Joy Comes In The Morning

Within Golden Bands by Norma Gail is a marvellous contemporary Christian crime suspense. It is part of the A Home For My Heart series but can be read as a stand-alone. I would recommend reading book one first so you can get to know the characters and see their progression.

Wow, what an amazing read. As the suspense rose, so did my heart rate. The plotline is well thought out and executed. Revenge motivates some terrible crimes as a character is consumed.

 In contrast there is goodness and light as characters live out their faith in God. He “can’t steal our faith or destroy our spirits unless we permit it.” We cannot stop life happening to us but we can choose how we respond – in faith or fear.

Life may be hard. Sometimes we have to trust God in the dark and “trust through God’s silence.” God is always working on our behalf even when we do not see or hear Him.

Prayer is important. Prayer releases the power of God and leaves us with a peace that passes all understanding. She “watched serenity transform him as he left his concerns with God.” At times “prayers refused to come.” When we have no words, God knows our hearts cry.

The novel has the painful themes of miscarriage and infertility. These are sensitively portrayed and we can ‘feel’ the emotion and the hurt. There is also the theme of adoption which reminds us that we are all adopted into God’s family.

Norma Gail comprehensively describes the landscape enabling the reader to ‘see’ the locations and ‘walk’ through the novel.

I really loved Within Golden Bands as it revealed the faithfulness of God and His heart for His children, as well as being a smashing story.

I want to leave you with my favourite and very powerful quote:

“God’s forgiveness is only limited by our failure to seek it.”

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

JULIA WILSON