Travis Gulbrandson

This book is horribly depressing. It is a long story of child abuse. Mrs. Baker runs children's homes for the sake of being able to collect money. However, while she lives comfortably, the children are starved and dirty. When one home is closed down she moves and starts another.

I am not sure what the point of the book is supposed to be. There is no insight into her character. She is never held to account for her actions. Every now and then there is a short passage that makes you think this is going somewhere finally. But then it doesn't. At the very least, it would help to have a little more idea of how much of this is based on historical facts.

Before being properly published this would need a lot of editing. Proper chapter divisions would help a lot. I got this book as a review copy, and assume that both the text and the e-book realization are not in their final form.… (mehr)

Reading the book off the kindle app on my phone made it feel like a long read but it was a decent one. There was enough details to keep you interested, though not sufficient enough to put it to the imagination. Not much time was spent on character descriptions for they were vague, if any, even Mrs. Baker's, the main protagonist. Both her sisters looked like a better or worse version of Mrs. Baker, no difference other than age. The book needs some revision I was confused a bit of the time; conversations between characters were hard to track, what read like narratives were actually player perspectives and transitions between days, years, and conversations were sudden and abrupt. Three stars because phone added to the confusion, making my overall reading experience unbearable.… (mehr)

Believers
By: Travis Gulbrandson
Thriller Pages. 213
Copy Courtesy of Librarything Member Giveaway
Reviewed by: tk

In the small town of Bryant, a traveling young man is in search of Edith Parker. He needs to give her a message…from her dead husband. This man goes by the name of Jacob Peterson. He is never sure when the next message to be delivered will come, or where it will lead him. For most people his messages are wonderful and enduring. He is a man of simple means, and a firm grip on the bible for guidance, so a harmless angel he may be.

What happens when Jacob’s messages are not wonderful, but dark and deadly. For some he can be their worst nightmare. Is he really an angel, or the devil in disguise.

The first half for this book had me. I couldn’t put it down. However, I was lost through the last half of Jacob Peterson’s journey. I don’t know if it is a flaw in the story line, or the author wanted to lead into a different direction. The character of Jacob is dark, and twisted. I think I could actually like him, but at this point I am still unsure of his true purpose.

The small town, and the inhabitants add a great deal to the story line. Their individual stories are very believable. The story has a unique flow. I feel that another read of the book is in order for a later date. I must say it left an impression, although it is still unclear at this moment if it was a reader delight or not. 3/5… (mehr)

The Believers is a perfect title for this book. I found myself fascinated by the main character, who claims to receive messages from the dead and seeks the living person to deliver the message. The flashbacks were what I originally thought were two different people's stories, but then realized towards the end that it was the main characters memories. The characters were very fleshed out and realistic. It is a crazy story, and perfect for young adult, or adult readers. I felt like I needed more story at the ending, but I am interpreting the abrupt close to the climax as an intentional omission by the writer (or my ebook skipped a pager or two and I didn't know.) Overall, a great read, and I think the cover is one of the coolest covers I've ever seen.… (mehr)