All in One Place

All in One Place By Carolyne Aarsen Review by Roseanna White Terra knew she had to get away from her abusive boyfriend. What she didn't know was why she had chosen to go to the backwater town of Harland, Montana. Sure, her sister lived there. But she hadn't so much as spoken to Leslie in months--even though Leslie's son had been battling for his life and Leslie had emailed her time and again. Still, she was here. The question was, would her sister be willing to pick up where they left off? Without demanding to know the secrets that had kept Terra away during the last trying year? Of course, trouble seems to follow Terra here, too. Within a couple hours she ends up on the wrong side of the law--and hence her sister. To make matters worse, Leslie's spouting something about "faith" and "God." And why is it that the officer who arrested her won't get out of her mind and seems to be popping up everywhere she is? She has little choice but to stick around until her court hearing. Assuming she can survive life in Harland. All in One Place is, quite simply, a fantastic book. I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked it up, but what I found was a story cleverly and wittily written, filled with insight, drama, and a comedic touch. Terra, from whose point of view the story is told, is a realistic, worldly woman, lovable in spite of her biases and foibles. She knows her own failings and is determined to make up for some of them; which is why she finds it so difficult to accept that there's a God out there who cares about her. Struggling with a rough childhood and her own decisions as an adult, she finds a community and friends in Harland that she never expected. I loved the fact that I could believe her, even when I didn't agree with her. Carolyne Aarson delivers a novel that needs to be read. A hint of romance, lessons in faith, and an intense look into one woman's soul combine into a story that's not to be missed. My heart was touched, my smile was teased, and I hated each time I had to put it down. Quick and easy to read, you'll enjoy it as much as you'll appreciate it.

Carolyne Aarsen spins a story that proves blood is thicker than water and that regardless of the past, family ties are strong. There are moments of laughter and times of frustration as the reader quickly passes through the pages of this easy read. I couldn't help but fall in love with the depth Aarsen places into her characters making one think twice about those in need of Christ and how we can affect them. All In One Place is a captivating and enjoyable story spun together with all the perfect pieces. Reviewed by Cindy Sproles Mountain Breeze Ministries

In Seattle Terra Froese decides ending another bad relationship is not enough. To distance herself, she leaves the West Coast for Montana to live with her sister Leslie VandeKeer, whom she has not spoken with for quite some time. As she regains her equilibrium, Terra assumes she will need to rescue her sibling from tedious rural family life. However, she finds Leslie seems shockingly contented and the small town residents wonder about the big city intruder as she lands in some trouble almost from her first step there. Police officer Jack DeWindt thinks Terra will not survive Big Sky Country although he is very attracted to her and her to him. However, Terra wonders if that is enough for her to finally put down permanent roots. This interesting character study focuses on Terra's conversion (for the most part from her viewpoint only) from a life of wandering disentanglement to one of belief in God and truly caring about others, but does so in a reasonably realistic manner. Although the lack of other perspectives especially that of her sister reduces the impact of Terra's journey, fans who appreciate a simple well written contemporary tale starring a complex woman will enjoy Terra finding her way and self. Harriet Klausner

With ALL IN ONE PLACE, Carolyne Aarsen strikes a satisfying balance between humor, real life issues, discovering faith, and romance. A great read!

All In One Place by Carolyne Aarsen is the sequel to last year's The Only Best Place. This book features Terra Froese, the sister of Leslie VanderKeere. Terra is on the run from an abusive boyfriend and turns to the only family she has: Leslie. Unfortunately, she meets Amelia who takes her to a bar and soon Leslie is paying Terra's bail and picking her up from jail. Not a fortuitous reunion. Terra takes a job at the local diner to pay Leslie back and soon finds herself falling for police deputy named Jack. Terra's fear of trust and rebellious ways mean she's in for trouble. I loved The Only Best Place, and I was not disappointed in its sequel. Terra is a wry character always ready with her cynical wit to defuse a situation. Aarsen does an amazing job of writing Terra from a completely different point of view from Leslie. Leslie was easy for me to relate to as a wife and mother trying to make it through each day in unexpected circumstances. Terra is very different, and yet Aarsen is able to make her come alive. Terra's vulnerability cracks through on rare occasions, and when it does, it shines. St. Francis of Assisi said to preach the Gospel always, and if necessary use words. Terra sees the Gospel working through the various denizens of town, and while it frightens her, it also pulls her toward the Lord. The ending with Eric seemed a bit cliched to me, but Terra's will to fight put a different spin on a scene that has been written in many books before. The resolution was never truly in doubt to anyone except Terra. This is a wonderful read.