Out of the Ashes by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

-
OUT OF THE ASHES

Heart of Alaska Book Two

Curry, Alaska, a town that is no more today, deep, overgrown grass covers the site, but a town that is the base of the series, Heart of Alaska.

While in some ways this is another of those chick flicks, as I like to call them, where the girl always gets the guy of her dreams, this one is much deeper. For one, I like how it is based in truth. There was a town of Curry, there was a Druze Revolt in Syria and so while the characters and actions are fiction, the authors did their research to make the story as true to life as possible.

This book has a lot of hurt in it. The girl didn't just get the guy easy, peasy. She was first forced to marry a cruel man, a Senator no less, but cruel behind closed doors. Abused both physically and verbally, Katherine is beaten down in the three years she is married to him. Then he dies, but his words linger in her head and she believes she is no good. Her grandmother is determined to pull her out of this and a dark cave and life-giving words spoken in the name of Jesus begin to lift her darkness.

Jean-Michel has lived through the Druze Revolt and is forever scarred by what happened there. He experiences nightmares and flash backs and is a deep, dark, hurting soul until he too finds Jesus. And then, of course, Katherine and Jean-Michel get together.

I really liked the emphasis on this book that Jesus is the answer. Neither character was able to find peace through things or travel or relationships. It took the ultimate relationship. And to really emphasize that point, there was a man who showed up in Alaska, half out of his mind. He had been the instrument of much cruelty in the Druze Revolt, (fictionally of course) and had caused injury and death. His guilt was eating his mind. He needed Jesus.

I received this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fragrant Whiffs of Joy by Dorcas Smucker (It's Giveaway time)

-
Image
Ah yes, this was just what the doctor ordered. I've wanted to review Dorcas' last book or two and was always too chicken to ask, but this time I threw caution to the wind and said, "Yes, I want to review your book." And I'm so glad I did. It was the perfect book for this stage in my life. Short, easy to read chapters that can be picked up and read whenever and wherever. They are guaranteed to either make you laugh, smile, cry, or or just give you that ah-ha feeling that someone else experiences life like that too.  I could quote from pretty much every chapter something that struck me in one of those ways, but I really want you to go buy the book so I won't do that many spoilers. I only want to give you a hint of what is to come in the book. First off, isn't the cover beautiful? I can dream of a kitchen table like that with the apple pie still steaming and the tea pot, or coffee pot more likely, full to the brim and a beautiful arrangement of flowers ...
Read more

All the Pretty Things by Edie Wadsworth

-
Image
I haven't posted a book review in over two weeks, I must be lazing off!!! Actually, I had two books going at once and also read a non-review book in between. Not that I think anyone missed me or anything. But just to be clear, I am back and have about six books to review in the next few weeks. Okay, "All the Pretty Things". When I started this book, I loved it. I thought it was an amazing story and it is. Edie was born to an alcoholic father. She rarely saw him sober, but she loved him and enabled him until his dying day. She missed that father figure in her life and attempted to salve that wound by working hard at everything she put her hand to except her marriage. She was raised in rather extreme poverty. Her parents divorced and both remarried, but divorced again. She was abused as a child, though it became a repressed memory that came out through recurring nightmares. She was introduced to Jesus and would often respond to altar calls to make sure she was saved. Sh...
Read more

PRECIOUS CHILD

-
In my dreams, you are alive and well Precious child, precious child In my mind, I see you clear as a bell Precious child, precious child In my soul, there is a hole That can never be filled But in my heart, there is hope 'Cause you are with me still In my heart, you live on Always there never gone Precious child, you left too soon Tho' it may be true that we're apart You will live forever... in my heart In my plans, I was the first to leave Precious child, precious child But in this world, I was left here to grieve Precious child, my precious child In my soul, there is a hole That can never be  filled But in my heart there is hope And you are with me still In my heart you live on Always there, never gone Precious child, you left too soon,  Tho' it may be true that we're apart You will live forever... in my heart God knows I want to hold you,  See you, touch you And maybe there's a heaven And someday I will again Please know yo...
Read more