25 Book Reviews

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Two New Books from Guideposts: Home to Heather Creek

About the books: When the world around you falls apart, could it be that God is giving you a second chance? This is just one of the questions on Charlotte Stevenson's mind as she brings her three grandchildren to live on the family farm in Guidepost Books' Home to Heather Creek series.



 Before the Dawn begins just one week after the funeral of Charlotte's daughter, Denise. Denise's three children barely have time to process the death of their mother before they must move to the Heather Creek Farm they have never visited with grandparents they barely know. At age 16, Sam is fiercely protective of his younger siblings. Emily is 14 and desperately misses her friends. Young Christopher is only 8 and just wants to fit in. While Charlotte tries to help her grandchildren adjust to their new life, she also wrestles with her own grief and the enormous task of bringing her family together. Bob believes the fastest path to adjustment is a firm routine, with structure and chores, the same way they raised their own kids. However, that route led to Denise running away from home as a teenager and an estranged relationship with her family. Charlotte is worried about making the same mistakes she made with Denise. Is this her chance to make things right?

It is spring when the children arrive, and as Charlotte looks around the farm, she hopes the new life around them will signify hope and healing. The miracle of new life, along with God's healing touch, reminds all of them that it's always darkest just before the dawn.

 Sweet September picks up at harvest time, as the children are settling into a new school year. While the harvest should be an exciting time, the children don't seem to be getting into the spirit. Emily is struggling with farm life, Christopher spends most of his time alone, and Sam is failing school. Trying to learn from what did and didn't work with her own kids, Charlotte is determined to get her grandchildren back on track.

As tenuous family bonds threaten to break apart, a mystery on the farm might be the one thing that can bond the family together. Charlotte sets out to uncover the truth, and as the kids unite to find answers, this cobbled-together family learns more about one another and the love that binds them together.

The lives of the Stevensons and their grandchildren unfold in this captivating story of the remarkable change that comes from the love of family, the kindness of others, sheer persistence and unshakable faith. As readers follow the Stevensons' inspiring stories, it's almost impossible not feel a part of this friendly, loving community, where God's grace can be seen in every circumstance.

My Thoughts on these books:

Both of these books were a pleasure to read. Nice, light reading with a great message.  They involve a continuing saga of a family and their daily life, involving problems, challenges, joys and fears. Reality is the strong point in this series.  

The setting was a quiet farm area, sounds so cozy, doesn't it??? However, although it portrays typical country life, the characters are anything but  free of problems! We learn to know the family more through these two books. 

The characters are realistic and easy to identify with! They have appealing personalities, with some quirks and unique ideas. Charlotte, who plays an important role in these stories, was a down to earth person who had problems that are common in today's society.She became my dear friend as she encountered challenges , that could easily be mine or your's ! Many times, I just wanted to give her a big hug and tell her that it would work out just fine.

The plots are well developed, with just enough twists and turns to keep us anxiously awaiting the next  chapter. New developments hold our interest to that final page, as well as keeping us guessing about the solutions to the many problems that arise. 

I must say this there was more depth in the stories than an ordinary easy read! As the plot progresses, you find that it is actually a devotional but written as a work of fiction. God gives us second chances, when we have reached the end of our rope . We all have a life that involves some problems and worries. That is only to be expected. These books, in fiction form, prove to us that God can heal and repair - in fact, erase - our weaknesses and failures.

Looking forward to reading more in this Guidepost series!!

Books were provided by Litfuse in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Purchase the books here: http://ow.ly/oQGxr

About the Author: Kathleen Bauer is the pen name for a team of writers who have come together to create the Home to Heather Creek series.

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