by Andrea Renee Cox Have you ever wondered how much pain the human heart can take? My author-friend Kim Vogel Sawyer recently explored this very question when writing her latest novel. I hope you enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at Room for Hope.
An Unselfish Choice
by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Every June, The Hubs and I attend a Sawyer Family Reunion.
It’s a great time of catching up, laughing, eating (of course), and otherwise
enjoying ourselves. Two summers ago, one of The Hubs’ aunts (the one who set us
up on a blind date in 1983...but that’s another story for another day) brought
along a box of photographs and a print-out of family history which she shared
with all of us.
Have you ever read a book that took a turn you didn't
initially like ... but came to admire?
Room for Hope by Kim Vogel Sawyer was like that for me. Here
I was, rooting for one thing to happen, and suddenly something completely
different and unexpected happened. At first I was quite shocked and wasn't sure
if I'd come to like the track the story took. Yet, as I continued reading, the
characters burrowed deeper into my heart and the plot twists kept surprising
me. Several times I found myself staring open-mouthed at the book, then quickly
gobbling up the next few chapters to learn what would take place next.
Neither Carrie Lang nor Ollie
Moore are who they claim to be. Both work undercover in Dinsmore’s World-Famous
Chocolates Factory, but with different motivations. When three young children
come into some hard times, can Carrie and Ollie band together to help them,
despite their opposing points of view? Or will their façades crack, revealing
more than they’d like to let on? Once the truth comes out, will they still be
willing to trust each other?
Author Kim Vogel Sawyer brings
us yet another fabulous story. This one, Echoes of Mercy—releasing January 21, 2014—takes the reader deeper than any of the
others she's written that I've read. It’s hard to put what I mean into words,
but I can tell you it edged out my previous favorite Kim Sawyer book, My Heart Remembers. It was tough to see
that one beat—and it was close—but I figured it would happen eventually. How
could it not with Kim being such a gifted writer?
One thing I love about her books
is there’s always a message of hope, always something to learn. This time, the
line that leapt out at me was something Caroline “Carrie” Lang thought in
chapter four: “Comfort could lead to carelessness. Carelessness could
jeopardize the investigation.” I don’t think we should get to comfortable in
life, either. If it leads to carelessness, that wouldn’t be too great,
especially in serving God. I pray we may all strive to keep ourselves prepared
for whatever opportunities the Lord sends our way.
Thank you, Kim, for my
complimentary copy to review. Truly it was a pleasure to read. Keep those
fabulous stories coming!
What does “comfort could lead to carelessness” mean to you? How may we
stave off that carelessness?
Don’t forget to mark your
calendars, folks! Echoes of Mercy
comes out later this month (January 21st), and you won’t want to be the last one to read it.
A fire destroys the kitchen of Brambleville, Kansas’ poor farm
house, displacing Christina Willems and her charges. The townsfolk open their
doors to provide refuge for each one—except young Tommy Kilgore, a blind boy.
Christina wonders, “Why did people find it so easy to turn him away?” (page 12)
As a last resort, she approaches the town hermit about harboring the boy until
she can get the poor farm house repaired.
Levi Jonnson doubts the woman’s claim that the inconvenience
will be temporary, but he begrudgingly agrees to give sanctuary to the
youngster. How is he to know this one decision will change his life forever?
Will an adversary from Christina’s past stir up enough
trouble to permanently discourage her? Will the mission board provide the funds
needed to rebuild her beloved home? Will Levi hold onto the reasons he became a
hermit and refuse to open his heart to the little boy now in his care? When
trials of great magnitude block Christina’s path, will she have the courage to
embrace help, or will she tighten her grasp on her independence?
These and many other questions
plagued my mind as I read What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel
Sawyer. By the end of the book, I had laughed and cried and felt my heart
lifted up in gratitude. There’s nothing quite like reading about someone’s
sorrows to make you count your blessings and thank God for them. (I do this
anyway, but I found myself praising God for His kindnesses a lot more while
reading my advanced reader copy of Kim’s latest book.) Such poignant writing
that tugs the heartstrings book after book is difficult to find, but this
author delivers! I’ve loved her books since I first read My Heart Remembers many years ago, but her last two books (Sweet Sanctuary and What Once Was Lost) have proven (again) to me that Kim Vogel Sawyer
is at top form, writing books that will forever have a place on my book
shelves.
Particularly, I was quite
impressed with her descriptions while in Tommy Kilgore’s point of view. Her
vivid use of the boy’s senses—with the exception of sight, since the boy is
blind—made me want to close my eyes to fully experience Tommy’s world. Of
course, when I did that, I couldn’t keep reading! A conundrum like that I’d
gladly face with a great book like this one.
If you’ve never read one of Kim
Vogel Sawyer’s books, What Once Was Lost is a fabulous one
to begin with. There is also a prequel entitled The Grace That Leads Us Home that is available only on eReaders.
You won’t want to miss that either!
There are many ways to let Kim
Vogel Sawyer know how much you enjoy her books. You may visit her website, Facebook
page and Twitter account.
You may also order her books here.
If you enjoy her writing, be sure to stop by her blog to learn more about her
and nine other women who write such touching historical fiction novels.
Thank you, Kim, for selecting me
as a member of your Hope Harbingers influencer team. I appreciate the advanced
reader copy of What Once Was Lost and
the fellowship with you and the other members of Hope Harbingers. Blessings to
you all!
Have YOU ever read a book that made you stop reading to count your
blessings? What was it about the book (or books) that had you feeling extra
thankful?
