A Warm Welcome For All
The Red Mill Bookstore by Lin Stepp is a most delightful, contemporary Christian novel that I adored. It is part of A Mountain Home Book series but can be read as a stand-alone.
Lin Stepp always writes the most charming wholesome novels that enchant the reader from the start. Her townsfolk are warm and welcoming, and the reader longs to be a part of the community.
There are godly lessons for us all, as we see the importance of letting God love us and guide us. “Your Father in heaven believes in you… Seek to find God’s wisdom. He always knows the best way for us to walk.” When we follow God’s plan for our lives, we know that we cannot fail. When we fall, God will pick us up.
Having faith in God doesn’t mean we will have a trouble-free life. We meet a family that has had their lives disrupted by false imprisonment (before the novel opened). There was always a choice to become bitter or better. They chose the path of forgiveness. “Anger and unforgiveness was hurting us more than anyone else.”
In order to live free, we must hand our burdens over to Jesus. “We’ve both had a bad experience… but we learned from it.” When we are in difficult places, we learn vital lessons.
We become whatever we immerse ourselves in. “The words we speak become the house we live in.” Always speak words of truth and life that will build others up.
Prayer is important. Prayer connects us to God. “I’ve been praying that God would make a way.” God will always make a way even when we cannot see a way. We can trust Him. “We count our blessings daily.” No matter how bad life is, we need to look out for something good and be thankful.
When the road ahead seems unclear, we can ask God for guidance. God still speaks through dreams. He did in the past, and He still does today.
We need to tell our stories of the goodness of God. “There’s always room for a story that can transport people to another place.” Stories have the power to transport us through time and space.
Lin Stepp introduces the reader to the beautiful natural mountain scenery. She vividly paints the locations with her artistic pen so that they spring to life.
Characters re-connect after years apart. Childhood friends had drifted away and both suffered in the school of hard knocks. The mountain community offers a place of healing.
Books are important. They enable the reader to travel to far-flung places while never leaving their chair. I love the fact that books are important to the characters, and there were the inclusions of references to previous books I have read by Lin Stepp.
I absolutely adored The Red Mill Bookstore and am sad that it is ended. For a few hours I was transported to a beautiful mountain area and felt welcomed as a friend by the characters.
I received a free copy from the author. A favourable review was not required. All opinions ae my own.
JULIA WILSON
