Once Upon A Springtime by Scott R Rezer

Apr13

The Protester & The Soldier

Once Upon A Springtime by Scott R Rezer is a charming contemporary Christian novella that I absolutely loved.

The tale warmed my heart as I read about a God who loves us too much to leave us in our situations. “He just wants us… to come to Him as a child seeking their father.” God is our Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally.

Our earthly parents may let us down but God never will. “Regardless of your beginning, you are a miracle of God.” God will never leave us alone. He walks alongside us from the moment of conception to our last breath.

A character has walked away from God. “I learned to hate God for what He did to my family.” Hate is negative. Hate destroys us. God did not do anything to hurt a family. He walked beside each member in their pain. A character finds it easier to blame God than to blame her earthly parents for their lifestyle choices. “Where was He when my sister Clare died?”… “He was standing right beside you.” God walks beside us in our pain, but often our hurt blinds us from ‘seeing’ God.

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The Weight Of Courage by Alex Baranda

Apr12

Gripping

The Weight Of Courage by Alex Baranda is a gripping historical novella. It is the prequel to A Jane Doe Program series.

The story is set in 1942-1943 in Nazi-occupied France. We see newly recruited female agents parachuted into France. Their mission was to set up a resistance network.

All the action is seen through the eyes of Madeleine and in the first person. This enables us to ‘experience’ the action.

At the end of each chapter, we hear Madeleine repeating her undercover agent’s name, and her mission.

We witness the bravery needed to set up safe houses and to recruit people to the Resistance. How to hide in plain sight, right under the nose of the Nazis.

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Anyone But You by Rachel Hauck

Apr12

Warm & Wonderful

Anyone But You by Rachel Hauck is a most charming contemporary Christian novel that I adored. It is the second book in the Home To Hearts Bend series but can be read as a stand-alone.

I am a huge Rachel Hauck fan, and it is lovely to have characters from her previous novels popping up in Hearts Bend. It adds an air of familiarity.

This is a book about love and loss; grief and life; faith and God.

A character has returned home to Hearts Bend as a young widow. Her heart is broken. She fears loving again because “the men I love, die” – but “love was worth it. Even if it could also be painful.” We need to take a chance on love as we were never meant to live in isolation.

Grief has seen a character pull away from God. “Ever since Daddy had died, she’d wondered if He was a good God at all.” In contrast, her mother has run towards God. “You want to know what I did to get through those dark days… I grabbed hold of the hand the Lord offered me and never let go.” We need to keep our eyes on God who will help us through our grief journey. “Grief comes in waves and stages.” Grief is different for everyone.

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Raccoon Key by Donnah M Cole

Apr11

Engaging & Entertaining

Raccoon Key by Donnah M Cole is a powerful dual timeline novel that entertained me from the start.

The action is set in 1873 and 2023 in Raccoon Key. It is an isolated maritime community where life is hard as one battles the natural elements. The two time periods are linked by generational ancestors. People often did the same job as their father and his father before him.

An unexplained death in 1873 is still having ramifications one hundred and fifty years later. The coroner’s report at the time is at odds with present day thinking. An old diary recording the events leading up to the day is found – will this be the key to unlock the mystery?

Legends have sprung up, particularly around crows, and the significance of seeing one.

The American Civil War was over by 1873 but those in the South still faced prejudice and persecution as the Klu Klux Klan had sprung up. “Slavery had ended in ink and speeches… But fear still rode the back roads at night.”

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