This is a great third installment in Brenda Benning’s Bellbrook Springs series.
About the Book
After years of searching for family, someone to hold on to, Braxton Ross finds a half -sister. He tries to integrate into her life, family, and friends. For a while he believes he can be this person—stable, reliable, calm, worthy. But he realizes as he gets closer and closer to what he wants, his body reminds him it can never be. His soul has been broken by the rejections and losses of his past, and he is convinced he is not redeemable. Despite the help of his new sister and family, he knows this is just a ruse and it will all fall apart again, like it always does.
Determined to keep his darkness away from his newfound light, Braxton runs. He’s good at it after all. It has kept him from being rejected again and it keeps him from ever being hurt like he was all those years ago. But it would also protect those new to him from his overwhelmingly dark soul. He had to protect them from him after all, didn’t he? He was dangerous, unlovable, and unredeemable. He’s known this since he was six years old.
Will Braxton be able to heal from his past traumas and find the pure and loveable soul he lost decades ago? Or will he have to run again?
My Thoughts
While Brenda Benning’s stories are definitely mysteries as they are categorized, they are also definitely very character-driven. Each one so far has been a deep-character study of its main character, and this one is a deep dive into Braxton. This is the third installment in the Bellbrook Springs series, and we first met Braxton in book one, which was his sister Lundyn’s book. In that one, he was a charming, potential love match until we learn he’s actually her half-brother. Then, in the second book, he gets close to her best friend, Sally Jo.
This book confused me a little because the characters built in those first two books didn’t line up completely with this third book. He claimed a horrible darkness and that he didn’t want to hurt the girls, which really made me wonder why he sought his sister out in the first place. There were a few other inconsistencies in specific places. So, if things like that are pet peeves for you, this isn’t a book for you.
However, the relationship-building in this book is beautiful, as always. It’s a very slow burn, which is what I’ve come to expect from Benning’s works. All of her books are 400+ pages long, and she uses every one of them. She makes you work for every relationship and every mystery. Things are never what they seem, and they are never easy. So, if you love mysteries and you enjoy good, drama-filled, character-driven domestic thrillers, this is a good series for you to pick up.
Some will say that you don’t need the first two books, but I’m a traditionalist. Also, you can probably get away without reading them, but you will probably get a little confused.
I’m grateful to the author and LBT for including me on this tour!
Who’s It For?
This is a good read for those who love corporate espionage and domestic thrillers. This is the third book in a series of interconnected stories. If you haven’t read the first two, you can probably catch on, but a few things will seem a little confusing in this one. However, it has some serious thrillers, especially surrounding child harm and trauma involving the foster care system.
Content Warnings: Violence, Child Abuse, Child Abandonment, Child Neglect, Foster Care System, Runaways, Poor Self Image, Betrayal, Kidnapping (Mention/Off-page), PTSD, Mental Health, Adult Language, Adult Situations
About the Author
Brenda Benning was born and raised in Minnesota. Writing has been a lifelong dream since she began writing short stories in third grade. Throughout her education, she was encouraged to write and publish. Life took its own course, though, and the dream was put on hold.
Brenda and her family recently relocated to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and she has been able to realize her dream of writing again. Her large family and experiences as an adoptive parent have helped her find a unique balance in life–and countless story ideas.
Links
Amazon US: https://a.co/d/7uADSM1
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/egnnAhS
Bookshop US: https://bookshop.org/a/25511/9798894273808
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218101658-a-journey-of-the-soul
As a Bookshop.org (US) Affiliate, I may earn on qualifying purchases. Bookshop.org purchases support local, independent bookshops. My chosen affiliate bookshop is Tubby & Coo’s Traveling Bookshop, a local, queer-owned bookshop in New Orleans.
Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.