A Helping Hand

Heart Healed by Alexa Verde is a delightful contemporary Christian romance that will warm your heart and leave you smiling. It is the tenth book in The Potter’s House series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The book’s focus is hurts and healing. Life deals us blows that shape and form us. Sometimes the hurts go so deep that we withdraw from everyone, even God. “Once upon a time he’d been close to God.” God is the ultimate healer. He longs for us to return to Him, trusting Him to heal our hurts. “Events proved God still cared about him.”

Life leaves scars that are not always visible. “You’re so much more than this scar.” Our scars do not define us. They reveal where we’ve been but not where we are going.

The novel has the traumatic subject of self-harm. A character believes that cutting takes away the emotional pain. It is a hard read but Alexa Verde is not afraid to write about gritty issues that affect some lives today. We, the reader, need to be sensitive to these issues and if we suspect someone needs help, to give it. If the victim is one of us, we need to find someone we trust and get help. Victims need our love and support to help them heal.

Prayer is our lifeline to God. “She needed to pray, but prayer didn’t come easily.” Prayer is not always easy but it should be as intuitive as breathing. “The prayer came unexpectedly.” We all need people in our lives who will direct us to God. “She taught me to pray.”

There are themes of alcoholism and anger. These are sensitively covered, showing that people need help to face their demons and recover.

Some huge hearts feature in the novel. An eclectic mix of characters band together to protect and help each other heal. This reminds the reader of the early church functioning as God intended – a place of safety, help and healing.

I adored Heart Healed. I always love Alexa Verde’s novels with her wonderfully drawn big hearted characters. God’s presence permeates her writings. He proves Himself to be faithful, watching and waiting for us to come to Him.

A wonderful, warm read that will ignite your heart and soul.

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON