This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
A Portal to Vibrancy by Laurette Folk is a coming of age novel. Jackie Fellini was brought up a staunch Catholic; she and her family were programmed by the church they believe in. Jackie wants nothing more than to please her family, achieving straight A’s at school, but she can’t help having sinister preoccupations. When Stephen moves in across the street, Jackie feels drawn to him in ways she probably shouldn’t. Stephen is an atheist, not the best match for a Catholic girl, but you can't help who you fall for. He pops up in Jackie’s life at odd moments, forcing her to start examining her life, her programming, and to find out who she is as a woman and an artist, not just the Catholic girl next door.
A Portal to Vibrancy by Laurette Folk is slightly more than your standard coming of age story. There is much depth to this and the style of writing makes you feel like you are living Jackie’s life rather than just reading about it. It is a deep story; there are some sexual situations, although nothing that anyone could find offensive, and it flows quite naturally. Laurette Folk is clearly at home as an artistic writer and that comes across in her wording, the style of the story and the detail that she goes into, including the character definitions. The development of Jackie and Stephen will have you holding your breath in places and gasping in surprise at others. This is a nice story, not overly complex and with just enough action to keep a reader interested. I did struggle to get started with it but once I was in, I was there all the way.
