Review of: A Haven for Her Heart
Mason brings readers a profoundly moving tale based on true events in the first of her new series, Redemption’s Light. Set in 1940s Toronto, Olivia Rosetti’s father disowns her and turns her over to the authorities after discovering she is secretly pregnant outside of wedlock [p. 9]. She is charged with the crime of “being incorrigible” under the law and sent to the Mercer Reformatory for Unmarried Women [p. 9-10]. There she and the other women are victims of unspeakable atrocities and their babies are placed for adoption upon birth [p. 13 ff]. After Olivia is released, she meets Ruth, an elderly benefactor, whose story mirrors her own [p. 26]. Ruth helps Olivia as she struggles with shame and guilt to discover the redemptive love of God. Together, they open Bennington’s Place, a maternity home, where they can care for other unmarried women and children who would otherwise face imprisonment like Olivia [p. 38]. In their quest for public support, Oliva meets Darius, a widowed father of a young daughter [p. 45]. He is also coping with the aftermath of tragedy after losing his wife of Greek heritage to a horrific hate crime [p. 28]. Both he and Olivia learn to overcome judgment and fear through faith as they begin to trust one another [p. 120 ff]. Through Darius’s love, Olivia’s internal scars are finally able to heal [p. 214]. She accepts forgiveness for herself and discovers that she is worthy of love and life’s blessings [p. 247]. A particularly timely work with themes of systemic discrimination and oppression, readers should have a box of tissues on hand.
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