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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a wonderful story!, March 3, 2010
This review is from: Hearts Awakening (Paperback)
"Every wrong should be made right, and no right should be forgotten." (Gram, page 97)
Oh, my!! Oh, my! Oh, my!! I love, love, love it when a book sweeps me away and carries me into the heart of a thoughtful, realistic, heart-struggling faith and then tenderly shows me the Father's hand in the midst of the trial. Heart's Awakening is a precious, tender historical romance that reveals the true meaning of forgiveness and grace, and I am so very happy to recommend it to you!
Ellie Kilmer is a character your heart aches for the moment you meet her as she is struggling through the woods. When you learn of her true circumstances, you just want to hug the poor woman to your heart and take care of her. Well, then you add a handsome, wounded man with two precocious children to the picture, throw in a dash of scandal, a pinch of gossip and finish with a sprinkle of a long-ago first love you have the recipe for an unforgettable historical romance that will leave you full and satisfied! You'll have to pardon all the talk of recipes, and you'll have to read the story to discover a very unusual challenge Ellie faces in her kitchen, and most of all, you just have to have to read this book! You will love it!!
I think what spoke to me most clearly and honestly was Ellie's faith. Her unwavering ability to go to the Father even when her feelings were crushed, her determination to cling to Him when her faith felt incredibly fragile, and the utter completeness and calmness with which she spoke directly to the heart of whatever emotional challenge faced her within very unusual and uncertain circumstances was powerful! She quickly became a hero of the faith in my eyes, because she understood and offered forgiveness and unconditional affection even when she didn't have to. While this might sound a bit over-the-top, believe me when I tell you it isn't. Ellie's character is very real and very memorable, and you will be so glad you met her!!
Oh and don't forget those two precious boys, Ethan and Daniel! And then Gram is such a godly soul too! There are just some exceptional characters to love in this story, and love them you will. Heart's Awakening has the power to awaken faith, and I highly recommend this story!!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A New Delia Parr Fan!!!, May 14, 2010
This review is from: Hearts Awakening (Paperback)
Amazing work!Amazing author! Amazing cover! I love it! A heart-wrenching story of faith tested and struggles only God can help with. HEARTS AWAKENING is a sweet, meaningful historical that I would read again and again!
Delia Parr knows how to truly make her readers feel apart of the story. Through her breath-taking story line and magnificent characters, she teaches a lesson of romance, secrets, God's amazing grace and forgiveness. It creates an unforgettable story. This book is filled with every emotion from heartache to humor to anger and love.
I recommend everyone who loves historical fiction to take a trip back into time and meet Ellie & Jackson. Reading their captivating story will take your breath away and strengthen your faith. So grab a copy of this 5 star, charming story about a marriage of convenience and fall in love with new faith and new friends!Get ready to hunger for reading more of Delia's work, which we will get the chance to do so in September of 2010 with the release of LOVE'S FIRST BLOOM!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Light Christian fiction with life lessons thrown in for good measure, June 7, 2010
This review is from: Hearts Awakening (Paperback)
An unconventional heroine and an unusual setting make for an interesting novel.
I enjoyed the island/orchard setting. I'm not familiar with Pennsylvania and the Susquehanna River, and the setting was curious, but easily pictured. As far as characterization goes, I loved that Ellie wasn't a beautiful young woman, but a plain spinster with no prospects. What a refreshing heroine. However, I found Jackson too angry and often mean to Ellie as he jumped to erroneous conclusion after conclusion. Yes, both had their baggage, and I see the point of each needing to work through their issues so they could fall in love, but there were several times when I just wanted to shake some sense into them both.
Ellie is the one with the common sense, wisdom and compassion for others and her inner beauty shines through and is what draws others to her. She struggles a bit with her own faith, but still moves forward, never giving up on God.
I thought that the issues of adultery and death of a spouse were well handled, nothing heavy handed. Overall, an easy book to read. I enjoyed it, I didn't absolutely love it. It's light Christian fiction with some life lessons thrown in for good measure.
Thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to review this book.
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