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It appears Jenna Bouvier is losing everything: beauty, family, and wealth. When her controlling and emotionally abusive mother-in-law accuses Jenna of an affair with her spiritual director and threatens to expose them, Jenna also risks losing her reputation as a woman of faith. Will she capitulate to her mother-in-law’s wishes again or fight for what she holds dear? As Jenna loses her life, will she find it?
Andee Bell has found exactly what she wanted: fame, fortune, and respect. There’s also a special man in her life—Jenna’s brother. Despite her success, a secret quells Andee’s contentment. As memories torment, will she find peace in a relationship with God, or will she sabotage herself while also taking down the only person she cares about? As Andee finds her life, will she lose it?
Moving between San Francisco and the Napa Valley, Jenna and Andee form an unlikely relationship that leads them to a crossroad. They can follow familiar inclinations, or risk it all and walk in faith.
Reviews:
"Yttrup has penned a many faceted novel that challenges the reader to pursue spiritual growth as fully as any self-help book would, making her fiction as inspirational as it is entertaining."
-- Publishers Weekly
"This is an entreating character-driven inspirational Christian drama. The cast is solid as each has doubts made worse by the serpent queen of mean who plays off others fears. Jenna is a fascinating protagonist who seems like a mouse but readers will learn she roars in her subtle way. Fans will enjoy this contemporary as those who embrace grace can survive anything the allegorical she-devil tosses at them."
--Harriet Klausner, MidWest Book Review
"If you’re looking for a good solid read that will cleanse your pent up emotions, this is it. If you need to do some of your own introspection, Yttrup’s characters can help you really look at yourself. And if you’re just looking for excellent drama with a powerful message, Yttrup’s Lost and Found should not be missed."
-- Radiant Lit
"Simply put...this book is a masterpiece. There are so many layers to the story and characters that as you go deeper and deeper, it is impossible to not be affected in some way. For someone who may be going through their own spiritual journey, this book is chock-full of wisdom and insight into the plans that God has for his children."
-- Southern Sassy Things
"Yttrup's strengths are many. Her writing is solid and full of senses. The book is a page turner, full of tension and unfurling plotlines that demand that the reader keep going, just one more chapter . . . I will read Yttrup again."
-- Novel Reviews
lmbartelt
Posted May 16, 2013
How I found Lost and Found is a bit unclear in my memory. Boy, am I glad I did, though.
Here's what I know: a friend retweeted a giveaway. I left a comment. I won a book. It came in the mail.
And I am changed as a result.
Lost and Found by Ginny Yttrup is loosely based on the life of Madame Jeanne Guyon, a French mystic whose life was marked by suffering and imprisonment for her beliefs. Yttrup takes Guyon's life and brings into the present in the life of Jenna Bouvier, a woman of faith with family ties to the California wine industry, who by marriage is wealthy yet who suffers mental anguish at the hands of her controlling mother-in-law.
The book follows Jenna's path to healing, bringing along her spiritual director Matthew and another young woman, Andee. Yttrup writes chapters in the first-person from the point of view of each of these characters and from the third-person POV of Jenna's mother-in-law, Brigitte. I'm especially fond of stories written this way, and I appreciate an author who can bring to life numerous characters and write from their perspective.
Lost and Found is Yttrup's second novel. I'm eager now to read her first. She makes the reader feel the emotions and struggles of these characters in a way I haven't before experienced in a novel. This is an incredible book. A must-read.
FAVORITES: The novel flows easily and the characters are believable and likable. Their struggles are real. Their responses to their circumstances are inspiring. I connected with them as I would if they were in the flesh. In short, I cared what happened to them, which meant I had a hard time putting the book down.
FAULTS: As I read, I found myself more and more interested in Madame Guyon's life. Her autobiography and book on prayer are next on my "to-read" list. Not really a fault of the book, but more a fault of mine for not having read these classic works before.
IN A WORD: Intense. I felt a heaviness, in a way, as I read. Like I was sharing in the characters' sufferings. It was a good intensity, though. One that propelled me forward in the story until it was finished.
PianoLady
Posted December 8, 2012
Lost and Found
By Ginny L. Yttrup
Lost and Found is the second novel by author, speaker and life coach, Ginny L. Yttrup. Set in both the San Francisco Bay and Napa Valley areas, this is a multi-layered story with rich characterization that weaves the themes of emotional abuse and spiritual journeys through the lives of its main characters:
-- Jenna Bouvier, a woman of deep faith with family ties to the California wine industry, who lives under the controlling hand of her mother-in-law, Brigitte
-- Gerard Bouvier, Jenna's husband, heir to Bouvier empire
-- Brigitte, head of the Bouvier empire and wine label, Domaine de la Bouvier
-- Andee, a successful businesswoman who hides a troubled past, with the mantra of drive determines destiny
-- Matthew, a spiritual director who feels an immediate connection to Jenna because of their shared love for the Lord
Lost and Found revolves around two families in the wine industry and a financial advisor, Andee. Themes of emotional abuse, hidden past, and coping addictions are woven in the narrative in a non-condemning way. As Jenna and Andee grow in their spiritual journey throughout this book, they come to a crossroads where it seems that all might be lost.
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Columnist Rich Adin writes in The Digital Reader: "A quality read is one in which the characters are stimulating, are 'real,' are 'people' I want to know better, who have adventures I want to share. A second attribute of a quality read is that these characters are participants in a well-told story within which I, the reader, want to participate myself." Adin's words perfectly express my thoughts about Lost and Found, for I have rarely found this quality of writing in the inspirational fiction genre.
Lost and Found's strengths and appeal come from three areas:
-- Quality of writing - Ginny Yttrup is a wordsmith. One example, as Jenna reflects on Brigitte: "Brigitte's elegance sang like fine crystal and the song drew me."
-- Rich characterization - Characters are real, flawed. Jenna's thoughts about her husband: "There was a hopelessness to Gerard's existence. Not because he was without eternal hope - he believed - but because he didn't live out of that hope while he was alive. Instead, without meaning to, he placed his hope in his mother. His hope, his loyalty, his very life."
-- Spiritual themes - No simple prayer or the quoting of an occasional Scripture verse here. Each chapter is introduced by a foreshadowing quote from Madame Jeanne Guyon. Jenna and Andee's spiritual journey is slow and takes the reader along with them. The communion scene in the Napa Valley cave is an emotional highlight, as is Jenna's confidence that "God is still silent, but He is present."
I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy inspirational fiction, especially those who long for a more in-depth, literary style of writing.
This book was provided by B&H Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
As I begin to read the Bouvier family was having a charity brunch in a Georgian-style mansion that was built in 1912 in California. Jenna was not happy about having to go downstairs and attend. She was not happy about anything anymore. She had married a man a lot older that herself (or let's say forced to marry). Gerald Bouvier was forty-five to her twenty-one years and he was controlled by his mother.
At this time a lot of jewelry was missing that should have been in Jenna and Gerald's safe, she was so worried about what was going to be said when that was found out, she also was not as beautiful as she once was. She had a scar running down her face and Jenna just could not see past that. She had rather stay out of sight but the Bouviers would have none of that as it might look bad on them.
Jenna is a Christian and she wants to do what she thinks God would have her do but her husband and French mother-in-law was sure making it hard on her.
At the brunch her brother was in attendance with a young woman that Jenna didn't know but was supposed too. Andee Bell was a young woman that had the world in her hands and would do what ever she could to keep it that way. These two young women became friends in a long distance kind of way.
Can they both find and keep the love they so want and deserve?
This novel keeps you so interested that it would be so nice to be able to read it all in one setting.
T¿hanks to Wynn Wynn Media for sending me this book to review.
Wow, Ginny Yttrup, this book is deeply profound. When I read Words last August (See August 25 short review), I thought I'd read a classic. This one beats it. I don't think any review will ever do it justice.
That being said, I'll review it anyway and hope you'll get enough of a taste that you will want to devour the whole thing. Warning: if you're looking for a romance, this isn't it. It is, however, about love.
Jenna Durand Bouvier married into one of the wealthiest families in San Francisco, owners of Domaine de la Bouvier. She's a seeker, searching for herself and for God in a world where He--and she, it seems--are unwelcome. And yet, it was her mother-in-law, Brigitte, who selected her, groomed her, to marry Gerard.
Gerard is much older than Jenna, yet they seem compatible somehow. They realized their marriage had been arranged by his mother, and they love each other. But with reservations.
Brigitte owns them, and all others in her scope of influence. Just ask her, she'll tell you.
Matthew is so totally out of their social status, and yet--and yet, there is something that clicks between he and Jenna. He is her spiritual advisor, and he is married, but there is something about her...if he could just put his finger on it.
Andee believes in drive determines destiny and very little else, except herself. She begins reading a popular blog called illuminar.me. She comments, at first to tell the clueless anonymous lightseeker@illuminar.me that she could be making a bundle by putting ads on the blog.
Jason and his father own Azul Winery, a small but prospering business. Prospering until an old loan, waved off by the loaner, suddenly comes due.
When you blend these diverse temperaments and explosive tastes together, the champagne cork could blow.
sunshineJB
Posted February 26, 2012
Jenna Durand Bouvier – Wife of Gerard Bouvier and Daughter-in-law to Brigitte Bouvier. Jenna has lived an unhappy life for years jumping through hoops to win her Mother-in-law’s approval. Will she ever win that approval? Brigitte Bouvier – Mother to Gerard and Mother-in-law to Jenna. Owner of Domain de la Bouvier and Enterprises. Brigitte is a woman who is and must be in control of everyone and every situation. Out to destroy anyone who gets in her way. Will she destroy Jenna? Andee Bell – Andee is involved with Jenna’s brother Jason. She is a highly successful business woman. Andee is hiding a past that has wounded her deeply. She is a woman who never lets her guard down, ever! Is she a friend or foe of Jenna’s? Matthew MacGregor – Matthew is a Spiritual Director. Upon meeting Jenna he feels an immediate connection with her based on their mutual love for Christ. Can he help Jenna on her spiritual journey? This book is about power, greed, control, emotional manipulation, and betrayal. I found myself pondering who would allow themselves to be put through such long term emotional abuse and would they, could they walk away from such a lifestyle? What type of person enjoys controlling another individual in this way? Why is power and control such a rush for them? Why is it necessary to prey upon a weaker individual? This book took me through many emotions. I absolutely disliked that Jenna took everything that Brigitte dished out. Brigitte definitely was a force to answer to and how dare anyone go against her orders. I also had a hard time with Andee’s betrayal. What she did to get on the good side of Brigitte was something I had a hard time with. When the Holy Spirit began working in the lives of Jenna, Andee, and Matthew it brought me to tears. We may find ourselves in the same situation as Jenna and perhaps even Andee. Maybe we’ve already been there. This book will open the reader’s eyes allowing everyone to see that Christ is the answer. It is as simple as picking up our crosses and following him, denying all others who might be holding us back from our walk with Him. This book has such a spiritual impact. Thank you Ginny L. Yttrup for making that happen. Your message comes across loud and clear. Lost and Found is the first book of this author that I have read. It has left me thirsting for more. I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of Lost and Found to read and review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.
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Posted February 23, 2012
Ginny Yttrup writes a compelling story that draws the reader into the characters. She weaves an intriguing story line with the character's spirtual development that leaves you wanting more. I genuinely like Jenna. I love that the author has a blog that is writing from Jenna's voice. What a beautiful story about spiritual development and surrendering completely to find life. Thank you Ginny for a lovely read. You have blessed me!
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Overview
It appears Jenna Bouvier is losing everything: beauty, family, and wealth. When her controlling and emotionally abusive mother-in-law accuses Jenna of an affair with her spiritual director and threatens to expose them, Jenna also risks losing her reputation as a woman of faith. Will she capitulate to her mother-in-law’s wishes again or fight for what she holds dear? As Jenna loses her life, will she find it?
Andee Bell has found exactly what she wanted: fame, fortune, and ...