The Carpenter’s Daughter by Jennifer Rodewald: Pre-Order & Release Extravaganza (plus a Giveaway!)

Posted April 8, 2016 by meezcarrie in Christian, contemporary, giveaway, Jennifer Rodewald / 2 Comments

Genre: Christian, Contemporary, Fiction
Publisher: Rooted Publishing
Publication Date: April 15, 2016
Number of pages: 349

One word can change a life…

Sarah Sharpe has grown up as a carpenter’s daughter, knowing only the rough and work-heavy world of her father’s blue-collar profession. Abandoned by her mother as a baby, she’s lived twenty-one years content to drive nails at her dad’s side. Following her father into the world of construction was a natural path, and she took it without a second thought. But a harsh comment about her “butch” appearance sends her on a search for identity.

Enter handsome and easygoing Jesse Chapman, the roofer she meets on her first foray into volunteer work for Homes For Hope. In every way, the quirky man is her opposite—confident, a people kind of guy, and most importantly, happy. His likable qualities continue to draw her in, and for some reason he keeps coming back to her. But they can’t be more than friends—he’s made that crystal clear. Except for a handful of times…and the confusion is driving her crazy.

Sarah’s quest for self-definition becomes more tangled than she ever imagined, and she discovers that the journey will take her deeper than clothes and makeup. Filling the void in her heart becomes an obsession she cannot escape. How far is she willing to go to discover who she really is?

GOODREADS | Pre-order now on AMAZON for $0.99

Jennifer Rodewald is passionate about the Word of God and the powerful vehicle of story. The draw to fiction has tugged hard on her heart since childhood, and when she began pursuing writing she set on stories that pointed to the grace of God. Jen lives and writes in a lovely speck of a town where she watches with amazement while her children grow up way too fast, gardens, and marvels at God’s mighty hand in everyday life. Four kids and her own personal superman make her home in southwestern Nebraska delightfully chaotic. She would love to hear from you! Please connect with Jennifer on:

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“Hauntingly tragic yet filled with hope, The Carpenter’s Daughter weaves a tale of discovering identity, craving love, and finding both in unexpected places. The deep introspective characters, polished prose, well-drawn construction settings, and spiritual lessons contained herein make this a novel that will stick with the reader long after the final words are read.” – Christina Coryell, author of The Camdyn Series

“An honest tale of one woman’s journey to self discovery that will have reader’s searching their own hearts.”

–Sarah Monzon, author of The Isaac Project

*written by Jennifer Rodewald for Singing Librarian Book Tours*

The Carpenter’s Daughter is ready to release. With my first two books, when I got to this point, I was sick to death of looking at them. You can only go over the same story so many times, you know. But this book…

Can I be honest? This story sank into me. Like deep. Really deep. I haven’t moved past it yet.

As a caveat, before I continue, let’s just clear this one thing up: I’m not Sarah Sharpe. Yes, my dad is a carpenter type guy. But that’s about all the outward similarities I share with this character who has gripped my heart. Around here, we lovingly refer to any project fail as “a Jen project.”

Yep. I’m that good (read: terrible. I can’t even measure correctly. I try. Truly I do. It just doesn’t work out.).

Sarah is a unique character. Butch, (I know I could have gone in all kinds of questionable directions with that name. You’ll just have to trust me.) but only outwardly, she’s not a damsel in distress. At least, not in your typical female lead kind of way. She is strong. She holds her own in a world that is still very much dominated by men, no matter what you see on HGTV. And she is uniquely talented.

And yet very vulnerable.

Paradox? Perhaps. Aren’t we all?

I love Sarah, because her struggles are raw and authentic…and very much mine. Every time Sarah asked “who am I?” I heard the question echo in my own heart. Honestly, is there a woman on this planet who hasn’t searched for her identity? For most of us, we’d admit that the hunt restarts with every changing season in our lives. And so, in that, I am she.

I am the woman who longs to be seen and understood. I am the girl hoping someone would see past the shell I take on in life. I am the one who aches to be loved just as me.

I am the woman who wants to be okay with who I am.

But, for all that honesty, here’s where I come undone. I am the girl Jesus loves.

Sometimes it takes a mess for us to really grasp that, doesn’t it? We search for our place, trying to fit in all the wrong spots, before we’re willing to hear that voice tell us what we are so desperate to hear.

He loves me.

Rest there, oh my soul. That is enough.

It’s life giving. Life changing.

Maybe that’s why I haven’t moved past it yet. Maybe I’ll just stay.