The Saved Saint

by Anna Jones Buttimore

When Harley comes home after two years as a missionary he’s looking forward to seeing his mum Jeannie, and sister Bina, and settling into his normal life. Instead, he finds his old friends have moved on, his sister doesn’t laugh at his jokes anymore, and his mum treats him like a child.

Then he meets Simon, an evangelical Christian, and his life cartwheels in a direction he never anticipated. With new friends and new beliefs, he concludes his mum has been lying to him his whole life.

Jeannie is convinced that nothing could ever disrupt her forever family; they’ve already survived so much, including the death of her beloved husband. But when her son returns from the mission field and makes a life-changing decision she can’t understand, Jeannie finds her family disintegrating around her.

Based on a true story, The Saved Saint explores the conflict between evangelical Christianity and Mormonism, and the heart-wrenching consequences when believers cast judgement on others.

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 24, 2012

About the author

Anna Jones Buttimore was born and brought up in the South of England, but educated in Wales where she lived for the next 20 years. She is now living back in the village where she grew up with her daughters Gwenllian, Angharad and Ceridwen, and husband Roderic. Anna serves as Seminary teacher in her ward.

Anna works part time from home for a legal charity, and has always loved writing in her spare time. She is the author of five novels, Haven and A World Away under the name Anna Jones, Easterfield, Honeymoon Heist and No Escape. Anna enjoys rock music, her computer, cross-stitch, swimming, and science fiction. She is determined to get into scrapbooking and family history one day when she can find the time.

Reviews

[Kasey Tross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. Not only does it include all the important elements of a good story- compelling characters, obstacles, real emotional growth, and good writing- it is also very thought-provoking and, for me, faith-promoting.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a Mormon) and have been all my life. At first, I was getting irritated with the book- I felt like it was giving the main character, Harley, a monopoly on the spiritual experience side of things. I felt like his mother and other members of the LDS church were portrayed as very 2-dimensional, and not at all typical of the Latter-day Saints that I know. But as the book progressed, it evened out and the characters became more real to me. I was able to relate to the things that the characters were experiencing and it caused me to reflect on the same questions that they had.

All in all, a fantastic, well-written, fascinating look into the relationships that Christians have with one another and I believe it gives us all tools to better understand each other. Wonderful book.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

The Saved Saint is a well written book. Based on a true story we hear from the perspective of various characters about their own spiritual journeys. Harley and Simon are friends, both have strong religious beliefs but belong to different denominations, Harley belonging to the Latter day Saints and Simon a born again Christian. After retuning from spending two years as a missionary abroad, Harley shocks his family by questioning the ‘Mormon teachings’ he as always been faithful to and begins spending time with the born again Christians.

Personally I am not a big fan of religious based stories. I find them very preachy and controversial. I am an atheist and I constantly hear myself groaning as I become more and more frustrated with what I am reading, especially when I read about one religious group belittling another. They all profess to love and respect, yet they have no tolerance for each others differing beliefs. Why the 4 stars? Well as I said the book is well written, it is well edited and even though I didn’t enjoy the read I know there is a market out there for this book.

Copy supplied for review

[Sarah Beggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Saved Saint touches many topics that a parent, sibling, spouse, or child may go through in their lifetime when it comes to the strength of their love of God. Although there are many religions out there that may have the words of man mingled with scripture, it all comes down to personal faith and the steps one is willing to take to achieve and/or keep theirs. Tolerance, love, and respect for others and their beliefs is the key to an alliance against the dark forces in the world. I’m sure there are many parents out there who feel like Harley’s mother in the book felt. Confused, sad, angry..., and there are children who feel as though they don’t want to live the way in which their family is striving to live. At one time or another don’t we all have a doubt of what we need or who we are? If you are that person or know someone who is, The Saved Saint is a book that makes it clear that in life, in order to lose the confusion, we must keep our eyes on the prize, and that prize comes through unwavering faith.

[Georgia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. It puts down Christians while lifting up Mormons, yet it ignores the mormons teaching. If you want to read a good book on the Mormons read: Mormonism Mamma and Me by Thelma Geer.