Customer Reviews

Grace in Thine Eyes (Lowlands of Scotland Series #4)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Liz Curtis Higgs has a wonderful talent for writing lyrical and picturesque Historical Christian novels that run the reader through a gamut of emotions, and teach lessons without being "preachy". Once again, with Grace, she has written a masterpiece!

For the first half of the book, I was not nearly as thrilled with Grace as i was with the preceding trilogy about Davina McKie's parents. They were so well written, how could they possibly be topped?! While I found it heart-warming to revisit the characters of Leana and Jamie and Ian, and to see how they had grown, I felt that Davina's story was aimed at a less mature audience than Higgs' previous books were, and I was thus not as intrigued as I had hoped I would be. But I kept reading... and as the novel gained momentum, and dug itself deeper into my heart, I no longer cared or noticed anything about the demographic that Higgs was aiming for, and fell completely in love with the story of Davina! That tricky Higgs! The further I got into the novel, the more enraptured I was, and the sadder I was to see the end of the book drawing near. I was glad to see Higgs take her novel a little further than the actual Biblical account of Dinah, to give those of us who had fallen in love with Davina a little bit of closure - but not too much!
While I still prefer the Thorn in my Heart trilogy, I did truly enjoy Grace, and was greatful for the chance to read about the McKie family once again. Grace portrays a well-developed main character, who, although she is perhaps a little too perfect at times, is entirely endearing. The journey that we follow her on is heart-breaking, but tells a tale of true love, grace, and mercy that will touch (and teach!) ANY reader.

Davina McKie is the daughter of Jamie McKie of Higgs's three Scottish Series books, Thorn in My Heart, Fair is the Rose, and When Came a Prince. Davina, a delightful girl and a talented fiddle player, has been unable to speak since childhood. Her brothers vow to protect her, but the cause of her disability is a source of tension in the family.

Although young, Davina faces unexpected challenges from which no one can protect her. When she meets the handsome Somerled, she believes he is the man God has in mind for her. Shocking events follow, and only God's grace can bring her through the trials she faces.

I have followed Higgs's fiction career with great interest, and her skill continues to grow with each book. Grace in Thine Eyes is intended as a stand-alone title and may be easily read and understood without reading the trilogy of Scottish novels published earlier. However, I strongly recommend all of Higgs's fiction, because she portrays God's grace and understanding through the characters in a way I seldom see with inspirational fiction. Watching the characters develop a deeper spiritual connection despite their personality flaws inspires me to seek a deeper relationship with God, because I realize my faults are not insurmountable. God's grace is sufficient for all of us.

I look forward to Higgs's next novel, Here Burns My Candle, the first of a new Scottish series coming out in March 2008. The new series will also be based on a biblical family, but is set in Edinburgh and the Borders in 1745-46.

This is a very wonderfully written fictionalized account of Genesis 34, based once again in 19th century Scotland.

Davina McKie lost her voice in a childhood accident, but she has a lot to tell us modern-day readers. She is a young, innocent lass when she goes to visit distant cousins on the Isle of Arran...where she is dishonored and shamed...but, thanks to God's grace she is able to pick up her life again and go on.

If you've read the account of Dinah in Genesis, then you know what happens. If not..well, I won't spoil it for you. Liz has (once again) brought her characters to full life - I was in tears before chapter 20, in knots over Davina's problems, and relieved when the problems seemed to be working themselves out....and in tears again when her brothers attempt to revenge the loss of her honor.

My only problem with this book? The hopeful rather than the happy ending - I want to know what happened next! *smile* (The Bible doesn't say what happens to Dinah, so I understand the ending...but Still!)

The characters live - I had to keep reminding myself that they didn't ever exist outside of the author's imagination. The situations are the same ones we find ourselves in - and the character's reactions are *exactly* like the ones we would have. (I only wish I were a gracious as Leana and Davina!) Grace is the underlying theme throughout the entire tale - and it's something we all could use more of.

Bravo, Liz - I think this is my favorite book yet!

I absolutely adored this book until the events two thirds of the way through. I was so upset with it that I skimmed the rest and didn't finish the book. I don't care that it was the retelling of a Biblical story, what happened seemed unacceptable to me, I'm sure others enjoyed the ending though.

Other than that, I though Davina was very well developed and the whole thing carried a good story line. As a twin myself, I was pleased to see different personalities develop in the Will and Sandy. I have not read the other books in the series but I might look into it now. If you are not so set on your own predictions of the story, you might enjoy it more than I did.

In 1808 in Glen of Loch Trool, Scotland, twin brothers Will and Sandy McKie feel a need to protect their wee seventeen years old mute sister Davina. Thus when their father Jamie arranges for the siblings to attend the university in Edinburgh, they and Davina are upset. Their older brother Ian understands that the family patriarch has to make difficult decisions when it comes to second born sons, but though he supports his dad, he and his mother Leana are also distressed just not as vocal as Will and Sandy.

Jamie knows the twins will be fully occupied with their studies and his oldest son is courting Margaret McMillan, so his concern turns to his beloved daughter. He decides a trip to his cousins on the Isle of Arran will distract her until everyone settles into their new roles. At Arran, her family welcomes Davina and her skill with the fiddle becomes known. Rakish Highlander Somerled MacDonald and Davina meet, she flirts with him and he seduces her. Word of what happened that Midsummer's Eve reaches Loch Trool and Edinburgh. While Jamie fumes, the twins take action leading to Somerled and his father falling off the cliffs of Goatfell on Arran. Davina holds herself culpable as does everyone else because she brought shame to her family.

GRACE IN THINE EYES is a superb inspirational historical propelled predominately by Davina, but somewhat by the twins and their father. The key is that the personalities of the McKie family is set early and remains consistent throughout. Fans of deep character driven tales will appreciate this strong Regency era novel starring a wonderful female poorly coping with tragic events as the scarlet letter of gossip follows her even at home; females take the blame for scandals.

Harriet Klausner

For her fourth novel involving the McKie family, Liz Curtis-Higgs has created an enchanting tale of love, mercy, anger, and forgiveness.

The "bonnie wee fairy" central character of Davina immediately endears herself to the reader. This is definitely not your typical romance story, and there are enough twists in the plot to keep the reader engaged and turning the pages. Biblical themes are woven throughout the book, without becoming overly preachy.

The culture, language, history and customs of 1800's Scotland come alive and are enough to satisfy any traveller of "past landscapes".

I was a little worried if I would like this book as much as the other 3 in the series because it brings new people and is set almost 20 years later. But I shouldn't have worried because it was so good and Liz Curtis Higgs' writing is just as interesting in this one. I look forward to her next series coming out in 2008. I would definitely recommend this book, but only after reading the first 3!

Seventeen-year-old Davina McKie has lived a sheltered life at Glentrool, under the protection her father - the laird, Jamie McKie - and her three brothers. Rendered mute by a childhood accident, she's found another voice in making music with her grandfather's fiddle. Jamie and Leana McKie, devout Christians, have raised their daughter to trust God and think the best of her fellow humans. So when Davina arrives on Scotland's Isle of Arran to spend the summer with cousins, she feels no trepidation about accepting the Duke of Hamilton's invitation to entertain his guests with her music every evening. No does she find it suspicious when Somerled MacDonald, a noble Highlander among the Duke's guests, singles her out for his attentions and quickly contrives to see her alone. Which Davina well knows isn't acceptable, for a virtuous young noblewoman in her time and place...but she's on her own for the first time in her life, and Somerled seems literally like the man of her dreams. Now, if you want to avoid minor spoilers that I have to mention in order to explain my reactions to this novel, stop reading. Or, read on - I won't give away anything that the back matter doesn't hint at, I promise.

I nearly stopped reading this book when I realized that its themes would include a woman falling in love with her rapist. Although I've since learned from the author's notes that this historical novel's plot deliberately recreates the Biblical tale of Jacob's daughter Dinah, I still find that theme repugnant. But I did keep reading, because the characters insisted that I do so. Davina, Jamie, and Leana - 16-year-old twins Will and Sandy, whose boyhood misbehavior caused the accident that took Davina's voice - and even minor characters like older brother Ian come to life on the pages. The author manages to create Somerled MacDonald as a wealthy and highborn young man of his era, treating women as his culture has taught him to treat them, instead of as a stereotypical sociopath. She makes him understandable, although never (thank goodness, or I WOULD have stopped reading!) inappropriately sympathetic. Which causes the grace mentioned in the book's title to shine all the more brightly.

Generally I avoid "inspirational romances" because they tend to substitute earnest good intentions on the author's part for good writing. Liz Curtis Higgs, though, proves herself to be a rare and wonderful exception to that rule. I'll read her work again with pleasure.

Liz Curtis Higgs stands out as one of the most gifted writers that I have had the pleasure of reading. The Scottish historical series that opened with her acclaimed novel Thorn in My Heart ends just as brilliantly with Grace in Thine Eyes.

Davina McKie is but a slip of a lass, whose childhood accident left her mute and her family divided by her father's resentment. When Davina is seventeen, her twin brothers are sent to Edinburgh to begin their schooling and she sets out to visit her cousins on the Island of Arran. There, the rumor of her uncanny talent on the fiddle spreads, and she invited to play before a Duke. Thrust unsuspecting into higher society, her innocence is quickly robbed but not her spirit. As she is forced to choose between resentment and forgiveness, her decisions propel an epic story of betrayal, love, and intrigue.

Liz Curtis Higgs explores one of the most puzzling passages of scripture, fictionalizing the biblical story, and providing a woman's perspective--so well that she brought tears to my eyes. Backdrops that with an amazing talent at holding readers captive, descriptions that are poetry, and it becomes a classic. I anxiously await her new Scottish historical releasing in 2008--Highly Recommended

Reviewed by: Jessica Dotta

Scotland and the Isle of Arran are as fully developed as any of the flesh-and-blood characters of Liz Curtis Higgs's newest book, Grace in Thine Eyes. Not part of her earlier historical fiction series, Grace is a stand-alone book that tells the biblical story of Dinah. Some of the characters from Thorn in My Heart, Fair is the Rose, and Whence Came a Prince, appear in Grace, but Jamie and Leana's daughter Davina, is the focal character.

Left mute by a childhood accident, Davina is a gifted fiddler and artist. She journeys to the Isle of Arran to spend the summer with her cousins, and there she entertains the local nobility so that he invites her to become the entertainment for the rest of his stay.

The lovely lass with the lively bow but silent tongue beguiles one of the duke's guests. Used to having his way with women, Somerled MacDonald mistakes Davina's naivete for coquettishness and "ruins" her and her maidenhood.

As gossip spreads across the bay to the Scottish mainland, both Davina's father and her protective brothers hear the rumors and travel to Arran. A tragedy on the rocky island hills snatches away Davina's hope of a restored reputation and a future marriage.

For a textbook course on the growth of a writer, read Higgs's earlier contemporary romances followed by her Scottish trilogy. Her skill grows with each book, and is well displayed in Grace in Thine Eyes.

Higgs is gifted in taking a familiar Bible story and retelling it in a new setting, allowing her readers a glimpse of how Dinah, Jacob, Leah, and their sons might have felt and reacted to impossible situations.

By the time I closed the book, I left behind not just my dear friend Davina and her fiddle, but a windswept home on a rocky green island across Brodick Bay.

Armchair Interviews says: Higgs's prose is lyrical when describing Scotland, but her special skill is crafting characters that leap off the page and into our hearts.