Katie GanshertRecensioni

I actually liked this story better than [b:Wildflowers from Winter|12600025|Wildflowers from Winter|Katie Ganshert|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333576749s/12600025.jpg|17615159]. This one had more humor and lightness, particularly from the beginning. There are serious subjects at the base of the book, but it's all handled beautifully. One thing I don't like that this author does is the flipping POV back and forth. The "flashback" chapters are told in first person. It's not particularly wrong; it just doesn't appeal to me.

My biggest problem with the book wasn’t a plot issue, but an editing issue. The author switches from a first-person prologue to third person story, then back to first person, then back to third yet again. It was very distracting and pulled me out of the story.

As for the story, I was going to keep reading regardless, because Bethany’s relationship with her grandfather reminded me of my adoration for my own late grandfather. There may have been tears involved.

Bethany has grown up with an image of God that was warped by a slimy, overly-pious preacher, and this has affected all her relationships. Even the positive relationship with her grandfather wasn’t enough to overcome her desire to distance herself from others.

Wildflowers from Winter is a sweet story of renewed friendships and new love, but lurking at the edge of the new-found happiness is Bethany’s battle for self-sufficiency — she is scared to rely on God or anyone else — which could end up costing her everything that really matters.

I liked the story well enough to want to read the second book in the series as soon as I can get my hands on it.

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Twists and turns, along with several "What just happened?" moments made this a story that I won't soon forget! The Fabrication of Eden Pruitt is geared toward young adults but this grandmother was swept away by the futuristic scenario filled with adventure, suspense, and romance. Author K.E. Ganshert has crafted a story that you don't want to miss and her cliffhanger left me yearning for the next book in the series. I recommend it to all fans of dystopian and science fiction novels.

I voluntarily accepted a digital copy of this book but there was no obligation for a favorable review. These are my thoughts.

The story starts out giving us a look into a day in the life of Eden and her parents moving to Iowa, leaving good friends, and starting new in her Senior year of high school.

Eden is adjusting, then one day she comes home to find their home has been ransacked. Where were her parents? She runs from the house; sensing someone was there. She had to get help. Once she shares her story with police, things start to unravel in the weirdest way. Eden can’t believe all this drama. Where is her cellphone? Why can’t she reach her parents by phone?

Then author has readers enter the Twilight Zone; Eden’s world has turned upside down. And inside out. I liked all the twists and turns that keep Eden and Casson (a new friend) on their toes, and me glued to my seat. I liked figuring out this puzzle with Eden and the unique setting that sets the tone for the book. The characters are believable and relatable, and the action, adventure takes you to a whole new dimension. That keeps you guessing.

Be warned this story ends abruptly, leaving readers hanging. Have no fear book two in the series titled, The Aberration of Eden Pruitt, release date is, September 13, 2022. Good news the book is now available for preorder. I look forward to reading the next book. It’s a wonderful summer read and fun escape.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher/. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

Wow, wow, wow. I became a fan of KE Ganshert's YA novels after reading The Contest but this new book brings YA, romance, and sci-fi to a whole new level. I loved the broader third person perspective from Eden and Cassian. The supporting cast was phenomenal and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each character. Eden's world is very similar to ours and feels comfortable and familiar enough, though more technologically advanced and recovering from a nuclear civil war. The plot is fast-paced, adrenaline-filled, and brimming with suspense as Eden tries to figure out why strange things are happening to her. The author will definitely have you guessing who's the good guy and who's the bad guy as the story unfolds with surprises upon surprises.

And Cassian..... you've got to love a brooding hero with a terribly tragic and ugly past, right? Especially when he's filled with regret and tries so hard to find redemption. Eden feels regret and self-recrimination, too, though she's less battle-scarred and more innocent. Their chemistry is combustible and their deep understanding of each other is one of a kind.

This is one of my favorite YA novels of 2022! If you enjoy dystopian YA books with incredible plot and characters, then this book is perfect for your next read. But it does end on a cliff-hanger.... but the sequel, rest assured, will release before the end of the year. I can't wait to see where Eden and Cassian are headed!

I received the book from the author and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

I loved this young adult fiction story that takes place in the future. I hope our future does not end up like this. I loved Eden and Cass. This starts so normal with Eden and her parents moving to Iowa at the start of her senior year. Then all hell breaks loose. There are many twists and turns that keep Eden and Cass on their toes. I love how they must figure out what Eden knows about what is happening. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Wow, what an incredible book! This is my first YA novel by K.E. Ganshert and I am totally blown away. The captivating writing style, unforgettable characters with depth, mind-blowing plot with twists and turns to make your stomach drop, a realistic yet fantastical backdrop, and powerful themes on forgiveness and surrendering make this book a must read for those who love fantasy adventure. This book needs to be made into a movie soon!

Briar and Leo, the two main characters, are lovable, noble, loyal, clever, and so cute together as they dodge mutants, zombies, betrayal, and fear of the unknown. The supporting cast is fantastic and quite diverse. The suspense is thick as "the contest" rolls out and secrets are divulged. Where this intricately woven plot takes you will leave you breathless and delightfully shocked as everything clicks into place at the end. You definitely don't want to miss this captivating, enchanting, and gripping YA fantasy.

I received the book from the author and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.

I really enjoyed this novel and give it 5-stars because of the story, the plot and the characters. It's a YA book and has all the excitement and coming of age that you'd expect in a good YA, laced with the fantasy and mystery of what is happening to Tess, Luka, Pete, and more. I was reminded of many themes in this book, like mental health, paranormal, religion, romance, the challenges of being a teenager, & family, and the story itself was very good, easy to read, with believable dialogue and a good ending that I won't spoil. Excellent writing style and I think this was a fantastic YA, coming of age, fantasy novel.

This book... Wow. Just wow. I loved it.

Having lived through a similar experience and something that I see and deal with almost every day, the topic of this book intrigued me. What happens when a affluent school is forced to deal with the loss of accreditation of a struggling and low-income minority school system. I've seen the forces at play so thought it would be interesting to read about from the points of few Ms. Ganshert introduces us too. I was also intrigued with how a White writer would tackle some of the subtle issue. I have to say I was pleasant surprised, I think Ms. Ganshert did an excellent job and some aspects resonated with me and I liked that she introduced these idea to an audience that probably doesn't deal with them on a daily basis. I wonder how many of her readers were like the O'Hare principal and had no idea who Emmett Till was. That idea is heartbreaking to me but I imagine many readers are learning about him for the first time. Her details regarding Tamir Rice were very well laid out and I appreciate reading about it from her point of view. I think this is a great book- a great story that is well thought-out. So much of it rang true and the characters are real ( not felt real, I feel like she did this characters almost perfectly) I could not put this book down and will definite recommend this books in every time a mom ask for a book recommendation in every single mom group I am in. This should be required reading.

I recivied a free copy of this book from NetGalley.

This was such a great read! I haven't read anything by Katie Ganshert before but this came highly recommended by some of my reading friends and it did not disappoint. It was such an engrossing novel that covered so many hard but important topics that anyone that lives in this country could relate to. She was able to portray the characters with such great detail that I could connect with them and really see things from their perspective. it was a story of challenges but also hope. There was tension that built over the course of the story and it kept me totally engaged. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley and WaterBrook Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Forgiveness isn’t a pardon for them, it’s freedom for you.”

WOW, just WOW. We read for many reasons: to escape, to learn, to understand. This book was so much more than I expected! You will feel every emotion reading this. You will be able to relate to the majority of the situations and characters. Well written and heart felt. Please make sure you read the powerful author’s note. This is my first 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 review of 2019.

This story is told by 3 voices. Camille, mom extraordinare, but at what cost? Jen, newly adoptive mom with attachment issues to a 7 yo African American child who has seen too much. Anaya, brand new teacher, who wants to make a difference, but not where she wanted or expected! A wealthy white school is being segregated with students from a failing black school, this maybe the main center of the story, but there is so much more to this book. This book is about racism, adoption, parenting, gun control, love, segregation, sexual harassment, health, disappointments, stereotypes, friendship but most of all Faith. Our mistakes should not define us, as long as we grow and learn from them.

After being turned down for this book a few months ago from NetGalley, I was happy to see it was being offered on Edelweiss. Thank you to Edelweiss and the author for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC. Opinion is my own.

Be the Change!

Wow! I am very surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! It was a real life look at how people deal with tragedies differently. And of course, there are plenty of twists and turns in here that makes everything you thought you knew, flip upside down. I think the characters were well developed and I enjoyed them all, except Vivan's mother, of course! It's definitely worth the read. There is a lot of religious and faith talk involved.

4.5 stars.

Life After by Katie Ganshert is a poignant yet ultimately uplifting novel of healing and new beginnings.

One year after surviving a train bombing that took the lives of the other twenty-two passengers on board,  Autumn Manning is struggling with survivor's guilt and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Unable to face taking public transportation, she now works from home only leaving her apartment when absolutely necessary. Despite being unable to remember the bombing or the events of the fateful day, Autumn suffers from horrible nightmares. Obsessed with trying to understand why her life was spared, her life eventually intersects with the family of one of the bombing victims.

While Autumn cannot let the tragedy go as she searches for answers, marriage counselor Paul Elliott's wife Vivian died in the attack and he wants nothing more than leave the past in the past. However, his twelve year old daughter Reese is haunted by her mother's death and she has turned to Autumn for help in coping with her loss. With Autumn and the Elliot family bound by tragedy, is there any way they can help each other heal the wounds from the heartbreaking events from that fateful day?

Autumn positively radiates pain and sorrow as she tries to make sense of why she lived when so many others lost their lives in a senseless act of violence. Hampered by her inability to remember the events of the day, she also cannot make sense of her complicated feelings toward her now ex-fiancé Seth Ryker. She is now facing serious financial repercussions from her decision to quit her lucrative career after she physically recovered from the wounds she sustained in the bombing. The recent one year anniversary of the deadly attack is an unexpected emotional setback and she finally gives in to her family's pleas to seek professional assistance. Autumn is stunned when Reese suddenly shows up on her doorstep, but it is coming face to face with Paul that deeply affects her.

Paul is hoping the one year anniversary of the bombing will finally be the turning point in his family's grieving process. He is growing increasingly concerned as Reese's behavior begins to deteriorate. His once loving daughter has turned into a stranger as she lashes out at him and her little brother Tate. But it is not until she runs away then begins shutting him out that Paul becomes truly worried about her. He has compelling reasons to try to put the death of his wife behind him but is his desire to move forward harming his daughter? Is Paul being unreasonable after he implores Autumn to stay away from his family?

Life After is a deeply affecting novel that is quite thought-provoking. The characters are beautifully developed with realistic imperfections and strengths that make them easy to relate to. There is a spiritual aspect to the storyline but it is quite understated and perfectly complements the other elements of the plot. Katie Ganshert broaches difficult subject matter in a sensitive manner and the topics will resonate with anyone who has ever questioned God's plans. This emotionally compelling novel delves into some tough issues without becoming overly dark or depressing and is ultimately quite gratifying. It is an absolutely heartwarming journey of healing that will linger in readers' hearts and minds long after the last page is turned.

4.5 stars. Wishing on Willows is a beautifully written novel with engaging and realistic characters. Katie Ganshert’s stories are heartfelt and full of emotion. Her characters’ journeys are often difficult but always true to life. I highly recommend her novels to anyone who enjoys thought-provoking,faith-based fiction. Please click HERE to read my review in its entirety.

Katie Ganshert’s debut novel Wildflowers from Winter is an emotional novel about grief, love and finding one’s way back to God. It is sometimes heartbreaking, but the overall message is incredibly uplifting. To read my review in its entirety, please click HERE.

Wow, what a book! This book held my attention all the way through and never let go. The pacing is fantastic, and it is written very well.

I did have a few problems though. I did not like the character of Anaya. If anyone was judgmental and racist in this book, it was her. She refused to help a girl on her track team get scouted all because the girl was white and rich. She didn't know her problems. However, she was happy to help a black girl get noticed. Anaya was a teacher, yet she paid more attention to the black kids in the class. Anaya seemed to lump all white people into one group and seemed to think all white people were privileged and horrible.

I did like the characters of Camille and Jen though. Poor Camille had so much happening to her, and Jen definitely had her hands full with a newly adopted daughter.

I will say that all of the characters were written well and realistic. I didn't like how the author always made some of the white people have physical flaws like how one lady was described as being able to tell she had been fat formally. Another white person had eyes that were too close together. I just felt that a lot of this book was racism against white people. Yes, I am aware the author is white. But I felt like this book was trying (but failing) to make me feel guilty about the color of my skin.

I did feel like the ending was a little predictable, but I'm glad that everyone did get over their fears although Anaya seemed to still be a bit prejudiced and racist.

It was nice that this book wasn't too preachy even though there are talks of God and scripture.

Even though I had a few gripes about this book, it was still an enjoyable book.

This was three delightful stories by three different authors and I loved them all.

In "A September Bride" by Kathryn Springer: (these descriptions of the stories were mainly taken from Amazon, who did a great job)

When Annie moves to Red Leaf, she’s ready to call the little town home, but Deputy Jesse Kent can’t believe his mother has handed the keys to her bookshop over to a woman she met on the internet. Jesse has seen his mother taken advantage of before, and he decides to keep a close eye on this Annie Price. But when a close eye turns into a historical wedding reenactment with Jesse and Annie as the couple, make-believe nuptials quickly give way to real-life emotions.

An October Bride by Katie Ganshert:

No one but Jake and Emma, who have always been just "good friends", know the true reason they’re getting married—so Emma’s dying father can walk her down the aisle. While Jake and Emma plan an autumn wedding together, it becomes clear that their agreement has a few complications—the biggest being their true feelings for each other.

A November Bride by Beth K. Vogt:

Having celebrated the big 3–0 by ending a relationship, Sadie is tired of romantic relationships-by-text. The only man she knows willing to put down his iPhone and have face-to-face conversations with her is Erik. It’s time to put a 21st-century twist on the Sadie Hawkins’ tradition of a woman going after her man. But when he realizes he’s fallen for her, can Erik convince Sadie his just-for-fun dates were the prelude to “’til death do us part”?

All three stories were different, but fun to read. They all had a lesson to learn when it comes to romance and when it comes to love. This is a keeper that I might just read again some time!½

I'm not a huge fan of Christian fiction in general, but often read the genre because it is a book club pick. Usually the transformative moment feels forced to me. I definitely felt that with a little bit with this one, but I really did enjoy the characters, particularly younger sister Gracie, whose storyline reminded me of Eleanor & Park. The troubled marriage storyline of older sister Carmen felt a little worn, but the dynamic between the two women was very nicely portrayed.

If you want a book that will challenge your attitudes, convictions, and, yes, secret prejudices, then you will want to read No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert. Inspired by the real life state takeover of a Missouri school district and the ensuing uproar that followed, Ganshert’s novel is full of characters that will touch your heart, make you angry, and perhaps cause you to reexamine your own choices and beliefs. I found this novel not only to be a well-written and thoughtful look at the hidden and not so hidden middle America, but one that offers hope and healing in the face of anger, fear, and broken relationships. This one is a highly recommended read.

There are three main characters in No One Ever Asked. Camille epitomizes the oh-so put together wife and mother whose smugness about her perfect life is brought down in humbling ways. Anaya is an eager young woman of color who wants to make a difference in her own community, but feels she has sold out to teach in a majority white school district. Jennifer is a struggling new mother to an adoptive daughter whose past trauma and current cultural challenges make Jennifer feel disconnected to her daughter. All three women are presented in a realistic way — there’s no sugar coating of their inner turmoil. In fact, I loved the revelation of their very private thoughts. None are perfect, and I found some of their struggles hit close to home. Amidst the angst, Ganshert gives the reader glimpses of hope, and healing comes in unexpected ways. At the end of the book, I felt I was leaving friends. Specific to the audiobook — the reader had a great sense of timing and gave each woman (and other characters) a distinctive voice, not only in accent, but in tone as well.

No One Ever Asked was a book that will make you stop and think. It is also one that demands discussion. Grab some friends and read this book together. The ensuing conversation may just lead to growth for you and your friends as well.

Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: adults.

(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Robin Price deals with trying to move on with her life, while still holding onto the memory of her late husband, for not only herself but also her three-year old son. When a stranger comes to town and threatens her café, her safe haven in a world of chaos, she fights to save it.

She also finds herself attracted to the tall dark handsome stranger, which she tries to fight these feelings. Ian McKay comes to Peaks, Iowa to save his family’s business. But in order to save the family business it would mean he would have to tear down the buildings along the riverfront to build condos, and one of those buildings just happens to be Robin’s cozy little café.

This book will keep you reading until you are done, it is an exciting read about love, faith and hope in a little town where a stranger comes in and rocks Robin and Ian’s world in a few different ways. This is a wonderful story, of loss, faith, hope and love, awesome book.

I received a free copy of this book for review from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, for my honest unbiased opinion.

I am blown away.

I think this may be my favorite book of 2017.

I saw this on my sister-in-law's bookshelf, picked it up, read the prologue, and was immediately hooked. As soon as I got home, I grabbed it from my library, and couldn't wait to dig in. This is the first novel I have read by Katie Ganshert, and will most certainly not be the last. She has an unforgettable writing style, and writes just as unforgettable characters. This is the kind of book that leaves you clutching it to your chest, not wanting to let the story go.

Firstly, it's rather interesting to note that this book is basically futuristic - published in April 2017, it is actually set in April - July 2017. So, the author was writing about events that would "happen" (It's still fiction) in a matter of months. I've never read a book set in the near future like this, so it was kind of mind-blowing.

Secondly, characters. Oh. My. Goodness. Such heart, beauty, and raw honesty wrapped up in a book character like this I have not seen before. Autumn was the perfect character - not that she *was* perfect, but that she was a flawed human being trying to cope in the aftermath of a tragic accident, and trying to move past her own issues and make an impact in others' lives. Paul was an equally perfect character; I just love everything about him. I loved the fatherdaughter story line with him and his daughter, Reese. So, so sweet. Reese's character arc was also fantastically done. And Tate was just plain adorable. I have never experienced such a tragic event as these characters did, but I found my self empathizing and relating to them nonetheless, which speaks well to the author's writing ability. Characters make or break a story for me. And Ganshert nailed them.

As previously mentioned, Ganshert's writing style is unforgettable, and stunningly beautiful. Poetic and elegant, yet simple and heartfelt. It was what drew me to read the book in the first place. If you took out the amazing characters, and the original story line, (not to mention the gorgeous cover!), I would still read more of this author's works.

The story was arresting and original, and very thought-provoking. The way Ganshert revealed bits and pieces of the plot slowly, all down the last chapters was lovely and intriguing, and not at all frustrating, as it can often be. The theme of beauty from ashes was phenomenal, as was using the symbol of a phoenix. The sweet and subtle romance woven ever-so-gently throughout was just delightful. I absolutely loved it.

All in all, this is a book I highly enjoyed, and would give 10 stars, if I could. I will definitely be re-reading this in the future, and checking out more of this marvelous author's works.

CONTENT NOTE: Due to rather adult themes, I would recommend this for ages 16 . The crux of the story has to do with a bombing on a train, during which 22 lives were lost. This book deals somewhat heavily with loss, and grieving loved ones. Also, infidelity and adultery are semi-main themes, but handled in a very tactful and non-graphic way.

Wow . . . Just wow. Ganshert pens yet another emotionally moving, grippingly-real story. I can honestly say I have never read another book quite like No One Ever Asked.

Split between the point of views of three different women in vastly different worlds, this book kept me engrossed in the story throughout every page. Each character is so incredibly realistic you can't help but empathize with and relate to them. I think Jen's storyline was probably my favorite, as adoption is a subject very close to my heart, but I also very much enjoyed Anaya's and Camille's stories.

Ganshert deals with a very real and touchy subject - racism. And while she definitely doesn't shy away from the nitty-gritty details, she handles them with incredible tact and grace without downplaying or excusing them. This book is far from painless, yet I am incredibly glad I read it. It opened my eyes to so much and gave me an even greater understanding of racism and the other issues touched upon in this book.

All in all, No One Ever Asked is an incredible novel to add to your library. Highly recommended!

CONTENT NOTE: Recommended for ages 18 due to mature themes, such as racism and violence pertaining to racism, mentions of intimacy, divorce, and drugs. Plus very emotion-heavy details on adoption and racism.

That ending! *wipes away tears* This was a beautiful story, but there were a few things that bugged me about it.

Once again, I was swept away by Ganshert's beautiful writing style. Just so beautiful! If I wrote books, this would be my writing style. It alone entices me to read the book, regardless of whether I find the story or characters interesting.

The characters were . . . interesting. This book was actually rather unusual in the regard that throughout much of the book, you didn't really *like* the MCs. Robin was rude, unkind, and stubborn, and Ian was cocky, annoying, and also stubborn. Yes, they had their redeeming qualities, but overall throughout much of the book, I really didn't like them. By the end of the book though, I really liked them and was very attached to them. Robin's son, in particular, was a fantastic character. Ganshert knows how to write child characters! They are so realistic in their words and actions.

The storyline over all bugged me in certain places, as I felt we were spinning circles. By the time I got to about 23 of the way through, my interest was completely captured, and I couldn't put it down! The last section was definitely the best, and I may or may not have cried in the last few chapters.

Not my new favorites books, but I definitely enjoyed it! Recommened for ages 16 for mild romance, grief, very brief and not described mentions of sex, (basically just the use of the word) and trying to get pregnant.

DNF

Wasn't totally comfortable with some of the content and crudeness. And the MC was driving me crazy. This was probably still a good book, just not for me. :)