Francine Rivers is the best for a reason.

As a HUGE Francine Rivers fan, I have to admit that I was slightly disappointed in her two latest books (The Marta's Legacy Series). While good books, I felt they lacked the connection to the characters that I'd come to love about her other books. Whether it was the narration or the writing, I felt disconnected and disappointed.

Bridge to Haven is back to the Francine Rivers I adore. Redeeming Love and the Mark of the Lion series are my favorites by her, and Bridge to Haven is in their caliber. I laughed out loud, I cried, and I sang along with the Hymns that I recognized. The setting is fantastic, 40s-50s California, with references to all the old stars. Aubra will connect to so many girls/women of today, who feel they need to change themselves in order to be loved, that they have to be perfect or be discarded. It's a wonderful, touching, at times tragic, and at times lusty (did I just say lusty in reference to a Christian romance!?).

Francine finds a way to describe what Aubra goes through in regards to her search for love (ie: what normally are referred to as sex scenes but really aren't in this book). You experiences what she does, and are in the situation, without the graphic-ness that a secular book would have. If that's an issue, please don't let it deter you from the book. It's integral to the story, and is very tastefully written.

It's the best book I've read in a very long time. Francine Rivers books are always a cut above the rest and have a realness to them, and a way of the workings of God that a lot of other Christian fiction books tend to ignore in place of their own agendas. Francine's books are there to show us God's love for us, and Bridge to Haven does just that in a well written, hauntingly beautiful tale of a young girl searching for love and her place in the world.

HIGHLY recommended. Well worth your time.

99 people found this helpful

My favorite Francine Rivers book so far.

I started this book on the day it came out and I couldn't put it down. Each time I read one of Francine's novels, I'm reminded why she is my favorite Christian Fiction author. My first read from Francine was Redeeming Love, and I thought that one was really good, but this one has to be my favorite. The characters really move you. Like I say, I couldn't put it down. In fact, I went over my lunch break by 15 minutes one day this week because I got caught up in the story. Five stars all the way.

45 people found this helpful

Broken People, Aching Souls, God of Grace and Love

Born in 1936, left under a bridge, abandoned and found by Pastor Zeke, Abra began life alone. Then loved and treasured by Zeke, his wife Marianne, and their son Joshua, Abra feels safe . . . for five years. Widowed, grief stricken and weighed down by the demands of his church ministry, Pastor Zeke allows the Matthews family from his parish to adopt Abra. Brokenhearted, Abra doesn't trust anyone . . . let alone a God who would take Marianne, the only mother she had ever known away. At seventeen, Abra runs off with a good looking rich boy, mistaking his attentions for love, leading her on a five year search to "find herself". But as far and as hard as she could run, she couldn't outrun God. Bridge to Haven is a well written, honest look at broken people in need of a loving God. All of us Christians would do well to listen and learn . . . to love as Christ loves, to extend grace as Christ does, and to be His hands and feet in a world in much need of acceptance and care.

14 people found this helpful

Inspirational as usual

Francine Rivers has always been one of my favourite authors. This much anticipated book did not disappoint. Inspiring story, showing God's love and commitment to us, even when we feel like all hope is lost. Thank you Ms Rivers!

10 people found this helpful

I really Really REALLY wanted to love this

Where does Bridge to Haven rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'm very picky when it comes to narrators- I can't count how many audiobooks I've returned because I couldn't stand the narrator. Kate Forbes does a good job-sometimes I was very aware of how slowly she speaks. Maybe it was because the story lagged at times in the middle It is near the bottom of my list of Francine Rivers books but better than most of the books in my library.

What was most disappointing about Francine Rivers’s story?

It just wasn't as good as some of her other books-it is probably compared to Redeeming Love more than the other books. It just feels to me to be too much like that book's plot-damaged, lost soul of a fallen women saved by a godly Christ-like man. The thing that appeals to me about Francine Rivers is the diversity of her books: Mark of the Lion, Redeeming Love, The Last Sin Eater, The Scarlet Thread and Loeta's Garden and the Lineage of Grace books are some of my favorite books and are all wonderful but so different. This book just didn't have the same impact on me as some of her others have. I also got weary hearing how many ways Abra was abused and taken advantage of-this book had more "sex scenes" than other books of hers I have read. They didn't offend me as being inappropriate, there were just so many of them! I inwardly cringed every time I started listening in the middle of the book ( as in " what terrible things are going to happen to her now?") The "Big Reveal" at the end wasn't a surprise and was kind of obvious.

Did Kate Forbes do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

A pet peeve of mine is when female narrators try to lower their voices and sound like men narrating men's characters. Kate Forbes lowers her voice a bit when reading male characters but she also changes HOW the talk-slower and with different accents. It is one of her strengths as a narrator.

If you could rename Bridge to Haven, what would you call it?

I hate this question-I'm not a publisher or author. I have no idea.

Any additional comments?

This isn't an awful book and I don't hate it and I don't regret spending 17 hours listening to it. I just doesn't have the impact some of her other books have had on me.

26 people found this helpful

Great Story—Narrator Lessened the Impact

Francine Rivers gave us a fantastic story of how our choices impact our lives and the lives of those who care about us; and how God is with us even when we do not see him weaving a trail out of the darkness back into the light. Anyone can relate a character to his or her own life experience(s).

That being said, while the story itself is great, the narrator greatly decreases the fullness of Rivers’ words because she reads the book, she does not perform the story. I gave rated the way I did largely due to the performance.

4 people found this helpful

bridge to Haven

Great inspirational book! Listened to it on my 9.5 hour trip home from spring break.

4 people found this helpful

I LOVE Francine Rivers

I absolutely love Francine Rivers. She is my favorite author. Redeeming Love was such an amazing story of redemption, forgiveness, and love. Because I love Francine Rivers as much as I do, I was so excited to see that her new book was out. I rushed to add it to my queue and I started listening right away. I have to say, this is the first book that I was really disappointed with. The writing seemed sloppy, not her usual style or ability displayed. I was amazed at all the general catch phrases she used. I was actually waiting for this one to end so that I could pick something else. I was very disappointed in the quality of this book and the narrator. It felt like a quota book instead of a book written out of passion. This was certainly a miss for me.

9 people found this helpful

Bridge to Haven

Most beautifull book that i have ever red. Thanks ! Cant wait to read more of her books .

3 people found this helpful

True love

I enjoyed this book. I laughed and cried. One woman journal of life, hoping Jesus is with her but thinking he's not.

3 people found this helpful