A Flight Delayed

by K.C. Lemmer

When career-focused Amanda McCree discovers that her controlling Great Aunt, as a last request, has especially asked that Amanda carry her Aunt's remains to Cape Town, Amanda is furious. The last thing she wants is to be forced to visit her parents there, after so many years of bitterness over their rejection. To Top it all, she finds herself stranded at her stopover in Bulawayo due to fuel shortages! But through the love of a famils that takes her into their game reserve home, the economic crisis of Zimbabwe , and a man who daily lives with his own guilt and heartbreak, Amanda realises that God is more interested in her than she had ever thought. In the heart of the African bust, as she is let into the hurting world of the handsome Caleb Jacobs and his family, Amanda is forced to face her own family divisions and to depend upon the God she thought had failed her.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, Fiction

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2010

Reviews

[Adele Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Career focussed Amanda McCree feels forced into carrying her dead great aunt’s ashes from her Edinburgh home, back to Cape Town in South Africa. Despite being the daughter of missionaries, she’s got a standoffish relationship with God, though has little time to explore the reasoning behind her sometimes bristly responses. Convinced God-bothering Great Aunt Marie has somehow connived a reason to mess with her well ordered world, playing on her sense of goodwill and singleness, Amanda says goodbye to her flatmates and her secret concerns for them, and sets off halfway around the world.

Already snippy about her trip, Amanda’s plans are further interrupted when her flight makes an unexpected stopover, landing her in economically maimed Zimbabwe and the world of Caleb Jacobs, a handsome doctor working in impoverished villages in the more remote regions of the nation.

Initially Amanda is repulsed by Caleb, having had a coincidental pre-viewing through an online ‘Christian singles’ dating service before leaving her home. Soon she finds he is harbouring deep pain over a mistake made in childhood, and longs to help ease his guilt. In so doing she’s eventually drawn by his compassion, generosity and genuine faith, along with that of his family.

During her stay, Amanda is confronted by the raw need of the nation, and through this begins to understand how truly blessed she is. Over time her priorities and thinking are challenged, enabling the defensive barrier she’s constructed to protect the pain of her perceived abandonment by her parents to be eroded. Finally she allows herself to question her parents as to why they chose their ‘ministry’ over her and her siblings. Through these hard questions and an unexpected family reunion, Amanda starts to find healing for her wounded heart and disappointments – along with a surprise inheritance from her Great Aunt and the hope of continuing her developing romance with Caleb.

Lemmer draws believable characters against a setting immersed with detail. With an easy-to-read writing style, deeper issues are navigated with sensitivity, and faith journeys (although resolved somewhat swiftly in Amanda's instance) explored without feeling contrived.

[Audra · Rating 5 out of 5]

a tremendously great first novel. Although slightly predictable, the characters engage the reader. The book teaches forgiveness of self and others as well as trusting others and God. Amanda's thoughts and emotions are very realistic. I look forward to reading more novels by Lemmer.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda and her 3 siblings have grown up without their parents both Christian medical missionaries. Left with their great aunt to raise them, Amanda feels that she has never had a family. When her great aunt dies, her will stipulates that Amanda must take her ashes back to South Africa where her parents are now serving. Her flight is booked through Zimbabwe where she ends up stuck as there is no fuel for the plane. Taken in by a family with a game preserve, Amanda has a chance to find out what a true Christian family is like or so she thinks as she becomes friends with the oldest son, Caleb.

There were many things to love about this book as well as this new-to-me author's writing. Amanda changes so much during the story developing a stronger Christian faith, empathy for those who did not have the things in life she has, a better understanding of her parents, her great aunt's role in her life, and a love for the beautiful nature and animal life of Zimbabwe. Caleb was a wonderful MC with his own past for which he needed to learn to forgive himself. Lemmer's beautifully written prose descriptions of the wildlife and country of Zimbabwe just added to this story, and her love for this nation shone throughout the story.

This book has been on my Kindle since 2012 and was yet another undiscovered treasure that had been waiting to be read.

[Dianne Sidebottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you think of God? The writer has written the story through ? eyes who has perceived events through her life as negatives. From being abandoned by parents to Great Aunt Marie who wanted her to fly to Africa with her ashes. Her journey lands her in Zimbawee where she experiences a troubled country n people. This turns her towards God and thankfulness and meets the real Caleb not just from singles site. Whether you believe in God or circumstances this book was refreshing to read.

[Valerie Poore · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I loved about this book was the scenes of Africa, the descriptions of Zimbabwe and the senses it evoked in me. I lived in South Africa for many years, and the book was really good at conjuring up the landscape and the heat. Wonderful. What I found less convincing was the characterisation and the plot. A bit too simplistic and predictable for me.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author is a Christian writer, which I didn't realize when I got the book. It was a fun story and I enjoyed a lot of it. Even though I am not religious that part of it didn't bother me, and I enjoyed the insight the characters had on the subject. Good descriptions of the area, and interesting characters.

[Nathan Silvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really enjoyable read. Loved the descriptions of places and this book has definitely sparked a new love for reading in me.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

mostly good. sometimes the plot felt too forced.