By Julie Arduini
Paperback: 320 pages
Published by Write Integrity
Nov. 5, 2014
Back cover:
Jenna Anderson, sassy city-girl, plows—literally—into Speculator Falls with a busted GPS, arriving in town as the new senior center director. She has only one goal—that of belonging no matter how out of place she appears and how angry she makes town councilman and grocer Ben Regan.
Her new life is so rural there are no traffic lights, and when she learns her car isn’t equipped to handle the mountain terrain, Ben’s grandmother offers her late husband’s vehicle, further alienating the local businessman.
As she endears herself to the seniors at the center and creates a vision full of ideas, programs, and equipment, she ruffles Ben’s plans to keep Speculator Falls void of change, including the store his grandfather built.
The two work through community events and shared heartbreak only to face off in a town council meeting where Ben publically rejects her proposal for the senior center, causing Jenna to react out of her fears about belonging.
She returns to Ohio where she realizes she needs to surrender her plans for the center and fears about belonging and trust her Heavenly Father when facing fear, change, loss, and love.
Her new life is so rural there are no traffic lights, and when she learns her car isn’t equipped to handle the mountain terrain, Ben’s grandmother offers her late husband’s vehicle, further alienating the local businessman.
As she endears herself to the seniors at the center and creates a vision full of ideas, programs, and equipment, she ruffles Ben’s plans to keep Speculator Falls void of change, including the store his grandfather built.
The two work through community events and shared heartbreak only to face off in a town council meeting where Ben publically rejects her proposal for the senior center, causing Jenna to react out of her fears about belonging.
She returns to Ohio where she realizes she needs to surrender her plans for the center and fears about belonging and trust her Heavenly Father when facing fear, change, loss, and love.
Review:
As I read Entrusted by Julie Arduini I could easily envision the small town of Spectacular Falls. In the first scene, I had such detailed images of the forested, winding road Jenna barreled down. Julie’s voice was fun and spunky, and as a result, I tended to see Jenna in the same way. She seemed truly out of her element in the close knit community she tried to embrace, and I felt her loneliness during her transition time authentic. I also enjoyed learning about what might go on in a senior center, and I found Howard delightful. I especially enjoyed how Jenna interacted with him, gracefully helping to soften his rather grumpy side.
Julie Arduini has a witty voice with a gift for visual description. I have a feeling we all know of a place like Spectacular Falls, filled with community, great food, and, perhaps, a few town members with a stubborn resistance to change. If you enjoy light-hearted novels with small town settings, I encourage you to try Entrusted.
Reviewed by: Jennifer Slattery
Thank you so much for the review! I really appreciate it. Happy reading to all.
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