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In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer

Jan21

When You Know, You Know

In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer is a beautiful Christian timeslip novel that I absolutely adored. It is the second book in the Timeless series but can be read as a stand-alone.

This novel is set in 1861, 1941 and 2001. Historians will recognize these dates as the starting point for three wars for America – the American Civil War; Pearl Harbor and World War II; and the war on terror. I read with my heart in my mouth as 9/11 (September)approached and then of course December 1941. Gabrielle Meyer has perfectly captured the horrors of war – particularly Pearl Harbor where the picture she painted is horrific and vivid.

There are choices to be made. Choices always have consequences. The leading lady has a difficult choice to make. She longs for God to make the decision for her – but then she would not be exercising her faith muscle that tells her to lean into God and trust Him. “I could trust God’s plan for my life, even if it didn’t feel like things were under control.” Sometimes life feels like a runaway train but nothing ever happens that surprises God. He sees the end from the beginning.

Within the novel characters have, and do, experience loss. “I prayed… but God didn’t hear me… I knew the only way to survive in this world was to never love again.” That is not living, that is existing. God loves us and He wants us to love others. We were not meant to journey through life alone.

Prayer is important. “I will pray for you, because I know nothing is impossible with God.” We are called to pray for each other. Prayer connects us with God. “Turn my prayers heavenward, hoping God was listening.” God is always listening to our prayers. He does not always give us what we want but He always gives us what we need.

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The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria Scott

Jan17

Secrets, Families, Ambitions

The Storyteller’s Daughter by Victoria Scott is a beautiful dual timeline novel that I loved.

The action is set in 1941 and 2008. The periods are united by a family house and woodland as we follow a young woman in 2008 and her aunt in 1941.

Both main characters are similar in personality and circumstances. Both have been pressured by their families, having their personal lives squashed.

In 1941 Nita was expected to marry the man her parents chose for her – but Nita had a strong personality and would not be hemmed in by tradition and circumstances.

In 2008 Beth has always done what her parents wanted and has worked in the family firm. It was never her dream and now she decides to branch out on her own, having been re-united with her aunt on her death bed.

The ambitions of both young women was to be journalists. Now seems the ideal time to pursue these dreams.

Secrets are buried deep in the past. A death bed cryptic clue sends Beth delving into her aunt’s wartime activities – it is amazing what she uncovers.

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The Secret Jewish Sisters by Tikva Rager

Jan13

Internal Struggles

The Secret Jewish Sisters by Tikva Rager is a compelling historical novel. It is the first book in Unforgettable World War II Stories and can be read as a stand-alone. Each book in the series is written by a different author.

The book is fictional but is based on facts as we follow two young German Jewish sisters through the war years and beyond.

Smuggled out of Nazi Germany to Belgium, the two sisters are eventually hidden in a Catholic orphanage. They are physically hiding and they are also hiding who they really are. For the youngest sister, she believes she is Christian as she has no recollection of ever being Jewish. It is more complicated for the older sister as she remembers her Jewishness but makes a personal decision to become a Christian.

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The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt

Jan7

There Once Was A City

The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt is a powerful Christian historical novel that consumed me from the start.

The action is set in Warsaw during World War II as we follow twin sisters and their very different wartime experiences. Both are incredibly brave. Both fight the Nazis but use very different methods. One hides and passes on, Jewish children through an underground network. The other fights for the resistance. Neither shares their activities with the other in order to protect.

Warsaw bore the brunt of the Nazis persecution. Hitler wanted Warsaw razed to the ground – but reckoned without the brave spirit of the people offering resistance where they could.

Even the children were brave. They learned how to act and when to be silent. “You must never tell anyone who you are but you must always remember.” Roots and heritage are very important.

When persecution of the Jewish people began, many stood idly by but “what happened… mattered to me… I could not look away.” A character decided “I must do something.”

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