Monday, September 10, 2018

Review (+ Tour GIVEAWAY): An Unpresentable Glory by Eleanor Gustafson


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Welcome to the blog tour & giveaway for An Unpresentable Glory by Eleanor K. Gustafson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!


ABOUT THE BOOK

an unpresentable glory Title: An Unpresentable Glory  
Author: Eleanor K. Gustafson  
Publisher: Ambassador International  
Release Date: July 1, 2018  
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance  

“I trusted you, and some day, you may know just how much you hold in your hands.”

Linda Jensen leads a relatively quiet life in Westchester County, New York, as the owner of a highly-acclaimed garden. Inherited from her parents, the garden is her pride and joy. What is not so joyful is finding a strange man sprawled near her delphiniums! The mysterious man is sick, unable to do anything more than drink water—and beg for secrecy. Ignoring all alarm bells, Linda sees to his needs, but her caring act takes on unexpected significance, an unpresentable glory.

Seeds of trust, and perhaps love, are planted in Linda’s garden haven. But as secrets are revealed and scandal hits the headlines, the act of caring for this man threatens to tarnish both of their reputations. Like weeds in Linda’s garden, circumstances threaten to choke out their fledgling relationship, and small moments prove to be the biggest influencers—on a national scale.


PURCHASE: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | CBD | Book Depository



MY THOUGHTS

I could serve him in his illness, and in so doing, reap what I call an unpresentable glory – a deep, shimmering sense of God’s presence and approval of such awkward kindnesses.” - Linda

An Unpresentable Glory by new-to-me author Eleanor Gustafson is an unusual and delightful gem. This provocative story combines elements of relationship drama, romance, and women’s fiction – with an underlying spiritual thread moving steadily throughout. Characters are richly drawn and there’s a complexity of plot that drew me in from the beginning and never let go.

The setting spans from Linda’s home in upper state New York, to Senator Lawrie’s North Dakota, and to Washington, D.C. Together for a week at the beginning as Linda nurses Lawrie back to health, the foundation of their relationship was laid and a bond created that remained strong as their lives went in separate directions. Gustafson skillfully deals with real-life issues of mental illness, depression, guilt and grief – always showing how faith and our Christian walk intersect.

“I’m blind and groping, with nightmares as my only entertainment.” - Lawrie

Lawrie’s spiritual journey is one of my favorite parts and the theme of accountability that is reflected through his small Bible study groups is so very relevant. Lawrie’s advocacy for Native Americans gave him an instant connection with one particular member that I adored – Billy White Water, the Lakota Hunkpapa. “Billy manifested a latent power no one could safely ignore. Tall, with a presence that spoke strength… When Billy walked into a room, whether of friends or non-friends, respect was palpable.”

An overarching theme is one that I always need to be reminded of… that God moves in ways we could never predict, but His presence is constant, meeting us at every point of need. An Unpresentable Glory is a compelling, moving and spiritual read, one of my very favorites.

Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Just Read Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.




ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Verbascum

Ellie grew up in Branchville, NJ, in a county with more cows than people. She attended Wheaton College in Illinois as a music major, then married a pastor/college professor/tree farmer/organist and writer. Together, they have three children and eight grandchildren. 

Music was Ellie’s first love until she tried on the cloak of writing and found it a comfortable fit. However, early writing attempts saw friends—and even her mother—advising her to stick to music as a career. She pushed manfully along, though, and An Unpresentable Glory is her sixth novel. “God first touched me through story,” Ellie says, “and made the bigger Story come alive. I love Him passionately!”

 CONNECT: website | Facebook | Twitter



an unpresentable glory blog giveaway

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive:
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight September 10, 2018 and last through 11:59pm September 17, 2018. US only. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.


Follow along at JustRead for a full schedule & more chances to win!

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