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Then There’s Trust by Susan Gray

May3

Live, Love, Loss

Then There’s Trust by Susan Gray is a powerful historical novel that I loved. It is the third book in the Blossoming series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Once more the reader joins familiar faces in a familiar location, a small village near Durham in the North East. As we catch up, it is now the 1950’s and there are still fall-outs from World War II as a character is returning from two years National Service.

The 1950’s was a time of change. People were still adapting to peacetime. We join a large, extended family as they navigate life, love and loss.

There is the painful topic of stillbirth. A character’s hopes and dreams died with their baby. At times like this it is hard to trust that God is good even when circumstances aren’t. “Trust is a confident expectation of something. There are seasons in life when we are asked to trust.” Trusting is hard when life sucks but we have to trust that God is good.

Loss is painful. “Why did she have to leave me when I needed her so much?” is said after the stillbirth. A wife and mother unexpectedly departs, leaving a huge hole in her family. “You don’t know at that point it’s going to be the last occasion. Bring your memories to mind.” We need to cherish our loved ones because we do not know when lives will end. Make memories, as one day you will need them to keep you warm.

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The Blitz Sisters by Judith Eagle

Apr27

Captivating

The Blitz Sisters by Judith Eagle is a powerful historical children’s novel that absolutely captivated me. It is suitable for ten years and over.

As the title suggests, the book is set during World War II as we follow three sisters from 1939-1947. The tale is divided into three sections as we follow the action from each sister’s point of view. Lydia’s view point covers the start of the war; Peggy is the middle years; and Teddy is the war’s end and peacetime. The sisters are similar but different and what shines through is their love for each other.

There are various scrapes throughout the years as each sister is reckless in a different way. Each sister is motivated by love, as modelled by their mother. “Warm, forgiving arms. Mum.”

Each sister has a personal battle to fight. I felt very sorry for Peggy whose dyslexia wasn’t understood. “Couldn’t endure another lesson with endless numbers and letters and words jumping up and down… in a horrid unintelligible jumble. She couldn’t bear the fear she felt… She had to make herself invisible in case she was asked to read out loud.” Her frustration is easy to empathise with. “School didn’t understand her. Home didn’t understand her.” But Peggy has a gift – she is very artistic.

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Sisters Of The Storm by Lana Kortchik

Apr23

The Bonds Of Love

Sisters Of The Storm by Lana Kortchik is a powerful World War II novel that I just couldn’t put down.

The reader joins twin sisters, both of whom are nurses, doing their bit for the war effort. The plane carrying them across Albania crashes and the book tells of their fight to survive in enemy-occupied land. They are befriended by partisans and by the people of Albania who are kind, sharing what little they had. “You stay in my house, you are family.” The Albanian people were kindness personified. “What they lacked in material possessions, they more than made up with unconditional love.” With no thought to personal safety, they helped the crashed Americans. “Every step of the way, they were met with kindness. They were welcomed by strangers like they were family.”

We learn about the daughters lives before the war. “Marrying his daughters off was a business deal for their father.” A daughter is cast out when she marries the man of her dreams, who turns out to be a nightmare.

We witness domestic abuse. It’s not always punches; it can be words. “Since they got married, there was a voice inside her head that sounded just like his, hissing and angry and terrifying, telling her she wasn’t good enough or smart enough.” A character believed the lies her husband spoke over her, and is determined not to be that person again. “One of these days I need to stop making excuses for him.” It takes guts to stand up to her husband, and to refuse to be brow-beaten any longer.

You never forget your first love. Although miles from home, there is a chance meeting for a couple who vow never to be parted again.

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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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