Finding Sarah: A Phoenix to Behold

Title: Finding Sarah: A Phoenix to Behold

Author: Nina Purtee

Genre: Romance

Series: Annies Journey book 3 of 4

Publisher: Porto Banus

Published Date: 2024

Book Length: 300

Format Read: Paperback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest opinion

Star Rating: 4**** I liked it a lot and recommend

About Book: Abandonment, betrayal, heartbreak, and lack of trust. Sarah Wilkinson has found passion as a painter whose skilful talent was shaped and influenced by many, including two past female artists who came from different cultures and different centuries, yet both defied the odds against women becoming successful artists. Evolved from the Annie’s Journey series, Sarah was living in a tent painting the wild animals of the Serengeti in East Africa when Annie met her. They quickly became close friends, but what Annie was unaware of is the heart breaking childhood Sarah experienced before she struggled to find her way into the competitive art world. As a result, it was Annie who would force Sarah to confront her destiny and make a choice that would forever change her life. Her father, in a letter written just before his death, referred to Sarah as a phoenix that rises from the ashes to new heights. Follow along as Sarah surpasses one pitfall after the other, painstakingly getting closer to finding her sense of purpose. Can artistic success help Sarah escape the ashes of her childhood to believe in second chances and allow her inner phoenix to soar?

My Thoughts: Finding Sarah: A Phoenix to Behold is the third book in the Annie’s Journey series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone.

The pacing of the book was steady, with short chapters. Normally, this would add to the drama, but in this case, it felt more like stepping through Sarah’s life one chapter at a time, with each snippet revealing a new layer. The prose flowed beautifully—like a steady current, neither meandering aimlessly nor rushing uncontrollably, but carrying me forward with a graceful momentum. Sarah’s character was brilliant, and I loved seeing her grow and develop throughout the story.

I wouldn’t call this a full-on romance novel, though romance is definitely woven into the story. It’s so much more than that. It’s about life, growth, and the journey of someone destined to be an artist. The artistic elements added such depth and colour to the book, making it even more enjoyable to read.

If I had one small critique, it would be the repetition of the phrase, “I have found a friend for life.” It seemed to be said about almost everyone Sarah met, which didn’t feel entirely realistic. That said, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story.