The House Of Light & Shadows by Lauren Westwood

Waiting For Kintsugi

The House Of Light And Shadows by Lauren Westwood is a powerful contemporary novel that consumed me from the start.

The novel is set in two time periods – present day and the late nineteenth century as we ‘hear’ via a voice in the past what has happened.

An old house links the two time periods, as does a character trapped in time and space. The past is gone but lives on in hearts full of guilt and regret.

In both time periods there are estranged sisters. Words spoken in hurt and anger have done irreparable damage. Characters need to put aside their differences and unite in love before it is too late.

A character is re-living the past, preventing her from living in the present. “The past can’t be recovered… But don’t lose any more time. Stop hurting and start living.”

A phone call out of the blue offers a second chance – but is it too little, too late?

Continue reading

The Prosecutor by Jack Fairweather

Harrowing – May We Never Forget

The Prosecutor by Jack Fairweather is the true story of Fritz Bauer (1903-1968) who was a German Jew who set about trying to bring the perpetrators of evil to justice after World War II. He was relentless in his pursuit.

At the end of World War II, Bauer estimated that eight million Germans had belonged o the Nazi party and two hundred and fifty thousand served in the SS. Many of the mass murderers and perpetrators of evil, either fled Germany or seamlessly blended back into society at the end of the war. “Few wanted to admit that fighting for Hitler was wrong.” Attitudes in the older generation, frighteningly, persisted into the 1960’s. Only with education, did the attitudes of subsequent generations of Germans change, as they admitted that the Holocaust did happen. Change started with the youth.

Jack Fairweather has clearly and methodically researched the life of Fritz Bauer, who was a good man who refused to stand by and do nothing. Along with others, including Simon Wiesenthal, Bauer helped to bring Adolf Eichmann to justice.

Bauer helped to put individuals on trial, as well as the human machinery that was Auschwitz. He introduced Auschwitz to the world through the horrifying testimonies of those who were there. The judges and others from the court, actually toured Auschwitz to see the site of the greatest mass murders in history, saying, “you need to see it… only then can you imagine the magnitude of the crime.”

Continue reading

The Light Continues by Lin Stepp

Steadfast & True

The Light Continues by Lin Stepp is a wonderful, warm, contemporary Christian novel that I adored. It is the fourth book in The Lighthouse Sisters series but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend reading the books in order for character progression and development, and for continuity of time.

Each book focuses on one of the Lighthouse sisters. It is the turn of Lila in this book. Lila has a close relationship with God. She draws close to Him in her quiet time. “Prayer… quiet, special time with God.” As we spend time with God, we build relationship with Him. “Time alone with God always brought her peace.”

When life presents a crossroads for us, we can trust God’s plans and turn to Him for guidance. “God… always has the best plans… the best vocation… is the one God intends exactly for that person.” God longs for us to follow in His footsteps but God is a gentleman and will never force His plans on us. “God will open the doors, but He won’t push you through them.” We all have free will and choice. Be sure to choose wisely. “God gave us all free will, but we each have to choose to live right.”

Some characters are haunted by events of the past. “I felt so dirty.” When things happen to us, we must remember that we were the innocent party and we have no right to feel guilty. Bring it all to Jesus for there is no condemnation in Him. He will heal and restore us. To heal needs kindness, understanding and love, which the close-knit community has in spades.

Continue reading

Worthy Of Legend by Roseanna M White

Extending The Hand Of Grace

Worthy Of Legend by Roseanna M White is a powerful Christian historical novel. It is the third book in The Secrets Of The Isles series. It can be read as a stand-alone but it is far better to read the books in order as each one starts where the previous one ended.

There is a continuity of characters throughout the series. Each book has it’s focus on different main characters. In this book we have four lead characters to follow.

We drop in on a young woman and her maid. In these changing times of 1906, we see that friendship steps over the class boundaries as the pair form a strong friendship bond.

We cannot choose our family members. We witness the cruelty that has been levied at a daughter by her brother and father. She has felt isolated and an outcast but still has a heart that extends the hand of grace.

The pursuit of wealth and fame is a shocking master. When greed steps in, a downfall is sure to happen. True treasure lies within hearts that love.

1906 is a time when the world was on the brink of change. Young ladies know their own minds and are so much more than the outdated view that society has of them. She was “nothing but a marriage pawn – whose ideas were worthless, whose purpose was to be pretty.”

Continue reading