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.
Ann Lee Miller earned a BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH) University and writes full-time in Phoenix, but left her heart in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where she grew up. She loves speaking to young adults and guest lectures on writing at several Arizona colleges. When she isn’t muddling through some crisis-real or imagined-you’ll find her hiking in the Superstition Mountains with her husband, blogging memoir at AnnLeeMiller.com, or meddling in her kids’ lives. Over 100,000 copies of Miller’s debut novel, Kicking Eternity, have been downloaded from Amazon.
Reviewed by Katelyn Hensel for Readers' Favorite
Avra's God is the first book in the New Smyrna Beach series by Ann Lee Miller. Revolving around the lives of a handful of college students, this book explores the complexities of love and family, of school and one's future, all while maintaining the complex web of religion, life, and romantic entanglements! The characters are real and palpable, with honest emotions and tough issues that they've got to work through in order to make the best of their lives and grow up, and grow stronger in their faith: both in God and each other.
I think I liked Avra and Cisco's romance and subsequent entanglements the best of all in this book. Avra had some quirks and seemed to have a good head on her shoulders, although that sometimes slipped when it came to Cisco and if he liked her or not! Cisco had a lot of issues and baggage following him around. It was sweet to see the way that he related to Avra's family and her brothers in particular. Kallie was another interesting character, and although her struggles weren't something I was familiar with, I really enjoyed her growth as a character.
I liked that Avra's God was able to showcase a sweet, realistic, and still romantic romance without any vulgarity or crudeness. This was a fun story about self-exploration, romance, love, and growing up. I hope the rest of the books in the New Smyrna Beach series live up to number one, but I trust that Ann Lee Miller has it well in hand!
