About the Book

Book: Both Sides of the Border

Author: Terry Overton

Genre: Christian Fiction

Release date: March 30, 2021

Inspired by True Current Events.

Dolores, Ernesto, and Emilio Sanchez are on a quest to America to find work and to save their family, who has been devastated by their father’s accident and the drought in their home country of Honduras. But making their way to America would be too expensive for a family stricken by poverty. With only their faith in God to see them through, the teenaged siblings set off for their new home, despite the threat from the cartel, corrupt police officers, starvation, and death.

Meanwhile, Eva Jordan is determined to start a new life on the American side of the Mexican border, hoping to shake off the scars from a horrible marriage. Despite her mother’s concern for her daughter living so close to the border, Eva decides to take a vacation to the other side to sharpen up her Spanish and relax before her new job begins. She is struck by the beautiful towns of Mexico, but slowly, her eyes are opened to the dangers that are knocking at her front door.

When a hurricane washes away the border walls, will the two sides collide in hatred or unite in perfect harmony?

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About the Author

BC3970E1-CCAC-4B27-AD52-4377E0F4CF0A Terry Overton is a retired university professor of educational and school psychology. She has an Ed.D. in Special Education and a Ph.D. in Psychology. Her professional experience includes teaching public school, teaching at the university level, and being a college dean. She has two children and six grandchildren. Her writing and publication experiences include textbook and journal articles in the fields of special education and school psychology. She seeks to answer God’s call to share the good news and grow the church by writing Christian books and devotionals. She recently penned her first poetry book in honor of servicemen and women. Her book “Both Sides of the Border” is a Firebird Book Award winner in the categories of Cross-Genre, Socio-Political Fiction, and Women’s Fiction. She and her husband live in the southern tip of Texas where they enjoy semi-tropical weather and spending time with their friends and family.

More from Terry

As a Christian author, my goals in writing “Both Sides of the Border,” were to have the reader question their own understanding of the people and events of U.S.-Mexico border, analyze these world events through a Christian worldview, and enjoy the plot’s twists and turns. During their travels, the main characters of the story display different levels of their own faith. In the end, both women have increased their faith and understanding of God.

MY REVIEW

The author gives us a chance to walk beside people who are desperate to find freedom in The United States. We follow Dolores and her two brothers as they travel from Honduras to the border of Texas. I was captivated by the journey they took. This subject is on the news a lot but I don’t think I have thought much about it til now. It is controversial for some but I appreciate how the author focused on what it is like for those wanting a better life. We see the danger they face as the cartel are everywhere. I held my breath as men kidnapped people and lead them away to the unknown.

Eva moving to Brownsville was not my favorite part of the story. I knew somehow the author would put her in the path of Dolores and her brothers. I thought it was strange that Eva took to Steven so fast and went off to explore Mexico with him away from the tour group she was with. It bothered me that her mom continuously called her and warned her about the hurricane and the dangers of living so close to the border. I understand that the author was showing us two sides of the border but I wasn’t able to connect with Eva at all.

The author does do a good job of describing the sights that can be found in Mexico and the authentic food. Although the book does try to compare two different points of view about the border, the most captivating for me was Dolores and her brothers. Their journey was realistic and I liked how fearless they were. The ending fell flat because it is not true to what is going on right now. It does show hope for the future but there is much work to be done before that reality happens.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.