Contemporary Fiction, Review

Jaded by Varina Denman

Beth Erin

Jaded by Varina DenmanTitle: Jaded
Author: Varina Denman
Genre: Drama
Publisher: David C. Cook
Series: Mended Hearts

Ruthie Turner resents the Christians in her small Texas town, but when she falls for the new preacher, she must release her bitterness…and learn to love. On the surface, nothing seems to change in this dull town-yet God always works beneath the surface.

Jaded is the rare novel that is a love story between both a woman and a man… and God and His church. Plunging deep into the waters of shame, forgiveness, and restoration, this book will resonate with every woman who’s experienced a loss of heart… and a thirst for hope.

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My Thoughts

(If you’re just after the meat and potatoes review, skip down to the next heading) When I sat down to read this book, I remembered back to when the second book in the series came out. Justified got great reviews from all my favorite book bloggers and I was eager to check out the Mended Hearts series. Fast forward to just a couple weeks ago when I picked up that beautiful never-been-read paperback, I dove into the pages ready for a new adventure.

Imagine my confusion as I began to recognize the story like an old friend. I came up with a few possible explanations, read the back cover and even some of the last pages before I decided to reach for the nearest electronic device to seek an answer. Well, here it is: while I had not yet read the lovely paperback Jaded, I DID read the Kindle Jaded last fall.

Now I have a very long list of books that I want to read and some of them I’ve even agreed to read and review within a certain time frame. Since I’ve already read Jaded, I could just skim over it to refresh my memory and crank out a fair review but that’s not what I did… I reread the whole book, every page, every line, no rushing. Just a nice long visit with an old friend.

Review

Oh, I am really glad I took the time to reread this book because I fell in love with it all over again! Ruthie Parker is sick to death of being judged by the church folks in her small hometown. All she wants is a one-way ticket straight out of Trapp, Texas. Ruthie has been hurting for so long that bitterness has taken root in her heart and skewed her perception.

Meanwhile, the new pastor and his family move into town and Ruthie catches a glimpse of something that draws her and terrifies her all at once. Jaded is a beautiful story of finding your first Love and a subtle reminder to look beyond the flawed people in order to see the church. Justified is book 2 in the series and I’ll review it next week!

I won this book in a giveaway on Soul Inspirationz. The opinions expressed are my own.
Soul Inspirationz // The Christian Fiction Site

About the Author

Varina DenmanVarina Denman is author of the Mended Hearts series and a native Texan. She spent her high school years in a rural town and now writes stories about the struggles women face in similar small town settings.

She and her husband live near Fort Worth, where they enjoy spending time with their five mostly-grown children.

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Giveaways

THREE opportunities to win Jilted, Book 3 in the Mended Hearts series.

June Jilted Giveaway on Faithfully BookishHosted by Faithfully Bookish

June’s Jilted Giveaway is open June 5-30. Winner will receive one paperback copy of Jilted by Varina Denman. Giveaway winner will be contacted via email and have 24 hours to respond with their US mailing address.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Hosted by Varina Denman

Varina's Sweet Summertime Giveaway

Hosted by Goodreads

Jilted by Varina Denman
ends July 13

In Trapp, TX, the carwash was a hang-out. In my hometown, kids congregated in front of the courthouse square. Any of you readers from a small town? Where did you spend time when there was nowhere to go?
UPDATE NEW: Varina’s Mended Hearts GIVEAWAY on Instagram

6 thoughts on “Jaded by Varina Denman”

    1. Hot dog! I will have to tack that link on here too! I love giveaways! Even if you don’t win, you’re still spreading the word about Christian fiction!

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  2. Oh, I forgot! In my hometown, we would hang out at the small city park. We would “cruise” from the park to the McDonald’s and back again. Over and over. Sounds boring, but we had SO much fun! 🙂

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    1. Our cruise route was from the square to the school and back, right up and down main street. Cruisers had to detour around school hours because they finally started parking a police officer in the turnaround to discourage the added traffic. Sometimes the crossing guard would stop traffic for those trying to turn into the school parking lot and make the cruisers sit.

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