Book Review of 'This Ain’t No Promised Land' by Tina Shelton

Happy Monday Bookworms!

Did everyone have a good St. Patrick's Day yesterday? I don't really celebrate, with the exception of wearing green, but I still think it's fun to pinch those that forget the day. My husband and one of my sons got a little pinch and it made for a good chuckle.

The novel that I am featuring today absolutely blew me away with it's heart and I can't wait to tell you my thoughts! I hope you enjoy and as always don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the giveaway from JustRead Tours!

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for This Ain’t No Promised Land by Tina Shelton, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: This Ain’t No Promised Land
Author: Tina Shelton
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: March 19, 2024
Genre: Christian General Fiction

"With stellar storytelling skills, Tina Shelton reminds us that while love isn't always enough to erase the hurts, it's the only way to survive them. A powerful read!"

--Julie Cantrell, New York Times & USA Today best-selling author of Perennials

When her husband dies, Charlotte can't face the things she's done that could tear her family apart. So she drops a goodbye letter in the cookie jar and flees south to escape everything--her life, her three daughters, the mistakes she's made, and the secrets eating her alive.

Now Gracey and her sisters are alone on Chicago's South Side with nothing but their home and belongings. They're doing everything they can to stay together, but young teens aren't meant to parent themselves. Their close-knit Black community gathers around them to keep them fed and clothed with the utilities on, but that's not enough to fix the damage of abandonment.

Hundreds of miles away, Charlotte is struggling to keep her own head above water. She's made a close friend who talks to her about God in a way Charlotte's never heard before. But when her demons catch up to her, the shaky peace she tried to build shatters. Even if she's able to find the courage to embrace motherhood again, will it be enough to save the family she left behind?

My Review

This Ain’t No Promised Land is a coming-of-age debut novel by author Tina Shelton, which is something I kept in the back of my mind when I started reading, and it’s a fact that blew me away the further I ventured into this story. From the beginning I was hooked on this story. It could be the fact that I am a child of the 80’s and that era holds a special place in my heart, but I think it goes much deeper in that.

Coming of age stories aren’t typically my favorite genre but there is an undeniable tenderness that drifts off the pages that emotionally bound me to this narrative. You can’t help but feel for these girls and women who are just trying to survive. Seeing a community rally to help a young family after a sudden loss was truly touching and it is a story I wish I could read more often.

There are some tough subject matters handled throughout that could be triggering for some, but I reason that life is messy and the authenticity that comes off the pages is raw and real, making me love this novel even more with the tackling of such subject matter. I do appreciate that these sensitive subjects do not go into graphic detail, yet they still manage to pack a powerful punch in their delivery.

There are so many layers to unpack with This Ain’t No Promised Land and so many feelings whirring around. The bitterness of life not going the way you had planned, the resentment that tends to fester when you let that bitterness take root in your heart, pain from past choices and the power of forgiveness are just a few that struck me.

A compelling debut novel, this is a captivating read that has venerated me to this author. She has a talent that truly cannot be taught, and I am so excited to see where her literary journey takes my heart and imagination next.

My Rating: ★★★★★

About the Author

Tina Shelton is registrar at Chicago Theological Seminary and a pastor in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church. She is also the mother of two young adults, and loves walking, working out, and traveling with her family. This is her first novel.

Connect with Tina by following her on Instagram @ts_walking

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a signed copy of This Ain't No Promised Land and several book-related goodies, including a friendship bracelet, a mini journal, a pen, and a prayer tin.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 18, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 25, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!