Lu Blog Tour: Book Review + Giveaway

**I received a complimentary copy of this book for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Lu by Beth Troy, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Lu
Author: Beth Troy
Publisher: Kingsbury Publishing
Release Date: June 21, 2017
Genre: Women's Fiction

Are we the sum of our circumstances or is there … more?

In a debut novel readers are calling “true to life,” “captivating,” and “cleverly written,” author Beth Troy takes on the story of Lu Sokolowski and her life upended. Lu’s plans have turned sideways, taking her back to the family and town she always planned to leave.

Lu is a modern woman’s honest journey to faith, that unapologetically addresses:
•The big questions women ask about their beliefs.
•The struggles women face in creating a fulfilling life.
•The complexity of family relationships.
•The tension between hope and reality.

 Lu is a story for readers looking for real growth in relatable characters who aren’t afraid to ask real questions. It’s for women who want to experience the full spectrum of who they are and what they believe. It’s for women who want a story about how faith integrates into the whole life of a woman. You will want to share this story with a friend – after you read it again yourself.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository  

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Beth Troy is a writer and educator who teaches courses in Creativity & Innovation and Women & Entrepreneurship at Miami University. Her first novel, Lu, is a modern woman’s journey back to her family, her faith, and herself. Beth will be publishing the sequel in Summer 2020. Beth lives in Ohio with her husband and three sons. Go to her site or follow her on Instagram to read more about her life and writing.

CONNECT WITH BETH: Website | Instagram  

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Oftentimes when reading an author's debut novel... well, it reads as such. I mean that in no disrespect to the authors, it just simply tends to lack the polish of more seasoned writers. Still, there are certainly exceptions to that, and as I read Lu. I discovered that this was certainly one of those! With a debut like this, I am truly anxious to see more from Beth Troy in the future.

First of all, this book doesn't read quite like anything I've found in the Christian fiction genre. We first meet Lu as she's leaving New York where she lived with her boyfriend, whom she'd just found out was cheating on her. When she comes back home she meets Jackson, a divorced pastor. Just the description of these two characters alone sounds pretty different than those typical in the genre, and perhaps would have some people turning away... but I encourage you to keep reading. There are also mentions of alcohol, physical intimacy (without going into detail) and yes, even a few (2-3) curse words tossed in there as well. Like I said, not your typical content for a Christian novel... and yet, despite all this, I felt it has more Christian content than most novels in the genre. What first starts to read as more of a romantic love story in the making, really is ultimately a very different kind of love story... a story about a woman coming to and falling in love with God. And what a beautiful story that is! All of these imperfect elements to me made this story all the more believable. Life is not always as clean and black and white as many Christian novels portray... and that is exactly why we need a Savior.

While I enjoyed the hints of romantic love between Lu and Jackson and do hope to see where it leads in future novels, it was watching that journey towards God's truth that I really enjoyed. At the start, Lu had a lot of questions... as so many do. She attends church with her family, but does so reluctantly. Still, as the story goes on and we see her studying through Ecclesiastes in great detail, we see those walls start to break down. It was truly a beautiful thing!

Overall, this is a fantastic read and one that I think fans of Christian will both be surprised by and fall in love with. I cannot wait to see what comes next from this fresh new voice in Christian fiction.

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(1) winner will receive a bookish library card mug!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight May 12, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on May 19, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

 

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.