Customer Reviews

Finding Faith: A Novel

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Finding Faith is about finding love in unexpected places, discovering what real friendships and commitment are about, and having faith in one's values. The plot unfolds in a way that keeps you interested in how Taylor Connolly discovers his own strengths (and weaknesses) in the wake of his break up with his cheating boyfriend. Barriger's ability with dialogue and just plain good storytelling make this a delightful read. The writer never takes himself too seriously, which allows him to entertain while dealing with important events in his characters' lives. You will think about the characters long after you've read the final page. And as with all good books where you come to value the characters, you want the story to continue. I'm looking forward to more from Andrew Barriger--much more. ---Ronald L. Donaghe, author of All Over Him

I have found Finding Faith to be an inspirational journey to finding the courage within yourself to follow your heart. Mr. Barriger has done a great job developing the story and characters and as such he has demonstrated real talent in writing such a wonderfully entertaining novel. This is a real page-turner from start to finish and I look forward to reading future work from Andrew Barriger.

Mr. Barriger has written a superb novel. His writing is simple and straightforward. Finding Faith has none of the affectations of complex literary styles that the uneducated reader often mistakes for good writing. It is very easy to identify with Taylor and the other characters of the book because Mr. Barriger makes them so real and believable. The reader can't help liking these folks. They are wonderful people we'd all like to spend time with. He has captured the way normal people act and speak in a small town in our country. The story is tender and interesting. Join Taylor in this adventure. It is like taking a mini-vacation in the privacy of your own home. You will enjoy the journey. THIS BOOK IS A TREASURE! I can't wait to read the other books Mr. Barriger has written.

This book takes you into the life of Taylor Connolly. Having lost his boyfriend, he seeks help from his best friend Gen Pouissant.He leaves the city to get far enough away from his ex-boyfriend, but still close enough to keep his job. Just coming out of a 'long-term' relationship, he wasn't expecting to meet someone like Tom McEwan. Was he ready to be in a relationship so close to his recent breakup?

The book tells you what happens between Tom and Taylor and shows you which choice they both make.You will love this book.I read it in one day and I laughed so hard and maybe added a couple of "awwwwwww" 's in their too.I can't wait to see what happens next in Finding Peace, and I recomend this book to everyone.

Finding Faith is a very enjoyable read and suitable for all ages. Barriger's "boy meets boy" story is handled in a humorous and stylish way. The main charcters, Taylor and Tom, steal our hearts, and their circle of friends, family, and acquaintences, are all well developed characterizations. I found myself turning pages to see what was going to happen next.

I was so impressed by Finding Faith that I shared it with my daughter. She loved the book and decided to let her 13 year old daughter read it - no age is too young to start teaching tolerance. For her eightieth birthday, I presented my aunt with a copy of Barriger's book. We can teach tolerance to traditional minded older folks too. My aunt, a very well read person but new to the the same-gender genre, enjoyed the story and thought Finding Faith was very well written.

Taylor, a successful lawyer, and Tom, a soon-to-be teacher, capture our hearts and become the perfect role models for same-sex pairing. Their story affirms the fact that when two people are attracted to each other, it really doesn't matter if they happen to be the same gender...life can be good, and successful.

And, good news, there's a sequel. Be sure to read Finding Peace as the story of Taylor and Tom continues to unfold, with even more complications.

I caution anyone who has been swayed by the glowing reviews of this book to reconsider. I finished this book quickly and then read the sequel, Finding Peace (I had bought both at the same time on the strength of the amazed commentary I had read). Okay . . . I won't say that I won't order the third novel, Finding Hope (?), if and when Mr. Barriger completes it.

With that said, I urge you to understand that every negative thing said in even the worst review of this book . . . is true! There were countless references to that stupid car! We are told many times that Taylor can drive it deftly! We even learn that he can get it in and out of the garage . . . expertly! The Jag is like another character. It IS annoying. The second book is MUCH better than this one. There is MARKED improvement in the description, character development and pretty much everything else. Unfortunately, there is also a little more to reinforce the idea that in every small town, there is a lonely Abercrombie model waiting to be snatched up.

The thing that kept me going through Finding Faith was wondering if Taylor would ever snap out of his own homophobia long enough to understand that there might be a middle-road between living a "private" life in a nameless town and going out every night to the clubs in an anonymous city. I think the idea that you can live a quiet life, being out to your family and pals and then meet your soulmate in a small town bakery is a nice idea. I even think that it might be possible. I also think that if it does happen . . . it won't look quite like Mr. Barriger describes it. Barriger creates nice . . .workable characters . . . they even have at least a little depth . . . but absolutely everything ends up being a little too perfect to feel . . . realistic. Just when you think that it could not get more perfect . . . it does.

And don't get me started on the non-drama that should be stirred up by "outing" someone who isn't in the closet in the first place. What was that all about?

I was also distracted by the fact that the setting of this novel doesn't make any sense. Okay . . . it's a town . . . forty minutes (by Jag!) from a City and forty-five minutes by plane and maybe . . . a half-day car-ride from Manhattan. Where is this place? Glastonbury, Connecticut? Somewhere in southern New Jersey? And then we learn in the next book that it's within a four hour car ride of Columbus, Ohio. So much for the greater Hartford area. Is it Brigadoon?! Maybe that's where all of those gay, lonely former high school football and baseball stars are living.

If you've read this far and you're still on the fence, just buy the damn book already! Is it so bad that you will have completely wasted your fifteen bucks? Naah. Is it the best thing ever written? Heck no! Will you regret having wasted the time it takes to read all three of the books? Probably not. Is there enough going on to hold the interest . . . even if it makes you mad as heck that something like this can not only get published but lead to sequels that are also given GLOWING reviews on Amazon? I say . . . YES.

If you want a great love story with elements of fantasy and some humor . . .try Almost Like Being in Love by Steve Kluger. . . now that was a fun, funny . . . fantastic book. Meanwhile . . . give this . . . series a shot. What have you got to lose?

I loved the characters and the story, and it was sooo funny! Easy to read, hard to put down, and sooo funny! Touching, inviting, full of heart and, you guessed it, sooo funny! Definitely one to reread again and again. Thank Mr. Barriger for Finding Faith - for the laughter, the smiles and the warmth.

Taylor Connolly is a hotshot employment lawyer, who wins a high-profile sexual harassment case levied against one of the biggest companies in town. The fact that he is down-to-earth and non-pretentious makes him sweet and loveable. It does not hurt that he is nice to look at and has a good sense of humor, too. Taylor has everything going for him. He is on top of the world until he arrives home to find his lover of two years in the arms of another man?laying on his pillow no less!

Taylor's defense mechanism is to run. He ends up on the doorstep of his best friend and confidant, Genevieve (Gen) Pouissant. Gen invites Taylor to move in with her until he gets his life back together. Taylor takes to living in her charming, friendly small town and soon grows to love it, especially when he gets a crush on a cute baker and post-grad student named Tom McEwan. Taylor and Tom become fast friends and each longs to take it a step further, but neither one has the nerve to make the first move.

Taylor is not one to care whether or not anyone knows he is gay, but he does not want to jeopardize a possible relationship with Tom. It could be that Tom does not want to be outed in their small town. The more time they spend together, the more Taylor wants Tom to be part of his life.If only he could tell him.

Taylor decides to buy his own house in town and enlists the help of a realtor named Faith Roberts. Faith wants more from Taylor than a commission. She is after this handsome, Jaguar-driving bachelor and is relentless in her efforts to win his favor.

Meanwhile, well-meaning friends introduce Taylor to Neil Gardener, a wealthy, self-confident, super model type of guy, who is not only out, but he is more than interested in Taylor. Neil makes it hard for Taylor to resist him, complicating his feelings for Tom.

Andrew Barriger's debut novel, Finding Faith, is fast-paced, fun to read, and thoroughly enjoyable. I love Barriger's use of language, his delectable desserts, loveable characters, and suspenseful story, not in a murder mystery sort of way, but in the who will Taylor end up with? sort of way. According to author and reviewer, Ronald L. Donaghe, "Another mark of a good writer is to create a setting so believable, that the readers might be tempted to find it on the map." Donaghe also writes, "In fact, readers will be able to smell the food coming out of the oven, taste the meals set before them, hear the music played, maybe even recognize the characters coming down the street." I really loved reading this book and cannot wait to read Finding Peace, and any other books authored by Andrew Barriger.

Finding Faith is addictive and I finished it in one sitting. It is a "feel-good" book that brightens my day. One easily grows to care about Taylor, Tom and Gen, and even Molly whose change of heart gives the story quietly humorous light moments. Taylor and Tom are immensely likable and their vulnerability and sensitivity as they overcome their internal struggles and doubts to find the faith to love each other is wonderfully written. As I am a sentimental fool, I find myself rereading various parts, Taylor meeting Tom, Tom's poem to Taylor, Tom chasing after Taylor and finally Taylor and Tom finding each other...Finding Faith is just that, finding the faith and courage to love and be true to each other and that monogamy is possible. A marvellous effort from Barriger and I hope there is much more to tell about Taylor and Tom.

I found this book to be a very enjoyable, escapist novel. As is so often the case in gay romance novels, the story is pretty fluffy, and the characters a bit too idealistic--would there be that many people in a small town that accepting of gay men? Well, in a perfect world, yes, and in this book, while there is some drama, it all ends happily and neatly, which is a great escape from real life. This book had a good 'will they or won't they' dramatic element throughout that kept me turning the pages. It was well-written and the characterization was good (no one did a sudden personality change midway through) and the supporting characters really added dimension to the overall story. I was glad to see the story dip into some drama without resorting to cliche gay elements like suicide, addiction and AIDS (very real and very serious topics that have unfortunately been overused in gay entertainment). This was a nice, simple gay romance novel.