A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano

Jul24

The True Vine

A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano is a powerful Christian historical novel that consumed me from the start.

The novel is set in nineteenth century England in the West Country. It is written around the topic of a vineyard, reminding us that God is the true vine and we are the branches. The reader learns all about how to tend the vines so that they thrive and produce fruit. “The vines best protection… is not higher walls but deeper roots.” This reminds the reader that we need to have firm foundations in our Christian walk. We must learn the scriptures so that when troubles come, we can stand firm on the Word of God.

We ‘hear’ the action in the first and third person through the leading man and lady. They seem to be polar opposites at first but as the novel progresses, their true characters are revealed. “He’s left little pieces of his servant heart all around.” We are all called to have hearts and lives that show Jesus to a hurting world. We need to walk the walk as well as to talk the talk.

A character fears all that is being taken away from her but she is merely being pruned so that she can flourish. “Taking away what’s good so that you seek out something better.” God wants good gifts for us. What we have may be good but God has something even better in store for us.

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The Lost Orphans by Ellie Curzon

Jul24

Three Cheers For The Blitz Kids!

The Lost Orphans by Ellie Curzon is an entertaining historical novel and the first book in The Runaway Evacuees series which promises to be fabulous.

The action is set in London in 1940, with the occasional glimpses backwards. It surrounds a group of orphans who were bombed out. They band together as a unit, looking out for each other, and for those in need.

We see that the children are plucky and resourceful. Their bravery knows no bounds as they set about rescuing those who are trapped by the Blitz – hence they earn their name, The Blitz Kids.

Londoners were a brave bunch, full of the bulldog spirit. “No matter how many bombs Hitler sent, London carried on.” Not much stops them. They drink tea, keep calm and carry on.

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Hannah’s Quest by Jodie Wolfe

Jul21

The Lost Sheep

Hannah’s Quest by Jodie Wolfe is a powerful Christian historical novel that I read in just two sittings, pausing only to sleep.

Jodie Wolfe has constructed a tale full of godly lessons for us all. We see that whereas life is not always good, God is always faithful. He is with us on the mountaintop and in the valley. “How could she reconcile God’s loving care when He hadn’t rescued her from her situation?” God never promised easy but He did promise to never leave us. “It’s in those deep valleys He can make Himself known even more to you.” We also learn more in the valleys than on the mountaintop. We rely on God in the valley, knowing that He is good even when life isn’t.

We see the importance of listening to God’s voice. “Don’t you go listening to that evil one… Listen to who God says you are.” The evil one wants to destroy us. God wants us to live life to the full, and to live loved.

Fear and faith are opposites. “You can’t walk in fear and faith in God at the same time.” If we have faith, we need not fear for God is beside us, upholding us.

It is important to put on the whole armour of God. I “take up my shield of faith daily so that filthy, rotten evil one’s lies can’t hurt me.” We need to repel the lies with the shield of faith. We also need to know the word of God so that we have good foundations so that when life hits, and it will, we will not crumble.

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When The Sky Falls by Phil Earle

Jul20

Tearing At The Emotions

When The Sky Falls by Phil Earle is a powerful historical children’s novel that I absolutely loved. I was drawn into the story from the start.

The four leading characters are an unlikely combination- a twelve-year-old boy; a similar aged girl; a middle-aged lady; and a silverback gorilla. All are thrown together due to World War II.

The novel is set in London in 1941 when a young lad is sent to live with Mrs F. He arrives hurt and angry, and no one can get through his defences. “The last time he’d been at school. The laughter, the pointing fingers and humiliation. He couldn’t do it. Not again.” The fear of school is not unfounded as he meets two classroom bullies and a cruel headmaster. The reader’s heart breaks for the hurting young lad.

Everywhere he goes, people leave. He wonders “what he must have done to cause it.” The reader ‘feels’ his pain.

Encountering the London landscape after rural Yorkshire comes as a shock. “He was shocked… He’d seen photos… of the Blitz… but nothing had prepared him for the smell of it… a cloying smell of charred decay.” This is very descriptive and really sets the scene for the reader. Amid the ashes, the brave Londoners carry on.

At the heart of the novel is Adonis (we met him in Phil Earle’s book The Dawn Of Adonis set in 1911), a silverback gorilla. He is powerful, but once you earn his trust, you have it forever.

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