Extending The Hand Of Grace
Worthy Of Legend by Roseanna M White is a powerful Christian historical novel. It is the third book in The Secrets Of The Isles series. It can be read as a stand-alone but it is far better to read the books in order as each one starts where the previous one ended.
There is a continuity of characters throughout the series. Each book has it’s focus on different main characters. In this book we have four lead characters to follow.
We drop in on a young woman and her maid. In these changing times of 1906, we see that friendship steps over the class boundaries as the pair form a strong friendship bond.
We cannot choose our family members. We witness the cruelty that has been levied at a daughter by her brother and father. She has felt isolated and an outcast but still has a heart that extends the hand of grace.
The pursuit of wealth and fame is a shocking master. When greed steps in, a downfall is sure to happen. True treasure lies within hearts that love.
1906 is a time when the world was on the brink of change. Young ladies know their own minds and are so much more than the outdated view that society has of them. She was “nothing but a marriage pawn – whose ideas were worthless, whose purpose was to be pretty.”
We cannot change others. “I am the only one I can change.” We are in charge of our own thoughts and feelings. We know that extending forgiveness brings us freedom. Sometimes it can be hard and we need help from our heavenly Father. “I will definitely need Your [God] help… I don’t think I can do it on my own power.” God longs to help us become the people He wants us to be.
There is the theme of healing. Sometimes it is physical, at other times it is mental. “Mend his broken places… so that he might be healed.”
Every day there is a new opportunity to follow the heart of God. “Help me… to love him as You [God] do.” It is easy to love the lovable but far harder to love those who hurt us.
Sometimes in life, people speak cruel words over us. Those words can take us captive as we believe what are actually lies from the enemy. We need to listen to God and to the people of God. “He always said things… to hold her up.” We need to be people who build others up and don’t bring them down.
Life breaks us at times. We do not know what to do with our pain and hurt. We must turn to God and let Him heal us. “He [God] was bigger than her pain.” God can give us His peace in our hearts despite our circumstances. God “whisper[ed] peace into her spirit.”
When we bring our shattered lives to God, He can make something even more beautiful out of our pain. “Trust the Lord could do more with her shattered… He meant her to be a mosaic instead of a whole.” God heals and restores.
All the characters were well drawn and believable. They were an eclectic mix, eliciting a variety of emotional responses from the reader.
The Secrets Of The Isles has been an engaging and entertaining series as the reader is immersed in the world of myths and legends – and over it all is the heart of God.
Worthy Of Legend was a fabulous end to the series.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON