Review of:  The Key to Love

Betsy St. Amant

Bri Duvall works in the same bakery store, The Pastry Puff, where her beloved mother was renowned for her French-inspired desserts.  The store’s owners, elderly sisters Agnes and Mabel, have developed a reputation for their matchmaking abilities; however they are in danger of losing the business to developers – something Bri couldn’t stand to see happen since she lost both her parents in a car accident when she was 18.  Now that she is in her late 20’s, she has fallen in love with the “idea” of love – and waits for a fairy tale-like romance to happen to her like the one that she believes her parents once had (but which, she discovers, they never really did).  She meets Gerard, a jaded reporter who avoids commitment at all cost due to his own tragic past.  He has been assigned (against his wishes) to cover the story of the matchmaking bakery sisters for a newspaper feature.  Neither Bri or Gerard are very relatable at the beginning of the book due to their extremely immature attitudes; however, they gradually softened and matured over the course of the story.  I wish the author had focused more on showing each person’s spiritual journey and how that led to changes in their hearts and relationships, rather than engaging in so much snark and stereotypes.  Was this a rom-com or a faith-based romance?  It seemed the author couldn’t decide and the book lacked focus somewhat despite the good premise.

Review of:  Endless Mercy

Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

Bethany House Publishers, $15.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-7642-3250-3

Peterson and Woodhouse continue their Treasures of Nome series with the story of the youngest sister, Madysen.  While Madysen and Daniel’s romance take center stage, the authors continue to weave the ongoing tales of each of the Powell family members into the overarching study in family and faith.  Maddy is grieving the recent loss of her mother when her presumed-dead father shows up in Nome, complete with a second family [p. 17 ff].  As she and her sisters struggle to process this information and sift through their conflicting feelings towards their father, Maddy is tempted to run away from the home she loved and abandon her new sheep farm to become a star performer in a traveling circus [p. 48 ff].  She enjoys the attention and lavish gifts showed upon her by Buddy Merrick, the circus owner [p. 82 ff].  But is he sincere or just a trickster looking to use her for money?  Maddy’s feelings are further conflicted when she meets Daniel, the grandson of her wise mentor, Granny Beaufort, who has returned to Nome after fruitless years searching for gold in the Yukon [p. 31 ff].  Daniel befriends Madysen but has turned his back on God after experiencing life’s suffering [p. p. 43 ff].  Through their friendship, both learn to trust God and his Word to guide them and discover both peace and love result [p. 196 ff]  Peterson and Woodhouse do an excellent job of creating a believable cast of characters with plenty of heroes and heroines to root for, as well as evil conmen and criminals waiting for justice to be served.  Readers are advised to begin with the first book in the series to familiarize themselves with the many characters and backstory before continuing with subsequent installments.  [January 2021]

Review of:  Rescued by the Hero: A Christian Firefighter Christmas Romance (Heroes of Freedom Ridge Book 1)

Mandi Blake

Reviewed:  September 29, 2020

This is a sweet and clean, faith-filled romance set in the charming setting of Freedom Ridge, CO at Christmastime.  The descriptions of the decorations and festivities made me want to be there myself!  The main characters, Joanna and Aiden, were immediately relatable and likeable.  I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop.  What I liked most about this book was how Joanna wasn’t afraid to talk about her faith and how Aiden grew in his own relationship with God.  This book is based on wonderful values and the messages really shine through the characters. I feel it is true treat to read encouraging stories like this one!

Review of:  Charmed by the Cowboy (Blackwater Ranch Book 2)

Mandi Blake

Reviewed:  September 17, 2020

I absolutely loved this book!  I’d never read this author before, but was intrigued by the setting since I grew in Texas ranching country.  It felt like going home –the author’s descriptions were perfect and the Southern dialogue even brought out my own accent, lol!  I’d love to know where I can get those t-shirts Maddie was wearing with all the cute sayings!  The relationship between her and Lucas was tenderly written and completely believable.  I loved watching them learn that love takes a leap of faith.  What I loved most about this book was the Christian message and the examples of the characters’ strong relationships with God.  If you enjoy sweet and clean romances emphasizing the values of family and faith, you will definitely love this book!

Review of:  Thinking About Love, Part 1 (A Stonehaven High Series Book 2)

Audrey Rich

Great for Teenage Girls!

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2017

I'm too old for this book, LOL!! ;-) I definitely think young pre-teen girls would enjoy it as it focuses on the nature of friendships, first loves, and the anticipation of college and changes that come with that transition. At first, I had a difficult time keeping all of the characters straight, and I think our protagonist could definitely gain some more maturity in future books! As a Christian, I wished I would have learned more about what her faith meant to her, how it had changed her or helped her in her life. I also wish that she would have been more true to her inner self and less focused on material things/ external appearances/ fitting in with the crowd. However, I know that these are all challenges that high school teens struggle with. I also wish that she wouldn't treat the object of her affection with so much idolization before she really knows who he is and whether he will ever become a Christian. I think future books in the series may answer this question for us as we learn more about Stuart's choices and Trina's relationship with him! All in all, I think it would be a great book for teenage girls to read and then discuss with them afterward and talk about the issues and topics the book raises. The author definitely is in touch with her inner teen girl!

Review of:  Amish Christmas Twins

Shelly Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good, Loree Lough

Kensington

Publication Date:  9/29/20

I just finished reading an advanced copy of Amish Christmas Twins, a collection of 3 absolutely heart-warming stories by 3 of my favorite authors:  Shelley Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good, and Loree Lough!!  I couldn't recommend this collection more, especially as we await the holidays in the hope of Christ. I loved that each of these inspirational romances features children, reminding readers of the true meaning of Christmas and the miracle of the birth of our Savior. 

The first story, "The Christmas Not-Wish" by Ms. Gray, finds orphaned siblings Jemima and Roy being placed into yet another foster home.  Fans of Ms. Gray's "Walnut Creek" series will be excited to see Elizabeth Anne (E.A.) and Will Kurtz take on the role of foster parents!  4/5 stars

The second tale, "New Beginnings" by Ms. Good, features Elizabeth, a young widow working at a year-round Christmas shop whose grief and anger with God over her losses nearly keeps her locked in the past.  Thankfully, her new-found friendship with Luke, her late husband's best friend, helps them both rediscover their faith in God and the miracles that come of trusting the Lord.  I actually cried at the beautiful ending!!  This was my favorite of the collection!  5+/5 stars

The third story, "Twins Times Two" by Ms. Lough also features crossover characters from her series "A Little Child Shall Lead Them." I loved that I recognized Emily, Willa, Max, and Frannie!  This story was absolutely adorable as twin cousins not only discover the value of responsibility and hard work, but also develop generous and giving hearts, including uniting estranged neighbors Jubal and Abigail right in time for Christmas!  4+/5 stars

Review of:  Don’t Give Up on Me

Jodi Artzberger.  Self-published, $3.99 (228p) EAN/ASIN B07WZ2R8X7

Best marketed for Young Adults.

When business operations manager Amanda Cragge regains consciousness after a vicious attack at her workplace, she looks into the face of Ryker, the man she’d loved who left her eight years ago [p.10]. Why had he, now a police detective, returned to Otter Bay, Maine? [p. 12] She doesn’t want to see him, much less talk about their past. However, she has no choice but to cooperate as they work together to find her assailant and his identity [p. 17]. Ryker works to face his fear of rejection and rely on his faith as he seeks to forgive himself for having destroyed his relationship with Amanda [p. 19]. As more attempts are made on her life, his determination to protect her and catch the culprit lead him to realize that life is too precious to waste in selfish fears [p. 79]. As he opens up to her and shares his journey to accepting Christ as his Savior, Amanda’s heart is finally softened and she is able to forgive his past mistakes [p. 166, 204, 208-209]. Their love is rekindled in their recognition of God’s love. When the identity of Amanda’s attacker is revealed, healing begins to take place in the community [p. 205 ff]. Artzberger is adept at crafting the contemporary romance storyline, and the work is replete with biblical quotes and references [p. vii, 1, 170, 178, etc.]. However, the slow pacing results in a loss of any real sense of suspense, and suspension of disbelief will be required to buy into the contrived plot.

Review of:  The Love Note

Joanna Davidson Politano.  Revell, $15.99 (400p) ISBN 978-0-8007-3689-7

Fans of inspirational romance are in for a treat with Politano’s sweeping tale of love lost and love found. In early 1800’s England, Willa Duvall mourns the loss of her mother as she studies medicine alongside her famous physician father [location 221/ 5566 ff]. Determined to become a doctor herself despite being female, she agrees to tend a patient of her own for a month’s time with an outcome of measurable improvement. If this goal is not achieved, she must return home to wed to a man of her father’s choosing [location 266/ 5566]. After finding an old unsigned love letter wedged between the cracks of an antique desk gifted to the family by a grateful former patient at Crestwicke Manor [location 166/ 5566], Willa answers an advertisement from another of the Crestwicke residents [location 296/ 5566]. Willa accepts the nursing position in hopes of reuniting the letter’s writer with its intended recipient [location 266/ 5566]. She works to discover the identities of both as she cares for her new patient Golda, the lady of the house, and gets reacquainted with her childhood friend Gabe, one of the Gresham brothers [location 452/ 5566 ff]. However, the letter keeps getting misplaced only to be found by various members of the household, who each believe the passionate sentiments are meant secretly for them [location 713/ 5566 ff]. The effects of the letter have far-reaching consequences, as Willa soon finds out as her own love story unfolds and relationships are forever altered [location 1020/ 5566 ff]. Politano’s prose glitters with a masterful command of language, and readers will be entranced with mysteries that seem to multiply even as secrets are uncovered.  This novel is itself a love letter to readers reminding them of the gift of God’s love for his children.  An instant classic, not to be missed.

Review of:  Point of Danger

Irene Hannon.  Revell, $16.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-8007-3617-0

Award-winning novelist Hannon (Hope Harbor, Guardians of Justice) introduces readers to sisters Eve, Cate, and Grace in the first installment of her brand-new trilogy, Triple Threat.  This tale of romantic suspense features Eve, a conservative radio talk-show host who becomes the target of a sinister plot [p. 21 ff].   First, a fake bomb containing a sinister note is left on the doorstep of her home [p. 39], then she receives a disturbing call on-air from an anonymous caller with information about her personal life [p. 69].  Commitment-phobic detective Brent Lange works to track down the suspect before he makes good on his threats to silence Eve, but he is unable to deny his growing attraction to the subject of the investigation [p. 87 ff]. His efforts to avoid a relationship only serves to intrigue Eve, however, who becomes determined to show him that happy endings are real [p. 132 ff]. As the threats escalate and suspects multiply, Brent realizes that life is too short not to grasp the opportunity for true love that stands before him [p. 350 ff].  Hannon’s tale is heavy on romance but light on action. Unfortunately, much of the work is spent brow-beating readers through her main character’s voice to push a conservative political agenda instead of focusing on the spiritual growth of her characters (Eve is completely unrelatable as Hannon paints her as a moral ideal). The book comes across as more a political tool rather than a vehicle to explore biblical themes, which may not sit well with readers in the current cultural climate.

Review of:  The Stone Wall

Beverly Lewis.  Bethany House Publishers, $26.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-7642-3327-2

From beloved author Lewis comes a resplendent tale of love, loss, and faith in the Amish community. Lewis deftly weaves different perspectives and time periods together through the interconnected stories of Anna and her maternal grandmother, Eliza, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease [p. 10]. Anna, recovering from a breakup, leaves her hometown to live with her mother’s cousin Sadie and her husband for a change of pace despite her parents’ disapproval and concern for Eliza’s health [p. 23 ff]. Unlike her mother’s family who are Beachy Amish, Sadie and her side of the clan are Old Order. Soon, Anna is faced with choosing between two suitors – Mart, who comes from a more modern sect similar to Anna’s and represents the more acceptable choice, or Gabe, an Old Order widow with a young troubled child who stirs Anna’s heart [p. 198 ff]. As her bonds with Gabe and his daughter grow, Anna ponders the deep divisions between the Amish communities and discovers that many paths lead to the same God [p. 310 ff]. The redemptive union of Gabe and Anna is all the more poignant set alongside Eliza’s fleeting memories of losing the man she loved because of the same insular divides [p. 46 ff]. The symbolism of the stone wall [p. 71 ff] adds a lovely dimension to Lewis’ work which will delight readers with the abundance of historical and cultural detail.

Review of:  Jeb’s Wife

Patricia Johns.  Zebra, $7.99 (352p) ISBN 978-1-4201-4913-5

Johns continues her inspirational romance series set in the small Amish community of Abundance [p. 4]. This story features Leah, a 30-year-old unmarried woman whose fiance broke their engagement upon discovering her inability to bear children [p. 2]. Her grief is intermingled with a sense of insufficiency – perhaps she is unlovable? [p. 56].  Upon returning to Abundance following a brief stint teaching school in a neighboring community, she finds her younger brother Simon beaten as a result of unpaid gambling debt [p. 9]. In order to save Simon’s life she agrees to marry Jeb, a scarred widower who lost his first wife in a fire [p. 40]. The two agree that the marriage will be strictly for business-purposes, as Jeb can only inherit his late uncle Peter’s estate if he marries within four weeks of Peter’s death [p. 12]. Leah will then have enough money to be able to pay off Simon’s debt [p. 20]. As Jeb and Leah attempt to convince the community that the marriage is a love-match, they form a friendship as they share their daily life and learn to trust the other [p. 126]. The arrangement becomes complicated when romantic feelings develop [p. 129]. Johns crafts a town and characters that feel intimate, with rich back stories and relationships. This is a series readers will fall in love with and eagerly await the next installment.

Review of:  A Haven for Her Heart

Susan Anne Mason.  Bethany House Publishers, $15.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-7642-3519-1

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.

Review of:  Romancing Nadine

Amy Lillard.  Zebra, $7.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-4201-4958-6

Lillard continues her beloved Wells Landing series with this tenderly-written tale of love in the golden years of life. Nadine Burkhardt has been widowed twice and has moved with her daughter-in-law and disabled adult granddaughter to the small Amish community for a new start.  One day in church she notices a 60-ish man with bright blue eyes staring at her [p. 6] and cannot stop thinking about him and wondering who he is. She learns that he is Amos Fisher, a bachelor who recently moved back to town [p. 9]. Amos falls in love with Nadine the moment he sees her, as he knows in his heart that God has brought them together [p. 19].  However, convincing her of this proves to test his patience and leads him to question his relationship with God [p. 33 ff].  Nadine reacts angrily to his attentions and announces to Amos and her family that she is uninterested in finding love again at her age [p. 33]. However, despite her protestations, she likes the man and enjoys his company, finally agreeing to be friends [p. 152].  When Amos suddenly falls to the ground as they are visiting an art festival, Nadine realizes that her fear has kept her from acknowledging that she has fallen in love with him [p. 299 ff].  Lillard does an excellent job of populating Wells Landing with true-to-life characters grappling with the challenges of life, faith, and love. An inspirational and heartwarming tale.

Review of:  Jane Doe

Lillian Duncan.  Harbourlight Books, $15.99 (296p) ISBN 978-1-5223-0276-6

When Raven Marks awakens in the hospital, she has no recollection of what happened to her [p. 25].  She finds herself in a rehabilitation center where she begins to heal from both her physical and mental injuries with the support of Gracie, the center’s wheelchair-bound chaplain [p. 44 ff].  After recovering sufficiently to move into a home close to her sister, the memories of being held captive start to return with the exception of the identity of the madman who kidnapped her [p. 89 ff].   Raven must face her fear in order to discover her abductor’s identity and the reasons behind her kidnapping.  She is befriended by Hunter, the deputy and self-defense instructor she meets while in recovery [p. 70].  As they work together to decipher the clues, Raven’s faith is tested as she wrestles with feelings of shame and guilt over what happened to her [p. 80 ff].  She discovers that in order to truly heal she has to learn to stop keeping secrets and trust God [p. 169 ff].  Only when she does is she able to move forward with her life and find justice for herself and others.   Duncan’s tale of suspense and salvation will keep readers invested in the storyline despite the harrowing scenes in the first few chapters.

Review of:  Amish Generations: Four Stories

Kathleen Fuller.  Zondervan, $15.99 (370p) ISBN 978-0-3103-5954-8

Popular author Fuller (Hearts of Middlefield, Amish of Birch Creek) will delight fans of inspirational romance with her new work.  Generations features four stories of love and faith, with each being a stand-alone tale.  In “Young Love,” 20-somethings Fern and Dan learn to overcome pride and open their hearts to trusting others as they navigate their relationship [pp. 3-94].  “Long-Awaited Love” describes Everett’s and Jemima’s story.  Both in their mid-thirties, Everett takes accountability for selfish decisions made in his youth and repairs his relationship with his father.  In so doing, he recognizes Jemima’s virtue of generosity.  Conversely, she grows in maturity by applying Everett’s example of setting boundaries with others and learning to honor her own needs [pp. 95-184].  “Second-Chance Love” is a tale of discovering love after loss as middle-aged widowers Ben and Lora Beth bond through letters after meeting each other at a local event [pp. 185-265].  Fuller’s writing particularly shines in the fourth and final heart-warming story, “Never Too Late.”  Elva, whose abusive husband has passed away after 45 years of a broken marriage and unfulfilled prayers, finds God to be faithful at age 63 when she finds true love with Jerald, a 70-year old bachelor [pp. 266-348].  A Glossary and Discussion Questions round out the work.  Book sellers will want to stock their shelves for this soon to be bestseller.

Review of:  The Amish School Teacher

Jerry Eicher.  Good Books, $14.99 (224p) ISBN 978-1-6809-9597-8

Beloved author Eicher brings fans of Amish romance a new drama that doesn’t disappoint.  In the community of Adams County, Ohio, Marcus Yoder works tirelessly on his family’s farm as the eldest of seven siblings after the passing of his father [p. 4 ff].  When Mary Wagler arrives to begin her new position as the town’s schoolteacher [p. 1 ff], Marcus’ stoicism is tested by her incessant questions and nontraditional ways.  Can Mary break through the walls he has built around his heart?  She becomes determined to win his approval by proving that she can take care of herself as well as the school without help [p. 64 ff].  However, despite her efforts, Mary comes to realize that she can’t do it all by herself [p. 82 ff].  She must learn to let go of her pride in order to accept help from others.  In doing so, she sees Marcus in a new light [p. 99 ff].  They slowly become friends as he learns to trust her and is finally able to express the grief he has long held inside [p. 159 ff].  Eicher does a nice job of fully developing his characters and readers will cheer for this sweet couple as they find their way together.

Review of:  On a Coastal Breeze

Suzanne Woods Fisher.  Fleming H. Revell Company, $15.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-8007-3499-2

Award-winning author (The Inn at Eagle Hill, Amish Beginnings) Fisher brings readers the second installment in her Three Sisters Island trilogy featuring sisters Cam, Maddie, and Blaine.  Maddie’s story is highlighted here, though Fisher continues to deftly weave the tales of each sister into the overarching study in family and faith.  Maddie, the middle child, has rejoined the family on the small coastal island to open a psychotherapy practice (p. 9).  However, all her learning seems to fail her when Rick O’Shea re-enters her life as the island’s new pastor (p. 12).  She is filled with memories of their childhood relationship, beginning with his incessant teasing, and ending in heartbreak the night of Senior Prom (p. 193).  As Maddie and Rick learn how to forgive themselves as well as each other, they bond over their shared faith and rekindle their relationship as adults (p 217 ff).  Meanwhile, Cam, the eldest sister, re-evaluates her priorities as she cares for her adoptive son and plans her marriage (p. 129 ff).  Blaine, the youngest sister, disappoints the family by quitting culinary school and running from her problems as usual (p. 224 ff).  Fisher does a nice job of fully developing her characters and readers will recognize themselves in their strengths and flaws.  While each book can be read as a stand-alone, the trilogy would best be read in order to follow the time arc.  An added bonus is the Appendix with discussion questions.

Review of:  Home to Stay

Loree Lough.  Kensington, $7.99 (341p) ISBN 978-1-4201-4924-1

In the New Order Amish community of Pleasant Valley, Max Lambright has rebuilt his home and his life after losing his entire family as a child to a series of tragedies [p. 10].  Now an adult and successful building contractor, he has many friends in the community but no family of his own [p. 12].  When he meets Willa Richards, the new live-in helper for Max’s business partner Dan and his wife Anki, Max is struck by Willa’s assertiveness as an Englischer from out of town, yet her respect for the Amish way of life [p. 3].  Most of all, he notices the love Willa has for her baby daughter and the lengths she has gone to in order to escape from a life of drugs and crime [p. 33 ff].  Willa, as a newcomer to the community, is determined to turn her life around to provide for her child [p. 16 ff].  She genuinely cares for her employer and his wife, Anki, and begins to feel like a part of their family [p. 51 ff].  Yet Willa harbors a secret fear that her abusive ex-boyfriend may one day come looking for her and little Frannie [p. 232].  As she and Max finds themselves forming the tender bonds of a new relationship, each must confront their fears leftover from the past to move forward in faith and love.  Dan and Anki’s story, as a backdrop to the main characters, is a cautionary tale.  Lough writes with compassion for her characters and readers will be drawn in accordingly.  However, Willa’s tirelessness and the level of her ex-boyfriend’s depravity require some suspension of disbelief to buy into this inspirational romance.

Review of:  Promise at Pebble Creek

Lisa Jones Baker.  Kensington, $7.99 (277p) ISBN 978-1-4201-4748-3

The beloved Hope Chest of Dreams series continues with Baker’s latest inspirational tale set in the Amish community of Pebble Creek.  Hannah, the youngest of ten siblings, works at the family’s bakery but dreams of adventure [p. 1].  Despite her mother’s disapproval [p. 5], Hannah continues to read popular suspense novels and secretly writes her own tales of intrigue at night in her bedroom by candlelight [p. 65 ff].  When Marcus Jackson, an Englischer from Chicago comes to town and a romantic spark is ignited between them [p. 1], Hannah finds herself caught in a real-life drama between two ways of life.  Marcus, who lost his parents at a young age and whose brothers turned to a life of crime, is determined to start a new life after giving himself to Christ [p. 18].  However, the community of Pebble Creek turns a suspicious eye on the outsider once a store is robbed and things go missing [p. 48].  Can he and Hannah find a way to be together?  Both must consider the meaning of faith and sacrificial love as they navigate their relationship.  This is a captivating romance written with a tender hand.  Baker excels at weaving in generational and biblical themes, and the glimpses of Hannah’s outlandish stories will be sure to put a smile on the face of entranced readers.

 Review of :  The Trustworthy One

Shelley Shepard Gray.  Gallery Books, $16.00 (304p) ISBN 978-1-9821-0093-3

Bestselling author of more than eighty novels, Gray brings readers the final installment in the Walnut Creek series featuring the Eight, a tight-knit group of friends from varying backgrounds, most of which are Amish [p. 1 ff].  In the Trustworthy One, readers meet the Troyer sisters, Kendra and Naomi, who reconnect back in Walnut Creek years after each of them left their abusive childhood home [p. 29].  As the eldest sibling, Kendra bore the brunt of their father’s anger and mother’s neglect, and while she has obtained an education and created a new life for herself, she finds she must still deal with the internal scars that prevent her from fully trusting the kind attention of handsome Nate Miller [p. 16 ff].  Naomi, the youngest of the Troyer clan, idolizes Kendra but struggles to make friends at school [p. 113 ff].  When she finds out that her sister has a hidden past [p. 184], Naomi’s dreams are shattered.  In order to save their relationship and be able to allow other people into their lives, both must learn the meaning of forgiveness and faith.  Gray’s tale is woven with biblical themes that will appeal to Christian readers; however, the incorporation of an additional storyline about another childhood tragedy told through Kendra’s journaling was disjointed and extraneous.  Readers should begin with the first in the series to familiarize themselves with the cast of characters. 4 stars.