Two reviews for the price of one today! Enjoy 🙂

Lu. (Modern Faith #1)

Synopsis:~

This novel is unexpected and revelatory, an example of what Christian fiction can be and do – Bookworlder

In a debut novel readers are calling “true to life,” “captivating,” and “cleverly written,” author Beth Troy takes on the story of Lu Sokolowski and her life upended. Lu’s plans have turned sideways, taking her back to the family and town she always planned to leave.

Lu is a modern woman’s honest journey to faith, that unapologetically addresses:

• The big questions women ask about their beliefs.
  
• The struggles women face in creating a fulfilling life.
  
• The complexity of family relationships.
  
• The tension between hope and reality.
  

Lu. by Beth Troy is one of the best debut novels I’ve ever read. In turns witty and sincere, snarky and heartfelt, it is a study in brokenness and redemption. – Reading is my SuperPower

Lu is a story for readers looking for real growth in relatable characters who aren’t afraid to ask real questions. It’s for women who want to experience the full spectrum of who they are and what they believe. It’s for women who want a story about how faith integrates into the whole life of a woman. You will want to share this story with a friend – after you read it again yourself.

My take:~

Who would have thought a debut novelist could write like a seasoned author? And it’s not simply Beth Troy’s talent with words and characterisation, but that she has the courage to write a story that is powerful, authentic, and bucks the trend of glossing over the modern day challenges of the Christian walk, and the gut-wrenching, mistake-riddled journey it takes for many of us to step into faith and then grow into the person God has called us to be.

Lu’s journey is captivating from beginning to end, as she seeks to understand what redemption means in light of the sacrifice of Jesus. Jackson – a pastor whose marriage has failed – teaches on the page, in a way that shouldn’t work in a novel, but it does so exceptionally well, to the extent I was heading to my Bible and mulling over familiar passages with fresh eyes.

A harsh eye might only see the occasional use of language and an inferred intimate scene as Lu grasps for acceptance in the one way she thinks she can, but it would be a shame to miss the inspiring power of this story and the grace that God extends to us all laid bare by this talented writer for that reason.

My only word of warning…be sure to have the sequel, Louisa, on hand before beginning Lu.. Don’t grumble at me as Lu. ends if you don’t!

Louisa (Modern Faith #2)

What happens after salvation – when you’ve changed, but others don’t see it? Author Beth Troy addresses this question from the first page, which finds Lu Sokolowski – the engaging and relatable heroine from Troy’s redemptive debut novel, Lu – back in her hometown with her expectations of a new life, dashed.

Lu has returned to Dunlap’s Creek with a hope to stay, but she struggles to right the wrongs she’d left behind, build a career outside of writing, and move on from the man who has moved on from her.

Louisa is a modern faith story of life after salvation that openly explores:

• The disconnect between who we are and how others perceive us
• The struggle in speaking up for our beliefs
• The question of when to let go and when to fight
• The journey in claiming a new identity
  

In turns captivating and pointed, Louisa is a novel of a woman coming into the fullness of life God has for her. It’s for women who have experienced this for themselves and for women who doubt whether such a life exists. It’s for women who understand that a life of faith isn’t without struggle or mistakes. Louisa is about restoration – in its grit and glory.

My take:~

Real faith. Real struggle. Real life.

Louisa is the must read sequel to the forthright and raw journey of Lu Sololowski who captivated me in Lu.. Unlike many novels that populate the Christian fiction market, this series exposes the authentic struggle of a woman wrestling over the existence of God, and the implications for her as she comes to believe and tries to seek meaning and belonging in world that chafes like an ill-fitting suit.

I was fortunate to read Lu. and Louisa back to back. In fact, as I turned the last page of Lu., I immediately opened Louisa because her faith and personal journey was so compelling. I devoured both stories within 48 hours and have been pondering every aspect of them since.

Troy kicks down a few barricades in both her writing style and content, and the story is better for it. Lu is flawed, frustrated, and her voice unceasingly honest. We will recognise ourselves in Lu, John, Nana Bea, Gracie, Roddy, and Jackson – in their kindness and selfishness, their compassion and ignorance, their generosity and defensiveness. As Lu’s people – her family, friends, former lover, and even the man she hopes for – respond to her new found faith in unexpected ways, another layer of believe-ability and heartfelt meaning are added to the tale.

Redemption stories are often constructed to a formula, straight lines from sinner to redeemed. Like every believer’s journey, Lu’s path to redemption is littered with pot-holes, setbacks, and moments of unbelief that require arm-wrestling what we think she thinks she knows of God, the circumstances she finds herself in, and what He reveals to her through His word.

And I haven’t even addressed the wit and charm of the dialogue, internal contemplation, and the added interest of some chapters in Jackson’s point of view.

Beth Troy has penned a mesmerising love story, an authentic spiritual awakening, and a compassionate and profound journey of one woman’s search for belonging and purpose that is unmissable.

With thanks to the publisher and Just Read Publicity for my digital review copies. My opinions remain my own.

Beth Troy is an American writer and educator who teaches courses in Creativity & Innovation and Women & Entrepreneurship at Miami University.

When not teaching, she spends her time writing. Her first novel is Lu, a sequel to which is being released in Summer 2020. She writes what she believes and asks questions that aim to spark debate and positive changes in her readers.

Beth lives in Ohio with her husband and three sons.

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Visit Beth’s website and blog
Buy at Amazon: Lu. and Louisa