Anna's Courage

Rose Island #1

by Kristin Noel Fischer

“Anna’s Courage” is a heartwarming love story about having the courage to be brave in spite of your fears.

Helicopter pilot Anna Morgan hasn’t flown since her husband’s death several years ago. Instead, the young army widow has sought refuge with her son on peaceful Rose Island. Surrounded by family and friends, Anna vows never to do anything more dangerous than arrive late to a PTA meeting.

All that changes when Captain Nick Peterson comes to the island to take custody of his orphaned nieces. Anna feels compelled to help Nick with the girls, but what is she supposed to do about her growing attraction to him? And will the disappointments in Nick’s past prevent him from embracing the power of forgiveness and family?

From the author of “A Mother’s Choice,” comes a new series filled with romance, faith, and healing. Told with humor and sincerity, “Anna’s Courage” will have you yearning to visit the peaceful community of Rose Island again and again.

Genres: Romance, Christian, Christian Fiction, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Amazon

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2015

About the author

Kristin Noel Fischer writes stories that combine uplifting women’s fiction with inspirational romance. Her books focus on overcoming tragedy through faith, family, friendship, love, and laughter. Readers enjoy her realistic characters and hope-filled endings.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming, compelling read without gratuitous love scenes or foul language, you’ve come to the right place.

Kristin is an Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist as well as a Golden Quill finalist for Best Inspirational Romance. She lives in Texas where she enjoys biking, yoga, and spending time with her husband and six kids.

KristinNoel.com
Facebook @KristinNoelFischer.

Reviews

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable contemporary romance and the start of a series. Other than a bit of yo-yo that occurred briefly toward the end, I very much enjoyed this novel. Anna's Courage has likable characters and presents the novel from the first person perspective of both main characters. I look forward to continuing this series.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and the challenges the character faced felt realistic. It is hard sometimes to get real without the cheesy creeping in, but I felt this had good balance.

I could understand and be frustrated with the characters at the same time, and even though things wrapped up pretty neat and tidy, I felt it was enjoyable!

[Roy Murry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna's Courage
Kristin Noel Fischer

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

The mind's psyche is a cruel place. Once the love of a person gets in it, love stays. If that lover dies, the thought of that person is hard to replace and becomes an interference in any new relationship.

In Anna's choice, Anna made a decision after her military husband was kill-in-action. She will never marry another active soldier among other resolutions she avoided like the plague.

Then came a meeting and a kiss that would send her into a spin. A tailspin that spins again when that man came back into her life because of a tragedy in both their lives.

The man, she thinks about for a few months, brother and sister-in-law die in a car accident. They are her neighbors. Anna and his joining concern are the young children of those lost.

The loving of those children brings Anna closer to him, and her fears become a psychological problem. She loves him but doesn't want to make the leap of faith and love him. He understands her fears and tries to subtlety and beguiling to help her overcome them because he wants Anna in his life.

You'll have to read this sometimes-upsetting tear jerker to see if Anna can overcome her fears.

Ms. Fischer has written an excellent love story which shows how twisted a mind can get when emotions take over logic.

[Jan Mcleod · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good,clean Christian story and romance. It deals with loss, hope, fear, love, and faith.
Anna lost her soldier husband six years ago in Afghanistan, and is still trying to get her life back together. She is very guarded in what she does and who she sees, still struggling with several issues.
Nick, a career soldier, just lost his brother and sister-in-law in a tragic accident and now has custody of his nine year old niece and a baby under a year old. Struggling with his loss, he is trying to do what is best for the girls but has no idea what parenting is about.
The novel presents a very realistic story as well as characters and problems. Both Anne and Nick seek
God's guidance and direction for their lives, but each has different goals. They fall in love and are praying that God has a future for them as a family.
Book #2 in this series is out and I'm looking forward to reading it.

[Donna Dv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

I enjoyed this book. It was well written and very least to read. I loved all the characters. I just wish it hadn't ended so soon.

[Sheila Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely delightful!

There's nothing more that needs to be said, I think.

I just can hardly wait to read the second book in the series.

I recommend with a glad heart!

[Janie Winsell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna’s Courage by Kristin Noel Fischer is a Contemporary Christian Romance novel.

Anna is a single mother who lost her husband Marcus in the war several years ago. When her husband died, her courage died as well. She quit being a helicopter pilot and spent her time worrying about the what-ifs of life. Her unfounded fears limit her exposure to the world as well as her son Travis. She has locked her heart and family away on the peaceful Rose Island where she is surrounded by family and friends. But is she really living or just getting by?

Nick is a soldier in love with the military. When his brother and sister-in-law are killed in a car accident, he rushes to Rose Island to take care of his nieces Hailey and Gabby, but what does a single soldier know about raising girls? Never picturing himself as a father or husband for that matter, Nick finds himself in a mysterious world of diapers, tears, and not to mention his beautiful neighbor Anna.

This story is near to my heart. I love the military and think both soldiers and spouses are extremely strong for the lives they live. Anna’s fears are real while her attraction to Nick is sweet and romantic. I absolutely fell in love with all the characters of Rose Island.

Filled with faith, love, and wonderful writing, I definitely recommend this fantastic story to anyone who enjoys a good and clean romance!

I give this story 5 Stars!

[Kari Trumbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I acted as a beta reader on this book and enjoyed it very much. The author gifted me with a copy of the final version free in an exchange for an honest review.

I love Anna and her quirkiness. She is so real, her pain is understandable and you get it from page one. Nick isn't just dreamy, he's deep with real problems and emotions. I love that he has to be a dad through this tale and the kids are not just shoved to the side, they are part of the love story as it unfolds.

Almost every character in this tale has an issue that they need to work through but it isn't overwhelming or hard to follow. The author does a good job of leading you into the head of each character during their shining moments. This is a good, emotional read.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna's Courage was a delightful story about healing and restoration after experiencing different types of loss.

Rarely do I get to say this but I loved all the characters in this story. I also liked that we had the opportunity to explore more than the main two characters journey and experience them overcome their own personal challenges.

Travis was my favourite but who doesn't love a cute geeky little ten year old?

My only disappointment with this story is that it felt like it ended very abruptly. I'm hoping book two will rectify the loss I feel and I will be reading it in the near future.

This is my first book by Kristin Noel Fischer but will be reading more of her novels.

I recommend for those who like family orientated Christian contemporary with a slight military angle.

[Cayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't praise this book enough. It's wonderful. If you have any military background in your family, you will probably be able to relate better than the average reader.

It is a Christian fiction novel, so you will see references to faith and God, but it's gentle. Not overly pushy. Very very very very clean and well written. You can sense the attraction, the frustration, the sadness, the anger, the fear, ...everything. Ms. Fischer did a superb job with her character-building. She breathes life into them instead of creating cardboard characters. (And I can't thank her enough for that!)

Try it. You'll like it. Trust me.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3.5. This review is a bit mixed. It was a nice, Christian, clean romance. On the other hand, it seemed to take a lot of time and a lot of words to work through Anna's Angst. On the one hand, I would read more by this author--I liked this well enough. On the other hand, three stars mean I can't picture myself turning to someone I know and recommending this book.

[Josephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story!

This story was great at showing heart changes. It was full of characters showing love to one another and had several sub stories. It had characters living their faith but it wasn't preachy, just inspiring. I loved how the uncle fell in love with the girls and took care of them although he was a military man with no experience. I'm not fully enthusiastic about the match, though. I like stories where people with similar backgrounds get together, and this one never quite settled with me, to see a widow get together with someone who has never lost a spouse. I don't even remember reading what Nick's past was. We know he's a devoted military man....but what is his history with woman? Does he have one? Is Anna his first? Plus the way she had trouble putting her first husband behind her, and that they didn't have all that many experiences together didn't make the end seem as sweet as it might in other circumstances. Also, in Gift-of-the-Magi style, she gave up something for his life preferences, which kind of ticked me off. I understand it was an expression of love, but they'd be so much better off with what he offered. Having been in the military and heard first hand how devastating it can be of family life, well, I'm not a fan of mixing them. The higher up in rank you go the less personal time you have.b I liked reading about the supportive in-law family and the dads.

[David B Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding this book is a pleasant surprise! Here’s a well-told story by an author who can really write and unfold a dramatic tale that keep you interested in the characters. The back-and-forth POV between Anna and Nick works well; they’re different enough that the contrasts are fun to track. Both are appealing characters, and the reader easily roots for their romance to get to a satisfying finish line.
Not many authors succeed in finding the right pitch for the Christian element, but Kristin Noel Fischer does that just about as well as anyone! Spiritual moments come, but they’re light and gracious, often even poignant. This book is not preachy or insufferably pious, and believe me, that’s a breath of fresh air in this genre.
Okay, I will offer one gentle critique in that regard. There is too much WINKING in inspirational fiction. Everyone in the story is always tossing everyone else a wink. And I get it: all of us who are writers want to convey that people of faith are happy and warm-hearted and living a joy-filled life. But I honestly don’t think we wink more than other people. (I don’t wink at all.) If we want to convey generous happiness, how about giving each other cups of Baskin-Robbins ice cream? Just a thought.
That one extremely tiny complaint aside, Ms. Fischer has given us a stellar book series worth checking out.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was okay

I'm sure that most people would say that they loved the book, I on the other hand can only say that I like the book. I like the idea that in order for two people to be together is by one sacrificing for the other and I loved how the two main characters in this book have both shown what they are willing to let go just to be with one another. One not wanting to travel down the lane of being an army wife and the other wanting to stay in the army rather than lose their dream career... I actually got a headache wondering who would sacrifice for who and the outcome was better than I imagined.
With that said I think the book was too long, not that I don't like long books but some of the things weren't actually required in the book and because they we're there, I got bore and started skipping a few pages looking for the necessary plots. I'm not a slow reader and neither am I fast reader, it's just sometimes when the story starts taking the wrong turn I tend to lose focus leading a reader to hence skip a few pages.
Overall the book was nice and I would recommend it to those wanting to read about Armywives and the sacrifices they make also about the army men and the sacrifices they make or in this case our particular characters made.

[Victoria - txreadingnook · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great love story . They author knows how to draw the reader in from the first chapter .
Nick’s brother and sister in law are in a car accident and do not survive . So Nick is named as the girl’s guardian.
He is a military officer and really does not want to give up his career but he did not know that these two little girls would change his mind .
Anna is a widow after her husband is killed in Afghanistan.
She left to raise her son Travis . She can’t date or marry another military man . The rule holds and that’s it .
What the reader learns that Anna has a secret and this might be the real reason why she shuns away from military men.
The book will pull at the reader’s emotions .
I laughed and also thought about shredding a tear .
I like how god is mentioned through out the book .
With god life can make better sense even for Nick and Anna .
The writing is smooth and keeps the reader wanting to read .
This is a clean romance.
Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The narrator did an amazing !

[Paul Sabin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Christian Romance novels ever!!!

What a fantastic, inspiring, heart-warming Romantic tale about two people overcoming multiple tragedies to find True Love and Trust in God again!!!

This is so well written and poignant! Using a changing first person narrative from the heroine's and then switching to the hero's is captivating and emotionally powerful. I was struggling with pain and multiple trips to the bathroom and still couldn't put the book down!

This is a rollercoaster ride, with plenty of drama and soul-searching by both parties in the relationship. The cast of characters are believable, realistic and interesting. You really must read this book!!! No excuses allowed!!!

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave it three stars but just could not go on after about 6%. The three stars is because for people who like this genre, I believe they will love it. What I read did not qualify as Christian porn but to me it was excessive. She could have just thought about how good looking he was, admired his muscles, whatever. Instead she was stirred by his broad shoulders, narrow hips. To me it was schmaltzy and too much of the world. However, there is a market for this and I believe this author has found her niche. It just isn't mine.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you love Hallmark Movies? If you don’t, skip this one. I happen to love clean, sweet romance novels. It is sweet, but not syrupy— the characters deal with some heavy issues and decisions. I fell in love with the characters in this book. I had just finished Sarah’s Key, and needed something a bit happier to read before delving into another WWII historical fiction book (my favorite genre). This book fit the bill. I wasn’t at the beach, but it sure would be a great beach read!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This good love story is well written. The characters are engaging and real; the plot moves at an appropriate pace; the characters are openly Christian but not "preachy" - their faith is just shown as any other character trait would be shown in a good novel. I became attached to the characters and appreciated the care and attention to detail the author used in polishing a good story to make it even better.

[Susan Simmons · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this because I needed a light book over the holidays. It was predictable. I thought I was reading a Hallmark script. That's not a bad thing. I have to be in the right mindset for that. The spiritual connection was wonderful and enlightening.There were times I wanted to smack the main character and times I commended her. I could connect with Anna's mother. I think that's my age.

All in all, I want to encourage Kristin to write more.

[angie massengill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story ,very well written it make me cry,but it was a good cry,lol I would highly recommend the book will definitely

If your looking for a sweet very well written story try this book. I was very touched by this book it made me cry,it was a good cry .lol I will definitely read more from this author and I highly recommend it !!!

[Bonnie E Case · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story a

I really enjoyed this book about Anna getting a second chance at love. It did move a littler slowly but that's not all bad. This is a vey clean Christian book. I thoroughly enjoy a book that I don't have to read swear words and have to skip over the sex scenes.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a wonderfully written book full of love, faith, redemption and all that God can do in the lives of those who seek Him. The love story was beautiful and the two main characters have wonderful personal stories of growth throughout. I love that this book was appropriate and clean yet still just as much of a page turner as a lot of thriller and suspense books.

[Martha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Predictable

I had to really push through this book. It was predictable and I looked forward to some kind of surprise ending or, I don’t know, something. The individual characters were not believable. The children too much like adults. The Christianity was like it had to be put somewhere to make it “Christian”. Just...nope. Not a worthwhile read.

[Lynette Sowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good clean romance

The story was well written and believable . Some critics said they thought the characters were too good to be true but I disagree. I have lived in a community of believers like that. I loved the characters and look forward to reading further books written by the author

[Mary Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book.

I love stories of second chances but there is sadness mixed in with the love and happiness. These were strong characters with definite ideas of what they wanted in their lives but we don't t always get what we want. Control is really out of our hands. Love the moment you are given.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

This was a good story regarding a single mother and a man who became guardian to his nieces. It covered the complications when Nick becomes responsible for his nieces while he is in the service. Anna's husband was killed while in the service and it showed how she handled his death. It was a well written book showing how Nick and Anna fell in love. I bought the next book in the series.

[Collette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done!!!

A well written, true to life reading! A story of how fear can completely consume your life and Rob you of really living and keep you from loving. A person needs to have courage to face changes I life or fear will take them down.
Thank you, Kristin for an story I found hard to put down even for a nights sleep!
Brent Bills

[D'anah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good story that is relatable, has a realistic growth of feelings over time. It is honest without being too graphic in dealing with loss and overcoming it with supportive family and friends. Like how realize God is integral to managing things effectively. An enjoyable read with a good ending.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted a light, easy read, and this book was perfect for that.

I never like it when the guy keeps kissing the girl when she says she doesn't want a relationship, it seems disrespectful and forceful.

This would be a perfect book to read during the holidays.