Tag Archive | Lin Stepp

Light In The Dark by Lin Stepp

Feb28

The Romeo & Juliet Effect

Light In The Dark by Lin Stepp is a most delightful contemporary Christian novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is the third book in The Lighthouse Sisters but can be read as a stand-alone.

Once more it is an absolute pleasure to meet up with familiar faces. It feels as if we are coming home. All the characters are wonderfully drawn, giving out an air of warmth and love. Their interactions are a delight to witness. We see old friendships being rekindled and new ones being ignited.

The community is close knit and caring. Many families have lived in the area for generations. Those who move away, always feel the pull to return home. This reminds the reader of our relationships with God. If we wander away, we can feel the longing to return to His heart.

Prayer is important. It is a vital lifeline to God, as necessary as breathing. “I believe prayers are powerful. I wouldn’t mind a little protection coverage.” A character recognizes her need for prayer.

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Down By The River by Lin Stepp

Feb6

Heartwarming

Down By The River by Lin Stepp is the most charming contemporary Christian novel that I absolutely loved. It is part of A Smoky Mountain series but can be read as a stand-alone.

I adore all Lin Stepp’s books – my favourites are in this series. The stories are always delightful. They truly are a hug in a book as they wrap around my heart like a warm blanket.

Right from the start the reader receives a huge welcome. The story is very community-minded as the residents all look out for each other. The town has an air of love and care. It feels like home. “Home is always a place you can come back to.”

No matter what your age, you are never too old to have a new start – whether it is a physical one or a spiritual one. God longs to welcome us all home to Him.

A character has a fresh beginning, after being widowed in recent years. “Begin to live your own dreams.” All her life, her dreams have been squashed in favour of others. Her talents have been ridiculed as position, wealth and power have been the order of the day. Lives were all about show and polish. The outward appearance was all that mattered. People were judged by what they had. “You worked hard to fulfill those expectations… but you lost a little of yourself along the way. You were so busy being what you should be that you forgot a little of who you really were.” A character lost herself over the years. Now is the time to discover just who she was created to be.

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Seeking Ayita by Lin Stepp

Mar25

Heritage & Roots

Seeking Ayita by Lin Stepp is a fabulous Christian novel and part of the Mountain Home series.

This book concerns roots and heritage as a daughter fulfills her mother’s dying wish to return her ashes to her Cherokee homeland. The mother also desires that her daughter and granddaughter spend time with the maternal family getting to know their heritage. Lin Stepp shows us the rich cultural heritage of the Cherokee. There are some wise words about character saying about what is inside us… “ ‘One is an evil wolf… The other wolf is a good wolf’… ‘Which wolf wins?’… ‘The one you feed.’ “ Within our lives, whatever we focus on will become evident in our character. As we lean into and focus on God, trusting Him, He will give us peace and lead our lives, even through death. “I am ready to go home. I know my God well.” When we know God, death is not a frightening place because our Lord is already there and He will lead us home when the time comes.

The Cherokee live simply, keeping their customs alive as they practice their traditional arts. It is important to pass down crafting skills to the next generation or the skills will die out. Lin Stepp has vividly painted not only their crafts but their homeland with her descriptive words.

Guilt is a terrible master. “A spirit of guilt is pursuing him… He feels he isn’t owed any happiness.” We were never meant to be chained to guilt. God wants us to live abundantly free.

We see that dreams still foretell things that are to come, as they did in Biblical times. If it is from God, it will come to pass.

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Lighten My Heart by Lin Stepp

Mar24

Delightful & Heartwarming

Lighten My Heart by Lin Stepp is the most delightful contemporary Christian novel. It is the second book in The Lighthouse Sisters series but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend reading book one first for maximum enjoyment and for character progression.

Lin Stepp always produces tales that draw the reader close to the heart of God. We see how we desperately need God. When we try to do life alone, it is tough. “How much better life is when you live close to God.” When we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. As our lives line up with His, His light will shine through us.

We need to stand on the word of God when the tough times come, and they will. “God’s truth resonates in us when we hear it.” When we open our Bibles, God’s word will speak to our hearts. We shall know His truth and His truth will set us free.

A character is imprisoned in bitterness and hurt. Withholding forgiveness always damages us. God wants us to live free. If we cannot forgive in our strength, we need to ask Him for help and we can then forgive in His strength.

Another character struggles with guilt. “He struggled daily not to keep berating and beating himself up… Whatever he did wrong, he couldn’t change it now.” The past is gone. We must learn from it but we must not pitch our tent there. We need to give our guilt to God and learn to live in freedom.

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