Star Rising: A Coastal Hearts Novel

By: Janet W. Ferguson

Narrated by: Connie Shabshab

Star Youngblood has always been a fighter - a necessity after her mother married a monster of a man. Now, she’s finally on the path to the stable life she’s always wanted. Her employer, Priscilla Kelly, is a sweet woman ravaged by rheumatoid arthritis, and Star will do anything to help her. Even if that means going toe to toe with Mrs. Kelly’s neglectful son.

After being betrayed on the mission field and devastated by the tragic death of his father, Paul Kelly gave up on God. He lives life on his own terms, biding his time as a corporate pilot until he can save enough money to begin his own flight school closer to home. His mother is all he has left, and he wants to be near her. He just didn’t expect her health to decline so quickly. When he discovers his mother has taken in a stray - a woman he’s not at all sure can be trusted - his protective instincts kick into high gear. Paul’s handled a lot of turbulence, but he’s never gone up against a force like Star.

As Paul and Star strive to protect his mother in their own ways, they soon find their own hearts are at the greatest risk.

©2020 Janet W. Ferguson (P)2020 Janet W. Ferguson

Wonderful

Very inspirational story. Makes you think about the real meaning of life. enjoyed the characters and the Ireland trip very much. I was given a free copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

A soul feast!

A soul feast!
If I had to use one word to describe it, it would be: Incredible.
This is another Coastal Hearts Novel from an exceptional storyteller.

Great romance with a strong Christian emphasis

Star Youngblood just received her one year sober chip and is preparing to move out of Reclaimed, the Christian addiction ministry which helped turn her life around. Although she has a job helping elderly Mrs. Kelly, she's also looking for something more permanent, though her choices are limited as a high school drop-out with addiction in her past.

Paul Kelly has worked hard to become a private pilot for his European boss. He's saving for the day he can return to the States and help his mom in her retirement. When his mom suffers a health crisis and Paul receives an anxious and accusing phone call from her assistant, he can't wait to give the woman a piece of his mind.

Though Star and Paul don't like each other, their shared concern over Mrs. Kelly binds them together. He can't wait to find other arrangements for his mom's care, and he's tired of hearing Star's Bible talk. He had enough of that during his years as a missionary in Africa, and after the way his tenure on the field ended, he has no use for God or religion.

There were many things I enjoyed about this story. The characters feel real, they tackle deep issues, and there are laugh-out-loud moments. Janet W. Ferguson weaves an adventure that also has a strong faith focus. I appreciated how much Scripture was in this novel. Some readers might call it preachy, but I'm a Christian who does try to live her life by the guidance of the Bible, and I thought it was really great to see that here in this book.

This was my first time reading this author, but it won't be the last. I look forward to more of her works in the future!