About the Book
Book: Road to Freedom
Author: Cheri Swalwell
Genre: Christian Woman’s Contemporary Fiction
Release date: October 5, 2021
Sometimes silence speaks louder than words.
Wynn and her best friend Addie have been inseparable since kindergarten. Growing up together in the same community, they shared activities, friends, and even the same job. But behind closed doors, their lives couldn’t be more different.
Zane has loved Wynn for four years. Yet Wynn is adamant she doesn’t need a boyfriend. After all, she will never get married. Ever. In an effort to uncover the why behind her ‘no,’ Zane discovers more than he expected.
When Wynn unlatches the door and allows Holly in as a mentor, will she learn trust is just like riding a bike and find the healing she so desperately needs?
Road to Freedom, Book 4 in The Redemption of Green Pines series continues to disclose the messiness of real life. Join Wynn and her friends as they discover how an encounter with God can bring freedom from fear, healing from pain, and the joy of belonging when we choose to let others into our lives, even, or especially, the messy parts.
Click here to get your copy!
My Review
This novel is a very graphic picture of growing up in a legalistic church and family situation. It is the kind of situation where appearance is all that matters, where a person can appear so spiritual on the outside but be disgusting on the inside. It is a church where the rules are clearly spelled out and everyone knows their place, especially women.
The plot centers around finding a true and freeing relationship with Jesus. The struggles in leaving the toxic atmosphere of legalism are graphically displayed. How hard it is to accept unconditional love and to know real forgiveness and to believe in a loving heavenly Father.
Swalwell crafted some characters in the extreme so they almost become caricatures. Wynn's father is so disgusting, inside and out, it was almost too much. And in describing the church Wynn grew up in , the atmosphere was somber and it seemed like everyone was scowling. Some of Wynn's reactions to Zane seemed a bit overly dramatic too.
This is a good novel exploring the struggles of coming out of a toxic religious atmosphere and finding a real relationship with the Savior.
My rating: 4/5 stars.
About the Author
Cheri Swalwell is a Christ follower who thoroughly enjoys her calling to be a wife, mother, writer and speaker, in that order. Cheri loves to encourage people through her fiction series and many nonfiction books including devotionals, Bible studies, and compilation books. For a full list of books visit www.cheriswalwell.com. If you want to sign up to her newsletter to stay updated on all the latest news, you will also receive a free gift as her way of saying thanks for joining! To read one of her many articles on life from a Christian perspective, visit her blog at www.cheriswalwell.com. She loves to interact with her readers, so send her an email at clSwalwell99@gmail.com. You can “like” her on Facebook as well here or join Heart Speaks with Cheri Swalwell, a private Facebook group where we encourage each other and share life together.
More from Cheri
The Redemption of Green Pines is a series about community. We first meet Wynn and her friends in Journey Back Home when they attended youth group. While Pastor Jace and Holly remain a constant presence throughout all six books, Road to Freedom takes us deeper into the lives of four friends – Wynn, Addie, Zane and Owen, who graduated from youth group and began working for Holly’s catering business. They also babysit the Cooper kids from time to time and have become part of the family.
Since the beginning when we were introduced to Wynn, she carried around a secret she wouldn’t share with anyone, not even her best friend. Road to Freedom is Wynn’s journey of truly discovering who she is as a Daughter of the King, and learning how good it feels to live in freedom instead of burdened by other’s choices.
I hope you enjoy getting to know Wynn and her friends as much as I have!
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 11
Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, November 12
Texas Book-aholic, November 13
Inklings and notions, November 14
CarpeDiem, November 15
For Him and My Family, November 15
deb's Book Review, November 16
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 17
Pause for Tales, November 18
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, November 18
Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting, November 19
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 20
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, November 21
The Meanderings of a Bookworm, November 22
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 23
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 24
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.
(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)
8 comments:
Thank you for the review, sounds good.
Awesome review! Thanks for sharing!
Looks like a great read.
Marion
Congratulations on your release of Road to Freedom! Your book sounds like a great book! Thanks for sharing it with me and good luck with your book and the tour! Have a magical holiday season!
This sounds like it touches on some important issues.
Thank you for sharing your review of this book, this sounds like an emotionally difficult but worthwhile read
Friendships that last that long can't be replicated!
Thank you so much, Joan, for reading Road to Freedom. It was a tough book to write as well.
Blessings,
Cheri Swalwell
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