Finding Anna (Music of the Heart #1) (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a deeply religious book, themed primarily around the prodigal son story... a good novel." -- Heather Hiestand, Romance Reader at Heart

"A superbly written and researched story....the book makes... the hymn that much more meaningful... incredibly uplifting and inspirational." -- Melissa Parcel, Bookloons.com

"Dialog reads very naturally, and the story relentlessly rolls until it reaches its heartbreaking end." -- Christian Library Journal

"Quietly ignites...a spark of thankfulness and a growing confidence of God’s deep peace... in the midst of unspeakable heartache." -- Kay Tira, Author's Choice Reviews

"Readers will cherish the first MUSIC OF THE HEART tale and look forward to more such stories behind the Hymns." -- Harriet Klausner, ReviewCentre.com

"The story is gripping... a must read for people who love inspirational historical romances!" -- The Romance Studio

Product Description

A Powerful Historical Drama Based on the Story Behind The Hymn "It Is Well With My Soul"

This historical novel opens on the eve of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and explores the resulting two-year drama, heartbreak, and redemption that shaped the life of one of America’s great hymn writers--Horatio Gates Spafford.

A poignant novel of relationships, Finding Anna follows Spafford and his wife, Anna, as they struggle to find common ground before their divided loyalties tear apart their marriage once and for all. What will it take for them to recover their faith--in God and each other? Is love powerful enough to bring them through the greatest tragedy of their lives?

In an account that adds little-known details to a well-known story, Schaub debuts the MUSIC OF THE HEART series with perhaps the most personally compelling of all Christian hymns--"It Is Well With My Soul."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764200593
• ISBN-13: 978-0764200595
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #382,747 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific inspirational historical biographical fiction , September 28, 2005

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In October of 1871 the inferno rages with the Chicago business district destroyed. Horatio Gates Spafford informs his partner Henry McDaid that their law partnership has gone the way of the fire as the flames engulf their office. Horatio tells the man he considers his brother that they must get their wives and children to safety. When he reaches Lincoln Park to meet his family there, Horatio is stunned by the destruction and assumes that he sent his family to their deaths, but soon finds his wife Anna alive and she tells him the children are home safe and sound.

The fire that destroyed much of Chicago and devastated his legal business also scarred Anna, who cannot even get out of bed to care for their children. Horatio wants to help those in need, but fails to see his spouse's needs. He turns to God and real estate to help the downtrodden while she has doubts about a deity that would cause biblical destruction. Over the next two years, their relationship further erodes until they agree to go on a European vacation with their four daughters seeking redemption through God and healing with each other starting with the hymn he writes, "It Is Well With My Soul."

FINDING ANNA is a terrific inspirational historical biographical fiction novel that digs deep into the Chicago Fire especially the aftermath through a wonderful ensemble cast though the Spaffords are the prime players. Readers will appreciate the depth of the tale as Anna suffers from battle fatigue syndrome and her disillusionment with God while Horatio feels he has found his calling, but fails to apply his good deeds at home. Readers will cherish the first "Music of the Heart" tale and look forward to more such stories behind the Hymns.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A poignant and inspirational book. , March 25, 2006

By	Lane Ridenhour (Nashville, Tennessee) - See all my reviews

What I liked most about FINDING ANNA is the human (and therefore dramatic) context in which one of the classic and beloved hymns of the Christian church was born in the heart of the song's writer. I was somewhat unprepared for both the events that lead to H.G. Spafford's composing the text, and the realization that a song which I have loved but taken for granted at times, was the product of a faith tried by circumstances that I can barely conceive.

Christine Schaub has written a powerful and poignant book and will hopefully emerge as an important voice in Christan fiction. I look forward to future stories in the Music of the Heart series.

Highly, highly recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It Is Well With My Soul, February 1, 2006

By	Robert F. Blaisdell, Jr. (Champaign, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Since "It Is Well With My Soul" is my favorite hymn I was looking forward to reading this book which is a novel about the story behind that great hymn. I was not dissappointed. I enjoyed this book a lot. It begins with the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and ends with the tragedy at sea that lead to H.G. Spafford writing that great hymn mentioned above. Even though this is a novel it is based on facts. Everything written is very believeable even though it probably didn't all happen as written.
This book was hard to put down. You want to keep reading until the end. I highly recommend it to everyone.