Tag Archive | Bethany House

The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese

Apr23

United By Love

The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese is a most beautiful contemporary Christian novel that I just could not putdown. It is A Fog Harbor Romance book.

There are some books that just speak to your soul, and this is one such book. It is a book about friendship, love and loss. The grief found within its’ pages is palpable. “Postponing grief may not be the healthy approach… but sometimes it feels the only approach a person can handle.” This is a grief that paralyses, consumes and is obviously, never ending. “There are no winners in grief – only survivors.”

There are two huge losses within the novel – her father and her friend. “She carried his [dad] absence with her everywhere she went.” There is no recovery program for loss. One just has to navigate the best that we can.

There are two stories within the book – present day, and earlier in the form of a manuscript telling the tale of three friends. It is a gift from beyond the grave. Secrets have been kept in order to protect. Now the truth needs to come to light. We release the burden that has been carried. “Practice letting go of the guilt that’s not ours to hold on to.” Guilt will sink us if we do not surrender it.

God walks beside us in our grief, whether we ‘feel’ Him or not. He is there. She hoped “for a miracle from a God I so desperately wanted to believe had heard my prayers.” God always hears our prayers but doesn’t always answer in the way we want Him to. It is at these times that we have to cling to God and believe that He is good even when life isn’t. “I’m simply trying to focus on having faith enough for today.”

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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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