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The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano

May9

All The Broken Pieces

The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano is a powerful dual timeline Christian novel that enthralled me from the start.

The action is set in 1913 and 1947 in a small village in Cornwall.

We learn about love and loss; and memories that sustain us or break us.

There are characters suffering from memory loss – following a trauma the brain protects a character by amnesia. Life before the accident ceases to exist. When snippets of memory return, a character questions the reliability of these memories.

We see that sometimes love means letting go, standing back, and waiting for love to return. “Love is powerful… It can be bent and misshapen and even broken, but it doesn’t simply go away.” When we love unconditionally, we will do whatever it takes in order to protect those we love. “Love means shared moments, limping through the rough patches together.”

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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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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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Anyone But You by Rachel Hauck

Apr12

Warm & Wonderful

Anyone But You by Rachel Hauck is a most charming contemporary Christian novel that I adored. It is the second book in the Home To Hearts Bend series but can be read as a stand-alone.

I am a huge Rachel Hauck fan, and it is lovely to have characters from her previous novels popping up in Hearts Bend. It adds an air of familiarity.

This is a book about love and loss; grief and life; faith and God.

A character has returned home to Hearts Bend as a young widow. Her heart is broken. She fears loving again because “the men I love, die” – but “love was worth it. Even if it could also be painful.” We need to take a chance on love as we were never meant to live in isolation.

Grief has seen a character pull away from God. “Ever since Daddy had died, she’d wondered if He was a good God at all.” In contrast, her mother has run towards God. “You want to know what I did to get through those dark days… I grabbed hold of the hand the Lord offered me and never let go.” We need to keep our eyes on God who will help us through our grief journey. “Grief comes in waves and stages.” Grief is different for everyone.

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