Unlike this authors’ other novels I had a hard time connecting with the main character and the story line. I kept wondering who Murphy Shepherd was and where this was all headed. Around chapter 7 or so, in swims Summer, a character I liked from the start. She is fun, animated and I was fascinated to hear her talk about how a book series helped her kick an opium addiction. (which I found fascinating – I had hoped the novel series was real. Summer made me want to read it! LOL!)

This is a story about sex-trafficking, and how Murph helps to rescue girls that were stolen and/or didn’t realize what they were signing up for. It’s a gritty, heart-wrenching story sprinkled with hope, and some quirky characters I enjoyed. It all comes together in the end as you can read as Murph shares his heart below. There is a cuss word or two but it goes with the territory of this hard to believe situation.

Murph describes to Summer…I wanted to create a place where we could help folks once we found them – help them walk the road from broken to not. So, we did. I bought a ghost town…we brought it back to life.”

Murph continues to share with Summer, “…..When I saw more than my own pain…Somewhere in there it struck me that love is what we’re made to do. It is the thing our hearts are made to pour…“We don’t love because people love us back. We love because we can. Because we were made to. Because it’s all we have. Because, at the end of the day, evil can take everything save one thing: your love. And when you come to realize that, that the only thing you really control in this life is your love, you’ll see maybe for the first time, that we’re all just lost.”

Amen! Amen!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com

I picked this one up when I saw a few stellar reviews from fellow Goodreads friends. I have never read this author before and for some reason the cover made me think it would be literary fiction. I would say it is more of a thriller, action book that reminds me of a Mission Impossible movie.

The mysterious hero of the book is known as Murph and we learn that he is an expert on rescuing young girls from the sex trade and this book is centered in Florida. He is a master boatman and knows the waters well which helps him track down the bad guys. Along the way he picks up a few stray passengers and helps them in their quests as well. There is a wonderful Labrador dog who saves the day.

I loved the references to a Colorado ghost town, and I want to visit! This one is beautifully written, but it is hard for me to give away any more plot points. I think it is best to go into this one blind. I think this would make a great escape read. If you like James Bond movies and don’t mind suspending belief a bit, this one would work for you!

This is a topical thriller about a man who rescues women from human traffickers. Murph lives alone and spends much of his time on the waterways in and around Florida. A chance meeting with Summer sets him off to find her daughter Angel, who is lost in the warp of the traffickers. What he didn't expect to find was Ellie, another young woman stuck in this mess, and that Ellie has a link to him (no spoilers). Know that there's a lot about boats and waterways; I found myself consulting a map of the area to see where he was. Murph's a priest and there's a strong faith element. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a fast paced and entertaining read.

I have never read anything from this author before. I LOVED this! While it was written well in advance of all this "virus stuff" it was so timely and fitting for what's happening in the world right now. I can't wait for the next one :)

Murphy "Murph" Shephard is an enigma for sure and one of the most unique characters that I have had the great pleasure of reading. He is a priest, government agent, author, and one of the wounded that has a sole mission to help and save others. This book starts in with a mission to deliver Fingers to the end of the ocean. He is soon joined by a woman who is desperately seeking her daughter Angel, a man that has just been released from prison, a girl that is trying to find herself and her place in the world, and the smartest dog Tabby/Gunner. I love that this book blends genres and also brings attention to the underground world of sex trafficking as well. I desperately want to read more about Murph and hope that this is the start of a series. Thanks for the ARC, First Editions/ NetGalley.

Oh. My. Heart. Charles Martin weaves a tale that broke it right in two and put it back together making it more than the sum of its parts. Talk about layers! This book has a surprise at every stop on the IC and as the group on the boat grows, the adrenaline rises. If you could combine Francine Rivers, Nicholas Sparks, and Daniel Silva into one person -- this is what you would get. Folks who love boats and the ocean will get some extra thrills. Social justice warriors will rejoice in the karate chop that hits the white slave trade. For me, this book fed both my heart and my soul -- a rare combination.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

For me, this book really struggled to get off the ground. I think the back story, or the introduction was just far too long. The long dialogue and conversations were just hard to get around, if felt like you were sort of walking through mud to get interested. I even tried to have my mom read it, and she gave up after 11%. I just think it needs help getting started. I typically have loved all of Charles Martin's books...this one was just not grabbing me.

Murph is a mysterious man with a haunted past. He lives and works in a chapel in Florida when he’s not on a mission or on the water. Nearby is a popular sandbar where boats dock to party and enjoy the water, sunshine and views. When a young girl comes by the chapel, obviously on something and in some sort of trouble, Murph isn’t able to just let her go. He gives her his satellite phone number and lets her know he’ll be there if she ever needs anything.

Shortly after, by the docks, Murph watches a very distraught woman running and clearly looking for someone. The description matches the young girl that came by the chapel. Fearing a dead end, the woman steals a boat and takes off. It’s obvious to Murph the woman has no idea what she’s doing and could get herself into real trouble. Again, unable to let her risk her life, Murph hops in his own boat and takes off after her.

Sure enough, the woman, Summer, gets in an accident and Murph rescues her. Confirming the girl Summer is looking for is the same girl Murph encountered, he takes it upon himself to help track her down. He has history and experience with this dark underworld and it’s clear to him that the girl, Angel, has gotten herself wrapped in the flesh trade.

Summer and Murph embark on a mission to save Angel. Along the way, they learn about each other and pick up other wanderers including a dog, an ex convict, and a young girl who doesn’t know who she is. The trip is not only an adventure to rescue Angel, but a mission of self discovery and faith.

Generally, the story felt a bit predictable and incredibly unrealistic. I could definitely see this as a Liam Neeson movie filled with action, peril, unrequited love, and an unlikely hero.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is a well written book that holds your attention. This is the first fiction book I've read by Charles Martin, now I'm hooked. This book tackles a hard subject, but it is a beautifully written, emotional read. I can't wait to read more books by this author. This book is 5 stars all the way! Thank you Thomas Nelson--FICTION via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I'm always excited to read a new Charles Martin. This one, however, just fell flat. I could tell he was going for the heart that he always has in his novels, but The Water Keeper felt like it was trying just a little too hard. Everything was disguised in so many layers of metaphor that I eventually felt like I had no idea what was actual plot and what was symbolic. He's done something like this before, like the twist in The Mountain Between Us, but there, it was just one big reveal. In this book, it felt like every chapter for the second half of the book revealed some new information, most of which didn't really make sense. Murph's backstory was confusing and mangled, so I really didn't know who he was as a character, since, again, I didn't know what was real. I would have preferred a much simpler, more straightforward, telling of this story.

The plot centered around sex trafficking in Florida & the southern United States - it's a huge problem that not as many people know about and I'm glad Martin chose to set a book around it. The action was heart pounding at times, and well written.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Charles Martin is such a great storyteller! I have loved everything he has written & anxiously await his next novel. This one was no exception. He has taken on a heavy subject with human trafficking, but does it with such grace saying how important it is to save the one. There is a lot of hurt and grief going on but moves to themes of love and forgiveness. Stressing the value of each of us and that we are all worthy of being saved.

I found the book a little confusing and slow to start but once I caught on to the story it was hard to put down. Murph was a very complex character who carried so much pain. Human trafficking is a horrific subject but author deals with it in a way that brings hope to the victims. The little tease at the conclusion will hopefully bring a new book with Clay's story. Highly recommended!

This book is full of well-developed characters and both unexpected and expected plot twists. The Water Keeper is a little more violent and gritty than other books I've read by Charles Martin because of the subject matter. For that reason, I would recommend it only for mature readers. I think someone familiar with Florida's east coast would find it even more interesting (I kind of got lost in the convoluted geography).

I’ve heard so many wonderful things about this author I was happy to get a copy of his newest release, The Water Keeper. It’s the first time I’ve read anything by this author.
If you enjoy literary reads, Charles Martin is an author to check out. There’s much prose, heavy description of waterways, boating references and setting, and deep point of view from the hero of the story.
The topic covered in this book could definitely be a trigger for some people as the story follows sex trafficking in the south of Florida. There is a surprising scene, somewhat provocative in the beginning that may turn readers off, though considering the subject matter it fits with the storyline.
I found the pacing to be slow and by the time I hit chapter five, my interest had waned. I do enjoy literary reads, but the main character is grieving heavily (of course he would be since he lost two very special people to him in a difficult circumstance) and it affected my mood as I was reading (isn’t that the mark of a good writer?). Considering world events as they are right now in 2020, I am partial to reading material that lightens my mood, not darkens it.
I found the author’s writing style to be engaging enough that I will check out previous works since many other readers have highly recommended his books.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was my second book by Charles Martin and I enjoyed it even more than the first one I read. It was a bit of a slow and confusing start, but well worth the payoff to stay the course.

Murphy, the main character, is a bit of a contradiction. He’s also full of secrets—or at least information that he chooses to keep to himself, revealing information only as needed. Murphy has found fulfillment in finding victims of human trafficking. The focus of the story is about the love that led Murphy to rescue victims and also led to his “other profession.”

The story was one with a strong sense of place. Set on the coastal waters of Florida and in Key West, Martin painted such a vivid picture that it was easy to imagine being there. There was quite a bit about boating, but the human trafficking was front and center in the story.

When Murphy meets a woman named Summer, the pace of the story really revs up. It was exciting, nerve-wracking and heart-warming. At times, I had to suspend belief a bit because when Murphy is in pursuit, he is close to being superhuman and unstoppable. I have to give a special shout out to Gunner, my favorite character in the book, who saved the day several times. Charles Martin, I thank you for not gutting me where Gunner was concerned.

Readers need not worry about explicit sexual content relating to the human trafficking. There is, however, quite a bit of violence at times, but the story moves fairly quickly, not dwelling on the injuries. With themes of love and forgiveness, this is a story that stresses the value of each of us and that we are all worthy of being saved.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to read an advance copy and give an honest review.

I have mulled over what to say about this book. Although it kept me reading to the end, I realized at the end that I didn’t like it as I have generally liked books by this author.

After the introductory scene in the book, where the main character meets Angel, the pace seems frenetic. The boat and water feature prominently in the story. I don’t know, maybe it’s the subject of human trafficking that put me off, but I just wasn’t moved by the story. I just kept reading to see what would happen, and I guess there was a satisfying ending of sorts. Is this the beginning of a series maybe?

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book by Charles Martin I've read and loved. The subject matter of this book is difficult. The story starts off leading you to believe one thing about the characters and I wasn't sure I'd be interested. It quickly changes and you start to realize who the characters really are. And you sort of do but there is a big twist later in the book. It ends with a couple of cliff hangers so I'm hopeful that means there will be a part 2.

After I finished reading The Water Keeper, I went through Charles Martin’s past book titles on Goodreads, and I notice to my surprise that a lot of his books include the word, water. This should not be a shock to me as all of his books are about healing the hurts that we accumulate in life.

We meet the main character Murphy Shepherd as he agrees to find Angel, the daughter of Summer a former drug addict and dancer. It is his mission in life to find young women who have or are about to become a part of the sex trafficking industry that operates on the Florida waters. He knows what he is doing because he has the invisible and visible wounds to prove he can and will do anything he can do to find and bring Angel back to her mother. What he didn’t expect was meeting a young girl named Ellie hiding on Gone Fiction. Murphy is a good man and he makes a promise to Ellie not realizing how she is connected to his past and his future. He didn’t realize that he would be reuniting and healing from a part of his past that he thought was dead.

I loved this storytelling journey that Charles Martin takes his readers on, it was one that had me confused at times because I’ve never navigated the waters of Florida, but never did I feel that Murphy wasn’t up to par to take me to parts of his heart that needed examining and healing. It was a world that I was glad that I could be safely steered to the best ending for this thrilling ride of a story, that is really fiction made up in someone’s imagination, though the sex trafficking part I know is not.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Water Keeper.

I couldn’t get enough of Water Keeper, but it was the very ending that, I at first didn’t like, but as I thought about it through the day, I realized it was exactly very appropriate.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in the review are completely my own. My gratitude to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley.

Look for my Elevator Ride with the Author series, coming May 5th with Charles Martin to get all the “behind-the-scenes” inspiration and more about this talented author.

One of my favorite authors, Southern master storyteller and New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin, kicks off an extraordinary new evocative series in celebration of his 20th anniversary of stories. This one gets ALL the stars from me and then some.

Beautifully executed, with power and precision, Charles Martin is at his finest (his best book yet) in this latest novel of forgiveness —THE WATER KEEPER. Hands down, The BEST Book of 2020! This book has it ALL! For guys and gals, young and old alike.

The author takes us on a (boat-Gone Fiction) “ride of your life” adventure from the Atlantic coastal NE Florida Intracoastal Waterway to the Southernmost part of the US— Key West. (Floridians will find a lot to like here).

With classic Charles Martin's signature style, fans have come to expect. Combining a perfect blending of a poignant Nicholas Sparks-The Notebook (love story romance) meets action-packed thrills and suspense of Greg Hurwitz (Orphan X series) and Harlan Coben.

An intriguing, moving, and memorable journey with heartfelt and broken characters seeking redemption, love, and forgiveness.

The people and bad guys they encounter along the journey are reminiscent of the works of authors: Richard Paul Evans (The Walk Series), and Catherine Ryan Hyde (Take Me With You and Stay).

The lyrical prose and stunning metaphors will draw you into the world of a complex broken man. David Bishop Murphy Shepherd (a priest, a recluse, a man who loves deeply, a fictional writer, and a powerful government agent).

He is resilient and will stop at nothing to save those sheep who have fallen astray from the fold to lead them back to their loved ones and freedom. However, he needs to be the kind of shepherd who will leave the warmth of the fire and the safety of the flock to risk the cold, the rain, and the sleepless nights to "find the ONE."

The historical and literary elements will remind you of (Ernest Hemingway) adventures, infused with literary icons, rich historical details, and vivid settings with an Old Florida flair.

From characters, Murphy meets along the way: Angel, a sixteen-year-old girl, pulled into sex and human trafficking.

A mother recovering from an Opioid addiction in search of her missing daughter before she is sold to the highest bidder.

An African American older gentleman ex-con (self-defense) sick and barely surviving, fighting to see the love of his life to make things right.

A tenacious white Labrador retriever, Gunner, who has nine lives and is the captain of this ship.

A young girl who is desperately trying to find her birth mother and father, a woman who is dying hiding from a world due to shame, leaving just enough crumbs for someone to see her.

A convent and Sister trying to protect. A mentor, a fellow agent, a rescuer, and just one more sheep to be saved before it is too late.

Martin intertwines humor, page-turning suspense, intense emotions, an endless love story, and unforgettable characters that reach into your heart and soul, searching for the healing power of love.

Ultimately uplifting and hopeful, leaving fans anxiously awaiting the next in the series. Prime for a TV series or the widescreen.

Flawless and irresistible, profoundly moving, and endlessly emotional. Fans continue to love the warmth and inspiration they draw from Martin's books and characters. They will be richly rewarded.

I highly recommend all his books (both fiction and nonfiction). Crossing multi-genres, Charles Martin proves once again that he is at the TOP OF HIS GAME! An Outstanding Achievement.

“Love does that. It erases the pain. The darkness.
The stuff that wants to hold our head under the water. Love reminds us who we are and who we were always meant to be. And there never has been nor ever will be anything that can kill it.” —David Bishop Murphy Shepherd

Charles Martin | The Water Keeper

In celebration of Charles 20th Anniversary of stories, my favorites:
I love them (all 5 Stars); however, if I must pick:
• Chasing Fireflies (never cried so hard over a book in my life. Plus, everyone I recommended it to, agrees) The characters will break your heart.
• When Crickets Cry
• Water From My Heart
• The Water Keeper

#JDCMustReadBooks

A special thank you to HarperCollins for an advanced reading copy.

On a side note:
Being a Floridan, I have resided and worked along the coast of SE Florida (ICW and A1A) from St John’s, Volusia, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties over the past twenty years, I immensely enjoyed re-visiting familiar, memorable landmarks and the rich Florida history. (great job) Being a Georgian before Florida, I devoured Martin’s earlier novels, as well.

I really enjoyed the boating/water elements in THE WATER KEEPER, having lived and worked in the Florida Keys selling waterfront condos for boats and condo-hotel residences with marina clubs and currently reside along ICW in West Palm Beach. Every time I see a yacht across the street, I think of this book.

The Water Keeper is a wild ride with of lots of action with characters who are flawed but you are rooting for. Murphy lives on an island and tends to a church. He comes across a woman named Summer who is looking for her missing her daughter. We end up in a world of Human trafficking and they are racing against the clock to rescue her. Your heart will beat fast on the journey they go on, to find Summer's daughter and as they discover themselves.