The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield

This is the author's first book and it is very heartwarming. The characters are very real - very true to life. The story takes place in 1956 - in Arkansas. The title seems to indicate that Samuel Lake is the main character, yet I believe the story centers more on Swan Lake - his daughter. 

This book was picked by one of the women in our book club and it was a wonderful pick. We very much enjoyed the book and the discussion of the book. While the ending was very believable and understandable - all of us at the book club felt so much for Toy's character - that we would have wished for a different ending for him. Yet, knowing Toy and what he stood for - we could all see how and why he would make the sacrifice for those he loved. And Toy probably felt he didn't have much else to live for - and yet Samuel did and the kids needed their Dad around. 

Heart Echoes by Sally John

This is a wonderful story. It is in the category of Christian fiction. While it is a Christian book it is not preachy. The characters are flawed and the main character, Teal, is in need of forgiveness - while she believes in Christ as her savior she doesn't recognize that through Him her sins are forgiven and therefore she can now finally forgive herself for the mistakes she made. The book speaks to second chances - those second chances we are granted when we learn to accept the free gift of God's forgiveness. 

The author penned a note in the back of the book - she says " Our beings echo with our experiences, with voices of other people, with our perspectives. We live out all of these, whether they are truth of lies. Sometimes we can't tell the difference." (p. 347) Oh how true this is. We, often believe ourselves to be something other than what God intended for us to be. I know that I was picked on alot in school growing up - and through that I believed I was worth less and not as good as the 'cool kids'. It affected my entire self esteem and it wasn't until I was in college - and through a friend met Christ - that I realized my self worth came because I was a child of God and He loved me. Loved me enough to die for my sins. That is powerful. 

The book speaks to living in TRUTH in all aspects of our lives. In one part, Teal has not told her daughter who her biological father is because she is afraid of what others will think of her, afraid of the reactions of others and afraid of the bio-dad's reaction when he learns. Her sister believes she needs to face the truth, tell the truth and live in the truth - no matter how difficult that is - as that is the only way to be free from the hurts of the past. My favorite quote from the book is when Lacey tells Teal, "Hon, my cancer wasn't good news, but it was truth. Without the truth, we would all have to live like turtles -- in a shell, always protecting ourselves, hiding from others." (p. 307)

How often do we humans try to hide from truth - because it is too difficult to face our sins, to face the hurt of our actions and ultimately to face God - and know He is disappointed in us. So we hide - hide the truth, hide from ourselves and even try to hide from God. Yet, He knows all and sees all. We can't hide. Only by bringing the sin out into the light can we be free from its hold on us. It takes courage and God's strength to do it --- but if we ask Him He will gladly help us. I have a family member who is hiding from God, hiding her sin and others who enable her to continue to do so. I pray that she will break free of the hold the sin has on her and turn to God who loves her and wants her to come home. The truth will always set us free. I pray that she will come to know the Lord as her savior and realize He will forgive her sins -- all she has to do is ask.

Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert

Wildflowers from Winter is the author's first book but already she has a second in the series due to come out in spring of 2013 - and I can't wait! The title of the book has to do with the fact that the snowier the winter the more wildflowers you get in spring. This is also often the case with people - we go through a season of harshness - it is a time when maybe God is refining us, or sanding off the rough edges - it can be a season of grief, a season of trials, a season of denying God, being mad at God. When we make it through and come out the other side - there are the wildflowers - the beauty that God has created in our lives - the wonderful things we see and know - that we wouldn't have appreciated had we not gone through the harsh season of winter. The wildflowers can often be the fruit that we know produce - - the fruit of our spirit - that brings others to God. Several of the main characters in this book are going through a season - a harsh season of winter. One is dealing with grief after losing a husband very suddenly. Another, Bethany, is dealing with losing her identity of who she feels she is when she gets let go from her job.  Bethany is also struggling with her image of who God really is and if he is a caring and loving God. 

This was a very good book - one I had difficulty putting down. It is very emotional though as the characters experience several deaths - and that was just very sad to think about. I can't wait for the next book, titled Wishing on Willows - where we get to meet many of the characters again and see their lives progressing. 

The Widow of Saunders Creek

I very much enjoyed this book. Corrie's husband, Jarrod, dies a hero, saving others from a suicide bomber. Corrie is distraught and struggling to deal with her grief. She inherits a family home from her husband in the Ozarks. She decides to move there as she believes she will feel closer to her husband in a place he grew up. Jarrod's cousin, Eli, helps Corrie with the repairs on the house and they become very close. Eli is a Christian and helps to lead Corrie to find Jesus, again. Many in Jarrod's family, though, dabble in witchcraft. What I loved about this book is that it explores the issue of witchcraft from a biblical standpoint. God speaks out against witchcraft and I love that this book depicts that witchcraft exists but that it is not from God and therefore - evil. 

This was a very well written book and was very enjoyable to read.