From a Distance (Timber Ridge Reflections, Book 1)
September 7, 2010 by Administrator
Filed under Audio Book, Bound Books, Kindle e-Books
What happens when the realization of a dream isn’t what you imagined… and the secret you’ve spent a lifetime guarding is finally laid bare?
Determined to become one of the country‘s premier newspaper photographers, Elizabeth Westbrook travels to the Colorado Territory to capture the grandeur of the mountains surrounding the remote town of Timber Ridge. She hopes, too, that the cool, dry air of Colorado, and its renowned hot springs, will cure the mysterious illness that threatens her career, and her life. Daniel Ranslett is a man shackled by his Confederate past, and he’ll do anything to protect his land, and his solitude. When an outspoken Yankee photographer captures an image that appears key to solving a murder, putting herself in danger, Daniel is called upon to repay a debt. He’s a man of his word, but repaying that debt could reveal secrets from his past he would prefer remain buried.
Forced on a perilous journey together, Daniel and Elizabeth’s lives intertwine in ways neither could have imagined when first they met from a distance.
Rating: 
(out of 38 reviews)
List Price: $ 14.99
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Review by Jennifer AlLee for From a Distance (Timber Ridge Reflections, Book 1)
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This is the first book I’ve read by Tamera Alexander, and I enjoyed every bit of it. Compelling characters must deal with the aftermath of the Civil War as well as their own personal secrets. The majestic mountains and setting of Colorado Territory come alive through Alexander’s vivid descriptions.
The developing relationship between Elizabeth and Daniel crackles with energy as they each face their fears and shortcomings to drop their facades and be the people God intended them to be. The secondary characters are well developed, particularly Josiah, a former slave whose story is just as engrossing as that of the main characters.
From A Distance is a wonderful beginning to the Timber Ridge Reflections series. I look forward to the next book, and many more from this talented author!
Review by Tamara Tilley for From a Distance (Timber Ridge Reflections, Book 1)
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I couldn’t wait to pick up FROM A DISTANCE and fall in love with another book by Tamera Alexander. That is why I was so surprised when I found the beginning dragging. I felt the story got off to a slow start. All the key ingredients were there but somehow it didn’t grab me. I was determined to hang on because of my love of Alexander’s previous series . . . and I’m glad I did. Though it took about seventy pages before I felt the momentum building, the rest of the book was a pure delight.
As we follow Elizabeth Westbrook in her quest to become the first female photojournalist of the Washington Chronicle, we meet Daniel Ranslett and Josiah Birch. Daniel, a hunter, is a private man who keeps to himself. His withdrawal from city life is obviously fueled by a regrettable past that we only get glimpses of as he struggles with painful memories. Josiah, a former slave, wrestles with his own demons and losses. And even though he is now a free man, thanks to the Civil War, he is still disregarded and looked down upon by many people.
When Elizabeth finds out that Daniel is exactly the person she needs to help her in her quest for breathtaking pictures of the great Colorado territory, she does all she can to convince him to help her in her journey. Daniel, feeling only slightly responsible for ruining one of the pictures Elizabeth had taken on her quest, begrudgingly agrees to take her hunting so she can photograph the wildlife.
And of course, that is where it all begins. Sparks ignite between Daniel and Elizabeth. And even though they both are slow on the uptake, it’s not long before they both realize there is more between them then the Colorado Wilderness.
I really enjoyed FROM A DISTANCE, once the pace picked up. I thought the characters were fascinating and multi-dimensional. Josiah, was a wonder third character, and Elizabeth and Daniel made for a great heroine and hero. I look forward to reading the next installment in the series.
Review by C. Widman for From a Distance (Timber Ridge Reflections, Book 1)
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After reading and enjoying Tamera Alexander’s Fountain Creek Chronicles, she became one of my few `must-buy’ Christian authors. I was very excited to see she had started a new series. But Timber Ridge Reflections, at least this first installment, is not as good as I had hoped it would be. I just couldn’t get to like the heroine and the plot was very predictable. I’m hoping that the series isn’t doomed from this less than promising start… Hopefully there is a better hero/heroine. Elizabeth Westbrook is just not a very likeable heroine. You’re supposed to empathize with the main character; you’re supposed to be able to imagine and feel all that they go through. And while I can imagine what she goes through, I can’t relate to how she acts or how she responds to certain things. I couldn’t empathesize with Elizabeth, she aggravated me too much. She is very selfish, uppity, and at times, pretty rude. I guess that she can be described as a stereotypical Yankee upper middle class woman. You don’t really blame Daniel Ranslett for his comments; I cheered him on. (Daniel is a sweet hero. He has been through a lot and lives in seclusion from the townspeople. He likes it that way. So when Elizabeth needs a knowledgeable guide of the area, he is none too happy to be found the most suitable candidate.) He and Josiah, Elizabeth’s assistant, were the only two characters that I really enjoyed. They were well able to deal with and react to her brashness and outspokenness. I felt like Elizabeth needed a good talking to so that she could understand how she was coming off. She seems innocent of her behavior, probably because that’s how most other people she had previously dealt with acted. Out in the wild and unsettled Western world, though, she is not the norm. Most people are kind and welcoming, but look at her sideways in confusion and almost contempt (because at times she acts better than these common folk).
Overall a good enough story that I was able to keep reading, but not as good as I had expected. It was interesting to learn about turn of the century photography and what went into getting a photograph in those days; it’s so complicated compared to the click of a button nowadays. So it’s pretty amazing to see how far that technology has come. I’m hoping the second installment is better and that this was just a fluke. I am a fairly picky reader; maybe others won’t find Elizabeth as annoying as I did. Maybe they’ll enjoy the story more because her personality won’t bother them. In that case, things are looking good for those readers because they’ll be in for a good read. I’m hoping that Ms. Alexander finds a more likeable heroine next time around.
3 ½ stars- I don’t see myself re-reading this one.
Review by Hannah Rose for From a Distance (Timber Ridge Reflections, Book 1)
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If there were more than five stars, I would give it dozens. This book was fantastic!! Hard to put down. Well written, all loose ends tied up. Looking forward to the next in the series I just ordered. Clean language. Suspense, mystery, romance, heart to heart story.
Review by Zette T for From a Distance (Timber Ridge Reflections, Book 1)
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Although I rated this book with only 3 stars, I really don’t think it had anything to do with Tamera Alexander’s writing or the story itself. I enjoyed the main plot and the way the other details of the sub plots were woven into the story. I especially enjoyed Josiah’s character. I think I just had a hard time connecting with the heroine which I’ve found lately either makes or breaks a book for me. Elizabeth was a likeable personality but I didn’t feel that she put God first in her life. She claimed to want to follow God but then lied to everyone to manipulate her life into what she wanted rather than what God wanted for her. She would then justify her actions and question why God wasn’t blessing her efforts to become the photographer she felt He wanted her to be. I know we all deal with putting God first in our lives on a daily basis but I never really saw her repent and ask for forgiveness from those she lied to and manipulated. I think that may have made me feel like she had changed for the better and learned from her mistakes by the end of the book.
Sadly, I had to make myself push to the end of this one but it won’t stop me from reading Tamera Alexander’s other books. I would highly recommend her Fountain Creek Chronicles series.