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Persistent Love
Christian Romantic Suspense Novella set in 1685, England.
Fear has been Tara's constant companion since age nine when she witnessed her mother's murder. Tara's father moves his family to the ancient castle of Raven's Cliff, far from the ships that could carry her back to India and the answers she believes lie there. Andrew offers her friendship and guides her gently to the One who will give her peace. Will she find hope for something other than revenge?
Fear has been Tara's constant companion since age nine when she witnessed her mother's murder. Tara's father moves his family to the ancient castle of Raven's Cliff, far from the ships that could carry her back to India and the answers she believes lie there. Andrew offers her friendship and guides her gently to the One who will give her peace. Will she find hope for something other than revenge?
- GenresChristian Fiction
106 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2013
8 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 11, 2018
I can’t say enough about this book, when you read lines like this, “she stared up into his eyes as he touched her hand briefly and she turned around. Was this what was missing; that piece of herself that was lost? No, Tara felt their was something else. Andrew was exciting and kind but it was a need deeper than another person could fill.”. This amazing book will open you up to a place that many of us have experienced and many more will experience. To realize your fear has taken a place in your heart that should be reserved for faith, love and happiness. This book will bring you to a Vulnerable place where you know there is only one answer. Laura J Marshall has managed to create characters two in particulars Tara And Andrew that will have you so excited for their story as if you are walking their path with them. I highly recommend this book it was fantastic.
May 4, 2013
The best part of this tale were the characters, especially Tara and Andrew. Such a beautiful love story of two people who God kept bringing together. The Christian faith of the book enhanced the tale, making it more meaningful and depicting God and prayer as the answers to life's confusion. The mystery part of the plot kept me reading. I wanted to know what had happened to Tara's mother and who was after her. Overall, a lovely story for a couple hours time.
August 3, 2013
“Fear was like an enemy within her own camp, rearing up its head again and making her want to hide from the world.” (Chapter Three – Tara)
Tara Kerwood has been courted by fear since her childhood – with good reason. She witnessed unspeakable violence perpetrated against her family. Unable to recognize it in any way except as a distance from God in her spirit, Tara has become angry and bitter toward her circumstance and sets about to find a way to return India and seek justice for herself and her family.
God is already arranging the details of Tara’s life to provide the answers she is seeking. Lord Andrew Sharpton is introduced into her life when the family moves to Raven’s Cliff. From their first disastrous encounter to the moment Tara understands her relationship to God through her circumstances, Andrew and Tara enjoy a curious relationship of wary curiosity. As their relationship grows and changes, they are required to face more trauma than either of them is prepared for. It is this profound incident that prepares them both for the truth that ultimately comes to light at the end of the story.
This is a very well-written and intriguing story! In truth, it was hard to put down at times! I enjoy a story that overtly discusses faith, and Laura Marshal delivers a powerful message of truth and grace in Persistent Love! I enjoyed the characters as well as the suspense and danger that seemed to plague Tara’s life journey!
My only complaint is that the details revealed at the end of the story seemed a bit formulaic and predictable. The very last circumstance that Tara and Andrew must face (the truth they have been seeking) felt forced and a bit rushed. I would have been much more satisfied had the author fleshed it out a bit and written a full-length novel! I know she could do this with Persistent Love!!
I look forward to watching Laura Marshal grow in her writing career and can’t wait to read more of her work!
The Wordsmith Journal strives to guide readers to books of personal interest, with the understanding and respect that what appeals to some may not appeal to others. Therefore we attempt to keep our reviews focused on content, genre and style. The rating is necessary to make use of Goodreads and Amazon. It reflects the reviewer’s own level of enjoyment, but the review is intended to be informative for the benefit of all readers.
Tara Kerwood has been courted by fear since her childhood – with good reason. She witnessed unspeakable violence perpetrated against her family. Unable to recognize it in any way except as a distance from God in her spirit, Tara has become angry and bitter toward her circumstance and sets about to find a way to return India and seek justice for herself and her family.
God is already arranging the details of Tara’s life to provide the answers she is seeking. Lord Andrew Sharpton is introduced into her life when the family moves to Raven’s Cliff. From their first disastrous encounter to the moment Tara understands her relationship to God through her circumstances, Andrew and Tara enjoy a curious relationship of wary curiosity. As their relationship grows and changes, they are required to face more trauma than either of them is prepared for. It is this profound incident that prepares them both for the truth that ultimately comes to light at the end of the story.
This is a very well-written and intriguing story! In truth, it was hard to put down at times! I enjoy a story that overtly discusses faith, and Laura Marshal delivers a powerful message of truth and grace in Persistent Love! I enjoyed the characters as well as the suspense and danger that seemed to plague Tara’s life journey!
My only complaint is that the details revealed at the end of the story seemed a bit formulaic and predictable. The very last circumstance that Tara and Andrew must face (the truth they have been seeking) felt forced and a bit rushed. I would have been much more satisfied had the author fleshed it out a bit and written a full-length novel! I know she could do this with Persistent Love!!
I look forward to watching Laura Marshal grow in her writing career and can’t wait to read more of her work!
The Wordsmith Journal strives to guide readers to books of personal interest, with the understanding and respect that what appeals to some may not appeal to others. Therefore we attempt to keep our reviews focused on content, genre and style. The rating is necessary to make use of Goodreads and Amazon. It reflects the reviewer’s own level of enjoyment, but the review is intended to be informative for the benefit of all readers.
May 4, 2013
Persistent Love by Laura Marshall is a stunningly enchanting story of how each of us has to discover
God’s enduring and lavish love on our own. Persistent Love will touch the hidden parts of your heart
that you hold back from everyone else. The hope that springs up from the pages of this story will
envelope you and never let you go.
I read this book in one sitting because I couldn’t tear myself away from it. The mixture of innocence and
lose incessantly tugged on my heart strings. I had to know what would happen next, and then, of course,
I had to know how it all ended. The last scene was the most beautiful scene throughout the whole story,
in my opinion, because it rang of nothing but pure love and unabashed hope.
The effortless and flowing writing of Laura Marshall will instantly transport you to another time and
place without any effort. You will be introduced to some beautiful but flawed characters whose lives
mirror our own, and you will eagerly cheer them on and hope that they will come to see what is staring
them in the face. The two main characters Tara and Andrew stole my heart right away with their similar
heartaches and yet one of them was so utterly and completely unaware of that missing part of their life.
Persistent Love will wrap you in its tender, open arms and fill you to overflowing with its pure hope and
unconditional love. You won’t know how or when the transformation happened, but your heart will be
changed and you will find yourself a little more fulfilled and content then when you first started reading.
I would recommend Persistent Love to anyone who needs and wants to be shown that true, honest,
and unconditional love exists. While you may rationalize that this is only a story, I will confidently tell
you that all stories begin with an idea, and all good and pure and helpful ideas came straight from our
loving and wonderful Creator. I hope that you will allow the ever loving and always available God of the
Universe to sweep you up into His arms, so that He can love you back to life.
God’s enduring and lavish love on our own. Persistent Love will touch the hidden parts of your heart
that you hold back from everyone else. The hope that springs up from the pages of this story will
envelope you and never let you go.
I read this book in one sitting because I couldn’t tear myself away from it. The mixture of innocence and
lose incessantly tugged on my heart strings. I had to know what would happen next, and then, of course,
I had to know how it all ended. The last scene was the most beautiful scene throughout the whole story,
in my opinion, because it rang of nothing but pure love and unabashed hope.
The effortless and flowing writing of Laura Marshall will instantly transport you to another time and
place without any effort. You will be introduced to some beautiful but flawed characters whose lives
mirror our own, and you will eagerly cheer them on and hope that they will come to see what is staring
them in the face. The two main characters Tara and Andrew stole my heart right away with their similar
heartaches and yet one of them was so utterly and completely unaware of that missing part of their life.
Persistent Love will wrap you in its tender, open arms and fill you to overflowing with its pure hope and
unconditional love. You won’t know how or when the transformation happened, but your heart will be
changed and you will find yourself a little more fulfilled and content then when you first started reading.
I would recommend Persistent Love to anyone who needs and wants to be shown that true, honest,
and unconditional love exists. While you may rationalize that this is only a story, I will confidently tell
you that all stories begin with an idea, and all good and pure and helpful ideas came straight from our
loving and wonderful Creator. I hope that you will allow the ever loving and always available God of the
Universe to sweep you up into His arms, so that He can love you back to life.
May 4, 2013
I received this book from the author to review.
Tara Kenward witnessed her mother's murder in India. She is fairly young at the time.
The story moves forward to when she is 18. Richard, her father, inheirits Raven's Cliff castle. The morning after they arrive Lord Andrew Sharpton comes to invite the family to dine with his the next day at their home which is nearby. Tara says no, but her sister Rachel accepts. Friendships and more start here. There is an apparent attempted robbery that isn't quite what it seems.
Tara has always wanted to return to India to search for answers related to her mother's death, will she, will she need to?
Faith plays a part in the story in a way that feels comfortable to me. The plot advances quite quickly, but this is needed in a novella.
The book takes place in the 1600's, but is written in a way that even if you don't normally enjoy a historical setting you can enjoy the book. I can say this as I fall in to that catagory.
I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a mystery with a touch of romance.
Tara Kenward witnessed her mother's murder in India. She is fairly young at the time.
The story moves forward to when she is 18. Richard, her father, inheirits Raven's Cliff castle. The morning after they arrive Lord Andrew Sharpton comes to invite the family to dine with his the next day at their home which is nearby. Tara says no, but her sister Rachel accepts. Friendships and more start here. There is an apparent attempted robbery that isn't quite what it seems.
Tara has always wanted to return to India to search for answers related to her mother's death, will she, will she need to?
Faith plays a part in the story in a way that feels comfortable to me. The plot advances quite quickly, but this is needed in a novella.
The book takes place in the 1600's, but is written in a way that even if you don't normally enjoy a historical setting you can enjoy the book. I can say this as I fall in to that catagory.
I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a mystery with a touch of romance.
May 14, 2013
Persistent Love is a well written novella that captivates from the high intrigue of its opening thru the lovely future view of the characters in its epilogue. Ms Marshall kept the story moving at a steady pace. High adventure or homey family scenes, I appreciated the obvious care she took in using proper descriptive terminology for the castle and era. Lovely descriptions added to story details without overwhelming. Faith conflicts for our protagonist were relevant and resolved realistically.
Appreciated discovering this delivered today as an amazon Free selection. Thank you, Laura, for providing a lovely story that certainly shortened today's opthalmologist appointment!
3rd Book read for Bout of Books Read-a-Thon May 13-19.13
May 6, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is romance, but not too much. One of my favorite sections from the book: "She stared up into his eyes as he touched her hand briefly and she turned around. Was this what was missing; that piece of herself that was lost? No, Tara felt there was something else. Andrew was exciting and kind but it was a need deeper than another person could fill." My other favorite: "Love, not fear, was her constant companion and she was content." Good plot and the author's descriptions made you feel like you were there, seeing and feeling what the characters felt. I can't wait to read more from this author!
June 26, 2013
This story reminded me a lot of "Little Women" at times and "Sense and Sensibility" at times. It was an easy, lighthearted read that had just enough mystery to keep the reader in suspense. I love castles and keys. Add s stubborn, young, beautiful girl who's mad at God, and you've got yourself a great story. So many stories show the man being the one who doesn't have faith with the girl desperately trying to save him or at least get him saved. Not this one. From the moment I began reading this book, I was hooked. I had to know what really happened and why. If you like clean love stories with faith blended in, give this novella a read. It's perfect for an afternoon on the couch.
May 19, 2013
This was a wonderful story to read on a rainy afternoon. Her characters actually have character! Interesting story line.
July 19, 2013
This was a wonderful Christian romance with elements of suspense. It’s a quick and very enjoyable read that I would recommend to other romance junkies!
April 3, 2020
Adventurous yet deep thoughts and actions
Adventurous yet deep thoughts and actions highlight a young woman as
she steps forth into a new life... highlighting a new home in a desolate place called Raven's Cliff, a new tantalyzing and reflective thought pattern, a new relationship with a caring devout neighbor, a new closeness with God, and a new surprising twist to her lifelong wish to understand her mother's brutal death. I highly recommend!
Adventurous yet deep thoughts and actions highlight a young woman as
she steps forth into a new life... highlighting a new home in a desolate place called Raven's Cliff, a new tantalyzing and reflective thought pattern, a new relationship with a caring devout neighbor, a new closeness with God, and a new surprising twist to her lifelong wish to understand her mother's brutal death. I highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews