A Rocky Mountain logging camp may be just the place to find herself. To escape the devastation caused by the breaking of her wedding engagement, Isabelle Franklin joins her aunt in the Rocky Mountains to feed a camp of lumberjacks cutting on the slopes of Cougar Ridge. If only she could out run the lingering nightmares.Charles Bailey, camp foreman and Stony Creek’s itinerant pastor, develops a … nightmares.
Charles Bailey, camp foreman and Stony Creek’s itinerant pastor, develops a reputation to match his new nickname — Preach. However, an inner battle ensues when the details of his rough history threaten to overcome the beliefs of his young faith.
Amid the hazards of camp life, the unlikely friendship growing between the two surprises Isabelle. She’s drawn to Preach’s brute strength and gentle nature as he leads the ragtag crew toiling for Pollitt’s Lumber. But when the ghosts from her past return to haunt her, the choices she will make change the course of her life forever—and that of the man she’s come to love.
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I liked the setting of the story about a logging camp. The author describes the place well with a group of men working long hours and barely having time to rest between shifts. I could see off in the distance the bunk house they stayed out and how cramped they were living in close quarters.
The story takes on a sensitive subject that I felt was done in good taste. The author introduces us to Isabelle who is forced to work at the camp in secret. The story will give readers details of why Isabelle was sent to work alongside her Aunt Lou so I won’t expand on that part of the story. I want to talk about Preach. He accidentally runs into Isabelle and immediately he is attracted to her. For some reason that really bothered me. I didn’t like him through the majority of the story because he acted a bit superior to others at times. He persists in getting to know Isabelle and I found him to be too pushy and judgmental when it came to Isabelle.
Isabelle is young and felt tossed aside by her parents as she is forced to live at the logging camp hidden so no one knows she is there. The traumatic event she endured was unthinkable and made my blood boil. I don’t think her parents gave her any time to tell her side of the story before she was whisked away. The demand her father makes on her is hurtful and I wanted to hug Isabelle and tell her that God loves her. She keeps all these feelings bottled up and it begins to take a toll on her.
The story is good as far as how the author handled the attack on Isabelle. It is told in a way that readers can grasp what happened without too much detail. Preach has a past that is briefly explained but for me I didn’t feel like he was all that upset about how he use to be. Then to my dismay I realized that I had judged him and expected him to be brought in front of everyone to confess his sin. God had forgiven him so why was I still expecting him to confess to the world? We as the body of Christ at times think people should be publicly shamed in order for us to feel satisfied.
The book took a turn for me the more I read how the author used different people in the story to show different sins. Each character was pivotal to the story as their characters interacted and forgiveness was shown in God’s way. I loved the story more than I thought and was taught a good lesson on judging others.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
3.5 stars
Rocky Mountain Redemption is a sweet historical romance with a solid faith thread and a beautiful setting. The sights, sounds, and smells (good and bad lol) of a Rocky Mountain lumber camp come alive with Flickinger’s descriptions, and if you’re a mountain lover like me you may find yourself whispering ‘the mountains are calling and I must go’ under your breath (you know, so you don’t appear weird to others LOL).
Of the many different characters in Rocky Mountain Redemption, my favorite is Miss Sophie – an older woman who takes Isabelle under her wing and is perhaps the only person in the whole story who truly cares about her with no prejudice or misconceptions. Sophie is a much more layered character than she appears to be at first, and I’m so glad that Isabelle has her as a friend.
While I loved the setting and enjoyed the story overall, there are some inconsistencies in continuity, and I had a difficult time understanding the motivations/actions of several characters. Preach is one such character, and I just couldn’t get into his and Isabelle’s romance because of this. He falls in love with her basically at first sight and decides she’s the woman for him now that he’s a changed man…. until he finds out why she came to stay with her aunt. And then I wanted to jerk a knot in him for his reaction. He’s one of the first people to know the whole, traumatic story, and his self-centered response is pretty appalling. I understand what the author was trying to show in his character, but from that point on I had a difficult time believing his feelings for Isabelle were as strong as he claimed.
Bottom Line: Rocky Mountain Redemption puts readers right in the middle of a logging camp in the Rockies in the late 1800s. Breathe in the scents of pine trees & freshly cut timber, apple pies, and a fresh mountain stream… and just stand upwind of all the unwashed lumbermen haha. Isabelle is a sympathetic character, despite her naivete, and you’ll just want to hug her more than once. Readers may also want to be aware that the book does deal with traumatic events that may be painful for women to read, especially if they’ve experienced a similar assault. While there are some inconsistencies & confusing motivations, overall this is an enjoyable read with a sweet message of forgiveness and redemption.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
She was sent to a logging camp to help her Aunt feed the loggers without being given a chance to explain what exactly had happened in the carriage with her fiance. She works hard but can she ever trust another man to even be a friend. I enjoyed this story of broken trust, faith, friendship and a little surprise at the end. I was gifted a copy, no review was required. My review is voluntary.
Isabelle has a secret she has hidden from her parents which causes her father to send her again. At the lumber camp, she meets Preach. The story develops around the 2 of them. A nice story. I received a free copy. This is my honest, voluntary review.
A story of forgiveness and freedom
Isabelle’s past was filled with shame, regret, and sorrow. Sadly, she carried guilt for a crime enacted upon her, not realizing that it didn’t belong to her.
Preach was a new man. He had repented of his wild ways and turned his life over to the Lord. Though he still struggled with temptation, he was determined to follow the Lord and live a life pleasing to Him. Which wasn’t easy, living in a crowded bunkhouse with a bunch of lumberjacks and listening to their talk!
Both characters were flawed. Preach had a bad habit of saying just the wrong thing. He left Isabelle confused and hurting at times. Isabelle was so wounded; she didn’t know who she could really trust. They both learned about forgiveness and grace. And the power of the blood of Jesus to cleanse sins – making the sinner white as wool!
I enjoyed Preach’s protective nature towards Isabelle. And the way that he saw her as one of the sparrows that God cares for. (Though I’m glad to know that our worth is actually more than many sparrows!)
While Rocky Mountain Redemption is a story of healing and grace with a strong spiritual message, it also has a mystery, the conclusion of which surprised me!
Author Lisa J. Flickinger handled a very sensitive subject with aplomb and grace. I was impressed with how she clearly communicated the ugly tale of what happened to Isabelle, without going into any details .
If you enjoy redemptive stories and historical fiction, Rocky Mountain Redemption would be a great addition to your library.
Read my review of Rocky Mountain Redemption by Lisa J. Flickinger at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
This is the first book I’ve read by author Lisa Flickinger, and it’s a good one. Flickinger does a good job of describing the lumber camp and surrounding area. You’ll be able to smell the pine trees and hear the creek. It sounds beautiful. She also has written well-developed, imperfect characters whom you’ll come to love. Preach and Isabelle have much to overcome in their past, but their journey includes healing and forgiveness.
Flickinger tells a good story with good pacing. Isabelle’s story is painful and sometimes told a bit too descriptive for me, but it’s handled carefully and always with hope. Just be aware when reading that there is a difficult “female” situation.
All in all, I’d recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Set in the majestic Rocky Mountains, this story is one of innocence lost, pain and second chances. Young Isabelle finds herself as an assistant cook for a logging camp, after being dropped off in the middle of the night. Working with her Aunt Lou isn’t all bad, except she must not be seen by anyone else. So let your imagination go on how this story will continue…
I loved the various characters that became important in her world. Miss Sophie reminded me of the wonderful maiden aunt that has your back through everything. Preach is a man that has seen the seedier side of life and has realized that God is a God of second chances. Several other characters made me consider that strangulation might be justified. In all, a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
This digital copy was received through Wild Heart Books and CelebrateLit. The comments and impressions as my own and were in no way solicited.
Rocky Mountain Redemption was an interesting read for many reasons. I enjoyed the setting of being nestled among the pines of the logging camp. The land’s beauty was well recorded in the story and made the perfect backdrop for Isabelle’s recovery.
I also thought all the characters were wonderful and well-developed–right down to the most obnoxious lumberjack. I loved the atmosphere/community of the bunkhouse and all the antics that happened there, but I also loved how Aunt Lou was the one really in charge. No one messes with the lady in charge of the next meal!
I really loved the inspirational themes of this book, especially forgiveness. I thought Preach’s journey was an important one as we often get stuck on what we think God is doing in our lives and forget to actually ask what He wants us to do. Preach’s maturing faith is a lesson for us all.
Isabelle is a bit of a mystery in the beginning, and wanting to know her full story kept me turning pages past my bedtime. Although she is melancholy most of the time, we see glimpses of her inner strength/spirit as she begins to recover herself while working at the logging camp and befriending Preach. I loved how she faced her fears and stood up for herself and her future.
Overall, I enjoyed Isabelle and Preach’s story. It is one with much past heartache, but one of future hope.
Fans of historical fiction/historical romance will enjoy this story.
I was given a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.
I really liked this book. It was well written and the story line was a fresh one. Great author. Looking forward to the next one in the series.
Rocky Mountain Redemption by Lisa J.Flickinger is an intriguing look into the minds and hearts of the characters living in the Rocky Mountains. This book has 19 chapters and 171 pages in the Epub format.
I must confess,I love the book cover. I wanted to know the story of the girl on the book cover and I got more! This book did not disappoint my curiosity.
The writer is very descriptive. I could imagine along with the words on each pages. Throughout the time I spent reading this book,I travelled to the Rocky Mountains mentally without leaving my spot.
I love the meals prepared in the book. That part of the book called to me probably because I love cooking and baking. I was glad to see how descriptive and methodical the cooking processes were described.
There is a good amount of humour in the book especially among the men living in the bunkhouse. I enjoyed their hearty banters and teasing.
Some characters names were funny to me especially Preach and Snoop. I admire the fact that Preach took every matter no matter how big or small the size to God in prayer. He was described in the book in many ways and I was almost happy for Isabelle.
The writer is a good storyteller. This book is indeed a neat Christian fiction novel. The themes of love,forgiveness, redemption and kindness were well expressed in this book.
I love the happy ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It held my interest from start to finish. I found it to be a light, easy read, and I particularly enjoy the author’s descriptive narrative of each scene. I Will definitely be recommending this book to my friends and I now look forward to book #2….