Tag Archive | Lin Stepp

The Red Mill Bookstore by Lin Stepp

Mar5

A Warm Welcome For All

The Red Mill Bookstore by Lin Stepp is a most delightful, contemporary Christian novel that I adored. It is part of A Mountain Home Book series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Lin Stepp always writes the most charming wholesome novels that enchant the reader from the start. Her townsfolk are warm and welcoming, and the reader longs to be a part of the community.

There are godly lessons for us all, as we see the importance of letting God love us and guide us. “Your Father in heaven believes in you… Seek to find God’s wisdom. He always knows the best way for us to walk.” When we follow God’s plan for our lives, we know that we cannot fail. When we fall, God will pick us up.

Having faith in God doesn’t mean we will have a trouble-free life. We meet a family that has had their lives disrupted by false imprisonment (before the novel opened). There was always a choice to become bitter or better. They chose the path of forgiveness. “Anger and unforgiveness was hurting us more than anyone else.”

In order to live free, we must hand our burdens over to Jesus. “We’ve both had a bad experience… but we learned from it.” When we are in difficult places, we learn vital lessons.

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The Light Continues by Lin Stepp

Feb21

Steadfast & True

The Light Continues by Lin Stepp is a wonderful, warm, contemporary Christian novel that I adored. It is the fourth book in The Lighthouse Sisters series but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend reading the books in order for character progression and development, and for continuity of time.

Each book focuses on one of the Lighthouse sisters. It is the turn of Lila in this book. Lila has a close relationship with God. She draws close to Him in her quiet time. “Prayer… quiet, special time with God.” As we spend time with God, we build relationship with Him. “Time alone with God always brought her peace.”

When life presents a crossroads for us, we can trust God’s plans and turn to Him for guidance. “God… always has the best plans… the best vocation… is the one God intends exactly for that person.” God longs for us to follow in His footsteps but God is a gentleman and will never force His plans on us. “God will open the doors, but He won’t push you through them.” We all have free will and choice. Be sure to choose wisely. “God gave us all free will, but we each have to choose to live right.”

Some characters are haunted by events of the past. “I felt so dirty.” When things happen to us, we must remember that we were the innocent party and we have no right to feel guilty. Bring it all to Jesus for there is no condemnation in Him. He will heal and restore us. To heal needs kindness, understanding and love, which the close-knit community has in spades.

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For Six Good Reasons by Lin Stepp

Mar8

Wonderfully Warm

For Six Good Reasons by Lin Stepp is a most charming contemporary novel that warmed my heart and made me smile. It is the third A Smoky Mountain novel but can be read as a stand-alone.

Once more Lin Stepp delights the reader’s senses as she paints the landscape with her words. The area is remote and rugged, the houses offer hospitality and the barns provide shelter. The reader meanders through the novel as we explore the area with the characters.

All the characters were well drawn, realistic and charming. Lin Stepp has perfectly captured the five year old twins with their mannerisms, words and zest for life. They act before they think but their hearts are good.

For Six Good Reasons is about fostering. Six siblings need a home together. Foster worker, Alice, refuses to split the family, preferring to give the children a home with her. The love and care exude from the novel. We understand the children’s fear. “What if we start to love you … and then you die, too?” This is counter balanced with a vow to always look after each other.

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Shop On The Corner by Lin Stepp

Mar1

Faithful One

 Shop On The Corner by Lin Stepp is the most charming contemporary Christian novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The action is set in small town America where the residents are warm and welcoming. The cover really sets the scene and this is re-enfored by Lin Stepp’s rich descriptions. Her words paint vivid pictures in the reader’s head.

A major theme surrounds re-purposing furniture, giving it a new lease of life. This reminds the reader that God is in the re-purposing business. He takes our dirty lives, washes us in His blood and clothes us with His love and gives us a new start in Him.

We witness a character who appears to have repented of past ways and turned a new corner – but the act of going to church does not make you a Christian any more than going into a hamburger joint makes you a hamburger. Appearances on the outside are shiny new, but the heart is still rotten.

Listening to the heart of God will give us the roadmap for our lives. “He [God] was stirring up my nest to make me want to fly.” God will always equip us wherever He sends us.

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