In a desperate time, can Neva find forgiveness for a grievous wrong—and make room for hope?
Neva Shilling has a heavy load of responsibility while her husband travels to neighboring communities and sells items from his wagon. In his absence, she faithfully runs the Shilling Mercantile, working to keep their business strong as the Depression takes its toll, and caring for their twins.
When a wagon pulls up after supper, Neva and her children rush out—and into the presence of the deputy driving a wagon carrying three young children. The deputy shocks her with the news that Warren and his wife have died, insisting it was their last request that the three children go live with “Aunt Neva.”
Neva’s heart is shattered as she realizes that Warren’s month-long travels were excuses for visits with his secret family. She wants nothing more than to forget Warren, but can she abandon these innocent children to an orphanage? Yet if she takes them in, will she ever be able to see them as more than evidence of her husband’s betrayal and love them the way God does?
My Review: When I first read what this book was about, I was instantly intrigued. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in a situation such as Neva’s. The sense of betrayal she must have felt, knowing the person she shared her life with, shared another life with another family.
I think the author did an excellent job weaving together this story. The characters are very relatable and I think their emotions and reactions were approached very realistically. My heart broke for Neva and the circumstances her husband left her in. She was such an inspiring character. A true example of grace and strength. I also felt her son’s pain as he struggled with his father’s death and the sudden appearance of unknown siblings.
This book is a wonderful picture of what God can do in a situation. So often, we are faced with circumstances that are painful, unexpected and just plain hard. This book is a great reminder of what God can do in our lives when we are open to him. He redeems and restores situations, he brings beauty out of the ashes and he grows us in wisdom and strength when we allow him to move in our lives and our hearts.
I don’t know if this book is the start of a series, but I hope that it is. I would love to explore more of the characters and their journeys.
*I received a copy of this book free of charge from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.
Kim Vogel Sawyer is the highly acclaimed, best-selling author of gentle stories of hope such as When Love Returns and Room for Hope. With more than one million books in print, Kim has garnered numerous awards including the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. She lives in central Kansas with her retired military husband Don. She enjoys travel, quilting, and spending time with her daughters and their families.
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