her tour guide; Eva ended up dating Steven and kinda fell in love with him (which, personally, I don’t see possible in a one to two week time span); Eva’s previous marriage and divorce were briefly mentioned.
Other Random Comments
One issue I did have with this book was the topic of immigration. I don’t have any problems with legal immigration, but this book definitely focused on illegal immigration and never really specified the morality of that. It did seem as if Dolores and her brothers were immigrating illegally to America (even if they had intentions to return to Honduras after getting enough money) and that appeared to be promoted in a good way. Even though the morality of that wasn’t deeply discussed, the whole idea didn’t settle well with me because illegal immigration is something I don’t agree with. So I would have liked it if that topic was cleared up a bit.
On the other hand, even though I wasn’t a fan of the cloudy immigration aspect, I really, really enjoyed learning more about Mexico and its culture! Terry Overton described the culture so well it seemed as if she went there herself and experienced everything Eva did (which I think is actually true)! That said, it's obvious she put a lot of effort in her research! Also, as I already said before, I loved how Eva was learning Spanish and it was fun reading some the Spanish words mentioned and seeing how many of them I could understand!
In conclusion, even though there were some disappointments with this book, there were enough things about it that I enjoyed, so I don’t regret reading it at all! More so, if you’re someone who reads nonfiction and you want to try out a fiction book, I would actually recommend that you start with this one (since it still has some nonfiction elements in it) and use it as a stepping stone to other larger fictional genres such as Fantasy and Science Fiction (which are a far cry from Both Sides of the Border, lol). ;) That said, I wouldn’t recommend this novel to everyone, but I know there are some people out there who would enjoy this type of book and I think, if you find the idea of this novel interesting, you should definitely give Both Sides of the Border a go!
I want to thank the author for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Please note that all thoughts and opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
November 3, 2021
Book review of Both Sides of the Border, by Terry Overton
About the Book:
Dolores and her brothers have decided to make the journey from their native Honduras to the USA for a better life and will do what it takes to get there; apart from getting themselves caught by the corrupt men on the way. But the dangers they face as they make their journey have opened their eyes to the harsh reality they face as illegal immigrants. And they will have no choice but to entrust their lives into God’s hands.
Eva has entered a new phase in her life, and that includes becoming a professor at a university just inside the border of Texas near Mexico. In an effort to learn more about her new environment, she takes a tour through Mexico and learns more about its history and language. But she didn’t expect to learn about the corruption or darker side of Mexico.
Favourite Quotes:
…
What I enjoyed:
I loved that this book addressed such a common event. I’d been pretty clueless about what goes on in regard to the mass groups of people travelling and entering the US for a better life. This book definitely enlightened me to the hardships and reality of what they face as they journey to a better life.
I’m grateful that Dolores was so dependent on God and was continually praying to Him and trusting Him with her and her brother's lives. That kind of faith is amazing. The faith where you trust Him with everything: your safety, your health, your life. There were so many terrible things they experienced just by observing other immigrants, and the way they gave up their requests and anxieties to God kinda cracked me over the head and reminded me that I can do the same with my own anxieties and unknowns.
What I disliked:
Ho boy, here goes:
The writing/formatting seemed a little off to me like it wasn’t as ‘flowed out’ as it could have been. I felt like the format and writing were very choppy and kind of hard to focus on. (Like unnecessarily short sentences when they could’ve been built on a bit.) That probably bothered me the most as I’m learning about ‘fluffing’ my writing more.
I also wasn’t sure what I thought about how some of the character’s situations were so harsh and vile, and the story somewhat flippantly moved on. I get that in such a big, common, daily occurrence/event like this, you don’t have enough time to really fill out the situation.
I guess I'm just ticked that, for example, the woman who chose to sell herself to afford the trip a second time, was so broken and hurt about it, and aside from apologizing and saying she had a second chance, just moved right on. That just doesn’t sit right with me. But again, what do I really know about these sorts of events?
The story kind of felt abrupt, and seemed to flow real smooth in places, then got rough in others.
The descriptions started out very well, but when I was finally getting a good picture in my mind, the story moved on. And… well, yea; kinda ticked me.
It also seemed like Eva was a bit of a teen girl when it came to her interest in Stephen. When he walked on the scene and caught her eye, I kinda cringed. I certainly didn’t expect that sort of thing in this book. The way she acted in regards to her interest/crush kind of bothered me because I expected her to be a little more mature about it and not act like a teen. Sorry if I’m biased, but I’ve seen enough of that in my life without having to read a book that includes it.
I found it very hard to get into this book, hence the reason it took me nearly two months to finish. I’m not sure if it was because of the writing quality or the lack of ‘fluffing out’ the story, but it was a challenge.
Overall Standpoint on BSotB:
All things considered, this was a really good book. I appreciated that it was based on a current event that impacts the world (well, at least North America) continually. And I also appreciate that it educated me more about how the journey can look. It's sobering, but also relieving when they make their way to the finish line. But it also can be sobering when you read in between the lines about the unfortunate events that occur during the journey.
Apart from the writing and difficulty in ‘getting into it’, it was a good book.
*Everything expressed in this book review is based on my own thoughts. I don’t mean to offend anyone, only share what God places on my heart.*
**Thank you, Terry, for sending me a copy of your book! Thankfully, it didn’t come on a dog sled, nor did the snow come for more than a month after it arrived. ;)**
November 3 , 2021 By Abbigail R. B.
About the Book:
Dolores and her brothers have decided to make the journey from their native Honduras to the USA for a better life and will do what it takes to get there; apart from getting themselves caught by the corrupt men on the way. But the dangers they face as they make their journey have opened their eyes to the harsh reality they face as illegal immigrants. And they will have no choice but to entrust their lives into God’s hands.
Eva has entered a new phase in her life, and that includes becoming a professor at a university just inside the border of Texas near Mexico. In an effort to learn more about her new environment, she takes a tour through Mexico and learns more about its history and language. But she didn’t expect to learn about the corruption or darker side of Mexico.
Favourite Quotes:
…
What I enjoyed:
I loved that this book addressed such a common event. I’d been pretty clueless about what goes on in regard to the mass groups of people travelling and entering the US for a better life. This book definitely enlightened me to the hardships and reality of what they face as they journey to a better life.
I’m grateful that Dolores was so dependent on God and was continually praying to Him and trusting Him with her and her brother's lives. That kind of faith is amazing. The faith where you trust Him with everything: your safety, your health, your life. There were so many terrible things they experienced just by observing other immigrants, and the way they gave up their requests and anxieties to God kinda cracked me over the head and reminded me that I can do the same with my own anxieties and unknowns.
What I disliked:
Ho boy, here goes:
The writing/formatting seemed a little off to me like it wasn’t as ‘flowed out’ as it could have been. I felt like the format and writing were very choppy and kind of hard to focus on. (Like unnecessarily short sentences when they could’ve been built on a bit.) That probably bothered me the most as I’m learning about ‘fluffing’ my writing more.
I also wasn’t sure what I thought about how some of the character’s situations were so harsh and vile, and the story somewhat flippantly moved on. I get that in such a big, common, daily occurrence/event like this, you don’t have enough time to really fill out the situation.
I guess I'm just ticked that, for example, the woman who chose to sell herself to afford the trip a second time, was so broken and hurt about it, and aside from apologizing and saying she had a second chance, just moved right on. That just doesn’t sit right with me. But again, what do I really know about these sorts of events?
The story kind of felt abrupt, and seemed to flow real smooth in places, then got rough in others.
The descriptions started out very well, but when I was finally getting a good picture in my mind, the story moved on. And… well, yea; kinda ticked me.
It also seemed like Eva was a bit of a teen girl when it came to her interest in Stephen. When he walked on the scene and caught her eye, I kinda cringed. I certainly didn’t expect that sort of thing in this book. The way she acted in regards to her interest/crush kind of bothered me because I expected her to be a little more mature about it and not act like a teen. Sorry if I’m biased, but I’ve seen enough of that in my life without having to read a book that includes it.
I found it very hard to get into this book, hence the reason it took me nearly two months to finish. I’m not sure if it was because of the writing quality or the lack of ‘fluffing out’ the story, but it was a challenge.
Overall Standpoint on BSotB:
All things considered, this was a really good book. I appreciated that it was based on a current event that impacts the world (well, at least North America) continually. And I also appreciate that it educated me more about how the journey can look. It's sobering, but also relieving when they make their way to the finish line. But it also can be sobering when you read in between the lines about the unfortunate events that occur during the journey.
Apart from the writing and difficulty in ‘getting into it’, it was a good book.
*Everything expressed in this book review is based on my own thoughts. I don’t mean to offend anyone, only share what God places on my heart.*
**Thank you, Terry, for sending me a copy of your book! Thankfully, it didn’t come on a dog sled, nor did the snow come for more than a month after it arrived. ;)**
November 3 , 2021 By Abbigail R. B.
November 4, 2021
I want to thank the author for sending me a free e-book to review.
Okay, let me organize my thoughts.
At first, my sisters and I were really expecting great things. We were really enjoying the story but as the story went on it seemed to slow down and slack. (Things got busy so my sisters had to stop reading and I pressed on) Eva and Dolores didn't meet till like the last five percent. The hurricane mentioned in the blurb didn't happen till the last fifteen percent and I felt cheated. If something is mentioned in a blurb, it should happen no later than halfway through, just my opinion.
Dolores's faith was inspiring (but besides her crossing herself when she prayed it kind of felt like she was a Christian and not a Catholic), Emilio was fun, and Ernesto seemed like a good guy. Eva felt like a teen and Dolores felt like an adult, they switched or something. The whole thing with Eva and Steven was ehh, kind of saw it coming.
There were some typos, no biggy, and some of the dialogue and writing felt stiff or repetitive or both by turn. I'm no expert but I am a beginning ghostwriter and a writer myself, this could have used some cleaning up. Some of the writing was on the nose.
Eva's side of the story kind of felt unnecessary. We got a historic tour of Mexico and saw her side of the crime, but we also saw the same crime from Dolores. So, maybe it could have been condensed. Also, in Dolores's chapters sometimes it would jump from Dolores to her brothers and it just felt a little messy.
All this being said...the book wasn't terrible. It just didn't deliver quite what I was expecting. I literally hate rating this so low and criticizing it but I'm just honestly stating my thoughts.
(I was given a free copy of the book by the author but all thoughts above are my honest opinion.)
~Kayti
Okay, let me organize my thoughts.
At first, my sisters and I were really expecting great things. We were really enjoying the story but as the story went on it seemed to slow down and slack. (Things got busy so my sisters had to stop reading and I pressed on) Eva and Dolores didn't meet till like the last five percent. The hurricane mentioned in the blurb didn't happen till the last fifteen percent and I felt cheated. If something is mentioned in a blurb, it should happen no later than halfway through, just my opinion.
Dolores's faith was inspiring (but besides her crossing herself when she prayed it kind of felt like she was a Christian and not a Catholic), Emilio was fun, and Ernesto seemed like a good guy. Eva felt like a teen and Dolores felt like an adult, they switched or something. The whole thing with Eva and Steven was ehh, kind of saw it coming.
There were some typos, no biggy, and some of the dialogue and writing felt stiff or repetitive or both by turn. I'm no expert but I am a beginning ghostwriter and a writer myself, this could have used some cleaning up. Some of the writing was on the nose.
Eva's side of the story kind of felt unnecessary. We got a historic tour of Mexico and saw her side of the crime, but we also saw the same crime from Dolores. So, maybe it could have been condensed. Also, in Dolores's chapters sometimes it would jump from Dolores to her brothers and it just felt a little messy.
All this being said...the book wasn't terrible. It just didn't deliver quite what I was expecting. I literally hate rating this so low and criticizing it but I'm just honestly stating my thoughts.
(I was given a free copy of the book by the author but all thoughts above are my honest opinion.)
~Kayti
April 30, 2022
~I’d like to thank the author for sending me a free copy in exchange for my honest review!~
I loved this book! It was well written, had a great plot, and was very engaging.
First of all, the split POV was done really well. I felt like I was getting just enough from both Eva’s and Dolores’ sides. There also weren’t any cliffhangers at the end of each POV, which I liked, as I could enjoy both sides of the story, and not just get through it to see what will happen on the other side.
The plot was also done very well. It wasn’t too complicated to make it confusing, but it also wasn’t too simple that it was boring.
All in all, this was a great book with wonderful characters and a great story, definitely recommended!
~Full Review To Come~
I loved this book! It was well written, had a great plot, and was very engaging.
First of all, the split POV was done really well. I felt like I was getting just enough from both Eva’s and Dolores’ sides. There also weren’t any cliffhangers at the end of each POV, which I liked, as I could enjoy both sides of the story, and not just get through it to see what will happen on the other side.
The plot was also done very well. It wasn’t too complicated to make it confusing, but it also wasn’t too simple that it was boring.
All in all, this was a great book with wonderful characters and a great story, definitely recommended!
~Full Review To Come~
July 30, 2021
In “Both Sides of the Border,” Terry Overton has given us a story so relevant that one cannot ignore the immigration issues our country faces. Her story is poignant, yet fresh. She also shows the reader that God has everything to do with our circumstance and outcomes.
In the story, readers learn about a young woman named Dolores and her two brothers, Emilio, and Ernesto. They are from a close-knit family in Honduras and are migrating to the United States to help their family survive and join them later. Dolores and her brothers travel from Honduras to the Mexican border with a guide. From there, they had to cross a river and walk, catch trains, and hide from officials. On the other side of the border in Brownsville, Texas, a young woman named Eva has moved into her new apartment and is about to start a new job. She is excited and ready for this next chapter in her life. Before starting work, she goes on a Mexican vacation by bus. She tours the beautiful cathedrals, eats local cuisine, and develops a close friendship with a man named Steven.
What I learned from this book is that on both sides of the immigration issue, people are hopeful for a new life. Dolores and her brothers are looking for new opportunities in the United States. They believe that there are good people who will give them work. The conversations between the three never mention the dangers that lie in the U.S. Eva believes that Mexico is a beautiful place filled with opportunities. She doesn’t realize the dangers all around her. Her friendship with Steven starts out well. Steven lives in Mexico and informs Eva of the cartel and gangs in Mexico. What she learns about Steven brings this danger closer to home.
“Both Sides of the Border” gives a fresh take on immigration. It made me think about the risk each immigrant takes to come to America. As an American, I tend to forget that there are people in our world that believe we are the land of opportunity. Dolores and her family believed that. Their parents sent their children on a journey that could ultimately take their lives. It was dangerous, but they were willing. Eva reminded me a lot of myself. When I have traveled, I tend to think like Eva. I don’t dwell on the dangers. I see most things through rose-colored lenses. When Eva meets Dolores after a hurricane, she knows her reality was and is not real.
Overall, “Both Sides of the Border” is a book for any age and person. Overton has made me think about why immigration happens and how not everyone gets on a boat and lands at Ellis Island. Before we judge others for leaving their country, we need to walk a mile in their shoes. We need to be aware and willing to help when we can. Immigration affects us all and Terry Overton has succeeded in developing a clear, poignant representation of that fact.
In the story, readers learn about a young woman named Dolores and her two brothers, Emilio, and Ernesto. They are from a close-knit family in Honduras and are migrating to the United States to help their family survive and join them later. Dolores and her brothers travel from Honduras to the Mexican border with a guide. From there, they had to cross a river and walk, catch trains, and hide from officials. On the other side of the border in Brownsville, Texas, a young woman named Eva has moved into her new apartment and is about to start a new job. She is excited and ready for this next chapter in her life. Before starting work, she goes on a Mexican vacation by bus. She tours the beautiful cathedrals, eats local cuisine, and develops a close friendship with a man named Steven.
What I learned from this book is that on both sides of the immigration issue, people are hopeful for a new life. Dolores and her brothers are looking for new opportunities in the United States. They believe that there are good people who will give them work. The conversations between the three never mention the dangers that lie in the U.S. Eva believes that Mexico is a beautiful place filled with opportunities. She doesn’t realize the dangers all around her. Her friendship with Steven starts out well. Steven lives in Mexico and informs Eva of the cartel and gangs in Mexico. What she learns about Steven brings this danger closer to home.
“Both Sides of the Border” gives a fresh take on immigration. It made me think about the risk each immigrant takes to come to America. As an American, I tend to forget that there are people in our world that believe we are the land of opportunity. Dolores and her family believed that. Their parents sent their children on a journey that could ultimately take their lives. It was dangerous, but they were willing. Eva reminded me a lot of myself. When I have traveled, I tend to think like Eva. I don’t dwell on the dangers. I see most things through rose-colored lenses. When Eva meets Dolores after a hurricane, she knows her reality was and is not real.
Overall, “Both Sides of the Border” is a book for any age and person. Overton has made me think about why immigration happens and how not everyone gets on a boat and lands at Ellis Island. Before we judge others for leaving their country, we need to walk a mile in their shoes. We need to be aware and willing to help when we can. Immigration affects us all and Terry Overton has succeeded in developing a clear, poignant representation of that fact.
April 28, 2021
What a page turner! I didn’t know who I’d read about next, and I was not disappointed. Terry Overton’s well-developed story of struggles and perseverance showed two women on separate journeys, each with goals and dreams in scenes that were remarkably different. She presents the contrasts of danger and poverty versus leisure and luxury in descriptive scenes. The end gave a surprise twist. Regardless of your political leanings concerning the border, the book was an excellent read and heart wrenching at times. I would love a sequel of how the characters began their new lives.
January 13, 2022
This novel is an interesting contrast of people enjoying a tourist adventure in Mexico and young siblings escaping Honduras for a better life in the United States. The narrative alternates between Eva, the tourist and soon to be professor in a Texas college, and Dolores, escaping to the US with her two brothers. Eva, with her advanced degree, comes across as immature and naïve when it comes to romance and life in general. Dolores, in contrast, shows maturity and courage well beyond her years.
The novel portrays well the dangers facing those traveling through Mexico to seek a better life in the US. The actions of the cartels figures large with kidnapping a constant threat. Transportation is often deadly and there is always the threat of corrupt government officials.
Overton's writing style is not sophisticated so this novel would be good for young adult readers. The tourist activities provided much information about historic places in Mexico and almost read like a travelogue. The end of the novel seemed more wishful thinking than reality with respect to government action. While I found Dolores' journey much more engaging than Eva's immature adventures, I did find the novel informative and entertaining.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.
The novel portrays well the dangers facing those traveling through Mexico to seek a better life in the US. The actions of the cartels figures large with kidnapping a constant threat. Transportation is often deadly and there is always the threat of corrupt government officials.
Overton's writing style is not sophisticated so this novel would be good for young adult readers. The tourist activities provided much information about historic places in Mexico and almost read like a travelogue. The end of the novel seemed more wishful thinking than reality with respect to government action. While I found Dolores' journey much more engaging than Eva's immature adventures, I did find the novel informative and entertaining.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.
May 1, 2021
When we decide to change our way to have a better life, it is not just a personal decision, it involves the future of everyone we love so it is not an easy decision. These young people of characters decide to take a risky decision in search of a better life. A path full of challenges and many dangers, many not imagined and the consequences are numerous. It is an adventure described with a wealth of breathtaking scenarios and we expect that everything will be resolved in the best possible way because we inevitably take part in the journey of the characters as if it were a personal journey.
July 25, 2021
This is one of the most captivating books that I have ever read. It sucks you in and doesn’t let you go. You get so hooked on one story and then it switches to the other story and you get hooked on that one too. It kept me reading because I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next in each story. It really got my heart racing on so many parts. This book is absolutely fantastic. What an amazing job this author has done with this book. This is the first book of Terry Overton’s that I have read and I can’t wait to read another one. I strongly recommend this book.
May 29, 2021
This story has both sides not just of the border but of trouble and victory. Separation and restoration. Terry, once more, has spent a good deal of time researching her characters, geography, laws on border relations, and other details into the making of a tightly written book.
Read this not just to have a deeper understanding of human culture and politics but also to find the hope that brings people together.
Read this not just to have a deeper understanding of human culture and politics but also to find the hope that brings people together.
July 17, 2021
Both Sides of the Border
Delores and her two younger brothers, Ernesto and Emilio Sanchez go on a very long and terrifying journey to help their family survive. On the other side is Eva Jordan who is trying to put her past behind her and start a new life. This book was very hard to put down. Terry Overton is an extremely talented author. This story is brilliantly written. This is one of the best books I have ever read. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
Delores and her two younger brothers, Ernesto and Emilio Sanchez go on a very long and terrifying journey to help their family survive. On the other side is Eva Jordan who is trying to put her past behind her and start a new life. This book was very hard to put down. Terry Overton is an extremely talented author. This story is brilliantly written. This is one of the best books I have ever read. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
August 2, 2021
Powerful story!
I was seriously taken with this story. To see a world in the eyes of two different people, well, honestly, this was very well written and kept my attention throughout the entire book!
I was seriously taken with this story. To see a world in the eyes of two different people, well, honestly, this was very well written and kept my attention throughout the entire book!
January 23, 2022
I love reading books by "new to me" Authors and Terry Overton is an author whose books I have never read. Also, the synopsis of this book seemed to be a bit of a "challenging" read. I decided to read Both Sides of the Border, by Terry Overton for those reasons.
Dolores, Ernesto, and Emilio Sanchez are siblings who live in Honduras. The siblings are on a trek to America to find work, save money and bring the rest of their family to America. There are many Roadblocks on their trek to America, including threats from Police Officers, the Cartel and not having enough food. Eva Jordan lives in Texas close to the border of America and Mexico. She has just moved into her apartment and ready to start a new job. She decides to take a vacation to Mexico as it will help her with her Spanish before she starts her new job and she can get some relaxation in also. She is admiring all the beauty of Mexico and is enjoying her Vacation. Although she suddenly is awakened to the Dangers that lurk for her in Mexico. Will the Sanchez Siblings make it to America and find the "American Dream"? What does Eva Jordan learn from her time in Mexico? What will be the lessons learned for all?
WOW, this was definitely a "challenging" read. The book is a Fiction book based on True events. I had a hard time understanding the storyline at first, but i finally started to gain a bit of an interest in the book by the 3rd Chapter. I admire the Sanchez Siblings for their quest to live the American Dreams. It broke my heart to see them struggle to get here, and I realized that it the truth for many trying to come to America for a better life. Eva Jordan saw the "other side" and it seemed to click with her why so many try to make their way to America for a Better Life. The theme of the book is Immigration and the struggles so many face trying to "cross the borders". The book did not have an overly "Political" tone to it and I appreciated that. It definitely is very eye opening as to the Immigration struggles. I would highly recommend this book for those interested in this topic. Good Book!
Dolores, Ernesto, and Emilio Sanchez are siblings who live in Honduras. The siblings are on a trek to America to find work, save money and bring the rest of their family to America. There are many Roadblocks on their trek to America, including threats from Police Officers, the Cartel and not having enough food. Eva Jordan lives in Texas close to the border of America and Mexico. She has just moved into her apartment and ready to start a new job. She decides to take a vacation to Mexico as it will help her with her Spanish before she starts her new job and she can get some relaxation in also. She is admiring all the beauty of Mexico and is enjoying her Vacation. Although she suddenly is awakened to the Dangers that lurk for her in Mexico. Will the Sanchez Siblings make it to America and find the "American Dream"? What does Eva Jordan learn from her time in Mexico? What will be the lessons learned for all?
WOW, this was definitely a "challenging" read. The book is a Fiction book based on True events. I had a hard time understanding the storyline at first, but i finally started to gain a bit of an interest in the book by the 3rd Chapter. I admire the Sanchez Siblings for their quest to live the American Dreams. It broke my heart to see them struggle to get here, and I realized that it the truth for many trying to come to America for a better life. Eva Jordan saw the "other side" and it seemed to click with her why so many try to make their way to America for a Better Life. The theme of the book is Immigration and the struggles so many face trying to "cross the borders". The book did not have an overly "Political" tone to it and I appreciated that. It definitely is very eye opening as to the Immigration struggles. I would highly recommend this book for those interested in this topic. Good Book!
January 16, 2022
The author gives us a chance to walk beside people who are desperate to find freedom in The United States. We follow Dolores and her two brothers as they travel from Honduras to the border of Texas. I was captivated by the journey they took. This subject is on the news a lot but I don’t think I have thought much about it til now. It is controversial for some but I appreciate how the author focused on what it is like for those wanting a better life. We see the danger they face as the cartel are everywhere. I held my breath as men kidnapped people and lead them away to the unknown.
Eva moving to Brownsville was not my favorite part of the story. I knew somehow the author would put her in the path of Dolores and her brothers. I thought it was strange that Eva took to Steven so fast and went off to explore Mexico with him away from the tour group she was with. It bothered me that her mom continuously called her and warned her about the hurricane and the dangers of living so close to the border. I understand that the author was showing us two sides of the border but I wasn’t able to connect with Eva at all.
The author does do a good job of describing the sights that can be found in Mexico and the authentic food. Although the book does try to compare two different points of view about the border, the most captivating for me was Dolores and her brothers. Their journey was realistic and I liked how fearless they were. The ending fell flat because it is not true to what is going on right now. It does show hope for the future but there is much work to be done before that reality happens.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Eva moving to Brownsville was not my favorite part of the story. I knew somehow the author would put her in the path of Dolores and her brothers. I thought it was strange that Eva took to Steven so fast and went off to explore Mexico with him away from the tour group she was with. It bothered me that her mom continuously called her and warned her about the hurricane and the dangers of living so close to the border. I understand that the author was showing us two sides of the border but I wasn’t able to connect with Eva at all.
The author does do a good job of describing the sights that can be found in Mexico and the authentic food. Although the book does try to compare two different points of view about the border, the most captivating for me was Dolores and her brothers. Their journey was realistic and I liked how fearless they were. The ending fell flat because it is not true to what is going on right now. It does show hope for the future but there is much work to be done before that reality happens.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
January 25, 2022
"Both Sides of the Border" by Terry Overton is an interesting book about people on both sides of the Mexico border. The story was written as a person telling the story which was good, but I think it would have been a little bit better if it was written as the characters telling the story so readers could experience their emotions. I am still giving the book 5 stars. I would really like a sequel to this book. I want to know what happens to the characters after they have been in the USA for awhile. I want to know if Eva goes back to teaching at the school and I want to read more about the character Steven, I can't say more about him because it might be a spoiler alert but I want to know how his story plays out.
This is a book that all mature readers could enjoy. This book isn't about mission work but I kept thinking about the mission trip I went on in 2020 because it was to Mexico, just off the Texas border. There is danger in this book, the cartel and the weather and just bad guys. There is kidnapping but there aren't really graphic scenes expect the characters being blindfolded and hands tied behind their backs.
This book made me have more sympathy and compassion for people coming illegally to the Us. This book made me realize how fortunated I am to live here in the US.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.
This is a book that all mature readers could enjoy. This book isn't about mission work but I kept thinking about the mission trip I went on in 2020 because it was to Mexico, just off the Texas border. There is danger in this book, the cartel and the weather and just bad guys. There is kidnapping but there aren't really graphic scenes expect the characters being blindfolded and hands tied behind their backs.
This book made me have more sympathy and compassion for people coming illegally to the Us. This book made me realize how fortunated I am to live here in the US.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.
January 15, 2022
This was an interesting story showing two sides of the American-Mexican border.
Eva has taken a new job at a university on the Texas border. To try and improve her Spanish she takes a week long tourist trip through portions of Mexico. Basically in a controlled environment.
Delores and her two younger brothers leave Honduras seeking a better life in the United States. They walk, they hide, they even ride on top of freight cars.
Although Eva sees some terrible things hard to forget she is protected by her tourist situation. Delores and her brothers face all kinds of danger.
The chapters alternate between the two stories, so it’s very easy to follow. I learned a lot about Mexico and its history as well as food dishes native to that area. I also earned more about the struggles and dangers faced by those attempting to cross to the US. I am thankful every day that God placed me here in America at birth.
This is a story that I believe everyone should read to be enlightened regarding what is happening on the US border as well as in our neighboring country.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.
Eva has taken a new job at a university on the Texas border. To try and improve her Spanish she takes a week long tourist trip through portions of Mexico. Basically in a controlled environment.
Delores and her two younger brothers leave Honduras seeking a better life in the United States. They walk, they hide, they even ride on top of freight cars.
Although Eva sees some terrible things hard to forget she is protected by her tourist situation. Delores and her brothers face all kinds of danger.
The chapters alternate between the two stories, so it’s very easy to follow. I learned a lot about Mexico and its history as well as food dishes native to that area. I also earned more about the struggles and dangers faced by those attempting to cross to the US. I am thankful every day that God placed me here in America at birth.
This is a story that I believe everyone should read to be enlightened regarding what is happening on the US border as well as in our neighboring country.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.
January 25, 2022
Both Sides of the Border is the first book that I have read by Terry Overton. This book is set in Coastal Texas and brings an interesting look at the US Mexico border. Our main characters are Dolores and Eva. Both from different worlds. Both have different hopes and dreams. Dolores along with Ernesto, and Emilio are on their way to America. They are facing a lot of challenges that include: shady police officers, the drug cartel, and lack of food. The author did a good job showing what real people face when heading to America. Despite doing so illegally. We also see Eva. Who is trying to start a new life. She is coming out of a horrible marriage. She lives very close to the border. She admires the beautiful towns of Mexico so much that she wants to take a vacation there.... until she sees some of the horrors and dangers. Eva's mother is not thrilled with this.
The author wrote her characters well. The point of views of each character were clear. The storyline is interesting and kept my interest. I learned a lot about the U.S. -Mexico border. The author did her research and was familiar with the setting. I hope to read more from this author.
I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program. All thoughts are my own.
The author wrote her characters well. The point of views of each character were clear. The storyline is interesting and kept my interest. I learned a lot about the U.S. -Mexico border. The author did her research and was familiar with the setting. I hope to read more from this author.
I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program. All thoughts are my own.
January 31, 2022
What an interesting read! This is not a book I think I would have picked up on my own had I not received it for a review. While reading it I found that it was a slow read. It did not move quickly like the books I normally read.
This is a contemporary fiction novel. It’s not a romance novel but rather a modern-day drama type book. It focuses on Eva and her vacation to Mexico and her seeing the reality of life for the first time while also simultaneously focusing on a sibling set travelling from Honduras.
I cannot say that I agreed with everything in this book. There were bits and pieces that I did agree with. I cannot say it’s really a religious or Christian read but it is a good fiction piece. It was well written just not my favorite cup of tea.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
This is a contemporary fiction novel. It’s not a romance novel but rather a modern-day drama type book. It focuses on Eva and her vacation to Mexico and her seeing the reality of life for the first time while also simultaneously focusing on a sibling set travelling from Honduras.
I cannot say that I agreed with everything in this book. There were bits and pieces that I did agree with. I cannot say it’s really a religious or Christian read but it is a good fiction piece. It was well written just not my favorite cup of tea.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
January 26, 2022
This novel drew me into the lives of the characters and their situations. It also disturbed me as I learned more about the conditions faced by the impoverished in Mexico and Central America, who long to come to the US for a better life. Reading about three young people who try to escape Honduras for America in order to help their family, it made me much more sympathetic to the plight of such sufferers. They endured great trials, risking their lives and surviving on little, as they made their way north. Juxtaposed against these teens’ journey is the story of a new college professor, Eva Jordan, who moves to Brownsville, Texas, and takes a trip to Mexico to learn Spanish. Eva’s eyes are opened to more than the tourist sites as she travels with the tour group. The book seems quite realistic and the experiences portrayed authentic, making the reader reevaluate preconceived ideas about situations like desperate immigrants. It would make a good choice for a discussion group or a high school class. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
January 18, 2022
This book had me intrigued when I read the back and I must say it has some points in it that are really thought provoking. The unique 2 women having experiences and meeting like they did was good, and I liked that the story was overall clean. It does mention some of the shadier things that do happen.
The characters were opposites in many ways but similar too. I had issues with Eva (I'm not certain of her age) but from what was told, I was expecting some more mature reactions throughout. Dolores journey was unique and I loved how much she loved her brothers. That was so sweet to me! There is a major plot twist that I have to say I was not expecting in the least and am still a bit stunned over!
3/5
Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via Celebrate Lit. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
The characters were opposites in many ways but similar too. I had issues with Eva (I'm not certain of her age) but from what was told, I was expecting some more mature reactions throughout. Dolores journey was unique and I loved how much she loved her brothers. That was so sweet to me! There is a major plot twist that I have to say I was not expecting in the least and am still a bit stunned over!
3/5
Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via Celebrate Lit. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
July 5, 2021
Incredible story of tragedy and hope
I absolutely loved this story. The author did a wonderful job of presenting the stories of two very different women and weaving them together until in the end, they found in each other’s help and unlikely friendship, what both of them needed to learn and grow in their lives. There were some excellent unexpected plot twists that I really appreciated and the ending was fabulous. The story becomes sad in places as the gruesome reality of human trafficking is revealed. I liked that the author didn’t sugar-coat this reality.
I highly recommend this book. It’s well written and very moving.
I absolutely loved this story. The author did a wonderful job of presenting the stories of two very different women and weaving them together until in the end, they found in each other’s help and unlikely friendship, what both of them needed to learn and grow in their lives. There were some excellent unexpected plot twists that I really appreciated and the ending was fabulous. The story becomes sad in places as the gruesome reality of human trafficking is revealed. I liked that the author didn’t sugar-coat this reality.
I highly recommend this book. It’s well written and very moving.
July 29, 2021
This is a great book about the people that are trying to get to the US for a better life. The author has done her homework and really tells about how hard it is to try to get across the border. It's the story of one girl trying to get to the US with her brothers and the story of another girl that just moved to the Texas/Mexican border. It's a powerful story and one that the author tells quite well. I do recommend it.
I did receive a copy of the book from the author, but the review is my own opinion.
I did receive a copy of the book from the author, but the review is my own opinion.
June 16, 2022
Insightful and Incredible Story
Terry Overton's Both Sides of the Border is an insightful and incredible story that depicts life on both sides of the border between Mexico and the United States. Readers experience life through the eyes of Eva, a newly hired university instructor, and the eyes Dolores, Ernesto, and Emillio, Honduran siblings. I appreciated the depth of the main characters, their journeys, and growth in faith. I would recommend this novel to mature teens, young adults, and adults.
Terry Overton's Both Sides of the Border is an insightful and incredible story that depicts life on both sides of the border between Mexico and the United States. Readers experience life through the eyes of Eva, a newly hired university instructor, and the eyes Dolores, Ernesto, and Emillio, Honduran siblings. I appreciated the depth of the main characters, their journeys, and growth in faith. I would recommend this novel to mature teens, young adults, and adults.
December 20, 2021
Both Sides of the Border is the first book I have read by Terry Overton. I thought it was a great and a must read. It gives a glimpse at what it is like for those who are seeking for a better life in the United States. My favorite character was Dolores and enjoyed her story part of the book the most. She displayed so much bravery and courage. I admired her faith and determination.
I am giving Both Sides of the Border four and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean fiction that gives a new perspective on current and relevant issues. I look forward to reading more by Terry Overton in the future.
I received a paperback copy of Both Sides of the Border from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
I am giving Both Sides of the Border four and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean fiction that gives a new perspective on current and relevant issues. I look forward to reading more by Terry Overton in the future.
I received a paperback copy of Both Sides of the Border from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
January 31, 2022
Both Sides of the Border examines the lives of three children fleeing Honduras for the United States, along with a woman from the United States who relocates to Texas along the Mexican border. With the jumps from the stories about Dolores and her brother Ernesto and Emilio from Honduras along with Eva from the United States, I found the transitions well done.
I appreciated the struggles the three young people faced with faith kept me reading. Upon her arrival in southern Texas to teach at a university, Eva immediately sets out on an excursion south of the border. With train rides, cartels, and other dangers, the three young people also encountered kind people who willingly helped them.
Adding In a hurricane towards the end of the book adds suspense to the novel. I respected the way the author presented this work of fiction. So if you enjoy reading stories about people trying to make it into the United States that include the point of view of United States citizens as well, check out this book for yourself. I definitely recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own
I appreciated the struggles the three young people faced with faith kept me reading. Upon her arrival in southern Texas to teach at a university, Eva immediately sets out on an excursion south of the border. With train rides, cartels, and other dangers, the three young people also encountered kind people who willingly helped them.
Adding In a hurricane towards the end of the book adds suspense to the novel. I respected the way the author presented this work of fiction. So if you enjoy reading stories about people trying to make it into the United States that include the point of view of United States citizens as well, check out this book for yourself. I definitely recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own
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