Summary
"Once in a while a new author...makes you sit up and take notice."--"Library Journal"
When a family tragedy derails Henry Phillips's college studies, he's left unmoored and feeling abandoned. Although Henry tries to find escape in bad company, the only things that can tamp down his anger and grief are the family farm, his fiddle, and sweet but unusual pre-teen Mayfair Hoffman.
Unfortunately, Mayfair's older sister, Margaret, with the freckles and cute, turned-up nose, has the opposite effect. Worse, she's his grandmother's housekeeper and helper, so she's always around and ready to push his buttons. At first he thinks she doesn't care about his loss, before beginning to understand she's facing her own struggles. Mayfair's health and unique gift sit at the heart of those worries, and Henry and Margaret soon find themselves relying on each other as both Henry's future and Mayfair's life are put at risk.
My Thoughts
I am actually surprised that this is the first novel that I have read by Thomas. This is the second novel (or third if we include the prequel novella) to this series that follows in particular this one family that keeps coming into contact with those who have unique gifts that are able to help others. For this story, Henry comes into contact with Margaret and her sister Mayfair who has the ability to help others get better. It's never said how she got these abilities, but that wasn't such a huge factor that hindered the reading. For me, it felt like the movie Green Mile, where the one man in jail was able to take sicknesses from others, but in turn received some of the sickness as well.
There are not many Christian books that really go into the supernatural of any sense, or how God uses people in ways that could be called miracles. Yet, sometimes there are books that have tried to write it in their stories, but it can be done oddly or it doesn't quite fit. For this book though it felt like it was done very well. It didn't seem like Thomas added that element in so as to make this book more "unique" or "special." It indeed intrigued me and made me want to keep reading. I'm not sure as to if the third novel will go into more detail about this particular gift concerning Mayfair, but I feel that it is unlikely which is fine.
As for the rest of the novel, such as characters and the quality of the story I really liked it. I found it very powerful, and kind of relate-able. The main character's were around my age group: college students! Horray! And for me this is a major plus because sometimes it can just be hard to relate to characters that are not in my age group at all. I want to disclaim though: I think anyone of any age could enjoy this book. (Parents: there is the subject of sex out of marriage because a young woman gets pregnant so it would have to be up to you if you choose for a young/older teen to read this series.) Nonetheless, this story was so good! I want everyone to read Thomas's books. I want to go back and read the first novel before this one which is based on Henry's mother.
I loved all the layers of this book from forgiveness, to dealing with death, to trying to come to grips with the future. Everything about this book felt real and authentic. It felt right when I was reading it. It was full of characters that were well rounded and dimensional. Each had complicated background stories that made me want to read from their point of view. And there was not one sentence throughout this entire novel that made me cringe from it's cheesiness or silly way of making Christians seem "perfect." This novel felt completely human and through that humanness, showed the redemptive process that Christians must walk through when they want to turn their lives around. I literally flew through this book when I picked it up today, finished it in one sitting.
I agree with the Library Journal's quote, every once and a while there comes a author with a story that makes you take notice and grabs your attention. This novel will grip you and believe me it will totally be worth it.
Also, welcome to my auto-buy list Thomas! I am anticipating your next novel in this series!
Rating: 4.75 out of 5 bookshelves
I received a free copy from Bethany House Publishers in return for an honest review.
About the Author
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Happy Reading~!
In His Grace,
Taylor Reid
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