Review: "Star Rising" by Janet W. Ferguson

Ever since COVID-19 overtook our collective consciousness, I've struggled to read. I just couldn't focus. But one day last week I decided to give Star Rising a try ... and I kept reading it until I'd finished it!

Review: "The Art of Rivers" by Janet Ferguson

I've read several of Janet Ferguson's books, and they're always captivating stories with enjoyable romances. But her latest novel, The Art of Rivers, is even better than I was expecting!

"tackling the fields" by janet w. ferguson

Audrey and Cole, two supporting characters from the first two Southern Hearts novels, take center stage in Tackling the Fields.

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Cole Sanders is a changed man. The university quarterback questions his direction in life after serving on a mission trip in Honduras. Things that used to fill Cole’s ego seem empty after witnessing the developing country’s extreme poverty and the death of a precious child. The one glimmer of hope through his confusion is the fresh perspective he now has about his tutor, Audrey. She possesses something beautiful inside and out—something that might help him become the person he wants to be.

University senior Audrey Vaughn tutored Cole Sanders for an entire year and never imagined the popular quarterback would see her as anything more than a friend. After partnering with him on the mission trip, they are drawn together. And he appears to have changed for the better. To let Cole into her life, Audrey will have to overcome not only her brother’s distrust, but also the paralyzing fear still lingering from a past she’s tried to leave behind.

Cole can’t walk away from Audrey now that they’re back in Oxford. He’ll have to figure out how to keep her giant of a brother, a lineman on his football team, from killing him when the coach has his back turned. But can Audrey trust her heart to a player so similar to the one who stole so much from her in the past?

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As I've read Janet W. Ferguson's Southern Hearts novels, I've been impressed by how realistic they seem, even though they feature characters who live extraordinary lives (at least extraordinary compared to the lives lived in my little corner of the world)—college football coaches, movie stars, football players with major draft prospects.

Tackling the Fields centers on college quarterback Cole Sanders and Audrey Vaughn, his tutor-turned-crush. Following a life-changing mission trip to Honduras (which takes place in the previous book, Going Up South), Cole feels pulled toward Christ and toward Audrey. As he grapples with his faith and his feelings, Audrey deals with her own scars that keep her from fully trusting Cole.

Overall, I enjoyed Tackling the Fields. It deals with weighty topics like date rape, human trafficking, and addiction, but it also provides a compelling love story. While I did feel like maybe a few too many things were packed into the novel, so not everything was paid off (such as the oft mentioned but never seen Harrison), I really enjoyed Cole and Audrey's story. 4 stars.

Up next is Blown Together, which will feature Sam Conrad (friend of Cole's coach, Jess McCoy) and Elinor Bosarge (sister of Cassie from Going Up South). I'm definitely looking forward to continuing this series!

Note: Tackling the Fields is the third book in Ferguson's Southern Hearts series. Though it can function as a stand alone novel, Cole and Audrey will make much more sense if you've at least read Going Up South first.

Buy the book.

Follow the blog tour to see what others are saying:
August 15: Quiet Quilter
August 16: A Baker’s Perspective
August 17: Blogging With Carol
August 18: The Power of Words (Spotlight)
August 19: inklings and notions
August 20: Christian Chick’s Thoughts
August 21: Karen’s Krayons
August 22: Bigreadersite
August 23: A Greater Yes
August 24: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner
August 25: A Reader’s Brain
August 26: Mary Hake
August 27: His Grace is Sufficient
August 28: Cassandra M’s Place
August 29: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

Read my reviews of Leaving Oxford (4 stars) and Going Up South (4-1/2 stars). 

To celebrate her tour, Janet is giving away a $75 Amazon gift card Click here to enter.

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Janet W. Ferguson grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served her church as a children’s minister and a youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a few cats that allow them to share the space.

From Janet: Hi, I’m Janet W. Ferguson, and I’m so excited to be back again and meet more readers through Celebrate Lit!

This is a story I didn’t want to write, but felt called to tackle. The loss of the dream, the loss of innocence, and life’s other unfair struggles can challenge our faith—can make us captive to fear and disappointment.

In the South, we love football. In writing this book, I’m not trying to make a statement for or against the sport. My husband and son loved playing the game. After my son suffered a torn ACL, torn shoulder labrum, and four surgeries, he could no longer participate in the game he loved. He mourned the loss of the brotherhood of his team. I saw the popular pastime differently from his eyes. For young men, I believe it is a bond between friends for a common goal. Though the character in this book is totally fictional, I’m dedicating this book to my son, Luke.

The other sensitive topics in this story seemed particularly sad, but relevant in our society. Trust me, I didn’t prefer to research acquaintance/date rape or human trafficking, but both are going on all too often in communities both small and large. There are a number of organizations set up to help victims of these crimes if you feel a calling to help.

Someone reading this may have had something terrible that happened in their past or may know someone who has. God is able to set free the captives, set you free from the bonds that hold you. My prayer is that you find comfort in that truth.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"going up south" by janet w. ferguson

A world-famous actor's life is turned upside-down when he learns he fathered a son in Going Up South, the second installment in Janet Ferguson's Southern Hearts series.

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No one told him he had a son.

Actor Dylan Conner is furious. Not only has he been left out of his child’s life, the baby boy has been given another man’s last name. Determined to be a better father than the sorry guy who’d left him and his mother, Dylan fights to ensure a significant place in his son’s life. Unfortunately, his bad-boy reputation overshadows his good intentions. Only one woman in this small town sees beyond his Hollywood image. And he’s falling for her. Too bad she’s the custody mediator.

After her scandalous divorce in the small town of Oxford, Mississippi, attorney Cassie Brooks has no intentions of practicing law again. The humiliating experience left a bitter taste for love, marriage, and her profession.

Now friends need Cassie’s help in a custody negotiation, and her role demands she remain objective. She never expected to be drawn to Dylan Conner—the actor who everyone warns is bad news. Not only is the mediation at stake, but so is her heart.

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I recently read Leaving Oxford, the first book in Janet Ferguson's Southern Hearts series, and I really enjoyed it. It felt realistic and featured memorable main and supporting characters, and when I finished it, I couldn't wait to continue the series with Going Up South. What I didn't anticipate was how much I would absolutely love Going Up South.

Going Up South is the story of Hollywood star Dylan Conner and recent divorcee Cassie Brooks. Both make appearances in Leaving Oxford—Dylan in a fairly sizeable role, and Cassie in a couple quick scenes. I do think it's pretty important to read Leaving Oxford prior to Going Up South, simply because it gives a good look into Dylan's past and sets up the battle for his son.

In Leaving Oxford, Dylan is a self-absorbed womanizer. He seems like a nice guy, but he clearly has problems. So I was surprised at just how much I grew to like him as Going Up South went on. I could understand his hurt and anger when he learned that Jill (best friend to Sarah Beth, Leaving Oxford's main character) had kept his son from him. I couldn't stand how poorly Sarah Beth's and Jill's husbands treated him. (Had these events taken place in Leaving Oxford, I totally would have been in the husbands' camp.) Basically, I went from seeing Dylan as an annoying bad boy in Leaving Oxford to really, really liking him—and much of that had to do with how he interacted with Cassie.

Cassie Brooks has to be one of my favorite fictional characters in recent memory. A strong woman who learned to fend for herself following her husband's betrayal, Cassie gets involved in Dylan and Jill's custody mediation because she wants to help save Jill from a custody battle that Dylan would have a good shot at winning, due to his fame and fortune. She's surprised when she finds herself falling for Dylan, and I greatly enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Cassie has a very strong faith, and it's largely due to her influence that Dylan finds his way back to the God of his childhood.

One thing I really appreciated about Going Up South was the focus on the book of James in the Bible. Reading so much about it in this book caused me to want to read it again, and I'm amazed at all the practical wisdom it contains—about taming the tongue, caring for the poor, and many other things. (I shouldn't be surprised; it is God's Word, after all. But I tend to get stuck in a rut of studying my certain favorite books and skipping others—so I'm glad that Ferguson's book prompted me to read James again!)

I loved practically everything about Going Up South! While I do wish that Cassie's ex had factored into it just a bit more so that I could have really understood the pain Cassie and her son went through, which was referenced a few times but not really explained, I can't complain too much. Going Up South is a great novel, featuring a solid plot and a sigh-inducing romance. I can't wait to continue the series with Tackling the Fields! 4-1/2 stars.

Follow the tour stops to see what others are saying:
July 7: A Reader’s Brain
July 7: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
July 8: Bigreadersite
July 8: inklings and notions
July 9: A Greater Yes
July 9: Reviewing Novels Online
July 10: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner
July 11: Pause for Tales
July 12: Cindy’s Book Reviews
July 13: Daysong Reflections
July 14: Blogging With Carol
July 15: His Grace is Sufficient
July 16: Karen’s Krayons
July 17: Christian Chick’s Thoughts
July 17: Quiet Quilter
July 18: Cassandra M’s Place
July 18: A Bakers Perspective
July 19: Texas Book-aholic
July 20: Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses

Buy the book.

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Janet W. Ferguson grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served her church as a children’s minister and a youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a few cats that allow them to share the space.

To celebrate her tour, Janet is giving away some fantastic prizes including a $50 Amazon gift card! Click here to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/9e33

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"leaving oxford" by janet w. ferguson

Janet Ferguson's endearing Southern Hearts series kicks off with Leaving Oxford.

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Escaping home to Oxford, Mississippi, seemed like a good idea. Until it wasn’t. 

A year after a tragic accident in Los Angeles flipped her world upside down, advertising guru Sarah Beth LeClair is still hiding away in her charming hometown of Oxford, Mississippi. And she may well be stuck there forever. Suffering from panic attacks, she prays for healing. Instead, her answer comes in the form of an arrogant football coach and an ugly puppy. 

Former celebrity college quarterback Jess McCoy dreamed of playing pro football. One freak hit destroyed his chances. Although he enjoys his work as the university’s offensive coordinator, his aspirations have shifted to coaching at the highest level. His plans of moving up are finally coming together—until he falls for a woman who won’t leave town. 

As the deadline for Jess’s decision on his dream career looms, the bars around Sarah Beth’s heart only grow stronger. But it's time to make a decision about leaving Oxford. 

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When I began reading Leaving Oxford, I wasn't sure if I'd like it. I didn't embrace the characters right away, and the plot seemed to move a little slowly. At one point, I looked down at my Kindle and saw that I'd only read 11% of the book, and I nearly gave up. I'm so glad I didn't!

Yes, the book moves slowly at the beginning, and I wish that more of Sarah Beth's past had been revealed sooner—I think knowing more about her would have made me like her better initially. But once things really got moving (at about 20% in), I couldn't stop reading!

There's a realness to Leaving Oxford that's not present in much of what's available in the inspirational market today. The characters have messy lives before coming to Christ, and becoming a believer doesn't magically fix those problems, though the characters' focus does shift from living for themselves to living for Christ. Basically, Ferguson portrays the Christian life as messy and difficult, yet fulfilling. Also, Sarah Beth struggles with anxiety, and I appreciated that she sought out many avenues—including counseling and medication—in her quest to get better.

A highlight of this novel is the romance between Sarah Beth and Jess. Theirs is a slow burn romance that gradually builds—and left me dying for them to just kiss already! There's also a secondary romance between Sarah Beth's assistant and Jess's best friend, and I'm looking forward to reading more about them; they look to factor heavily into the second book in the series.

Once I got into the novel, I didn't want it to end, so I'm glad there are two more books in the series. I look forward to more from Ferguson! 4 stars.

Buy the book.

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Janet W. Ferguson grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served her church as a children’s minister and a youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a few cats that allow them to share the space.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."