“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour.” – Ephesians 4:28
When Carsten Whitford is arrested for a robbery he didn’t commit, he struggles to clear his name that’s already stained by his father’s arrest from four years ago. Carsten is the sole supporter of his mother and he works the farm he has lived on his whole life.
The day after his arrest, Carsten’s mentor gets him released until the trial. Carsten and his three friends work together to prove he didn’t rob the store since no one, especially the town marshal, seems interested in finding out who is truly guilty. The townspeople assume he is guilty because of his father’s past, including the girl Carsten wants to court.
Will Carsten and his friends find out who truly robbed the store or will they find something more sinister that could even lead to their own deaths?
Erin Hylands –
DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I especially loved Carsten’s character arc. I would have loved to have understood more of Carsten’s internal dialogue (as I prefer characters that I know their thoughts) but that could be just Blum’s writing style.
For someone who hasn’t read any of Blum’s books before, Be Still, My Soul is a great book to start with!
Katja Labonté –
3.5 stars (4/10 hearts). I’m always down for a mystery, so you know I had to get my hands on this book. I particularly like the twist of having a former thief having to prove his innocence by discovering the mystery, and especially how his friends help him do it. The friendship group in here is great. The writing style also struck me as a bit weak, but I enjoyed the characters and plot. Carsten was a nice fellow who learned some good lessons—it’s not often you get former thieves as MCs, and I liked watching him live out Ephesians 4:28. And as I mentioned, his friends were also pretty awesome. So was his Ma. 😉
I’m a fan of interconnecting storylines, so I enjoyed following the Ranger’s side of things and seeing his work with such wildly different cases as the investigation of a long-long relative and the kidnapping of a schoolchild. I did struggle some with the way the mystery was solved—there was some assumptions accepted as fact pretty quick, and I felt like some of the connecting dots were missing. But I enjoyed seeing it out! And the villain(s) were a surprise. I would have liked to see more of the title hymn, but overall, it was a fun read and I will be looking out for the next book in the series.
A Favourite Quote: He needed to pray. God had gotten him through the last couple weeks, and He could get him through this, too.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: He stood and headed for the door. Three sets of footsteps followed him, and he turned. “Guys! I’ll be fine. You can stop hovering over me.”
“Sorry,” Kit said. “You’re hurt worse than we are. And we’re concerned.”
“I know. I’ll take it easy for a few days.”
“Weeks,” Amos interrupted.
Carsten clenched his teeth. “I’ll try.”
“And you’ll tell us when you need help?” Edmund asked.
“Of course. Don’t I always?”
“No,” Carsten’s friends said in unison.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
Brian –
I loved this book! Faith wove an enchanting tale and pulled me in immediately. The imagery, the dialogue, the authenticity of the characters- all so good! I took the book on a long family vacation, and it became a part of those treasured memories. Definitely recommend!
Emily Moser –
Be Still, My Soul was the first book I have read written by Faith Blum, and it will not be the last. Though westerns are not my primary genre, I have read a few the last month and I have thoroughly enjoyed them. It contained just enough mystery to keep me on my toes. It was well written and kept the reader engaged.
The character development was great. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the heart change in Carsten as he grew up with a thieving outlaw father and was taught to do the same. But seeing his heart change and the effort he was putting forth helping others was heartwarming. His relationship with God was so encouraging and beautiful. Seeing him grow closer to God and depend on Him when things were hard was encouraging. The reminder that not everyone is who they seem to be, and judging someone from outwards appearance isn’t right.
The historical aspect was light, which was fine. It did not take away from the story. The setting was great. I could picture the rangers riding across the frontier. The mystery aspect was spot on. The twist and turns as Carsten tried to figure out who is framing him and why things are off at the print shop. The end result is surprising.
I thoroughly appreciated Faith Blum’s intertwining God and scripture throughout the whole book. I am always on the lookout for a meaty Christian fiction, and Be Still, My Soul did not disappoint. It encouraged me in my own relationship with God.
I was given an audio book to review. So as far as the audio portion goes the reading was a little dull. I would probably only give the audiobook 3/5 stars. I typically listen to a lot of audiobooks. This felt like it might have been the readers first read. It was a little stiff and took a bit to get into. If the story was not good, I might have had to stop listening. It put me to sleep when I was trying to listen right before bed time.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.