I couldn't stop. This was so captivating and it sucked me right in. This has made its way into becoming my favorite book of all time and is such an eye opener in human trafficking. I wept the second half of the book imagining what these poor girls go through. I wish I would have discovered Martin's writing sooner because he is so gifted with story telling. The narrator was phenomenal and I am glad to see he also narrates the rest of the series as well. Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this wonderful story.

Charles Martin knows the way to my heart. I just finished listening to The Water Keeper. It was stunning.

In this first book in the series we are introduced to Murphy Shepherd and get a glimpse into his many secrets. But when a beautiful woman named Summer who is searching for her daughter enters his orbit, he is drawn into a mission to do what he does best, seek and save the lost. He has made it his life's work to combat the evils of modern-day slavery, but this case has a larger ripple effect on his personal life.

I loved this introduction to the series and from the beginning I was so pleased to know I had more of these characters and scenarios to come. It's action packed without sacrificing or neglecting the character development and backstories.

This is my second time around with this book, this time on audiobook. Even with knowing the story, it kept me from beginning to end. The narrator did a great job with it, which to me is a huge feat. Can't recommend it enough.

The Water Keeper is the first book by Charles Martin I have read and can I just say, I finally understand what all the hype has been about, and I cannot believe I waited so long to find out for myself. I was engrossed, engaged, gutted, and encouraged all in the span of front to back. Murphy is enigmatic, complex, and yet, so very simple. He desires justice and is good at what he does. The way his character is written is compulsive and purposeful. The side characters are perfectly placed, and no written word takes up wasted space. I am fully hooked and cannot wait to see what is next in store for Murphy, Clay, Summer, and the rest of the characters introduced in this powerful series starter.
I really enjoyed the narrator of this story and felt like he not only captured the characters, but the moods, the settings, and the wide current of emotions that ran deep.
I received a complimentary audiobook version from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

I had heard amazing things about this book, so I was super excited to get it on audio. & let me tell you, I was not disappointed! It was so heartfelt and impactful, I didn’t want to stop and can’t wait to continue this series!

Oh this book had my heart strings all pulled. It was absolutely beautifully done. I could not get over how well written it was. Loved it!

The Water Keeper- what a beautiful and unique story. I didn’t want to put it down. I had no idea where the story would go and found myself on the edge of my seat with every chapter. What a crazy turn of events! I’ve never read a Christian fiction with so much adventure. I loved it. Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, and Charles Martin for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

This book had all the right elements! A love story full of of tragedy and pain that ended with redemption and fulfillment. A mystery and thriller, solved just in time. A main character that was lovable and made you root for throughout. Highly recommend this read, with a perfect amount of faith and religion mixed in. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

I'm not sure about any of you, but I discovered this talented author quite some time ago...and have been HOOKED on his books since! Doesn't matter which one, or what it's about. He writes so beautifully that you are LITERALLY PULLED INTO the story, and it feels like YOU are a PART of it!

That being said, be sure to have tissues handy, as I'm not sure I've ever gotten through one of his books without completely breaking down and outright SOBBING.... at some point. That point today came while I was listening at work... Definitely NOT a good look. BUT, what a terrific book!!!

This is not a new book, in fact, it looks like it was released in 2020...but maybe it is just being released as an audiobook? Not sure, but what a joy to read!
And, also of note, this is book #1 in this series (The Water Keeper. Murphy Shepherd #1), so if it sounds like something you might enjoy, please look this one, and the next few up. A new one is due to be released soon! So, there's that too!!!

We open with seeing a boat on fire... and we're heading towards it. On the boat, there's a bunch of young girls... barely clad in any clothes... The MMC is looking for 'Fingers' and 'Marie' and is trying to get everyone off the boat, alive.... He finds Fingers, but he's pretty badly banged up... and Marie... well, that's a whole other story.

Fast forward and we have Murph, in a chapel, when a young girl appears...drunk or high...looking for the priest. Chance encounter all the way. Murph, is not a priest...and tells her so. But, he is concerned for her, and gives her his number...actually puts it into her phone, but doesn't expect that she'll ever remember the encounter, never mind actually call him.

Fast forward a bit more, and a woman is STEALING a boat... and driving it away. She obviously has no idea what she's doing... but she's trying...

This is only the VERY BEGINNING of the book. It is totally action packed throughout, and the encounters along the way will just light you up, as well as FILL YOU UP... emotionally, then scare you half to death, shatter your heart, and then pick the pieces up and try to melt them back together again… ❤️❤️

And, there are references to Jesus, and the Bible, which in my book, can never steer you wrong!

ALL the stars, and then some for me!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫💫💫💫💫✨✨✨✨✨

If you are able to write a book that brings out EVERY EMOTION, and is able to place you right in the middle of all the action while reading it, well, there is NOTHING BETTER than that in my eyes!!

#TheWaterKeeper by #Charles Martin and narrated brilliantly by #JonathanKRiggs.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #ThomasNelsonAndZondervanFictionAudio for an ARC of the audiobook. I believe the book has already been released, so look 👀 for it on shelves now!

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Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

Murph lives alone on an island, which contains a chapel. He is the groundsman/vicar to his flock of none. But he always goes to save the one. He’s hunting down a girl called Angel, who he saved from a party boat. He’s a bit of a James Bond, his side kick is Summer, who he saved when her (stolen) boat went down.
Turns out there are a lot of these ‘party boats’ which end up as sex trafficking - the girls party and then take on new roles, either onboard or sold to the highest bidder. Murph is on a mission. But there’s more to him than that…..
I loved it. I was absorbed by what kept him going, even when he looked down and out, what drove him and gave him that extra energy.
I found the narration engaging and thought provoking, in some ways saddened by the fact that there is probably truth in the fiction.