Buffalo Creek Kansas 1936 is where this story begins. The cover is what caught my attention and then after reading the back cover I knew this was going to be an unforgettable story, but then again knowing Kim Vogel Sawyer penned these black and white words lets the reader know they are in for something spectacular.
Some stories take a few chapters to hook the reader. Not Kim's novels. I was completely enthralled in this novel within the first chapter. I love historical fiction during this time period, but also a story of strength, survival, and faith. All this and more is found within these pages. An unputdownable for sure! This just may be my favorite novel yet penned by this gifted writer.
Can you imagine being married to a man you think you know through and through and then the day comes when you realize you never knew him at all? This story is about trust, deception, and grace. Oh, the sweet grace this main character shows. If I could be half the woman that Neva Shilling is I will be the woman God has created me to be. She is certainly a Proverbs 31 woman. Oh, don't get me wrong. She is real. We see her go through every emotion, but what I love is that through her faith she overcomes her anger. She allows God to continue doing a work in her heart.
One day she's waiting on the return of her husband. Both children excited to see their father and then in a moment everything she knew as normal changed. Kind of like our lives, right? Now her home is filled with more mouths to feed and more hearts to love.
I love the journey Kim takes us on to witness the depths of Neva's heart. These characters gripped by heart and tugged at my emotions. She had the choice to remain bitter, but instead she allowed the grace of God to make her better. This is one of those beautifully written stories that will take you on a journey of finding yourself within these pages and closing the last page feeling blessed to have held this book in your hands.
This novel was a gift from Waterbrook Press for sharing my review with you.
Kim Vogel Sawyer is the highly acclaimed, best-selling author of gentle stories of hope, such as What Once Was Lost and Through The Deep Waters. 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.
