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| Stealing Jake |
Stealing Jake
by Pam Hillman
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (2011)
Reviewed by Noela Nancarrow
~5 Stars~ *****
Intriguing Historical Romance with a Great message!
It’s
1874 in the small but growing town of Chestnut, Illinois, on the outskirts of
Chicago. The times are turbulent and everyone is doing it tough. But no one
more so than the grimy homeless street urchins from Chicago, who have learnt
the art of pick-pocketing in a bid to survive. Working in teams of two and with
slick movements, the street kids lighten the pockets of unsuspecting men and
women upon the boardwalks and streets of Chestnut.
Young Luke, the self-appointed caretaker of these kids, is simultaneously on a determined yet risky mission to rescue his five year old brother from the clutches of the ruthless men running an illegal sweatshop. The gripping and heartrending story of Luke’s and the other children’s dire circumstances is a powerful and tragic tale told throughout this amazing novel.
Young Luke, the self-appointed caretaker of these kids, is simultaneously on a determined yet risky mission to rescue his five year old brother from the clutches of the ruthless men running an illegal sweatshop. The gripping and heartrending story of Luke’s and the other children’s dire circumstances is a powerful and tragic tale told throughout this amazing novel.
Livy
O’Brien understands these misunderstood street kids and their bleak situation only
too well. A runaway from Chicago, she’s come to Chestnut to make a new life for
herself and feels blessed to have been taken in by Mrs. Brooks who runs the town’s
orphanage. Livy would love to get these street kids into the orphanage, but
getting these children on the run from the law to trust her, seems almost
impossible.
Complicating
things for Livy is Jake Russell, Chestnut’s charming, green-eyed and
broad-shouldered Deputy Sheriff. Her first encounter with the deputy was
delightful and impacting to say the least, but epitomizes the great effect they
end up having on each other. But where Livy had a heart of compassion and
understanding for the street kids, Jake was dubious and wanting to lock them
up. Can Livy convince Jake to trust her about these young boys? From the very beginning
sparks were flying between Jake and Livy, however Jake was a deputy and Livy
was running from the law. Can Livy continue to run from her heart’s longing
when Jake captures it? And as a man of law, what will he do when he suspects
Livy?
Stealing
Jake captures your attention from the first page and never lets it go. A
thoroughly entertaining and intriguing historical romance that’s chock-full of
action, suspense, inspiration, and a beautiful and delectable love story between
the two charismatic heroes. There’s also a very stirring and encouraging
message in this story about moving on and leaving your past behind, realizing
it does not have to be your legacy nor your destiny. Yesterday does not have to
define you and with God’s help, He can make all things new!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This book may be purchased through Amazon, CBD, Barnes & Noble, and other bookstores.
_________________
QUESTION: Have you ever left something negative (i.e. behavioral, attitude, or dysfunctional family, etc) behind in your past, and what helped you to do that? "LIKE" Pam's FB Author Page (and let us know), and answer the question to enter!
GIVEAWAY: OWG will be giving away a copy of either of Pam's books (winner's choice) and Pam is offering a signed paperback of her new-to-print 'Claiming Mariah'! (Thanks Pam!) E-book for winner's outside of USA.
Be sure to leave your E-MAIL for contact purposes if you are the winner!
Be sure to leave your E-MAIL for contact purposes if you are the winner!
____________________________________________
Terrific review NOELA! I have got to read this soon. I have it in my OvErFlOwInG sTaCk somewhere. :-) I have certainly enjoyed having PAM on this week.
ReplyDeleteTERESA, if you can squeeze this one in to your reading schedule, then pop it right up the TOP of your pile!! As your sister, I think I know you pretty well lol, so trust me when I say, you will absolutely LOVE this one!!! Guaranteed.
DeletePAM is such a lovely lady and it's a treat having her here on OWG this week!
Thank you, Noela, for the great review and for bringing "Stealing Jake" back into the limelight for a bit. Ebooks are amazing things, and it's wonderful how we can hear about a book we meant to read, and didn't get around to it, then, lo and behold, it's right there on our eReader. And off we go! Whoot! :)
DeleteWoot!! is what everyone will be saying when they read this beauty! :) I love bringing older books to everyone's attention, for not only those of us that have too big a TBR list that they get abysmally lost in lol, but also for the newer readers that haven't discovered gems like Stealing Jake yet!! Thanks PAM!
DeleteYes I have left a few things behind me and did this with GOD's help. That is the only way when we need help. I have liked Pam's FB page. I would love to win this book. Sounds really good. Good job Noela. Please drop my name in the hat.
ReplyDeleteHope all of the OWG girls are staying well and warm. GOD bless, Maxie
MAXIE, your name is in the hat!! Lovely to see you here as always, and I hope you and the other OWG girls are staying warm, but I'm trying my best to stay cool as we're having Summer Down Under! ;)
DeleteNoela, I'm sort of in between the really COLD weather in the northern part of the US since I'm way down in Mississippi. But we did have snow today. THREE flakes! For sure! :)
DeleteWow, 3 flakes Pam?!!! LOL, well that's 3 more than I've seen! I would LOVE to see snow one day... it's on the bucket list! ;) I'm glad you haven't experienced those tough freezing temps the more northern states have had though... Don't know that I'd want to be that cold!!
DeleteNoela, get this. Last week, I was in St. Louis, Missouri (no snow there at the time, but it was COLD!) and we got a decent amount of snow at home in Mississippi. What's up with that. Hubby sent me pics of snow on the cows backs, and I missed the whole thing. Bummer!
DeleteAw now that's not fair... Your cows got to experience the snow and you didn't!! I think too, if I was going to feel so cold I'd feel cheated if there was no snow where there should be some. :P I can't remember the last time we had a really cold winter here on the Gold Coast!
DeleteSounds like a great read! And again - great job on this review!!
ReplyDeleteIt truly is a great read MARIAN - you'd love it too!! ;) Thanks mate!
DeleteYes and it truly can't be done without God. Sometimes it tries to sneak up on you. But you can defeat it with God's continual strength.
ReplyDeleteI have wanted to read this since reading Claiming Mariah quite a while ago. I don't have it yet, so I would love it. I think the first chapter was in Claiming Mariah and it has stuck with me as a book I would want to read. Thanks for the review and chance to win. Great job as usual!
Nancycooks4u (at) gmail (dot) com
Some things can be really difficult NANCY, but as you said so well, with God's continual strength we CAN defeat these things and move on to be a new creation in Him! :)
DeleteI can see why after reading the first chapter it would have stuck with you Nancy!! I think if everyone read the first chapter, they'd feel the same way! Sucks you right in! :)
Had a different sort of thing that I ran from. Had massive learning disabilities, poor social skills
ReplyDeleteFound out Why, and worked very hard to change those God was so much the answer........but I still struggle with letting God.......Please have a wonderful,terrific,blessed day
Chris
granvilleATfrontiernetDOTnet
CHRIS, the great thing is... God will help us with everything that we struggle with in some way or other, and I'm so glad to hear He has helped you with your difficulties! My son has Asperger's Syndrome, and God helped me enormously during those early school years of his. It was still tough, but His love and support was there in spades. I think it's safe to say that everybody has trouble 'letting go and letting God' at times Chris, but I'll pray you can do that easier. God bless you and may you have a very blessed day also!! :)
DeleteAmen! What an encouraging answer, Noela. :)
DeletePTL that God has helped you, Chris, and you are such a sweetheart, too!
DeleteI liked your author page too
ReplyDeleteChris
Thanks for liking PAM'S page, CHRIS!
DeleteThanks Chris!
DeleteI heard nothing but great things about this book when it first came out, and your impressive review just substantiated those rumors, NOELA! What a fine review! I have this one on my Kindle awaiting me. :)
ReplyDeleteWell my dear DIANA, you know what you need to do now don't you?? lol Trust me, it's a gem, and an impossible one to put down... which means you'll read it very quickly! Win, win! :)
DeleteLove hearing that Stealing Jake is right there in the shadows, waiting. One of these days, Diana, you'll get the itch to read something, and BOOM, Stealing Jake will be just the ticket. :)
DeleteHi, good review of this wonderful story, I wanted to read this one but have not yet. I think all of us have left something behind in our lives esp if we are older as I am. Mine was a divorce and what went wrong. I love to read and enjoy reading this author so would love to be in your drawing. thanks for sharing
ReplyDeletePaula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)
Thanks for stopping by, Paula. God can soften the hard edges of the hurts of the past when we let him, can't He? Otherwise, we'd be overwhelmed with what went wrong, what could have been, what was lost.
DeleteHi PAULA, I second what Pam said, PTL that He is there to comfort, encourage, and strengthen, to help us to move on and past painful things in the past.
DeleteThanks Paula, and I hope you get a chance to read this great book soon!!
That was a wonderful review, so much detail to make me want to walk right into the story! When talking about my family I always say...my bitter brother and my other brother (the good one)... and then my daddy. It's a well known fact that when you mess up in our family, you're put out or at least ignored! My other brother and I didn't inherit those traits, we just choose to ignore the negative and go on. Choices...we all have choices! And my choice right now is to Steal Jake!
ReplyDeletemissionwife@hotmail.com
Haha your answer made me chuckle MELODY, that is, the part about your choice to steal Jake! :) And I'm so glad I've been able to open up the characters to you so you felt you could walk right into the story!!
DeleteYep, you're so right Melody, we all have choices! And they go sooo much better when God is involved in them don't they?! Bless you Melody!
Yep. As we discussed when talking about Claiming Mariah earlier this week, we can choose to become bitter or better. Bitterness gets folks nowhere fast, other than maybe old and alone.
DeleteI have left behind some negative friends in the past. It was very difficult because I really liked them, but I didn't like myself when I was with them. Their negativity started to rub off on me. I prayed about it and realized that God didn't want people like that in my life.
ReplyDeleteI already "liked" Pam's FB page. :) I'm also a follower and subscriber to this blog.
cindialtman(at)gmail(dot)com
CINDI, I have had to do a somewhat similar thing, and it is really, really hard isn't it? But when you have tried over and over, and have prayed about it of course, there comes a time we need to move on and be all that God intends us to be! God bless you Cindi!
DeleteI have had to let go of past hurts that I clung to for way to many years. I had to reduce the time I spent with some people that I love but know it was for my benefit in the end. I can forgive them and pray for them but it is all by Grace that I am where I am.
ReplyDeletemcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com
I liked Pam F B page
Her book looks terrific!
Thanks for sharing JACKIE, and I know exactly what you mean!! Sounds a bit like my story.. :/ I love how you say that it is all by grace that you are where you are. Amen to that!! Thank God for His grace, and His help in putting the past behind us and moving forward with Him!
DeleteStealing Jake is definitely a terrific book Jackie... I know you would love it!!
Noela - what a wonderful review, and what a beautiful storyline, Pam!!
ReplyDeleteWill DEFINITELY have to read "Stealing Jake" - for numerous reasons, one being I worked in a children's home for abused and neglected children - 6+ years, and have a soft heart for them. Not a common storyline, but one with everything you could want in a book - suspense, action, romance, children, inspiration, and encouragement!!
Not wanting to embarrass anyone, I will just say that negativity has always been a part of my life/surroundings - in all of the above mentioned ways: behavior, attitude, and dysfunction. I struggled many years before turning my life over to God, and realizing that I didn't have the power to change anyone except myself (and that - only with His help), and the changing of others was up to Him. The situation will never be perfect - because I'M human (and therefore, NOT perfect), and still surrounded by the negativity of others, at times. But - I'm happy with the changes I have, personally, made, am at peace, and rely on God for the help I need.
Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of one of your books, Pam!!
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
OWG
"LIKED" Pam's FB page !!
Thanks BONNIE for your wonderful comments and for sharing so thoughtfully!
DeleteYou couldn't have put it better Bonnie about the book... This story has a bit of everything in it, so what more could one want?!! ;) I think that's why I loved it so much... that, and the amazing storyline!
I also loved what you said about not having the power to change others. So true! That's why we just need to concentrate on ourselves because that we can do, and it's made sooo much easier with God's help too! Btw, I think you're a beautiful person Bonnie!! :) All the best in this competition to win one of Pam's great books!
I do know that anything negative in my past just made me a stronger person. I don't think I ever totally let it go, but I don't think that's a bad thing to be reminded.
ReplyDeleteFB: Mary Preston
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
It's so true MARY that things in our past that we've gone through and have overcome or are in the process of overcoming, make us stronger and wiser people. Thanks so much for sharing! God bless you!
DeleteMary, thanks for commenting. We can always use our past to encourage others and to help them overcome something, can't we?
DeleteGreat review and I really want to read this book! I have heard nothing but good things about it! Thanks Noela and Pam!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome CARRIE and thanks! I reckon you'll be one of those saying good things about this book when you read it my friend!! :) Let me know when you do!
DeleteI've had to give up some not so nice friends who I thought were my friends. But I am so thankful that I did let go of them. It has helped me find new and Godly and Chrisian like friends. I would love to read this book.
ReplyDeleteoh.hello.hiya@gmail.com
Hi DANIE, I love seeing you here and I wish you ALL the best in winning this terrific book!!
DeleteI'm glad you made the best choice for yourself too Danie... It's definitely not in your best interests to hang out with people who can be a bad influence in your life. You need true and godly friends especially close ones, to be able to encourage, inspire, and support you.
It's been a pleasure to spend the week with everyone here. Thank you all for sharing your struggles, trials, and triumphs. What a blessing you all are and an encouragement to everyone around you!
ReplyDeletePAM, thank you so much for coming by regularly to chat with and to encourage all our friends that have stopped by to read about your books and to leave a comment. It's been an absolute pleasure to have you on OWG, and a joy for Teresa and myself to read and review your brilliant books 'Claiming Mariah' and 'Stealing Jake'! God bless!!
DeleteOh yes... I think dysfunction was my families middle name. I truely felt a release when we moved to TN and I since moving back to NY feel much stress at times. Its not that I see them alot but I just have this feeling that when my parents are gone, will be forced to managed things. and Take my brother in if he has no way of support and he being unsaved is a challenge.
ReplyDeleteLinda
faithfulacresbooks@gmail.com
Shared and Liked on FB and Twitter. its been nice to get to know you Pam !
I think it was my family's middle name too LINDA! ;) I'm praying that it all works out for good regarding your family situation!
DeleteIt's been great to get to know Pam hasn't it? We all feel the same here! :) Many blessings to you Linda!