Tag Archive | Mountain Hill Press

The Red Mill Bookstore by Lin Stepp

A Warm Welcome For All

The Red Mill Bookstore by Lin Stepp is a most delightful, contemporary Christian novel that I adored. It is part of A Mountain Home Book series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Lin Stepp always writes the most charming wholesome novels that enchant the reader from the start. Her townsfolk are warm and welcoming, and the reader longs to be a part of the community.

There are godly lessons for us all, as we see the importance of letting God love us and guide us. “Your Father in heaven believes in you… Seek to find God’s wisdom. He always knows the best way for us to walk.” When we follow God’s plan for our lives, we know that we cannot fail. When we fall, God will pick us up.

Having faith in God doesn’t mean we will have a trouble-free life. We meet a family that has had their lives disrupted by false imprisonment (before the novel opened). There was always a choice to become bitter or better. They chose the path of forgiveness. “Anger and unforgiveness was hurting us more than anyone else.”

In order to live free, we must hand our burdens over to Jesus. “We’ve both had a bad experience… but we learned from it.” When we are in difficult places, we learn vital lessons.

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The Light Continues by Lin Stepp

Steadfast & True

The Light Continues by Lin Stepp is a wonderful, warm, contemporary Christian novel that I adored. It is the fourth book in The Lighthouse Sisters series but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend reading the books in order for character progression and development, and for continuity of time.

Each book focuses on one of the Lighthouse sisters. It is the turn of Lila in this book. Lila has a close relationship with God. She draws close to Him in her quiet time. “Prayer… quiet, special time with God.” As we spend time with God, we build relationship with Him. “Time alone with God always brought her peace.”

When life presents a crossroads for us, we can trust God’s plans and turn to Him for guidance. “God… always has the best plans… the best vocation… is the one God intends exactly for that person.” God longs for us to follow in His footsteps but God is a gentleman and will never force His plans on us. “God will open the doors, but He won’t push you through them.” We all have free will and choice. Be sure to choose wisely. “God gave us all free will, but we each have to choose to live right.”

Some characters are haunted by events of the past. “I felt so dirty.” When things happen to us, we must remember that we were the innocent party and we have no right to feel guilty. Bring it all to Jesus for there is no condemnation in Him. He will heal and restore us. To heal needs kindness, understanding and love, which the close-knit community has in spades.

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Eight At The Lake by Lin Stepp

Chasing The Storms Away

Eight At The Lake by Lin Stepp is the most charming contemporary Christian novel that will lodge in your heart and leave you smiling.

The novel is about love and family. Eight children need rules to ensure lives run smoothly. Far from constricting us, rules are there to keep us safe. The reader is reminded that God gave us rules to live by and to keep us safe.

There is so much love within the novel – there is the love within families and the love of God and for God. We hear of a character who has been born again, strengthening and rebuilding her relationship with God.

Sometimes our earthly fathers are not so great and we fear repeating their pattern of behaviour but “our mistakes don’t have to be yours.” We are not destined to repeat the generational sins.

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Light The Way by Lin Stepp

Positively Charming

Light The Way by Lin Stepp is a most delightful Christian contemporary tale and the first book in The Lighthouse Sisters series. I cannot wait for subsequent books.

The lighthouse plays a central role in the story. It reminds the reader that we are to shine God’s light into a dark world. We also see the pivotal role in rescue of the lighthouse’s light in illuminating those in trouble. Likewise, God looks out for us and will rescue us from our troublesome situations.

We are called to live out our faith. “Your strong faith has a good effect on me.”  We can never under estimate the effect our lives may have on someone else.

Family is important. When members of a family have problems, some run towards home, others run away for fear of parental disappointment. This reminds the reader that God longs for each of us to return to Him if we stray or mess up. He doesn’t want fear or embarrassment to keep us from His arms.

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