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Forgiven
by Shelley Shepard
Gray
Multidimensional tale of romance and
forgiveness
A sudden fire destroys the Lundy barn,
leaving Winnie in the hospital with injuries. A chance encounter
with Englisher Samuel Miller, a former member of the Amish community,
brings friendship to Winnie while separated from her family and
community of faith. Samuel left the community when he was young
to pursue a university education and honor the natural gifts given to
him by God. As their friendship deepens, Winnie and Samuel must
face the challenges to their love and faith, particularly as each lives
in such a different world. When the fire inspectors discover that
a stray cigarette started the
fire, her brother Jonathan knows he should forgive and yet he feels he
needs to know who started the fire and why. Can he figure out the
answer but more importantly, how will God act in the lives of those who
dare to forgive and those who dare ask to be forgiven?
In FORGIVEN, the third in the
Sisters of the Heart inspirational romances, Shelley Shepard Gray
creates a multidimensional story of forgiveness within a Christian
community. Gossip and honest searching to live a faithful life,
teenage adolescence and fear all provide tensions as one act might
divide the community. Jonathan may appear stubborn as the
community urges him to just forgive and put the whole event behind him,
but the author looks into the heart of a man who has been wronged and
his need to understand. Shelley Shepard Gray goes beyond a stereotypical or
simplistic tale of easy redemption to look into her characters'
hearts. Following God's way, Jonathan is also a man who looks
inside himself, not just blindly obedient but a man who internalizes
God's message. As the story unfolds, the reader feels both a
sense of community and a sense of individuality as her characters live
out their lives.
In FORGIVEN, the characters come alive.
Under the author's pen, each character becomes an individual. At
moments Winnie just sparkles right off the page into the heart with her
delightful sense of humor and connection to one of Samuel's
students. The reader feels the gifts within Samuel that made him
leave the community for an education. As Winnie and Samuel get to
know one another, the reader easily feels the chemistry of the heart
that draws them together and the conflict which threatens their
romance. Shelley Shepard Gray ties these two stories, the romance
and the fire together in an inspirational romance that focuses on
community (and being outside the community of faith). Some modern
Christian women readers may feel a slight disappointment in the
resolution of the romance. Although the romance aspect is
wonderfully done, the author does such an excellent job at making her
characters individuals and showing God's work in their individual
plans, that some readers may be left wondering how, other than the
romance itself, God is working to challenge the innate gifts within
Winnie. The ending makes sense, especially on a thematic level,
but I could not help but want to know more about her because she was
such a unique character. In short, a fourth Sisters of the Heart
book in which readers see Winnie years later would be a wonderful
addition to this series and one this reader would welcome. :-)
Shelley Shepard Gray's FORGIVEN
is a must read for lovers of inspirational romance who love dynamic
characters, a wonderful romance in which the hero and heroine bring out
the best in one another, and a classic Christian message seen from many
dimensions, dimensions which individualize and strengthen the key
themes. Written in a light, easy to read style, but one in which
the characters have much depth, FORGIVEN
will appeal to young and adult readers alike who want more from their
inspirational romance reading. Delightful!
Publisher: Avon Inspire (Feb.
2009)
Series: Sisters of
the Heart
Other books in the series: WANTED and HIDDEN
Author website
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
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