Finding Ginny by Jen Dodrill is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the opening paragraph: Virginia Beach, VA
“The morning my life changed started like any other. My alarm buzzed. I yanked out the plug and tossed the thing into my closet as if banishing a bad habit. Two months of summer stretched before me like an empty beach with endless possibilities.”
But first the photo and verse. The verse is one I’ve claimed since the first time I read through the Bible over twenty years ago. It just speaks to me. And I always love sunrises, in case you can’t tell.
Now for Finding Ginny by Jen Dodrill. Here’s the cover and back copy:
Kat Johnson is a widowed elementary school teacher living a quiet life in Virginia Beach—until her estranged daughter returns after eight years, leaves behind a six-year-old granddaughter Kat never knew existed, and disappears.
Ginny is frightened, vulnerable, and desperate for stability. Kat opens her home and her heart, knowing Becky is still battling drug addiction and could come back for Ginny at any time. As summers pass and Ginny keeps returning, their bond grows stronger—but Becky’s relapses grow more dangerous.
When Becky vanishes, and Ginny is taken across state lines, Kat must fight for custody of the child who has become her world. Facing a failing heart, a painful family history, and impossible legal odds, Kat turns to her faith, her friends, and a strength she never knew she had.
In a battle between addiction and love, only one can win.
Finding Ginny is a deeply emotional women’s fiction novel about multigenerational family bonds, addiction recovery, custody battles, second chances, faith, forgiveness, and the healing power of unconditional love. Perfect for readers who enjoy heartfelt family dramas, inspirational Christian fiction, and stories about strong women protecting the children they love.
My take:
Finding Ginny by Jen Dodrill is everything the back cover copy says. It hooked me from the first sentence and kept me reading way into the night. Ginny was so easy to love; the same with Kat, Ginny’s grandmother. The mom, Becky, not so much, but her part of the story helped me understand addiction better than anything I’ve ever read.
Dodrill is a master at creating flawed characters and making you yearn for the best for them. I love that the main character, along with some of the others, is older and written so realistically. I loved seeing Ginny’s resilience, even though her dealings with her mom brought tears to my eyes. This is a story that will wrap around your heart and one that you’ll think about long after The End.
You can get Finding Ginny on Amazon, and it’s available in KU. Just click Finding Ginny.
Okay readers, what book are you reading this week? Leave your answer in the comments, and I’ll enter you in an April drawing for a book lamp like the one I use!
Here’s this week’s song. It was written by Lawrence Chewning after he and his wife experienced what they now call their year of sorrows. The death of a father, health problems, burnout in ministry, their third miscarriage… It truly felt as if their visions and dreams had “slipped right through like they were only grains of sand”. The song is an amazing testimony to their faith.
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Comments 36
Finding Ginny sounds good! I am reading This Little Nowhere, Nothing Town by Sara Davison. It’s a collection of Christian women’s-fiction novellas centered around her Rose Tattoo series. The stories are sweet. The first line of the first novella which is called Taste of Heaven: “Daphne!”
Author
Sara Davison is a favorite author of mine, Priscilla. I think you would enjoy Finding Ginny.
I am going to get Finding Ginny as soon as I can. It sounds really good! I am reading The Amish Bible Story Series Books 1-6 by Ashley Emma. It is really good! The first book is titled Abraham and Sarah’s Amish Baby. The first line is,
Abraham Lehman hummed a hymn as he rode his buggy down the dirt lane, stopping in front of his small, humble home- a sturdy little maroon house that he would have filled with children years ago if he had ever gotten married.
I highly recommend this book and series!
Author
What an interesting first line! I’ll have to check it out.
I love sunrises because they bring hope for the beginning day. I love sunsets because they promise quiet for my soul. God is good all the time.
I’ve not heard that song before. The Anchor surely does hold.
I just started reading “Deadly Reunion” by Laura Scott. It’s part of her Grayson’s Guardians series. It begins: “Bryn Sinclair unlocked the back door to her house and stepped across the threshold…Someone was in her house!” It’s off to a good start.
I just finished “Warrior” by Lisa Phillips which is the second book in the series Heroes of Renegade, set in a small Colorado town of the same name. I believe this series will be one of the best in the Christian suspense genre this year.
Author
I so agree with your sunrise/sunset statement, Tim. As for “The Anchor Holds”, I wish I had a recording of the song by one of our choir members–it’s so good. That’s where I first heard the song. And I’ll have to check out Lisa Phillips new series!
Actually Lisa is one of the authors contributing to the series. Here’s the list (asterisk means not yet released):
Heroes of Renegade #1(2026) Renegade (Susan Warren) Kindle
Heroes of Renegade #2(2026) Warrior (Lisa Phillips)
*Heroes of Renegade #3(2026) Protector (Jennifer Pierce)
*Heroes of Renegade #4(2026) Rescurer (Dana Lynn)
*Heroes of Renegade #5(2026) Guardian (Jennifer Chastain)
*Heroes of Renegade #6(2026) Defender (Michelle Aleckson)
*Heroes of Renegade #7(2026) Shadow (Susan Warren)
Author
These all look really good, Tim.
I’ve heard so much about Finding Ginny, but I really never knew what it was about. Thanks,Pat, for the review. I think this is a book to pursue.
Boy that verse sure goes with the photo. Perfect!
I’ve heard The Anchor Holds before, but seeing it with the photos and the words sure did make an impact. It’s true the anchor holds. . .Jesus!
I just finished Deborah Sprinkle’s last book in her Mac and Sam series. I’m getting ready to read, We three Kings by Crystal Caudill, Cara Putnam and Angela Ruth Strong. “The day Celestial Issacs met Aldrich Weiss at a shareholder soirée, she knew they’d marry. Too bad the man was too thickheaded to realize it.”
Author
I’m glad to introduce you to The Anchor Holds. It’s one of my favorite songs! (Don’t I say that every week??) That first line makes me want to read We Three Kings.
nothing now
Author
Been there, done that, BN100!
Thank you for reviewing Finding Ginny! I’m almost finished with a book by Steven James, and then I’ll dive into the 2nd book in that series!
Author
I love Finding Ginny, Jen. One of the best book I’ve read this year. Love all of Steven James’ books.
I am reading a sweet romance by Denise Hunter coming out Tuesday.
When Jenna Greene’s boyfriend got down on bended knee in the middle of their favorite upscale restaurant, she frowned in confusion.
More than Friends by Denise Hunter
Author
Great opening line, Gloria!
I love your verse, and this is a book I want to read!
Author
You’ll enjoy it, Delores.
“You ought’a be right proud of yourself.”
I’m reading The Bounty Hunter and the Bride by Vickie McDonough.
Love your photo. I’m more of a sunset kinda girl. Never can get up early enough for a sunrise.
Author
I’ve always been an early riser, Gail, so it’s not hard for me to get a photo of the sun coming up, but I love sunsets, too. 🙂
Beautiful sunrise! Great scripture!
The Anchor Holds was familiar to me as it was sung often at my church many years ago.
Finding Ginny sounds like an interesting read!
I just finished reading Every Deadly Suspicion by Janice Cantore. Great book.
Author
Thanks, Mary G. It’s sung at my church at least once a year, and often at funerals.
I am currently reading Finding Ginny and loving it.
Author
So glad you’re enjoying it, Carole!
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Author
It is, Diana! Thanks for commenting.
The camera never caught what mattered most the sweat on a man’s lip, the twitch of a nervous hand, the second before something went wrong. Kage the 6th commandment by Charlene Amsden. A new author for me. I am really enjoying this book.
Author
I love that opening, Sharon!
I LOVE the song. I was able to see Ray Boltz perform the song live in concert many years ago. Thank you for sharing it!
I am currently reading the third book on the Taken but not Forsaken anthology. I am not at home so I don’t have the first line or even the title of the book but I know it is by Cami Checketts.
Author
I’ll have to check that one out, Carolyn! I love “The Anchor Holds”, too.
currently reading Broken Silence by Lynn Shannon
Author
That sounds interesting, Shelia!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts of Finding Ginny. Sounds like a great read.
There were few better pleasures in life, thought Jane Darling, than to sit on the screened side porch on a Saturday morning in June, in the white wicker chair, with her coffee and oatmeal, and listen to the day wake up around her. They Danced On – Carre Armstrong Gardner
Enjoy your weekend!
Author
Very intriguing first line, Caryl! Enjoy your weekend as well!
I love those sunrises except when I’m driving, top the hill, and there it is staring me straight in the face. Great verse! I have loved that song since I first heard it back in the 90s. Various sources credit Ray Boltz with writing him, but Lawrence Chewning wrote it and Ray Boltz popularized. It’s a terrible shame that he let go of the anchor and chose an alternate lifestyle after singing some really great songs that inspired many.
Your book sounds interesting. It’s also interesting that this is the third book I have heard of recently set in Virginia Beach.
I am reading the book I won, The Persistent Road by Tim Bishop. I’m enjoying it, but have so many other things going on that I’m having trouble making time to read. The first line is one that none of us want to hear: “I’m sorry. Your cancer is spreading . . .”
Author
Edward, I thought I answered your comment Friday…I really enjoyed The Persistent Road and Tim Bishop is such a nice guy. He actually did the ride that’s in the book!