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To Forgive, Divine

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Bonnie Callaway has had a difficult time dealing with the tragic death of her husband and, although the accident happened two years ago, she still has not given love a second chance. So, when things start happening between her and her single pastor, Jeff Wells, she isn't quite sure how to handle the transition.

Unfortunately, the attraction they were beginning to experience is shattered by distrust and betrayal. But as the compelling story of forgiveness continues, both Jeff and Bonnie are witness to lives around them being changed by forgiveness. Gradually, they are forced to recognize that, even as they urge others to love and forgive, they themselves neglect to do so.

"To Forgive, Divine" is a grand effort to illustrate the love and forgiveness of Jesus. Melissa Lea Leedom writes with both skill and sentiment. A recommended read.

Melissa Leedom's book is interesting for those who may have never entered into a church or been a part of its society. Sometimes we can have concepts of what life is like behind the stained glass windows, thinking that the members are either perfect or boring. They simply don't have mundane or deep personal problems as ordinary people--so we may think until we read Leedom's account.

She depicts the people honestly and objectively--warts and all. We see that no one, even those who go to church "religiously" are perfect--even the pastor. The story is weaved in such a way that it is easy to judge certain characters before we find the whole story about their lives.

To understand the pace of the love story in a church setting, Leedom lays the background of the cultural values in a clear manner. This is important for readers who don't go to church and may not be familiar with the moral standards of this society.

The story bravely gives an account of church politics, exposing its cancerous dangers of gossip. We see how innocent people can be the victims of leaders of the church. It makes you wonder how many "lost sheep" have actually been to church but were hurt instead of helped.

An interesting sub-plot concerns the church's outreach activities to the community. The church members are not patronizing, and learn to understand the needs of the underclass in America. The characters also grapple with problem that all people who want to do good have to deal with--their own need and motivation to help the "unfortunate".

Although Leedom takes the roof off of the church and let's us peak into their private lives, she is always gracious. For those of you who may sleep in on Sunday mornings, this is a great book to learn about your neighbors who may wake you up with slamming the car doors, and shouting "hurry up or we'll be late for church."

I normally do not write about books or do book reviews in the North Louisiana Good News, a supplement to the Minden Press-Herald, but a press release was recently published about a good Christian book, called "To Forgive, Divine," written by Melissa Leedom.

I won't go into all the details of the book and spoil it for you. It's a quick read, but the underlying lessons as well as the story line are absolutely wonderful.

The story begins with two people who have been going to the same church for years, one being the pastor of the church. He is a single widower with a teenage son, and she is a widow with two young children. The story line revolves around a romance between the two, and it revolves around the church.

I have to say, I was very impressed with the book because it was a good, clean story about two people who realize they love each other.

One of the biggest lessons I learned from the book was about the gossip that goes on in church. Not every church is like this, but many are. Gossip permeates just about every congregation to some extent or another. In this story, I learned just how gossip can almost ruin a congregation and a community - based on how things look on the outside.

Yes, the story has a villain, but this villain is a fine, upstanding churchgoer who is very bitter. But does she learn her lesson in the end? Well, you will just have to read the book to find out.

Another lesson I learned in the book is that although a pastor is always in the public eye of his congregation, he is human too. He has feelings just like anyone else. It was interesting to see in this story how this pastor dealt with the gossip in his congregation. I was absolutely amazed at how the author made this pastor so human. In the book, the reader gets to see the other side of a pastor's life - outside the church pulpit and outside the church activities.

And, I also got to see a person in the book come to know God. That was really cool. And the way this woman became saved is just like so many others who have a life-changing experience in their salvation. The author showed God's strength throughout the entire book, and she showed how God changes even the hardest of hearts.

Overall, I was very impressed with the book, and it is the type of book I like to read. Like I said before, it's a good, clean story. This fiction book is one that you would feel safe about your kids picking up, and you don't have to worry about them learning words they shouldn't hear or read, or even read about situations that they wouldn't understand. Although this book is meant for an older audience, like teens and older, you don't have to worry about what your kids will find in it.

I hope that you will contact the author for a copy, because I think it is well worth it.

You won't regret it.

There is nothing quite like old-fashioned and pure romance, especially when it happens in a book that is well written featuring likeable and charismatic characters. To Forgive, Divine by Melissa Leedom is such a book with these qualities. Chock full of endearing characters and set in rural Texas, To Forgive, Divine is a Christian "Chick Lit" book that should not be missed.

Meet Bonnie, a widowed mother of two who is a dedicated Christian. She resides in Chandler City, GA, one of those small town type of places where you run into people you know every day, everywhere you go. In the beginning of our story, she has just begun to notice Jeff Wells, the pastor of Foster Road Baptist. Jeff is also widowed with a teenage son, and has just begun to notice Bonnie. The two of them however don't have time for anything but one special kiss between them before it all comes crashing down. Clara Adkinson, the town gossip, can't stand to see the two of them get together and starts spreading nasty rumors about them. And we all know how rumors can spread like wildfire in a small town! And unfortunately Clara manages to break the two of them up before anything really starts. Jeff believes Clara, and quickly cuts things off with Bonnie, who can't believe she has already fallen for him and is crushed.

Meanwhile other things are falling apart as well - a young boy who recently joined a gang breaks into the church office; a woman who has left her cheating husband joins the church, and is suddenly spotted all around town with Jeff; Bonnie can't stop running into men she wants little or nothing to do with, including a loud-mouthed, overbearing ex-flame (that she'd never gotten together with in the first place); Clara tries to have Pastor Jeff resign from the church because of false allegations; and Bonnie and Jeff can't stop running into each other even when they try, and it's the last thing they want! Will this town and congregation ever pull together? Will this group of people ever learn to forgive each other? Find out in this heartwarming story.

To Forgive, Divine was a wonderful book and I enjoyed it immensely. Bonnie, the main character, is a likeable woman with flaws that many can identify with. Her situation with Jeff as well as the other characters' lives kept me riveted to the book to see how it would all end. I also loved how the book wasn't sickly sweet and unrealistic. It showed the ins and outs of living a Christian life, even some of the bad things about it, such as hypocrisy and jealousy that sometimes takes place. Melissa Leedom manages to get the message of salvation through to her readers too in this delightful story.

Overall, I recommend To Forgive, Divine to all readers who love a romantic and down-to-earth story that will tug at your heartstrings. People with a Christian background will especially like it. Do you think that a true, simple and pure love doesn't exist? Read this book - it may change your mind!

Great book - so realistic and as a pastor for 30 years, I could relate to the chain of events and to "Clara". Clara by any other name is still a Clara!!<smile> I am not sure there is a church without one!!! <grin>

Thanks too for showing the Pastor as a real person with real emotions and the ability to err from time to time. It was nice not to see him on a pedestal but also to see him as a man's man - not some effeminate tea-sipping white collared incompetent.

It was a great read and I appreciate the insights that are woven through the story, especially a glimpse into the life of a single again person's feelings, etc.

Go to www.forgive490.com to read fan mail praising To Forgive, Divine! Click on John 1:12 to see a beautiful slide show prepared by the author. Explore the rest of the site, send e-mail to Melissa, and let your friends know about www.forgive490.com, too.

"To Forgive, Divine" is a different kind of romance novel. It has intelligence, wit and charm woven into a plot that accurately reflects the concerns of our time. Ms. Leedom's characters are multi-dimensional, with the all-too-human faults and failings of ordinary people finding their way in a complicated world. From the first tenuous steps of a man and a woman recognizing a mutual attraction, through their journey of understanding, to the ending that could only be written with Divine guidance, the book is a page-turner. I look forward to Ms. Leedom's next book.

To Forgive Divine by Melissa Lea Leedom is a superbly written love story about lasting bitterness that can leave poison that cripples relationships and life itself, in contrast to the healing power of forgiveness. Presenting the irony of a man and a woman who witness the transforming power of the love and forgiveness of Jesus, and must come to terms with their own Christianity despite their lingering grudges held against each other, To Forgive Divine is original, inspirational, emotional, and highly recommended reading.