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abitterknitter's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Juliet is an idiot.
pattyfgd's review
5.0
Juliet's Journey to Love
Great Smoky Mountain Getaways, Book 1
By: Elsie Davis
Narrated by: Rachel Butler
You never know where life will take you. That is why Juliet has decided to try and get a handle on hers, taking a hiking expedition on the Appalachian Trail. Here she is hoping to figure out her life and strengthen her faith. But when she falls sick, she is taken off the trail, and finds out just how unpredictable life can be. Jake is taking care of Juliet while she is sick. He keeps to himself, and is carrying a burden on he can work through. As Juliet gains her strength back though, Jake falls sick and she stays to nurse him back to health. There is an attraction between the two, but there is distance between them that surely will keep them apart. Jake's guilt doesn't him do much of anything and Juliet has made it her mission for him to search his faith and give it all to God. Will he be able to forgive himself for the past? Will Juliet be staying in the Smokey Mountains? And where does it all fall? This is a sweet and detailed story, packed with good love and messages. Elsie Davis knows how to capture my attention and clear my brain, focusing on a good story. This first installment of her Smokey Mountain Getaways is the perfect listen for me, enjoying a realistic situation and falling in love while solving it!
Rachel Butler reads this story to us, and her voice is exactly the how I would imagine these people would sound. Each voice is separate and concise, with all the feelings to make the scene realistic. I enjoy her variety and the sounds she picks for each character. She makes the listen enjoyable.
Great Smoky Mountain Getaways, Book 1
By: Elsie Davis
Narrated by: Rachel Butler
You never know where life will take you. That is why Juliet has decided to try and get a handle on hers, taking a hiking expedition on the Appalachian Trail. Here she is hoping to figure out her life and strengthen her faith. But when she falls sick, she is taken off the trail, and finds out just how unpredictable life can be. Jake is taking care of Juliet while she is sick. He keeps to himself, and is carrying a burden on he can work through. As Juliet gains her strength back though, Jake falls sick and she stays to nurse him back to health. There is an attraction between the two, but there is distance between them that surely will keep them apart. Jake's guilt doesn't him do much of anything and Juliet has made it her mission for him to search his faith and give it all to God. Will he be able to forgive himself for the past? Will Juliet be staying in the Smokey Mountains? And where does it all fall? This is a sweet and detailed story, packed with good love and messages. Elsie Davis knows how to capture my attention and clear my brain, focusing on a good story. This first installment of her Smokey Mountain Getaways is the perfect listen for me, enjoying a realistic situation and falling in love while solving it!
Rachel Butler reads this story to us, and her voice is exactly the how I would imagine these people would sound. Each voice is separate and concise, with all the feelings to make the scene realistic. I enjoy her variety and the sounds she picks for each character. She makes the listen enjoyable.
jasmyn9's review
4.0
At first, you might not think that Juliet and Jake have much in common. The grumpy mountain man that lives all alone and the sociable nurse looking to find a home and a family don’t sound too much alike. But this is truly a case where two people find that they are exactly what each other needs – even if they didn’t know it’s what they were looking for.
Juliet is a huge caretaker, and she struggles to accept the fact that she may need care when she falls sick on the trail. While she and Jake take turns caring for each other, they bump heads and build grudging respect for each other. This forms the basis for their relationship, but they both have a lot of caring to do for themselves as well.
Throughout the whole story, God’s hand can be felt gently guiding Juliet and Jake towards each other and back to his light. His hand was lightly seen, but definitely there. Juliet and Jake’s friends and community may have had a little something to do with it as well. I hope I get a chance to come back and visit as the series continues.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Juliet is a huge caretaker, and she struggles to accept the fact that she may need care when she falls sick on the trail. While she and Jake take turns caring for each other, they bump heads and build grudging respect for each other. This forms the basis for their relationship, but they both have a lot of caring to do for themselves as well.
Throughout the whole story, God’s hand can be felt gently guiding Juliet and Jake towards each other and back to his light. His hand was lightly seen, but definitely there. Juliet and Jake’s friends and community may have had a little something to do with it as well. I hope I get a chance to come back and visit as the series continues.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
faithfulgirl4's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
Juliet and her friends are on a journey together to spend more time outside and grow closer to the Lord. What they didn't anticipate was Juliet becoming ill and their travel plans being thwarted! When the grizzly man Jake arrives on his 4-wheeler, it's obvious very quickly to the group that he's only concerned with nursing Juliet back to health and nothing else.
Jake is the all-around bachelor grizzly bear. He's a loner in a cabin in the woods. However, he knows what needs to be done to take care of Juliet. However, he's severely annoyed by these travel companions and their prayer meetings.
Time comes for the group to get back on to their hike once Juliet heals up, but then Jake falls ill. Good thing Juliet is a nurse and knows what to do. Besides, she owes him for treating her while she was ill! She parts from the group and nurses Jake back to health. Then she learns of a job opening at a local clinic. Can she leave her secure job and family to live out her dreams?
This book is the first I've read by this author but I'm already looking into other books by this author and in this series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it!! It included adventure and romance, plus has a medical slant, which I love!
Jake is the all-around bachelor grizzly bear. He's a loner in a cabin in the woods. However, he knows what needs to be done to take care of Juliet. However, he's severely annoyed by these travel companions and their prayer meetings.
Time comes for the group to get back on to their hike once Juliet heals up, but then Jake falls ill. Good thing Juliet is a nurse and knows what to do. Besides, she owes him for treating her while she was ill! She parts from the group and nurses Jake back to health. Then she learns of a job opening at a local clinic. Can she leave her secure job and family to live out her dreams?
This book is the first I've read by this author but I'm already looking into other books by this author and in this series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it!! It included adventure and romance, plus has a medical slant, which I love!
jaimie0459's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Juliet's escape to the Great Smokey Mountains isn't at all what she planned. She isn't sure about her plans for her life, so she and two other women go on a hike of the Appalachian Trail. She leads her group through the trail so that they may get closer to nature and grow closer to God, but Juliet becomes ill a few days before the hike is due to end. Her friends must call for help and when said help arrives they aren't sure what to make of their grizzly bear rescuer Jake. Jake doesn't want them around. He doesn't want anyone around. He helps Juliet but then in turn he falls ill. Not at all what was planned in deed! As a nurse, now it's Juliet's turn to help grizzly Jake. She is determined to help Jake weather he wants her to or not. She accepts a part time job to be closer to him and pushes him in ways that makes him want to run. When the truth comes out about some of her methods things get a bit murky. Can they get past their pasts and issues? Can they get over some fundamental beliefs and come to an understanding? Juliet has a life back home that waits for her, as she wades through waves of uncertainty and trust issues. Will she come to realize God's purpose for her life or will her whole trip be a waste of time? Who knew that getting sick would upend her and Jake's lives completely? Such a great book. Not my typical read, but glad I took a chance on it. Read to find out more about these two. I personally can't wait to read the others in the set!
kmturner86's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
This was a very thought-provoking read for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the anticipation I felt as the story of Juliet and Jake unfolded. While there were some aspects of Juliet’s character that frustrated me, I know it was a necessary part of the story to demonstrate the progress she was making in her own personal growth.
I chose this book, knowing it was not the type of book I would typically read. And I do not have a single regret. It helped me to reflect on how many of us always want to fix things, especially people we care about. We want our loved ones to be happy, so we try to pressure them into doing the things we do, or did, to find our own joy. But not everyones journey to happiness is identical. And not everyone needs to be fixed. I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful story!
ireadloudnmynook's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Juliet’s story was fun to read. I was excited to hear more about her journey leading her group through the mountain trails. I personally think that this alone would be enough of a tear jerker for me to try and accomplish! You meet Juliet and her friends, and a tragic incident leads to a need for help! This romantic story feels realistic to me. I found myself looking at my own relationship, and the differences in my walk with Christ vs my husband’s, and I see that there is hope for love. The author does a fantastic job of teaching the principles of Christian living within the pages of this book. I found myself smiling big at the close of the story. I believe you will love it just as much as I did!
tytanmom23's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Juliet's Journey to Love (Great Smoky Mountain Getaways Book 1) by Elsie Davis. This is an awesome Christian romance. Its the story of Juliet who has decided that love is not in the cards for her. Her job is to heal her patients so she feels like that is what God wants her to do and not worry about love. She and her friends head out on a trip with her friends to hike the Appalachian Trail. While on the Hike she ends up getting sick and Jake a mountain man comes to her rescue. Jake has a reason for being a hermit but won't explain himself. After he nurses her back to health he takes ill and Juliet ends up nursing him back to health. As they spend more and more time together they start to have feelings for each other but Jake doesn't believe in God so Juliet is doing everything she can to convert him. Will she end up ruining their relationship or will Jake come around to her beliefs? Read Juliet's Journey to love to find out!
jennadb's review
3.0
A clean Christian romance that is set in a small town, and it is about loss and love and testing one’s faith. It is bit of an emotional heart felt tale.
Juliet is strong and knows what she wants. She is compassionate and she is helping others to heal in mind, body, and soul and loves what she does.
He is a grumpy grizzly bear of a mountain man but underneath it all he really was just a cuddly bear and meeting Juliet was just what he needed.
What I didn’t like was the way our main character seemed to force religion on others even when they were not wanting it. I believe if you want religion, you will seek it yourself without it being forced on you and that is what I felt this character was doing. You don’t have to believe in God to have faith.
If you love Christian romance stories, then you will probably like this one.
penguingirl's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
This was a remarkable read in every way possible. I could not get enough of it. It was beautiful and I as well enjoyed the journey of self discovery within one self, and a fresh start for one self. It was well put together and one I would gladly read again to enjoy. Wonderful read.
I loved reading the triumphs of Julia. It really showed me how some hope and belief really can go a long way . Even when the going gets tough, if you truly believe the best can truly be yet to come. i felt a lot of emotions reading this surrounding Julia, as well as around other characters. I really felt everything the book was a self discovery for myself to read as well. The book itself was a journey for me. I enjoyed this book very much, and am so glad that I came across it and was able to enjoy reading it.
Wonderful read. It was beautiful and uplifting in every which way. I could not get enough of it. It was a quick read for me. Highly recommend this book and this wonderful author. A must read!
I loved reading the triumphs of Julia. It really showed me how some hope and belief really can go a long way . Even when the going gets tough, if you truly believe the best can truly be yet to come. i felt a lot of emotions reading this surrounding Julia, as well as around other characters. I really felt everything the book was a self discovery for myself to read as well. The book itself was a journey for me. I enjoyed this book very much, and am so glad that I came across it and was able to enjoy reading it.
Wonderful read. It was beautiful and uplifting in every which way. I could not get enough of it. It was a quick read for me. Highly recommend this book and this wonderful author. A must read!