Tag Archive | Bethany House

The Vanishing At Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright

Mar26

All The Broken Pieces

The Vanishing At Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright is a fabulous dual timeline novel that totally consumed me. I always love Jaime Jo Wright’s books. They entertain me and always leave me wanting more.

The action is set in present day, 1870 and 1801. We slip seamlessly between the three periods. 1870 and present day have parallel action and themes. 1801 sets the scene.

Castle Moreau has been in a family for a couple of centuries. It has always had an air of mystery. It is a place of foreboding that the locals avoid. What goes on behind closed doors, remains there. Secrets are contained within the very bricks and mortar.

We see the bonds between grandparents and their grandchildren. The bonds are there to protect and to nurture.

There is the theme of nature versus nurture. Are we destined to repeat the sins of our ancestors? If they were monsters, do we have monsters lurking within?

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Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl

Mar19

A Fabulous New Series

Cold Pursuit by Nancy Mehl is an absolutely marvellous contemporary Christian suspense that I just could not put down. It is the first book in the Ryland & St Clair series and I cannot wait for the next book in the series. As book one ends, it is perfectly poised for book two.

Of the two lead characters – one is a Christian and the other has wandered away from God. She has placed earthly values on her heavenly Father, judging Him as she judged her own father. She is just waiting, and expecting, God to walk away and let her down – but God loves us. He will never walk away and He will never let us down. God loves us, even when we reject Him. God works for us even when we turn our back on Him. We can always trust God. “If God could love her through her anger and rejection of Him, she knew He would never abandon her like her father had.”

No one is ever too far from the heart of God. “No matter what you do, He’ll always take you back.” God longs for us to return to Him, if we stray.

Forgiveness is a major theme. Sometimes we need to forgive others. Sometimes we need to forgive ourselves. When God forgives us, He also chooses to forget our transgressions.

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The Legacy Of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky

Oct16

Heaven Sent

The Legacy Of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky is a most delightful Christian dual timeline novel that is extremely powerful and has lessons for us all.

The time periods of 1912 and 2012 are linked by Longdale Manor and the location of Keswick. Both time periods have similar themes too.

A major theme is that of forgiveness. We need to forgive because we are forgiven. If we fail to forgive, we risk becoming bitter. Forgiveness is not excusing the sin but it is freeing us and leaving any judgment to God.

In both time periods we see the damage of separation and witness the theme of the prodigal son. Sometimes the separation is not our fault but the fault of our parents. We are not destined to repeat their sins. There is power in reconciliation and much rejoicing when the prodigal returns home.

We see the importance of trusting. “Trusting God through the good times and bad.”. He is our good Father and can be trusted even if our earthly fathers fail us.

God is still at work even when He is silent. “God didn’t seem to care what happened to them.” God does care and God does love throughout all the seasons of our lives. “Facing challenging circumstances did not mean God was not in control.” God is always in control, even when our circumstances seem out of control.

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When The Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer

Sep7

God’s Plans

When The Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer is a perfectly charming dual timeline novel that I adored. It is the first book in the Timeless series and I cannot wait for more.

The novel is set In Williamsburg in 1774 and also in New York City in 1914 and then Whitby on the North Yorkshire coast. Both time periods are similar but different. In 1774 America teeters on the edge of the War of Independence from Britain, wanting to take back control. In 1914 Britain is braced for World War I. Also, women are fighting as suffragettes for their independence and the right to vote.

In both time periods the leading lady is a strong character, fighting for what she believes is right. Even as a woman she knows that her life counts. “My life was not meaningless. God had an expected end in mind.”

We can trust God has a plan for our lives, even when we think our plan is better! We see just part of the puzzle. God sees the whole picture. “I will choose to trust God.”

Sometimes it feels as if we are imprisoned by our circumstances. “My surroundings were lovely, but I was not free to fly beyond its confines.” A gilded palace can be as much a prison as a jail cell itself, if lives are held captive by another.

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