Skip to main content

A Covenant Vessel by Gina Renee Freitag Review

 Happy Friday Friends :)

I personally cannot believe today is already the last day of September!

Literally, where did one of my favorite months go? This entire month was a whirlwind, and I think part of why it doesn't feel like it should be October already is because it has yet to actually truly feel like fall where I live.

We've had a few teases of glorious fall, but right now we're back into an awful heat wave, and it feels like we're right back into summer, my least favorite season.

However, I'm hopeful that fall will truly be just around the corner, and in the meantime, I'm enjoying hiding out from the heat wave by curling up in my house with some wonderful stories.

A couple of years ago, I had a wonderful lady reach out to me on Instagram about reading her debut novel, and it's become one of my favorite series ever since.

I love how this series speaks of standing for Jesus, and doesn't sugarcoat anything about the Christian walk of faith. I've come to love these characters like old friends over the last couple of years, and I couldn't wait to dive into book four.

If you'd like to check out my reviews of the first three books in the series, you can do so using the links below:

Painted Vessels

Fractured Vessels

Emptied Vessels


Keep on reading below for my full review of the upcoming title!


A Covenant Vessel by Gina Renee Freitag:



Source: Complimentary Copy Provided by the Author in Exchange for an Honest Review

Publication Date: October 11, 2022

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction

Series: Vessels 


Synopsis:


The fourth book of the Vessels Series, a prequel…

Jed Gardner is the Lion, a nearly undefeated bare knuckle boxer trying to avoid the gangs of Longport. Rosa Owens is a midwife during a time when giving birth is more dangerous than a bout in the ring. Ira Clark is a young pastor hoping to revive a dying parish on the edge of the red-light district.
Three people unlikely to meet, yet when their paths cross, their lives change through a deepening friendship that can only point to a greater plan.

In this installment of the Vessels Series, Ira guides his new friend Jed, the Lion, on a journey of faith as Jed and Rosa’s love story unfolds. It is a story full of thrilling boxing matches, unsettling medical complications, a morally questionable doctor, a dangerous gang leader planning to start a war, and a mysterious man in an orange plaid vest. All somehow connected, and all contributing to Jed and Rosa’s desperate need to flee the city.

Taking place in the 1870s, three decades before the conclusion of Emptied Vessels (and paralleling Rudy’s childhood in Fractured Vessels), A Covenant Vessel follows Jed, Rosa and Ira's exciting lives leading up to their decision to join the caravan.

****

“Grandpa’s tattoos remind me of pictures in a storybook,” Sarah said, glancing at everyone in the room.

Rosa nodded. “Between Jed’s scars and his tattoos, there is quite a story. When I look back now, I can follow all the threads that God has used to weave our lives together—mine, Jed’s, Ira’s, the caravan… all of it leading here, to each of you.” She smiled at Eli and Ada as she brushed away a tear. “It’s a story that continues even now…”


--- Some content deals with varying levels of birthing trauma ---

(synopsis from Goodreads)


My Review:

I feel like I've been waiting to read A Covenant Vessel forever, ever since Emptied Vessels ended on such a cliffhanger, and it was definitely worth the wait. While the reader is treated to the continuing story as to what happened to the characters after the end of book three, the majority of the story actually functions as a prequel. Readers are treated to the story of how Jed, Rosa and Ira met, and how circumstances changed their relationships in ways that none of them could have possibly imagined. Above all, they come to realize that He who holds each of our hearts in His hands has a perfect design for each and every one of us, and as always with Gina's titles, the faith element is represented authentically and realistically and functions as the center message of the entire story.

I don't personally recommend reading this one without having read the first three books previously, as Gina Renee Freitag is a master storyteller, and you will miss so many of the amazing story plots that she weaves from unimaginable places, and you will definitely miss out.

The Vessels series has quickly become one of my all time favorites, and this new installment might just be my favorite yet. While I loved reading about Jed, Rosa and Ira as more secondary characters in the previous novels, having them get their own story added something special, and I loved getting to witness their faith journey, friendship beginnings, and Jed and Rosa's romance right from the start.

This wonderfully written Christian historical fiction title is breath taking, poignant, and relatable, and I never wanted to see it come to an end. I continue to be in awe of the way this author is able to share her stories from so many different character POV's, across several timelines, and yet still have the story never stray from the plot, or ever get confusing as to whose POV you're currently reading. Above all else, I love how she tackles deep and dark issues with always counteracting them with the love of Jesus, and how His light can outshine any of even our darkest moments.

Final Rating: 5/5.

I can't recommend this heart wrenching story enough, and I will be anxiously awaiting the release of book five.

Definitely start reading this series if you haven't already, as I can guarantee you won't be disappointed, especially if you enjoy Christian fiction that doesn't hold back in its faith content like I do.

Thanks so much to Gina Renee Freitag for allowing me to advance read and review this one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.


Thanks so much for reading guys! I'm praying this story will touch each of your hearts the same as it did mine, and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

I'm hoping we will see cooler weather here this weekend, but if not, I'm still looking forward to spending some quality time with my husband, and curling up with some wonderful reads.

Until Next Time!!


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

First Line Friday: Carolina Breeze

Happy Friday Everyone :) I hope you're all having a great week! Mine has actually been pretty good. We've had some really nice days, and my husband and I were finally able to put our garden in, and various flowers and the like. We've also had a couple of lovely, rainy days as well, and I love how green everything is looking in our yard right now. For today's post, I'm excited to once again be linking up with the lovely Hoarding Books  for another edition of First Line Friday. This fun weekly meme simply consists of sharing the first line of the book you're currently reading. For this week's first line, I'm going to be sharing from Denise Hunter's recently released title that I ended up absolutely loving. Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter: About The Book: A jilted bride. A struggling innkeeper. And a romantic mountain getaway that changes everything. Rising Hollywood star Mia Emerson is looking for a safe place to land in the wake of a public breakup a

First Line Friday: Just As I Am

Happy Friday Everyone :) I hope you're all having a great week, and looking forward to the weekend. Since it is Friday, it's time once again for First Line Friday, which is hosted over at Hoarding Books. For today's first line, I'm going to be featuring a recent debut novel that I had the opportunity to read and review. About The Book: Adeline Rhodes has spent years locked away in a New Orleans apartment controlled by her criminal boyfriend. After a daring escape, she realizes just how far she has grown from the things in which she once believed. Declan King has lived a life of solitude and duty for the U.S. Army. When the deaths of his grandparents bring him home to his family farm, he is forced into contact with people who know too much about his past to simply leave him alone. When Adeline’s past catches up to her, the two strangers find themselves thrust into a fake relationship to protect Adeline from her vengeful ex. As their chance meeting begin

First Line Friday: Courting Mr. Emerson

Happy Friday Everyone :) Since it is Friday, I'll once again be participating in First Line Friday which is hosted by Hoarding Books .  For this week, I'm going to be sharing the first line from Melody Carlson's newest book, Courting Mr. Emerson. About The Book: When the fun-loving and spontaneous artist Willow West meets buttoned-up, retired English teacher George Emerson, it's not exactly love at first sight. Though she does find the obsessive-compulsive man intriguing. Making it her mission to get him to loosen up and embrace life, she embarks on what seems like a lost cause--and finds herself falling for him in the process. A confirmed bachelor, George vacillates between irritation and attraction whenever Willow is around--which to him seems like all too often. He's not interested in expanding his horizons or making new friends; it just hurts too much when you lose them. But as the summer progresses, George feels his defenses crumbling. The quest