Just a Closer Walk Book Review

I've never done a blog tour before but I certainly know the author who is credited with getting this sci-fi nut into historical fiction and quite enjoying it. I had already read several of Faith Blum's books so I was eager to get into this one

If you have read any mail order bride stories, you've probably noticed that even though the bride and groom never met each other, they are both genuinely good people. It's a rare story that has a scam or a truly bad person either write or respond to the mail order bride advertisement. Faith Blum took that rare theme and wrote three novellas about five young ladies duped into becoming mail order brides only to find out the men they were supposed to marry weren't what they had appeared in the letters. The first of those novellas just released on June 26th and Faith is here today to share a little about it.

About the Book

I am weak, but Thou art strong/Jesus, keep me from all wrong/I’ll be satisfied as long/As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Katie and Joanna meet on a train headed to Cheyenne, Wyoming. They start talking and find out they are both headed there to become mail order brides. They quickly become good friends. When they get on a stagecoach with three other young women, Katie becomes suspicious. What is going to happen to them? Or is it really possible that nothing untoward is happening?

Buy on Amazon

The Review

From our modern day perspective, the idea of a mail order bride is shocking to say the least. But in true authentic pioneer western culture, this was regularly done and one would assume it just can't go well. All kinds of things fly around ones mind when thinking of such an idea. Do things work out to plan? Certainly not. We are taken on a journey of expectation, fear, surprise and even an element of peril with 5 ladies who are certainly out of their element but rose to the challenge and we are given a lesson in faith and forgiveness as well as the stark reality of the lifestyles, attitudes and culture that was the American West.  Faith Blum weaves this story and it is clear she has researched the time period, even using at least one period term that I wasn't quite sure about but got the idea from context. It isn't a specifically Christian or religious story but it is clear the characters did have faith as was far more common in those days and it got them through their situation. If this is your first introduction to Faith Blum and her work then this is ideal as it is a short but accurate introduction to her work and style. If you're already a fan, this is certainly on par with the rest of her works and should be added to the rest of her collection, which I'm sure you already have

About the Author

Faith Blum started writing at an early age. She started even before she could read! She even thought she could write better than Dr. Seuss. Now that she has grown up a little more, she knows she will probably never reach the success of Dr. Seuss, but that doesn’t stop her from trying.
When she isn’t writing, Faith enjoys doing many right-brained activities such as reading, crafting, playing piano, and playing games with her family. One of her dreams is to visit Castle City, Montana, to see the ghost town she chose for her characters to live in. She currently lives on a hobby farm with her family in Wisconsin.

Website | Writing Blog | Bookish Orchestrations Blog | Facebook  | Pinterest  | Twitter | Amazon

Giveaway

Faith is doing an amazing giveaway! She’s giving away a paperback of the novel that inspired Just a Closer Walk PLUS a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card. There are multiple ways to enter the giveaway. Once you have completed one of them, go to Faith’s Blog and make a comment saying what you’ve done.

1. Sign up for my New Releases Newsletter (you’ll get a free eBook, too!).

2. Pin the giveaway picture on Pinterest.

3. Tweet about the giveaway (there will be a tweet about the giveaway pinned to my twitter feed if you would like to retweet that. Otherwise, make your own tweet and tag me in it: @Faith_Blum)

4. Visit and/or Like Faith Blum on Facebook.

5. Follow Faith on Twitter.

6. Share the giveaway in some other creative way.

Tour Schedule

June 27
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections-Tour intro
Rebekah Lyn Books-Book Review

June 28
Rachel Rossano's Words-Book Spotlight
Lesa Mckee-Author Interview