Book Review: In A Far-Off Land by Stephanie Landsem

In A Far-Off Land - Stephanie Landsem - 4.5 to 5 Stars

This book took me THROUGH it! 

This book is a heartbreaking but beautiful prodigal daughter story - THAT ENDING has me in tears! The good kind.

Minerva goes to Hollywood from the Midwest in an effort to make it big to make money to help her sister and father from their debt so they don’t lose everything they own.

She finds herself on the streets, making mistakes and with the wrong people very quickly. She meets Max and things get better as he is helping her figure things out along the way….until she ends up waking up next to a dead film star and being blamed for the murder. She finds herself hiding out in Oscar’s (Max’s Cousin and a Mexican Gardner in danger of deportation) home while Max and Oscar battle their past together and try to help Minerva’s name get cleared and keep the family safe.

Minerva went through such hardships in Hollywood. So much sadness, hurt and she made some really bad decisions. But God was with her the entire time. Even when she didn’t see it. Her father is worrying about her the entire time, going to the bus stop every week to see if she has returned. She doesn’t feel like her father will ever forgive her when or if she goes home. She doesn’t feel good enough for Max or anyone else because of the things she has done and things that have happened to her. But she is enough. Because God is enough.

Such a good message about forgiveness. The authors note says her hope is that through this reimagining of the Parable of the Lost Son, we can see ourselves in one - or all - of the characters. Some are seeking redemption and forgiveness — “For aren’t we all wayward children going to return to the arms of our Father? And don’t we long for him to say, “I forgive you, my child. I love you. Always. No matter what.” Amen.

I am so glad I read this and this book will truly stick with me. This book is a Christian, historical fiction- with a little romance but mostly a historical fiction story. There are trigger warnings of sexual assault, prostitution, smoking, drinking, closed door scene not graphic. There may be other things I missed but it’s was basically Hollywood in the 1920-1930s so you see what I mean with the content to expect. But, the ending with the forgiveness and faith thread - beautiful and worth reading for. I would say this is for adult readers 17+ because of the subject matter but the content was definitely there for a reason to show everything she went through.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5951862291
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QNmk0B
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/264781

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw_MGwskxR4&t= 
*All amazon links are an affiliate link and a small commission may be earned if purchases are made from that link.