The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano

May9

All The Broken Pieces

The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano is a powerful dual timeline Christian novel that enthralled me from the start.

The action is set in 1913 and 1947 in a small village in Cornwall.

We learn about love and loss; and memories that sustain us or break us.

There are characters suffering from memory loss – following a trauma the brain protects a character by amnesia. Life before the accident ceases to exist. When snippets of memory return, a character questions the reliability of these memories.

We see that sometimes love means letting go, standing back, and waiting for love to return. “Love is powerful… It can be bent and misshapen and even broken, but it doesn’t simply go away.” When we love unconditionally, we will do whatever it takes in order to protect those we love. “Love means shared moments, limping through the rough patches together.”

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The Diverging Lives Of Bethany Raven by Sarah E Bonner

May8

Unique & Engaging

The Diverging Lives Of Bethany Raven by Sarah E Bonner is a very entertaining contemporary novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The plotline is unique – one in which Bethany Raven wakes each day in a different version of herself. There are similar but different life experiences as we witness what life could have been like if she had made different choices. “One tiny choice created a whole ripple.”

Her final wake up life is horrendous as she is married to a bully. Bethany is desperate to find her way back home.

Constant in her many lives is Tyler Adams – her nemesis in her original life, and just a science teacher in her final life but his brain is huge, and she needs all his knowledge to help her get back home.

We witness Bethany Raven interacting with her friends in the different worlds.

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Then There’s Trust by Susan Gray

May3

Live, Love, Loss

Then There’s Trust by Susan Gray is a powerful historical novel that I loved. It is the third book in the Blossoming series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Once more the reader joins familiar faces in a familiar location, a small village near Durham in the North East. As we catch up, it is now the 1950’s and there are still fall-outs from World War II as a character is returning from two years National Service.

The 1950’s was a time of change. People were still adapting to peacetime. We join a large, extended family as they navigate life, love and loss.

There is the painful topic of stillbirth. A character’s hopes and dreams died with their baby. At times like this it is hard to trust that God is good even when circumstances aren’t. “Trust is a confident expectation of something. There are seasons in life when we are asked to trust.” Trusting is hard when life sucks but we have to trust that God is good.

Loss is painful. “Why did she have to leave me when I needed her so much?” is said after the stillbirth. A wife and mother unexpectedly departs, leaving a huge hole in her family. “You don’t know at that point it’s going to be the last occasion. Bring your memories to mind.” We need to cherish our loved ones because we do not know when lives will end. Make memories, as one day you will need them to keep you warm.

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The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese

Apr27

Freedom & Peace

The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese is a perfectly charming contemporary Christian novel that I adored. It is part of A Fog Harbor Romance series and can be read as a stand-alone.

The story is seen through two alternating points of view as a famous singer mother re-enacts a road trip of thirty years ago but now, she is with her daughters. It is a trip of enlightenment where hearts heal, relationships are restored and lives turn to God. Each day of the journey is dedicated to God. “We’re not to start any day of this special journey without a prayer asking God for protection, guidance, and some good, honest fun.”

We all need God in our lives. We need Him in every area. Songs open our hearts to Him when our eyes are fixed on Him. “Stage fright means I’m focusing too much on myself and not enough on who we’re singing to – God.”

Prayer is important. “It felt like an answer to a prayer I didn’t even know how to pray.” God hears the cries of our hearts even when we have no words.

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