By Ann H. Gabhart
Rosey Corner, #3
Revell, 2014
Summary
When the flush of victory fades, there remains a winding road to an uncertain future.
World War II is finally over and the people of Rosey Corner are joyfully welcoming the boys home. The Merritt sisters in particular are looking toward the future. Kate is eager to start a family and live out her dream of happily ever after with Jay. Evangeline craves a beautiful house and encourages Mike to pastor a big-town church. Victoria wants what can never be. And Lorena is growing up and wondering more and more about her birth family.
Each sister must learn to hold her plans with a loose hand, trusting that God will guide and strengthen them as they share the joys and sorrows of life in their little corner of the world.
Award-winning and bestselling author Ann Gabhart invites you back to Rosey Corner for a heartfelt story that closes the distance between the things that were and things that can yet be.
My thoughts
Warm, poignant, real, bittersweet, heartwarming, triumphant . . .
To put it quite simply, I loved everything about this story - the setting, richness of characterization, spiritual inspiration, and the emotional struggle to adapt and find one's place when you're not the same as before. It's an easy, relaxed read, but with such excellent writing, storylines and emotional impact that I never wanted to put it down.
Love Comes Home is a beautiful story of a close community and a loving family dealing with changes that life has dealt them. Set in the small town of Rosey Corner, Kentucky, shortly after World War II ends, this is book #3 in Ann H. Gabhart's Rosey Corner series. Although it can stand alone, reading the series consecutively will greatly enhance understanding and enjoyment. Book #1 is Angel Sister and #2 is Small Town Girl.
"The news was good. The news was wonderful."
Love Comes Home opens with these comforting words that give cause for rejoicing and celebration. Japan had surrendered and the boys were coming home - but not all. And those that did faced an uncertain future, as well as their loved ones. Rather than focusing on a couple of characters, Ann gives us a wonderful ensemble cast, and I can't remember when I've been so heavily invested in fictional characters.
The story revolves around the Merritt sisters - Kate, Tori, and Evie - and their young adopted sister, Birdie. Kate has always been a fixer, wanting to make everyone happy. Evie, who liked typing and organizing things, wanted a career. And Tori, grieving over the loss of her husband, wanted to shut out the world. But it was Lorena who stole my heart, with her love for family and especially Fern, and her passion for singing.
There are so many spiritual themes that I could relate to, and believe other readers will as well. Tori's character speaks of discouragement in prayer: "She'd grown up believing the Lord was watching over her. That if she did what she was supposed to, he'd shower blessings down on her. Ask and it shall be given. But then she'd asked and it hadn't been given. Sammy had been taken."
Evie's husband, Mike, speaks of a questioning faith: "He wasn't the same Mike who'd always had a ready answer or prayer for problems before he went to war." Jay and Kate speak of lack of communication in marriage: "They seemed to be stepping back into their own shadowy corners where neither one of them was willing to reveal what they were thinking."
____________________
"Prayer don't change what can't be
changed." -Fern
"Then why pray?" -Kate
"To endure what has to be endured."
____________________
Aunt Hattie and Fern were favorites of mine. Aunt Hattie - grandmother, aunt, preacher, teacher all tied up in one, who could call down the Spirit when she prayed. And Fern, who sees things others don't want to see, or are too blind to see.
One of the most touching parts of this story was Lorena's nightly ritual of repeating her name, "Lorena Birdsong" - so as not to forget who she was, but also in a prayerful attitude of giving herself over to God. I couldn't help but be reminded of the lovely chorus: "He knows my name, He knows my every thought; He sees each tear that falls and hears me when I call."
Love Comes Home is historical romance at its best, with characters who will long stay with me. Highly recommended.
Love Comes Home can be purchased online at CBD, DeeperShopping, B&N, and Amazon.
Ann
H. Gabhart
Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, and Words Spoken True, as well as several Shaker novels--The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted--and The Heart of Hollyhill series. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky.
Meet Ann online at annhgabhart.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thank you to Revell for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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