34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
God is in control, July 22, 2005
James Graham's dream is falling apart. A mysterious illness has ravaged his body, taking away his ability to continue building clinics on the African mission field. With pain consuming him, James is sent home to Chicago to recuperate.
When James arrives home, he finds Rachel (Rae) Ashcroft sitting at his mother's table. A Good Samaritan, Rae is dubbed Rachel the Angel by James's co-workers for the thoughtful parcels she sent out to the mission field. James is drawn to the woman whose face is shadowed by sadness.
His attraction to Rae is at first cautious, knowing he will soon return to Africa. But as Rae's group of friends involve him in their lives, the attraction can no longer be ignored.
Rae struggles with mixed emotions. She's loved and lost once before, and the sense of loyalty is still strong. Although attracted to James, she realizes there is little room in her overworked life for love, and can she risk her heart to another man?
GOD'S GIFT is a heart-warming story revolving around two people who face lost dreams. No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, we can trust that God is in control, and Henderson shows this beautifully throughout this romance.
Dee Henderson first captured my attention through her O'Malley series, and later with the Uncommon Hero's books. I was eager to read her earlier work, and this, my first dive into her pre-O'Malley writing, didn't disappoint. If you're looking for a fast paced romantic suspense, like the O'Malley's or Uncommon Hero's, then you could be a little disappointed, but if you are looking for an inspirational romance, then this is the book for you.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A sweet romance with an intriguing storyline, April 2, 2005
Dee Henderson is a familiar name to Christian fiction aficionados, with her bestselling "Uncommon Heroes" and "O'Malley" series dominating the sales charts. Perhaps with this in mind, Steeple Hill has brought back some of her older romance titles, including the enjoyable GOD'S GIFT. Here, Henderson manages to spin a sweet romance with an intriguing storyline that sidesteps the drippy sentimentality so often found in Christian fiction.
Henderson knows how to hook her readers by creating believable characters who lead interesting lives, and GOD'S GIFT has both ingredients. Thirty-five-year-old James Graham is back in Chicago fresh off six years in the mission field, but not by choice. A bug bite in Africa has left him with a severe, arthritis-like condition that comes and goes, leaving his joints stiff and swollen, and James finds he is unable to continue building clinics for impoverished communities until his body recovers.
The women in Henderson's novels usually have strong personalities and surprising careers, and those in GOD'S GIFT is no exception. Almost immediately, we meet James's mother, Mary, who raises Samoyeds, and the gorgeous Rachel Ashcroft, who owns a brokerage company and is working on her first book. Rachel fuels her intense workaholic lifestyle with grief over the loss of her fiancé, with whom she shared ownership of the company. She and her friends, Dave and Lace, have a comfortable, loyal "Three Musketeers" sort of friendship that will be the envy of every reader. The witty repartee and generous giving between the trio provide some enjoyable, often humorous moments throughout the book.
Soon, the threesome expands its circle to include James, who muses: "He'd never experienced anything like it, a camaraderie coupled with loyalty that went so deep as to be nearly unbreakable." A gentle goodness permeates the novel. There are no bad guys with evil intentions, just the battles fought with physical limitations, depression, disappointment, and grief. Few readers will not be able to relate to at least one of the challenges faced by the characters, and be absorbed by how Henderson plots the way they will meet them with faith and courage.
There are a few quirks to Henderson's prose --- she insists on calling women "ladies" or referring to Rae as "the lady" to the point that it becomes irksome, and repetition occasionally creeps in. Mostly, however, the story still clips along at a steady pace. The romance that is sparked between the couples is telegraphed from the very first pages, but in Henderson's capable hands, the knowledge of who will end up with whom doesn't lessen the reader's interest in pursuing the story.
And, the story is a good one. James's temporary stay in Chicago lengthens as he continues to relapse into chronic pain, and soon he despairs of ever returning to Africa --- or living a normal life. "God, I am so angry at this pain! Why, God? Why me? Why show me a future I would love to have and then cripple me so I can't have it?"
However, James is forced to rethink his situation in a surprising twist toward the end of the book, which exemplifies what true love is and what it sometimes will cost. Henderson's characters believe the bad things that happen to them are all part of God's bigger plan for their lives, and James and Rae will come to this realization through heartache, many tears, and the sacrifice of their dreams.
Henderson has matured as a writer since penning GOD'S GIFT, but fans of her "Uncommon Heroes" and "O'Malley" series will find this earlier book an enjoyable read, full of Henderson's trademark characters and well-integrated faith themes.
--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby
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