As a child, Beatrice supported her family by winning beauty pageants. When she starts loosing, her Mother dresses up, and lands herself a rich man. The man is abusive, violent, and highly religious. Beatrice and her sister force their Mom to choose, and she reluctantly chooses her daughters. They move to West Dallas, Texas, where they are emeshed in poverty. Working at a diner, Beatrice longs to escape. When Jack Turner turns her head, she falls for his fast lifestyle. Together, they begin robbing stores, and then banks.

This book had amazing character development. The characters felt very realistic and dynamic. I felt for Beatrice and the decisions she had to make. The plot line was a bit predictable, but that's because it was based off Bonnie and Clyde. I wish the author had done more to separate the two stories. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

Jennifer L. Wright’s stories are never light but always captivating. Bea’s hard life during the depression in the 1930’s highlights how choices shape our lives. The ones we make ourselves as well as choices made by the people who surround us. And how mercy, forgiveness, and redemption are possible. Loosely based on the true story of Bonnie and Clyde The Girl From the Papers is a bittersweet wild ride, sometimes sad, sometimes hopeful, with well written messy characters.
I really enjoyed this action packed read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

Amazing story!!! I was captivated from the first sentence and did not want to put this book down. While I didn't necessarily love the characters all the time, I did resonate with some of their struggles with worth and identity and love and God. The ending was so moving and redemptive. Also, be sure to read the Author's Note at the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the first book that I've read by Jennifer L. Wright and I'm now ready for more! The Girl From the Papers is very much a Bonnie and Clyde kind of story but with a redemption twist. Bea's story is one that many many people will be able to relate to. Being soured on God after being abused by a "believer" who tried to save her soul with beatings and attempted drowning--she wants NOTHING to do with any of the religous nonsense. That's not a God she wants to follow. But she has a giant hole in her life that she just can't seem to fill. Nothing is every enough. She is never "enough". So she (like so many) just says "in for the penny, in for the pound" and just decides to roll with it--especially after meeting and falling in love with bad boy Jack. He practically worships the ground she walks on and she loves him so much it hurts. So much, she chooses to deny that his "job" is shady and criminal. Because he loves her. And wants her. She's willing to overlook. Then she gets dragged into his life of crime and the rest of the book is Bea running. Mostly running from God. She is able to see a true picture of God's love through Alli, Jack's sister-in-law and it doesn't match the picture that Bea's always carried of God.

But to choose to seek after Alli's God, means turning her back on Jack...and she just can't do that. Can she?

The whole book is a story of running away from the very One who can save you. Who can fix your broken. Who can fill the hole that is always empty. But actually allowing Him to do so...that's the scary part.

This isn't your usual Chrisitian fiction. you will have to go to the END of the book to find the grace and redemption with Bea. This book has messy characters with hard core baggage. Characters who make horrible decisions (you know like, us humans tend to do) and then have to suffer the consequences.

Is there a happily ever after?
No...and yet, yes.

I give this book a solid 4 stars and would recommend it to anyone wanting a more meaty story.

I was given an ARC of this book by the publishing company and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review--all opinions are 100% my own!

The Girl from the Papers by Jennifer L. Wright is interesting, emotional, and a little bit gritty. I felt like this was an authentic portrayal of a Bonnie and Clyde type couple looking for a way out and a way up but that authentic vibe results in a story that is a little heavy and felt frustrating and kind of depressing from beginning to end. There is redemption but definitely not a typical happily ever after. I enjoyed reading it and couldn’t put it down, but mood readers will need to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy it. I still give this book four stars as it is well written with great historical detail. Thanks to Net Galley and Tyndale House Publishers for an advanced copy to read and review. This book comes out August 8, 2023.

The Girl From the Papers is a historical fiction book. The plot reminded me of Bonnie and Clyde and their crime spree. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review .

The Girl from the Papers
by Jennifer L. Wright
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Series: None
Rated: 4
Obtain: Borrow
Back of the Book: “Inspired by one of America’s most notorious couples, Bonnie and Clyde, Jennifer L. Wright delivers a riveting tale set during the public enemy era of the Great Depression. Beatrice Carraway has dreams. Although she’s aged out of the childhood pageant circuit, she’s intent on carrying her talents all the way to the big screen—if only she can escape the poverty of West Dallas first. But as the Great Depression drags the working class further and further under, Beatrice struggles just to keep herself, her mother, and her younger sister afloat. After a string of failed auditions, she feels defeated. And then in walks Jack Turner. Though Beatrice is determined to pull herself up by her bootstraps, Jack has decided on a different path out of the gutters. It isn’t long before Beatrice is swept into an exciting and glamorous life of crime beside the man she loves. Keeping one step ahead of the law, she sees her dreams of fame come true when her name and picture are plastered in newspapers across the country. Yet as their infamy grows, the distance between them widens. While Jack begins seeking bigger payouts and publicity, Beatrice starts to long for a safe, quiet life and something deeper to fill the emptiness in her soul. But when the danger of Jack’s schemes ratchets up, Beatrice fears her dreams—and her future—will end up going down in a hail of bullets.”

Impressions: This was an interesting book. There was somewhat of a dual timeline happening which I felt was unnecessary if not distracting. The characters and plot were exciting and at times sinister. The drama in the plot and relationships kept this book exciting. There was some violence but nothing graphic. I was surprised by the authors notes at the end with how much truth she used in mirroring the characters to Bonnie and Clyde's life. What a sad way to live and end life.

Quotes: “‘Ain’t a penny I earned that didn’t go toward life expenses…but not a cent toward actual living.’”

“‘He(God) loves you. And it’s a love you can’t outrun or out-sin. He knows every thought you’ve had every word you’ve said, everything you’ve ever done- and yet still He loves you.’” – This is a peace giving reminder. I will never be good enough but God doesn’t need perfect; He only wants us to come to Him.

“That was the thing about Jack’s bad moods. He was never content to keep them for himself; he had to make sure they spread.” – Reading this just put into words how some people make me feel.

“‘Whoever isn’t for us is against us, Bea. Please don’t be against us. Please don’t make me choose.” – This was such an interesting point in the story. We all have a crux in life where we have to choose to live for God or the world. It can be hard to walk away from people we love who are calling us back into the world once we’ve seen God for who He is.

“The prison I’d built out of my own shame and rejection, its bars solidified by the choices I’d made and damage I’d caused to those around me. Inside of jail or outside of jail, it was those shackles I’d never escape.” – We do a number on ourselves when we get caught up in our sin. It is hard to imagine salvation. God is so good though and loves us so much that He is waiting on us to come to Him and He will forgive us.

“‘You are more than what people call you. The names others give us, those things they say about us… they don’t define us. They’re not who we are. The only one who can ever truly define us is the One who made us.’”

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

This book took me a long time to get into. The main character was a little hard to relate to because she seemed really naive at times and entitled and playing the victim card so I didn't like her a lot of the time. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting when I picked up this book, but it didn't quite line up. I probably thought the book would be more plot driven then character driven, which this one focuses on the character. I forced myself to get through the book and actually somewhat enjoyed the last quarter.

This was an interesting spin on the lives of the infamous duo Bonnie and Clyde. It was interesting to think more about the people behind the crimes and how that affected their choices. My favorite characters were Alli and Rose. I loved how they showed Jesus to Bea despite the choices she made.





Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

This is a story of people trying to live through the Great Depression, and really not doing very well.

Beatrice Carraway was gifted as a young child with being really cute, and having a bit of talent, she won contests, and thus led to a life of wanting to recreate the fame she once had.

Add in Jake Turner, a man who drives fancy cars, but wants more, and our girl head turns, but Jack wants more and does not want a 9 to 5 job to provide this, of course, there weren't many jobs out there.

This is a Christian read, and as human nature, the author gives us people that know right from wrong, and choose to go to the dark side. We are also offered Jake's sister-in-law Allie, a woman who love the Lord and wants all to choose God, and Eternity.

How this all plays together makes for a page turner, you don't know how this is going to end up, but with bullets flying things do not look good, and yet?

I really did enjoy this read, and I could see why certain choices were made, times were hard, and the easy way sure looks appealing! Great job!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale House, and was not required to give a positive review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I knew that it was loosely based on the story of Bonnie and Clyde, who were notorious criminals in 1930s America.

I was immediately drawn into the character of Beatrice, and her family’s struggle to make ends meet – as well as their need to escape harsh conditions and her longing for more. Her love affair with Jack was believable too. It was when the faith element truly kicked in (at the start the step father was a cruel, churchgoing man who put Beatrice off church) that I wasn’t so sure: would the circles that such people frequented really have those who would point them to Jesus? But then I told myself that in all walks of life there must have been those who had the chance to hear the gospel.

The tussle between good and evil – the lure of the love of a bad boy and confusion over who God really is was gripping, and I found the Christian thread in the book worked better the more I read. It wasn’t until the end that I discovered the elements the author had borrowed from the real-life Bonnie and Clyde – and learned that they were both brought up in Christian homes. I had been gripped by the story Jennifer had weaved – and was fascinated that it wasn’t all total fiction.

Beatrice Carraway and Jack Turner, two thieves who gained notoriety by robbing businesses and stealing cars, their story could have been captured directly from news articles in the early 1930s that featured criminals of the time.

This story is profound and unique, with characters that are larger than life. It's an intriguing read, a little darker than the author's other works and heavier than what I usually read. This book is for you if you enjoy adventures with Bonnie and Clyde-like characters and a clear, powerful spiritual thread.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

WOW! I just finished reading The Girl from the Papers and am an emotional wreck! The author does such an amazing job of writing a book that feels so real. The characters, storyline, and ending were absolutely perfect. This is one of the books that will stick with me for a long time. I cannot wait to tell everyone about it!

The Girl from the Papers by Jennifer L. Wright is a Bonnie and Clyde retelling. One of my favorite aspects was the internal dialogue of the main heroine. She wonders if she is ever good enough to be loved. I can completely relate. But through the help of Allie who shows her who God is and how much he loves her just the way that she is, the heroine begins to understand that God will love her no matter what she has done or will do. The plot moves at a fast pace and will hold the imagination of the readers. Wright does a wonderful job at showing why the heroine stayed with Jack even as he kept doing the horrible things that he did. Made it more easy to empathize with her plight. Their romance is more of a need to fill the hole in the heroine's heart. The setting and descriptions were nicely explained and shown to the readers. The synopsis made me want to read the story, but Wright's take at the heart issue really kept me glued to the active storyline. Overall, The Girl from the Papers by Jennifer L. Wright moves the heart, but shows a delightful story while doing it. I recommend this story.

I received a complimentary copy of The Girl from the Papers by Jennifer L. Wright from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

The Girl From the Papers
By Jennifer Wright
Pub Date August 8, 2023
Tyndale
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
There are more pluses to this book than negatives. But I found this book to be rather depressing. The characters weren’t ones I could root for either. The Biblical theme was presented in a non preachy way. I would recommend this book for those who like historical adventures with realistic settings and consequences,
4 stars

A bittersweet, redemptive Bonnie-and-Clyde-inspired “religion vs faith” historical tragedy.

Beatrice’s heart-wrenching (and mildly depressing) story isn’t for the fainthearted. The accumulative effects of poverty, abuse, an unyielding society, and general disregard forged a gaping hole in her heart where a mishmash of clashing attitudes spewed forth, setting her on the path of destruction. However, Beatrice was not a saint. Her mother’s obsessive focus on Bea’s beauty and talent as a child inflated her young ego, entrenching Bea in bitterness when she was no longer “desirable”. Then the awful, nightmarish life she lived when her mother made a rash decision to trade poverty for life’s comforts crushed what little innocence Bea still possessed.

Redemption was a powerful theme in this story, with a contentious battle between what I like to call religion vs faith. The so-called Christians angered and sickened me in this story, representing God in the worst possible way. I still can’t wrap my head around how people used to (and still do) behave so abhorrently in God’s name. No wonder some people's outlook of church is distorted, or why they feel God hates them. What a travesty, for the church to have removed itself so far from Scripture and abuse others “to save their soul”... 😥

Ms Wright did a fabulous job weaving the intricate tapestry of Bea’s life. The abusive, neglectful upbringing which callused her heart. Her younger sister’s innocence driving her protective desperation. The love of a man she clung to even when he led them from bad to worse. And the unconditional love Alli shared with her which softened Bea’s heart to Christ.

A fabulous but emotionally draining women’s fiction read worthy of your time, especially if stories related to Bonnie and Clyde pique your interest.

Many thanks to Tyndale House Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy.

If there's such a thing as loveable, freelance criminals, you'll find some in this book. Beatrice and Jack were the stars, very much akin to the 1930's Bonnie and Clyde-like notoriety and calaber, who took the newspapers limelight by storm.

Although this is a work of fiction, one will be able to see the reality of how a person's early childhood years of abuse, whether from physical or spiritual attacks, will have great impact on the adult that child becomes. A saving grace to be found in this book, which I was really happy to come across, were the seeds of faith in Jesus that were planted along the way and that sprang up in helpful ways.

There was much action to keep the kettle boiling with never a dull moment, describing action 'then' and 'now'. This is the second book of Jennifer L. Wright's I've read and once again, I have not been disappointed.

5 star rating from me.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

April 2023

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

There were more positives than negatives about this book. On the negative side, it was a bit depressing. It takes place during the Depression era so not a very happy uplifting time period. Without giving away too much about the story, I found the characters not ones you can root very much for. Now to the positive, I thought the situations the characters found themselves in were believable for the story. I thought they were written in such a way you could picture the events happening and feel the emotions the characters were feeling. I liked how the main female character developed and grew throughout. I also thought the Biblical theme was presented in a non-preachy way. If you like historical adventures with realistic settings and consequences, you will really enjoy this book.

THE GIRL FROM THE PAPERS by JENNIFER L WRIGHT is a most enjoyable historical romance novel based on the story of Bonnie and Clyde, full of suspense, murder and mayhem, as Jack Turner (the Dallas Desperado) and his girlfriend Beatrice Carraway (Salacious Sheba), become famous for their audacious robberies, eventually making the newspaper headlines and gathering a motley crew of followers.
Life is hard during the early twentieth century due to the effects of the Great Depression.Bea, after growing up in the pageant scene, never makes it on the stage and feels inferior due to her mother’s unkind belittling and her step father’s brutality. She never feels she is “enough” and sees God as a tyrant after nearly being killed by her stepfather in order to “save her soul”. Both Bea and Jack see their thievery as justified because of the way they are looked down on by society ……..
There is a lot more to the story, including the two women who show Bea the love of Jesus, but I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling the read for you.
I highly recommend The Gurl From the Papers to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Tyndale House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This novel was ripped from the headlines in the early 1930s, and turned six ways to Sunday. But it is based loosely on a criminal couple who made their name robbing banks, stores, and funeral homes (rather morbid, but it was what happened). In this novel there were a few bank robberies, an overwhelming number of car thefts, one prison break that got several people killed, and several smaller store robberies.

The tale begins ten years prior to Black Tuesday when Wall Street crashed and sent the whole country (if not the whole world) into an economic depression. Beatrice Calloway had been in the pageant circuit since she was a little child, but as she is growing up, the pageants are getting harder and harder to win. Her mother seeks out men who have money to keep her in a lavish lifestyle and finds one Charles Thomas who abused Bea, her mother, and her little sister. His warped sense of who God is set the tone for Bea's opinion of God in a major way.

Bea always knew she was destined for bigger and better things than what she had in her current situation. After her stepfather nearly drowns her, she moves in with her grandparents. Her mother is just as dysfunctional as her stepfather but in different ways. When Bea meets Jack Turner, she knows her ticket to a grander life has been punched. The only fly in the ointment is that Jack doesn't play by any rules except his own. He's not a Robin Hood who steals from the rich to give to the poor, he's an out-and-out thief. Whenever he goes on a caper, he steals a different car to keep suspicion away from himself. The first time he gets caught by the police and sentenced to jail time hardens him and he believes that the police have it in for him and will just pin any crime on him even if he were somewhere else far away. Soon enough Jack and Bea got enough of a reputation that newspapers around the area that they are even nicknamed The Dallas Desperado and his Salacious Sheba. While Bea did not actively participate in any of his crimes, she did aid and abet his crimes, sometimes driving the getaway car or signaled to the ones committing the crimes.

Jennifer L Wright loosely based this on Bonnie and Clyde who both died in a hail of bullets during the commission of one of their crimes. This is an interesting novel to read, with the parallel to historical facts. It was fun to read Jennifer's take on how faith might have entered the picture and changed the outcome for Bea and Jack both. Bea eventually chose her faith, while Jack declined to participate in anything that would remotely hint of faith in anything but himself. It lead to his eventual downfall. I appreciated Jennifer's handling of the situation and how she showed that true, everlasting love comes from somewhere, someone outside ourselves. This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a friend who will lead you home when you've lost your way.

Tyndale House Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely