When you write a novel, you hope it will connect with readers and make some kind of impact. When I wrote JASMINE I prayed for that, and from letters, comments and reviews, those hopes are being fulfilled. But my fondest hopes never imagined JASMINE would be recognized in a contest. And certainly not a contest like the Carol Awards through American Christian Fiction Writers. To see the official announcement, click HERE. Jasmine is one of three finalists for debut novel!

So today, I’m going to highlight some of JASMINE’s reviews, and ask you to celebrate with me. If you’ve read JASMINE, would you please consider popping over to Amazon (here) and leave a review? Just a line or two. If you’ve read JASMINE or MACY and they touched your heart, would you recommend them to a friend?  And if you leave me a comment below, I’ll enter you into a contest for a signed copy of JASMINE to give to a friend or keep for you own.

Thanks so much to my readers for sharing and getting the word out! You guys really are the best.

JASMINE review highlights:

“McGowan’s well-developed characters honestly portray the cost of abuse and victimization on the streets few escape from. It’s a tale of hope, restoration and budding trust wrapped in God’s love and grace.” –Gail Welborn

“I highly recommend this book! My heart ached, grieved, even feared through this novel – April McGowan has a true gift from the Lord for writing, for understanding the human heart, and for demonstrating what the Lord can do in the most painful situations of life. Typically I would anticipate any great non-fiction work to be one that does not leave the reader unchanged. Jasmine, a work of fiction reflective of that which is played out in cities across America today, also does not leave the reader unchanged.” –Jeanie

“A captivating read with passages that melt your heart with the pain of Jasmine’s past and the struggle to find normalcy when her life has suffered from the deviant behavior of others. This is a story unafraid to ask the difficult questions about why bad things happen. It does not provide all the answers–but directs readers to the One Who will never leave or forsake us, even in the darkest hours.”–Elaine Cooper

“This book is one I will long remember, and I’ll remember Jasmine and the women she helped. I’ll wonder what they are doing and how they are…The story is that real. April McGowan is a wonderful writer with a heart for women trying to escape abusive situations. Her love and dedication shine through as she weaves the ugliness of abuse and desperation of the victims into a beautiful story of rescue and redemption. This is a good read I highly recommend.” –D. Durrett

“I highly recommend this book if you yourself are a survivor of childhood abuse, if you have someone in your life who is, or if you just want to read a really good fiction book.” –Kim Counts

“Jasmine is a book to be read by so many–those who are hurting from abuse, sexual or any other kind. People who work with emotional scarred individuals will also love this book. But aside from being socially relevant, Jasmine is a really good story for its mystery, suspense, romance, and the redemption of lives and family.”–Christine Lindsay

“Jasmine is the story of a girl who runs away from an abusive father, only to return to her birthplace of pain as an adult. Though she may have left town years ago, she finds the love of friends and family didn’t go away, and to her surprise, neither did God’s love. Jasmine offers hope to many women who have ever felt alone in their pain. It’s a powerful story with hope and healing woven throughout. I especially enjoyed the way it ended! Very satisfying!”–Melody Roberts

A huge thanks to everyone for reviewing! Did JASMINE touch you? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below! I’ll draw from the comments below for a winner next Friday, June 11th.