Kara G. reviewed on 4/10/2013 + 82 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Wow, what a book! I so enjoyed meeting and getting to love the OConnor family. Patrick and Marcy are such wonderful parents and they run a home that is precisely how I pictured a loving family to be like. They are completely devoted to Christ, each other and their children. I was surprised how one man could come between two sisters so strongly, Faith and Charity, but because of petty jealousy on Charitys part there really is no real relationship between the two girls. Faith is older and is completely surrendered to God while Charity resents her and lives to persecute her. Patrick and Marcy become aware of how Charity feels and do everything they can to defuse the situation, but Charity refuses to cooperate and it leads to her do foolish things that are both harmful and destructive. I have never disliked a fictional character as much as I disliked Charity, but that only illustrates the talent Lessman has in creating such a character.

I didnt like how fickle the main characters are in deciding who they love and the constant triangles at work within this beloved family, but much of it stems from sibling rivalry which is realistic. Its also proof of what happens when unforgiveness exists in one family.

There are three things you are guaranteed when reading this book. One, you will NOT be able to predict how the story goes. More than once I was convinced I understood how each relationship would conclude and it never ended up that way. Two, you will grow to love the OConnors as if they were a real family. You will laugh and cry with them. You will experience their heartaches and joys as if they were real people and you will root for them throughout their journey. Three, you will experience the love of God through their eyes and it will impact your heart in new ways.

Without a doubt, my favorite part of the story is how protective Patrick OConnor is of his daughters. That really blessed me and stayed with me through this story; it was one of the most precious things for me to experience in the story (much more so than any romance). I also loved seeing how certain characters experience a change in their faith that makes them stronger and gives them new perspective. Some of these changes were so tangible they touched me deeply. Faith was diligent in her love for God until ¾ of the story where her heart gets broken in betrayal and she decides to turn her back on God for a brief time. I also know how that feels, but loved seeing how God would not release her and she finds her way back to her Beloved. I also deeply enjoyed the Ireland setting in the story.

I won this book a while back and finally made time to read it. This author is very special to me and now I have fallen in love with her books as I knew I would.

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