Light From Distant Stars by Shawn Smucker

Feb10

The Mender

Light From Distant Stars by Shawn Smucker is a beautiful Christian novel that looks at life and where love lives.

It is a novel surrounding a middle aged man who contemplates defining moments in his childhood whilst sitting by the hospital bed of his father. The reader sees how fathers appear to let us down but when we really need them, some are there. Whereas others do damage with their tongues and actions. Fathers shape the men their sons become. In contrast God is our faithful Father. Whether we can feel or hear His presence or not, God faithfully walks alongside us every step of our lives.

The past may rise up to haunt us. We can all learn lessons from our pasts but we must not live in them or we will miss out on the present and the future God has in mind for us.

We all have regrets, regrets over things we have done or things we should have done. Regrets will imprison us if we continually focus on them. Regrets only have the power we give them.

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The Neighbour by Fiona Cummins

Feb10

Creepy And Cleverly Constructed

The Neighbour by Fiona Cummins is a marvellous contemporary murder suspense that will have you glued as you try to guess the perpetrator.

The story has a complex plotline littered with many red herrings along the way. I suspected many but totally failed to guess the perpetrator. As the novel drew towards its conclusion, I read with heart in my mouth as the suspense and tension rose.

We ‘hear’ the voice of the murderer down the years and throughout as Fiona Cummins teases us with snippets of information.

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Still Me by Jojo Moyes

Feb8

Dean Martin And Me

Still Me by Jojo Moyes is a wonderful contemporary novel about discovering who you are meant to be. It is the third book in the Me Before You series and could be read as a stand-alone. I would recommend reading the books in order to chart the character progression.

I loved meeting up with Lou Clarke again, with her sunny, unique personality and her huge heart for others. All her life she reaches out to others, spreading goodness and happiness wherever she goes. Will, in book one, encouraged her to live big. In this novel we follow Louisa to New York and watch with baited breath as she discovers the Louisa she was meant to be.

Life is for living. We have one life, we need to reach out and grab it. We must not be hemmed in by others low expectations of us.

Louisa has the gift of bringing out the best in people. Her cheery smile and sunny disposition even brings out the best in a grouchy dog!

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Hannah’s Courage by Molly Jebber

Feb8

Community And Love

Hannah’s Courage  by Molly Jebber is a delightfully warm Amish historical novel that will leave you smiling. It is the third book in the Amish Charm Bakery series but can be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed reconnecting with familiar faces.

There is a wonderful community feel to the book as the Amish bond over food and company. Homes, hearts and businesses are opened to those in need. Strangers receive warm welcomes.

Friendship is important. We all need friends with whom we can talk and trust them to tell us the truth in love.

The characters are realistically drawn and likable. Their interactions are delightful. There are misunderstandings that create tensions in the reader as we long for them to be resolved.

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