“The Guardian” Release Day! (character interview + book review!)

Happy, happy release day to Abbigail Raine B.’s debut The Guardian!!!! *squeals and throws confetti over the room* I’ve been blessed to know Abbigail since 2020 and it’s been such a pleasure and inspiration to watch her grow on her journey as a talented and faith-filled author! Needless to say, I’m thrilled about this Christian historical debut, and not only because it’s her first published novel, but also because…it’s just so good. 😭😍

First, I’ll share the book review, book and author info, then finally, an amazing character interview you won’t want to miss!

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My Review!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 stars

If you don’t mind, for just a minute…

AHHHHHHHHHHH I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😭😭😭 PLEASE GIVE ME MORE SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahem. I needed to get that out of my system.

Let me start this off by saying that not only did the dedication gave me chills, but the first time I read it, it made me tear up. Since it hit that hard on the very first page, I knew the actual novel itself was going to be somethin’ else…and I was not disappointed!

CHARACTERS

Felix’s prickles and tough exterior only hide all the vulnerabilities inside – guilt and pain. Her conflict immediately caught my heart. Her journey starts as a heroine bitter toward God, and when she hears His voice within her heart, she’s feels exposed…terrified. But she’s stubborn and proud, and the poor girl needs to be knocked hard to wake up! winces I think she’s very, very relatable. (Even if you’re not an eldest sister. *chuckles*) Everyone knows what it’s like to resist humbling themselves, to hold on to their pride in the vain hopes that it will be the protection they need. Her arc was incredible.

Stacey is a charming and bubbly younger sister, yet she has a bit of a temper and isn’t afraid to state her opinions to Felix, with whom she has a tempestuous relationship for much of the book. Her courtship with Jeremy Hollis adds to a lot of the conflict, and I’m sooo intrigued to know what happens with her in Book 2!!! (I have mixed feelings on Hollis, hehe.)

Millie is such a sweet girl, and I’m lowkey shipping her and Jaimie. She has a certain calm grace about her that I love, and she acts as a MUCH-needed peacemaker between the barbs Felix and Stacey hurl at each other.

Jack….ahhh! Loved him from that first encounter he had with Felix! He’s caring, tender, and perceptive, yet honest, and doesn’t sugar-coat things. He continually brings God into their conversations even when she bristles against it. I was wondering if their chemistry would turn out to be a bit dry and dull, but when I saw he knew how to tease Felix, I officially became a fangirl! 😜 I LOVED the guy!

As for the romance, I wouldn’t really consider it a spoiler, but some might, so I’ll just give a SPOILER AHEAD warning before sharing my thoughts:

The close friendship and bond that Jack and Felix share was a beautiful prelude to a slowburn something-more-than-friends! Since it was just a hint for much of the novel, it was rather agonizing. 😆 But I liked that. I loved Jack’s protectiveness and the way he kept coming to Felix’s rescue when, scorning help, she got herself into a bind time and time again. Poor girl! But it didn’t come across as damsel-in-distress because of how tough Felix was. Jack did bring out her softer side, though, which was so sweet and simultaneously heartrending! The full-fledged romance in the end melted my heart; all I wanted was moreeeee! 😊😂

WRITING

I’d describe the writing style in The Guardian as emotive, gentle, and graceful, with almost cinematic descriptions. There were quite a few creative word choices that I adored (eg. “sputtered a laugh,” “blustered a sigh,” “irritation skated up her spine and settled over her shoulders like a web,” “a sob clawed,” etc.). As I’ll mention below, the writing was especial beautiful when it came to the setting! At times, I found myself skimming certain slower sections when I was impatient to get to the action, but I was still kept engaged. Overall, I thought it was distinct and lovely!

PLOT

The overall pacing is slow and reflective, interspersed now and then with serious high-stakes action and spellbinding suspense. (I was on the edge of my seat several times!) Some of the twists completely caught me off guard, others were less surprising, but let me tell you, the conflict never stopped building and layering like a storm cloud! And I LOVED that. The climax was so satisfying and I was kept hooked the whole way through! The ending was slightly abrupt – and I would have liked to see even more of Felix’s (ALREADY AMAZING) redemptive arc play out, see her act on her new beliefs. But since I know there will be a Book 2 in the series, I don’t have a problem with that, and the pacing itself didn’t feel rushed, just certain plot points. Besides that, I was just beaming outside and melting inside during that last scene. 🥰

And can I just shout out one particular scene? The one with Jack breaking that unruly horse. 😭 That was so beautifully symbolic. If you know you know.

(And by the way, “slow paced” isn’t synonymous with “boring.” In fact, I thought the pacing suited the book very well!)

SETTING

Abbigail Raine B. brought the Texas prairies to life for me! I experienced everything with Felix, feeling the wind brush over me, breathing in the sweet scent of hay, listening to birdsong. Nature was a solace to the stormy turns of Felix’s emotions – serene and ever present. Really, the setting played a hugely pivotal role in the story, and accordingly, her descriptions shone in regards to it!

Going along with the setting, I could tell the author researched thoroughly for The Guardian! *hats off* The details felt so realistic and authentic – whether it be the type of food being eaten or the name of a farming tool or lines of dialogue. There may have been inaccurate things (honestly, I wouldn’t know, not having researched that time period myself 😅) but I was never jarred or pulled out of the story. All in all, I can’t help but be impressed, because I know how grueling research can be!

THEMES

Bitter and angry toward God, Felix feels betrayed and jaded, and thinks she can solve life’s problems on her own. She deals with grief and loss, and has to be brought to rock bottom before she can see the light. It’s a painful journey, y’all. You keep thinking that each new wake-up call will be the one that sheds the blinders from her eyes. But the peace that comes at last only hits all the harder. The overarching message would be the importance of surrendering everything to God. With how much Jack and her sisters push her to mend her relationship with God, it sometimes comes across as preachy, but my girl Felix needed that. The spiritual content is unashamed, bold, and key to the story.

OVERALL

Abbigail Raine B. has woven a beautiful, solid, faith-filled debut, and I can’t WAIT to see more by her! (Especially Stacey’s story!!! 👀) I recommend this story to anyone who loves deep and strong Christian themes, relatable, scarred characters who find hope and healing, fictional sibling rep, a dash of sweet, wholesome romance, and historical fiction!

SOME FAVORITE QUOTES

“How can some things remain so perfect after harsh weather, and others shrivel up into dried kindling?”

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“If it was me that was struggling, I wouldn’t want people harping at me all the live-long day about how I need to change. I’d need time to think, sort things out, and come to terms with life. But before that can happen,” he paused, giving her a tender smile. “I’d just want the comfort of knowing that I wasn’t alone and had a friend who would sit by me, even when I’m falling apart.”

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“If He’s so fired up for my attention, He has it. What does He want?”
Jack stared back at her, gaze steady and calm. “He wants you.”

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Disclosure: I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Find the Book!

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If you want to chat about books, writing, or even just say hi, feel free to connect with her at her website at: abbigailraineb.wordpress.com. Or connect with her through social media. 

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Follow the Author!

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Character Interview with Felix!

Hello, Felix! It’s an honor to have you on my blog, and I’m so excited to interview you! To begin with, can you describe yourself in five words?

Thanks, Saraina! It’s a pleasure to be here. In five words, I’d say I’m a little guarded, protective, driven, caring, and stubborn. *pauses* Well, very stubborn. But not as stubborn as an Irishman I know. 

What do you consider your biggest flaw? What do others say is your biggest flaw?

My biggest flaw would be overbearingly protective. I like to make sure my family is taken care of and safe, but that sometimes comes across as controlling. Others probably say my biggest flaw is my tendency to trust myself and my own strength over God’s. 

Who are you most close to? Why?

Well, I’d say I’m very close to my sisters, Millie and Stacey. But sometimes we butt heads about ahem, certain things. *scowls* And then I’d say I’m close to Jack. *blushes and nervously looks away* Just a little.

Would you change anything about your story? (*glances nervously at the author* Hypothetically, of course. 😜 )

Hmm…well, it’d be a whole lot nicer if I didn’t keep getting knocked around by our livestock. Oh! Or the lightning bolt. That wasn’t really necessary, was it?? But aside from my pettiness, I think my story worked out quite well. 

What do you love most about the place you live?

I love the nature and peace surrounding us. The wild yet gentle beauty of the weather, for one, strange as that may be. The growth of nature in every season, even the exasperating heat during the summer. While it can be full of dangers, there’s a peace about it that makes it feel like home. In the hills, the prairie, the trees, the animals that live here. I apologize if this is all a tangle of ramblings!

Describe your sisters and your relationship with them!

Millie is the sweetest and most tender-hearted of all of us. She’s a great cook and a bit of a homebody, but she has the most precious heart and does her best to serve those around us, despite her nervousness around people. 

Stacey is a bit of a firecracker. She and I are the most alike, and we either get along very well or get into an explosive argument—which you all will get quite a show of in the book! Behind her temper, she’s a bit of a pixie, and has a good heart, and I have no doubt that she’ll touch a lot of people in her life.

Can you share about your best and worst memories with Jack?

*smiles softly* My best memory would be when he and I spent a day riding all over the place. We found a lot of beautiful places and spent a lot of time talking about what we wanted for our lives, our dreams, that sort of thing. 

My worst memory would probably be when he tried to tell me I couldn’t work the farm the way I did when everything fell onto my shoulders five years ago. We got over that tiff fairly fast, but it was a difficult few days for me, thinking I wasn’t capable of doing what I needed to for my sisters. 

If there was a house fire and you could only save one object, what would it be?

I’d say my Da’s Bible. He spent many hours reading it to us growing up, and he left many notations in the margins. If I remember correctly, there’s even a letter he wrote to Momma from when they were courting. 

What’s the most challenging thing and the most rewarding thing about running your farm with your sisters?

The most challenging thing would be learning how to balance all the chores and not get overwhelmed by it. Family should be first and foremost, but sometimes it gets bogged down by all the to-dos. 

The most rewarding thing is that we all have grown into adulthood knowing how to work hard and get work done while also keeping each other at the forefront of our minds. It helps to remember that we are serving each other and not just surviving or going through the motions. 

In The Guardian, you go through some tough times, to say the least. What’s the biggest lesson you learned by the end of it?

That God never gives up on us. His love is forever, and all we have to do is accept it. But don’t keep avoiding it, because sooner or later we can become hardhearted and not hear Him anymore, which is a frightening thing, to say the least. 

Thank you so very much, Felix, for answering those questions! Congratulations to Abbigail on the release of your beautiful, heart-tugging story! 🥰

Thank you!

How do you find yourself relating with Felix? How many siblings do you have? What’s the latest historical fiction you’ve read? If you’ve read The Guardian, what are YOUR favorite quotes from it? (If you haven’t read it, when are you planning to? *innocent smile* 😜) Celebrate this new release in the comments below!