Capturing Faith

Volume 1

By: Victoria G. Schwimley

Narrated by: Randi Larson

Chelsea Warren is the most popular girl in school, and the leader of the tightest clique on campus. The most important things to her are her looks and the respect of her followers. But Chelsea has a secret she doesn't want anyone to know. Amber Walker is compassionate, trustworthy, and the most well-adjusted girl in school. The most important thing to her is serving God and her community. When an argument between Chelsea and her best friend occurs, she runs straight to Amber for help. Amber discovers Chelsea's secret and turns to Pastor David Owens for assistance. Ryan Evers is the smartest boy on campus, but when a careless accident leaves one of the girls clinging to life and Ryan the object of hate, he also turns to David. Can David help these three troubled teens before it's too late?

©2010 2014 Victoria Schwimley (P)2014 Victoria Schwimley

Capturing Faith Volume 1 review

I liked this. It has interesting writing and characters, and I enjoyed listening to it. Worth the time and five stars.

Inspiring

What about Randi Larson’s performance did you like?

The performance was very age-appropriate for YA & was engaging.

Any additional comments?

These are the type of books teens need to be sure & incorporate into their listening and reading repertoire (collection). Choices need guidance & her faith helped guide her through the story.

A good story

Capturing Faith, by Victoria Schwimley is a YA novel with a Christian message. Now, I am neither a Christian, nor young (although, I hope I can be considered an adult), so I started to listen to this audiobook with some trepidation.

The book opens with an episode of verbal bullying that those of us who were not part of the ‘in crowd' in high school can relate to - a clique of girls taunting one of their classmates because she is ‘different.’ In this case, the difference is Amber’s open and unabashed practice of her religion. As the plot develops, Chelsea, the leader of the clique, becomes drawn to Amber’s faith and, in consequence, is ostracized by the other members of her clique.

To my relief, I discovered that Capturing Faith is about far more than belief in Christianity. It addresses several issues that confront young adults: bullying and being bullied; dealing with peer pressure and the pressure of parental expectations; and coping with tragic loss. Most importantly, the story is about taking responsibility for, and bearing the consequences of, one’s errors and actions.

Author Victoria Schwimley has drawn a portrait of a youtht will be familiar to many young adults, and narrator Randi Larson has done Schwimley’s story justice. My only quibble is that Amber was too good to be true: a Pollyanna without flaws or doubts.

I received a free, no-obligation copy of this audiobook from the author.

Religious beliefs examined and a simple accident

This story is of teenagers, their beliefs, insecurities and mis-judgement in their ability to monitor their own behavior, in this instance, an example of the over use of caffeine.
An examination of the manner in which a belief in God, and how to best help others find their way to believing, is all interwoven with the lives of High school students and their everyday life dramas.
Also, there is a stark reminder of the excess of drugs and driving can have dior consequences, and it may not just affect the person driving.
I found the first half heavy on the religious messages, but as the tale unfolded, the reason for this becomes clear.

A Teenage Look At Living The Christian Life

Capturing Faith. That makes me think of a run-away story where Faith is on the run and we are looking for her. There is no person named Faith in this story. This fictional story could take place anywhere in America. Even in your high school. But don’t get the idea that this story is just for your teenage kids. This story is for anyone that has tried to live out their faith in Christ and feel they have come up short. In other words, this book is for you.

Although the main characters in this story are all teenagers, sex is not the subject matter. This is a clean story but it is a very dramatic story. God may not cause the pain in your life, you can do that well enough on your own, but He does use your circumstances as teaching moments to draw you closer to Him. To teach you to trust Him in all things, in every part of your life.

If you have ever looked for a real book about real life then this would be a good book to get. Especially if you are a Christian struggling to live in this fallen world. The Bible is the training manual. This book is simply a good story to help you understand how to live the what the Bible teaches in today’s very secular world.

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Kind of Paranormal? LOL!

Narration, Randi Larson - superb! Loved every minute of it.

This story - first I will tell you that this is a very spiritual book. Filled with references to God, the bible, kids going to bible study, kids doing good things, kids being hateful, gossipy and mean - and kids doing the right things.

Spiritual books are not normally my thing, BUT, this was a really good book. The pages were filled with love and kindness and kind of unbelievably good teenagers. I'm sure there are a lot of these good kids out there, just haven't personally interacted with them all that much. There were also your more typical snarky, mean teens who made fun of the kids who believed in God and went to church.

One of these mean gals is Chelsea - queen bee of the mean girls, but she has a fight with her second in command, ends up in a battle with her old group and comforted by Amber. So this is about some discovery for this girl who was shallow and hateful and learns a better way in life with the help of some good friends and a local pastor. Amber is like the super teen of super teens. She's just the way you want your kids to be. Kind, caring, smart, hardworking, even tempered, loyal and overall a great kid and example for others. (Yeah, a little paranormal here)

So - a lot of stuff happens in this book and I just can't tell you or it will ruin it. But there was a plot twist that had me pulling out the Kleenex and here came the ugly cry! I spent some major time being really mad at the author. Not her fault. She wrote an emotional twist with some really valuable lessons that had to be learned the hard way. I get that. It just tore my heart out. So, while these wonderful teens seemed kind of alien to me, it was not a paranormal book. It was a terrific Christian, teen, clean romance and I really enjoyed it!

I received this audiobook free of charge from AudiobookBoom in exchange for an unbiased review

Great Story FOR ALL AGES!!

This Is an amazing story for all ages!! It says YA as the Genre BUT I LOVED IT!! Victoria Did an amazing Job!! This book touches on "REAL LIFE SITUATIONS"(including Religion HOWEVER ITS NOT OVER BEARING)I DIDN'T SEE THE PLOT TWIST COMING so that was cool that this story IS NOT Predictable!! I loved the Characters & could relate to them! Randi Larson Did a Good job Reading the story!!
I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!! GREAT JOB!! I CAN'T WAIT TO READ MORE BY YOU VICTORIA!!

I loved this book!

First let me tell you this: I'm not a Christian. So, what on Earth is a new-ager like me doing picking up a book that's basically a doorway into Christian faith?

It was Amber Walker in the audio sample. She got me immediately. I'd like to be more like her! So I listened to Capturing Faith, and I was completely delighted by it.

Victoria Schwimley has a gift of describing the mental and emotional change that takes place before, during and after you find faith - and in teenagers, no less! I myself found my own story of finding faith there, right down to the "God bug" :D Faith is universal, and so is the joy of finding it - so this is a great book whether you believe in God, the Universe or however you call the loving higher power.

This book describes to young adults what faith and church are about. Victoria Schwimley is unveiling the mystery, so to speak. In a very nice way. As a non-Christian, I really appreciate that no one in this book is pushing anybody into Christian faith, knowing deep down that when it's time for it to happen, it will, and Amber is standing patiently nearby to lend a hand.

The young characters Ms. Schwimley created for us are loveable and relatable - at least for a 32 year old me :) Beware though - you spend most time in Chelsea's point of view, and just when you start being really invested in her transformation, that point of view is ripped from you. It's jarring, as it's supposed to be... It almost took me out of the story. But Amber and her friends restored all that by being thoughtful young people.

The narrator's young voice is perfect for the piece, and she's really good, lending the story a lot of life.

Ms. Schwimley, you have captured me and I have faith in this series!



I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.

Great story good narration

What an inspiring story. It had all the right feels and the narrator did a great job telling the story. I felt a part of their world physically and emotionally. Job well done

Capturing Faith

Any additional comments?

I received this free audio book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book!! I don't normally read this genre but this book was really good. The friendship between Chelsea and Amber and the familial struggles of Chelsea's family. It was so well written and fun to read.