Tackling the Fields

Southern Hearts Series, Volume 3

By: Janet W. Ferguson

Narrated by: Naomi Karez

Cole Sanders is a changed man. The university quarterback questions his direction in life after serving on a mission trip in Honduras. Things that used to fill Cole's ego seem empty after witnessing the developing country's extreme poverty and the death of a precious child. The one glimmer of hope through his confusion is the fresh perspective he now has about his tutor, Audrey. She possesses something beautiful inside and out - something that might help him become the person he wants to be.

University senior Audrey Vaughn tutored Cole Sanders for an entire year and never imagined the popular quarterback would see her as anything more than a friend. After partnering with him on the mission trip, they are drawn together. He appears to have changed for the better. To let Cole into her life, Audrey will have to overcome not only her brother's distrust, but also the paralyzing fear still lingering from a past she's tried to leave behind.

Cole can't walk away from Audrey now that they're back in Oxford. He'll have to figure out how to keep her giant of a brother, a lineman on his football team, from killing him when the coach has his back turned. But can Audrey trust her heart to a player so similar to the one who stole so much from her in the past?

©2016 Janet Ferguson (P)2018 Janet Ferguson

More time in Oxford

I'm such a slow listener!
I just spent 3 months listening to this story (as opposed to the first 2 in the series which I read in a couple of days each) so I feel like I've been living with Audrey and Cole for awhile now. I loved hearing them grow and struggle through their issues and live through the consequences of their decisions. Loved hearing what the people from previous books were up to (Coach McCoy mostly, but Sarah Beth, Cassie and Dylan too.)

The narrator enunciates clearly and does voices very well. She sometimes reads phrases as whole sentences and reads with a lot of expression so mundane actions sound exciting. (Eg. 'He sat down at the table. Stretching his legs out in front of him!' [This is not an actual quote from the book just an example for illustrative purposes.] She also has an interesting way of pronouncing words ending in n't (couldn't, wouldn't, etc.) Perhaps it's a southern accent thing?

Loved it!

I have read this story before, but had not listened to the audio version until now. The story was just as moving as I remembered and the narration was so well done! The author did a good job with character voices and it made for a great listening experience.

Great Lessons for Life

First, I loved this story! ❤️ I highly recommend it!
There are many great lessons for dealing with difficult things in this book.
Star quarterback and party boy, Cole, has a life changing experience while on a mission trip to Honduras.
He becomes a Christian and falls in love with the girl who is his tutor, Audrey.
Audrey has a huge, overprotective, linebacker brother, Grant, who does not like Cole. He has reasons for the way he is. Audrey is still dealing with the trauma.

I loved the sweet romance between Cole and Audrey. They have a lot to learn and overcome. The Bible study that Cole asked Audrey to do with him was fantastic!

I thought the author was very sensitive and respectful in how she wrote about the difficult subjects in this story.

Narrator, Naomi Karez, brings out both the intense and subtle emotions of the characters very well.

l loved it!

I loved this story so much. It was such a sweet, romantic, and inspirational book.The narrator did an excellent job.

Christian based novel

I loved the storyline about the struggles of the college students, concerns about sports & life after college and new Christians.

Cole and Audrey find their way Together

This is the third int he Southern Hearts Series. This story follows college quarterback, Cole Sanders and his relationship with his former tutor, Audrey Vaughn after the missions trip to Honduras (book 2). They have many obstacles to conquer. The biggest, besides Audrey's overprotective brother, is Audrey's past.

This story can be a little frustrating at times. Cole, Audrey and her brother are too quick to jump to conclusions. But, as you keep listening, you begin to understand that we can all be too quick to jump to conclusions. It doesn't matter whether we are Christian or not. We are all human. What author Ferguson brings, is the humility and grace of being a Christian. That's not the same as being perfect.

Ferguson writes very much like Karen Kingsbury. Her characters are real, not fake. They are flawed, just like us. Bravo! I look forward to the next book, Blown Together.

Narrator Naomi Karez is articulate and clear in her narration. She is very consistent from books 1 through 3. I never really felt a full connection to the characters, but I knew that from book 1. I listened to books 2 and 3 expecting to be read to. Ms. Karez has a nice voice that worked well with this genre.

I received a copy of this audiobook from the author. My views are voluntarily offered and unbiased.

Mature Content: none (reference to Audrey's past - think Me Too movement. Also references to human trafficking)