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Appalachian Blessings #1
Miracle in a Dry Season
In small-town West Virginia, 1954, one newcomer's special gift with food produces both gratitude and censure. Will she and her daughter find a home in Wise--or leave brokenhearted?
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 29, 2014
406 people are currently reading
2806 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Loudin Thomas
16 books769 followersSarah Loudin Thomas grew up on a 100-acre farm in French Creek, WV, the seventh generation to live there. Her historical fiction is often set in West Virginia and celebrates the people, the land, and the heritage of Appalachia.
Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Coastal Carolina University and is the author of the acclaimed novels The Right Kind of Fool–winner of the 2021 Selah Book of the Year–and Miracle in a Dry Season–winner of the 2015 Inspy Award. She has also been a finalist for the Christy Award, ACFW Carol Award, and the Christian Book of the Year Award.
Sarah’s career includes six years in the PR Department at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, and she served as the inaugural director of Jan Karon’s Mitford Museum in Hudson, NC. She currently divides her time between ministry work serving foster and adoptive families and writing. She and her husband live in western North Carolina.
Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Coastal Carolina University and is the author of the acclaimed novels The Right Kind of Fool–winner of the 2021 Selah Book of the Year–and Miracle in a Dry Season–winner of the 2015 Inspy Award. She has also been a finalist for the Christy Award, ACFW Carol Award, and the Christian Book of the Year Award.
Sarah’s career includes six years in the PR Department at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, and she served as the inaugural director of Jan Karon’s Mitford Museum in Hudson, NC. She currently divides her time between ministry work serving foster and adoptive families and writing. She and her husband live in western North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 354 reviews
July 21, 2014
I dearly wish I could give this book 10 stars. It is Sarah Loudin Thomas's debut novel and if this is how she writes, she's on my favorites list from now on!
The book is set in 1954 Wise, West Virginia. Perla Long has come to Wise to stay with her Aunt Delilah and Uncle Robert. With Perla is her 5 year old daughter Sadie. Perla is hoping her past mistakes will be hidden in this town.
Casewell Phillips is a bachelor and he figures he always will be. He meets Perla and she's just what he thinks a woman ought to be. He can't quite wrap his head around the fact that he believes she is hiding something serious.
Wise is in the midst of a horrible drought. Crops are dying, cattle are dying and food is scarce. Perla's gift, a very unusual gift, can help the town, but everyone seems to see the worst in her, instead of being grateful for help when they need it.
I read a lot of books. A LOT. This book moved me so deeply and profoundly, that it's very hard for me to describe how wonderful it is. Ms. Loudin Thomas has an incredible gift for putting words on a page. I wanted to go to Wise, West Virginia and meet some of these people. I loved nearly all them. The Talbot sisters, Frank, Emily and John Phillips, Delilah and Frank, Perla, Sadie and especially Casewell Phillips.
The book is told from mostly Casewell's point of view. That's different because most Christian fiction concentrates on the female's point of view or shares with the male. But the reader gets to know Casewell quite well. He is a strong man, a very spiritual man who values his relationship with Christ above all others, always seeking to please God with his life and every action he takes.
Perla tries to be in the shadows, but she has such a giving heart, but at the same time, she just can't seem to forgive herself for her past mistakes. It seems people react in anger and judgment every time they hear of her or see her. What can she do? Must she leave another town?
One early endorser of this book said it had 'just a touch of the Divine.' I must differ. This book is guided by the Divine all the way through. God's will is sought by Casewell in everything and His life is guided by God. But he also submits to God his own will.
This book is as rich as deep as Perla's chicken pot pie and peach cobbler. I found myself smiling often and crying a lot. This was just such a wonderful book. I am not a creative person and feel that I can't do the book justice with this review. It is heart felt, charming and down to earth. It is enriching. It is a story of God's redemption, grace, mercy and healing and forgiveness. It has a great truth to teach if the reader will listen and put this lesson into application in their own lives. I know it did mine with a problem I've been struggling with.
If you only read a few books a year, read this one. I am definitely giving it pride of place on my shelves and I eagerly anticipate the next offering from Sarah Loudin Thomas.
*I was given an advanced reader copy of this book by the publisher, which in no way influenced my review.
The book is set in 1954 Wise, West Virginia. Perla Long has come to Wise to stay with her Aunt Delilah and Uncle Robert. With Perla is her 5 year old daughter Sadie. Perla is hoping her past mistakes will be hidden in this town.
Casewell Phillips is a bachelor and he figures he always will be. He meets Perla and she's just what he thinks a woman ought to be. He can't quite wrap his head around the fact that he believes she is hiding something serious.
Wise is in the midst of a horrible drought. Crops are dying, cattle are dying and food is scarce. Perla's gift, a very unusual gift, can help the town, but everyone seems to see the worst in her, instead of being grateful for help when they need it.
I read a lot of books. A LOT. This book moved me so deeply and profoundly, that it's very hard for me to describe how wonderful it is. Ms. Loudin Thomas has an incredible gift for putting words on a page. I wanted to go to Wise, West Virginia and meet some of these people. I loved nearly all them. The Talbot sisters, Frank, Emily and John Phillips, Delilah and Frank, Perla, Sadie and especially Casewell Phillips.
The book is told from mostly Casewell's point of view. That's different because most Christian fiction concentrates on the female's point of view or shares with the male. But the reader gets to know Casewell quite well. He is a strong man, a very spiritual man who values his relationship with Christ above all others, always seeking to please God with his life and every action he takes.
Perla tries to be in the shadows, but she has such a giving heart, but at the same time, she just can't seem to forgive herself for her past mistakes. It seems people react in anger and judgment every time they hear of her or see her. What can she do? Must she leave another town?
One early endorser of this book said it had 'just a touch of the Divine.' I must differ. This book is guided by the Divine all the way through. God's will is sought by Casewell in everything and His life is guided by God. But he also submits to God his own will.
This book is as rich as deep as Perla's chicken pot pie and peach cobbler. I found myself smiling often and crying a lot. This was just such a wonderful book. I am not a creative person and feel that I can't do the book justice with this review. It is heart felt, charming and down to earth. It is enriching. It is a story of God's redemption, grace, mercy and healing and forgiveness. It has a great truth to teach if the reader will listen and put this lesson into application in their own lives. I know it did mine with a problem I've been struggling with.
If you only read a few books a year, read this one. I am definitely giving it pride of place on my shelves and I eagerly anticipate the next offering from Sarah Loudin Thomas.
*I was given an advanced reader copy of this book by the publisher, which in no way influenced my review.
April 17, 2017
Miracle in a Dry Season is about forgiveness, in the way rain can soften a hardened heart or manna feed a soul hungry for reconciliation. Author Sarah Loudin Thomas cleverly weaves in the symbolism of water and bounty as she tells her beautiful story. Local carpenter and church elder Casewell Phillips's righteous preconceptions are shaken when he finds himself drawn to a woman haunted by scandal. Newcomer Perla Long seeks to forget the past and find acceptance from her new neighbors. When a devastating drought brings hardship, she willingly shares her unique and controversial gift to help save a town that continues to shun her--and forever alters Casewell's beliefs. This novel sparkles with memorable characters, and a 1950s setting that's both dramatic and visually captivating. I read this book weeks ago, yet the story is still fresh in my mind. I look forward to reading more novels from this wonderful author!
September 5, 2014
I loved the theme of judgment throughout the book. All of us fall short and who are we to judge? I also enjoyed the literary feel of the book and several secondary characters such as Sadie, Liza, Angie & Frank. On the flip side, parts of the story seem disjointed to me and took away from the flow of the novel. Overall, it was a good read.
December 6, 2019
This author's style is very good, I just didn't enjoy the story for several reasons.
September 15, 2015
SUMMARY: It's 1954 and Perla Long's arrival in the sleepy town of Wise, West Virginia, was supposed to go unnoticed. She just wants a quiet, safe place for her and her daughter, Sadie, where the mistakes of her past can stay hidden. But then drought comes to Wise, and Perla is pulled into the turmoil of a town desperately in need of a miracle.
Casewell Phillips has resigned himself to life as a bachelor...until he meets Perla. She's everything he's sought in a woman, but he can't get past the sense that she's hiding something. As the drought worsens, Perla's unique gift divides the town in two, bringing both gratitude and condemnation, and placing the pair in the middle of a storm of anger and forgiveness, fear and faith.
REVIEW: Focusing on the themes of judgment, second chances, and miracles, Thomas' debut novel is a poignant tale of a young woman who made a mistake but has been gifted by God with the miracle of loaves and fishes. Her portrayal of southern small town charm, closeness, gossip, and judgment captured the identity of the 1950's in a timeless fashion that still exists today. The reader will experience the gamut of emotions, anger, laughter, joy and sadness, as Thomas weaves her tale of Perla and Casewell. They both teach and learn the lessons of judgment, second chances and miracles that make them stronger people and better Christians. Lots of great secondary characters as well, and I definitely hope a sequel is in the works.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "It is a gift......But I don't suppose it will make a bit of difference. There are some things you can never apologize for.
"I thought I was a Christian most of my life, though I didn't see as that guaranteed me a spot in heaven. I figured that dunking I got when I wa a boy made me good enough for church, but maybe not good enough for God himself. Well, I ain't good enough. Never have been, never will be....I still ain't good enough, but I reckon as long as I walk through the pearly gates on Jesus' coattails, I don't hafta be."
"All too often sorrow and joy come skipping into your life holding hands."
"There's no hierarchy of sin, Ma. The Bible doesn't say one sin is worse than another. 'The wages of sin is death.' That's any sin--from little white lies all the way to murder. And Jesus wiped them all away on the cross. It's like starting over fresh."
Casewell Phillips has resigned himself to life as a bachelor...until he meets Perla. She's everything he's sought in a woman, but he can't get past the sense that she's hiding something. As the drought worsens, Perla's unique gift divides the town in two, bringing both gratitude and condemnation, and placing the pair in the middle of a storm of anger and forgiveness, fear and faith.
REVIEW: Focusing on the themes of judgment, second chances, and miracles, Thomas' debut novel is a poignant tale of a young woman who made a mistake but has been gifted by God with the miracle of loaves and fishes. Her portrayal of southern small town charm, closeness, gossip, and judgment captured the identity of the 1950's in a timeless fashion that still exists today. The reader will experience the gamut of emotions, anger, laughter, joy and sadness, as Thomas weaves her tale of Perla and Casewell. They both teach and learn the lessons of judgment, second chances and miracles that make them stronger people and better Christians. Lots of great secondary characters as well, and I definitely hope a sequel is in the works.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "It is a gift......But I don't suppose it will make a bit of difference. There are some things you can never apologize for.
"I thought I was a Christian most of my life, though I didn't see as that guaranteed me a spot in heaven. I figured that dunking I got when I wa a boy made me good enough for church, but maybe not good enough for God himself. Well, I ain't good enough. Never have been, never will be....I still ain't good enough, but I reckon as long as I walk through the pearly gates on Jesus' coattails, I don't hafta be."
"All too often sorrow and joy come skipping into your life holding hands."
"There's no hierarchy of sin, Ma. The Bible doesn't say one sin is worse than another. 'The wages of sin is death.' That's any sin--from little white lies all the way to murder. And Jesus wiped them all away on the cross. It's like starting over fresh."
May 21, 2014
Miracle in a Dry Season is a tender story about the healing that comes through forgiveness. Both forgiving others and forgiving one’s self. Flush with scripture, the novel stays true to God’s design for repentance and restoration.
The book’s characters are heartwarming and genuine representations of times past, but their battles are the same that we fight today – lips that spread gossip, unrepentant hearts, and religious self-righteousness. Thomas gives her readers an intimate look into their motives and self-doubts. You will laugh! You may pause to examine yourself and you may even shed a tear.
In this, her debut novel, Sarah Loudin Thomas leaves me anxiously awaiting her next work. Miracle in a Dry Season – Releases August 5, 2014 – Bethany House.
I give special thanks to Bethany House for providing me with my first Advance Reading Copy EVER!!
The book’s characters are heartwarming and genuine representations of times past, but their battles are the same that we fight today – lips that spread gossip, unrepentant hearts, and religious self-righteousness. Thomas gives her readers an intimate look into their motives and self-doubts. You will laugh! You may pause to examine yourself and you may even shed a tear.
In this, her debut novel, Sarah Loudin Thomas leaves me anxiously awaiting her next work. Miracle in a Dry Season – Releases August 5, 2014 – Bethany House.
I give special thanks to Bethany House for providing me with my first Advance Reading Copy EVER!!
did-not-finish
August 17, 2024No fault of the book - I just am never going to finish it.
June 18, 2024
I'm on the fence about this one. It's about a young woman named Perla, who has a child out of wedlock, and ends up leaving the place where she lives with her parents because the town gossip is just too much to continue to take. With it being the year 1954 in West Virginia, people, especially church people, did not take too kindly to Perlas "situation". One of the other main characters, Casewell, is an elder in the church, who learns of Perlas situation but quickly develops a compassion for her and a tenderness for Perlas daughter.
Though I loved the setting and how descriptive it was, loved the chapters about the drought, and loved the characters, I wasn't so sure about Perlas "gift". She has a gift of cooking where anything she cooks seems to "multiply" in just the right amount of who will be coming to eat her food. She appears to go into a "trance like state" when she cooks, and doesn't even know where her daughter is or what she's doing while she's in this trance. It seemed to have a bit of a mystic feel in some places, and I wasn’t sure I was comfortable with how Perla’s gift was described as a gift from God when that gift from God makes her lose touch with reality. Also, there's one scene where Casewell seems to hear his father speak to him from heaven in an audible voice, and it just felt a bit weird.
There was a heavy emphasis on forgiveness and John 8:7-11 (let he who has no sin cast the first stone). I am the biggest fan of really strong faith based elements in books....openly faith based stories where the gospel is just weaved in and out. So for me to say this is very rare. But I felt like the emphasis on all sin being the same in Gods eyes and not judging others was overdone. To the point it felt like it was being repeated over and over again. I dont think I'll go on to read the next book in the series, but may read another book not in this series by this author.
Though I loved the setting and how descriptive it was, loved the chapters about the drought, and loved the characters, I wasn't so sure about Perlas "gift". She has a gift of cooking where anything she cooks seems to "multiply" in just the right amount of who will be coming to eat her food. She appears to go into a "trance like state" when she cooks, and doesn't even know where her daughter is or what she's doing while she's in this trance. It seemed to have a bit of a mystic feel in some places, and I wasn’t sure I was comfortable with how Perla’s gift was described as a gift from God when that gift from God makes her lose touch with reality. Also, there's one scene where Casewell seems to hear his father speak to him from heaven in an audible voice, and it just felt a bit weird.
There was a heavy emphasis on forgiveness and John 8:7-11 (let he who has no sin cast the first stone). I am the biggest fan of really strong faith based elements in books....openly faith based stories where the gospel is just weaved in and out. So for me to say this is very rare. But I felt like the emphasis on all sin being the same in Gods eyes and not judging others was overdone. To the point it felt like it was being repeated over and over again. I dont think I'll go on to read the next book in the series, but may read another book not in this series by this author.
July 29, 2014
WOW!
As I sit here, tears streaming down my face, I am simply amazed at how wonderful this story is. I simply can not believe this is the first novel Sarah Loudin Thomas has written.
I tend to be cautious of non-Amish fiction lately but this book gets a solid two thumbs up and 5 stars!
What a wonderful story! The depth of emotion, the strength of character, the beautiful miracles that God sends this sleepy little town. There are not enough words for how much this story has touched my heart.
Sarah Loudin Thomas is an exceptionally gifted author and I believe God has given her a little something extra special – just like her wonderful characters!
I grew up in the south (I know West Virginia isn’t exactly the “south” but it’s close enough I think) and I have lived in small towns just like Wise – yes, even in the last 30 years. There are still small towns like Wise all over the south – especially in Appalachia. Sarah’s descriptions were spot-on and her portrayal of the townspeople’s reactions rang absolutely true. I’ve never been a huge fan of history but there’s something about those mountains that has inspired me to learn as much as possible about life there. So I speak the truth when I say this sounds absolutely right.
This story will touch your heart, even while it makes you mad. And there are more than a few times it will make you laugh out loud!
It’s just all around a GREAT story!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2014
Though I struggled to get into Miracle in a Dry Season in the early pages, I soon found myself swept into Wise, and I couldn't put the book down.
In Casewell's journey from judgement to grace, author Sarah Loudin Thomas paints a powerful—and convicting—picture of what our own Christian walks should look like. Maybe you don't struggle with extending grace to other believers, but I sure fall on the side of judgement far too often. This lesson—which I seem to need to learn over and over again—is wrapped in a wonderfully compelling story.
Really, Miracle in a Dry Season is a beautiful novel. It has a literary fiction feel to it that I don't encounter too often in Christian fiction. (The last book I can remember reading that had this same overall feel—though it was completely different—is Christa Parrish's Stones for Bread.) It's a book that I could send to my literary snob sister, and I'm confident she would love it as much as I did.
Miracle in a Dry Season is a special novel, the likes of which you don't see every day. I'm thankful that this is just the first book in a series, as I'm anxious to return to Wise!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers through its book reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
In Casewell's journey from judgement to grace, author Sarah Loudin Thomas paints a powerful—and convicting—picture of what our own Christian walks should look like. Maybe you don't struggle with extending grace to other believers, but I sure fall on the side of judgement far too often. This lesson—which I seem to need to learn over and over again—is wrapped in a wonderfully compelling story.
Really, Miracle in a Dry Season is a beautiful novel. It has a literary fiction feel to it that I don't encounter too often in Christian fiction. (The last book I can remember reading that had this same overall feel—though it was completely different—is Christa Parrish's Stones for Bread.) It's a book that I could send to my literary snob sister, and I'm confident she would love it as much as I did.
Miracle in a Dry Season is a special novel, the likes of which you don't see every day. I'm thankful that this is just the first book in a series, as I'm anxious to return to Wise!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers through its book reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
July 23, 2014
If Miracle in a Dry Season were a painting, then I would hang it in my home as a centerpiece among family portraits to showcase my heritage. Within the pages of this beautiful tale is the heart of a people closely related to those from whom I descend. With grace and charm, Sarah Loudin Thomas writes beyond the stereotypes of Appalachia and carries us to a place both real and fanciful, where we experience what has been and what could be.
The special gift of the heroine transforms the book into an authentic mountain yarn lending it a touch of the supernatural to ease the hardships doled out by this life. The true miracle of this story is not divine intervention upon the laws of nature but the transformation of hearts. Thomas does not preach God’s love to us, rather she shows us through flawed characters living in an imperfect world, who learn how to forgive and to love.
The lessons of this book are subtle and inspiring. You will be carried away to Wise, West Virginia where you will find friends to cheer for and a little extra peace for your soul. And if like me, you have roots in those hills, you may even find yourself both smiling and crying at those parts that feel very close to home.
The special gift of the heroine transforms the book into an authentic mountain yarn lending it a touch of the supernatural to ease the hardships doled out by this life. The true miracle of this story is not divine intervention upon the laws of nature but the transformation of hearts. Thomas does not preach God’s love to us, rather she shows us through flawed characters living in an imperfect world, who learn how to forgive and to love.
The lessons of this book are subtle and inspiring. You will be carried away to Wise, West Virginia where you will find friends to cheer for and a little extra peace for your soul. And if like me, you have roots in those hills, you may even find yourself both smiling and crying at those parts that feel very close to home.
May 10, 2019
Another reviewer stated my thoughts better than I could. "A good clean story about life as it really was in that time and place. And about sin and forgiveness and the cruelty of people who classify some sins as more worthy of condemnation than others. And about pride, and cruelty and how "a little child shall lead them." I thoroughly enjoyed the book."
January 17, 2016
Title: Miracle in a Dry Season
Author: Sarah Loudin Thomas
Publisher: Bethany House Publisher
Series: Appalachian Blessing Book #1
Review By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:
"Miracle in a Dry Season" by Sarah Loudin Thomas
Book Description....
"It's 1954 and Perla Long's arrival in the small town of Wise, West Virginia, was supposed to go unnoticed. She just wants a quiet, safe place for her and her daughter, Sadie, where the mistakes of her past can stay hidden. But then drought comes to Wise, and Perla is pulled into the turmoil of a town desperately in need of a miracle.
Casewell Phillips has resigned himself to life as a bachelor...until he meets Perla. She's everything he's sought in a woman, but he can't get past the sense that she's hiding something. As the drought worsens, Perla's unique way with food brings both gratitude and condemnation, placing the pair in the middle of a maelstrom of anger and forgiveness, fear and faith."
What I liked from this novel...
I was very surprised that this was this authors debut novel because I will say this was one excellent read from start to finish. You will be presented a novel that has miracles, romance, humor and lots of drama and forgiveness . You will be quickly taken in with Perla Long's story and the way she was treated by the town folks for being a unwed mother. However, Perla had something that many of the town people did not have. What was that? The author did a wonderful job at bringing out the description of the Appalachia area and drawing the reader into the mix of what all was going on. I liked how the author was able to bring Casewell Phillips and Perla together which was no easy task. Now I don't want to give too much away other than say you must pick up the good read to see how the wonderful story will be presented. After going through emotions, judgmental characters will there finally be forgiveness and miracles for this small town of Wise, West Virginia for Perla and her daughter?
What I especially liked from the read...
By the end of this novel you are made to feel like this was a good story of love and faith.
So, if you are looking for a wonderful read of a Christian Fiction setting in 1950's with a light romance then I would recommend "Miracle in a Dry Season" to you.
June 28, 2015
It's 1954, and Perla Long was hoping that her arrival in the small town of Wise, West Virginia, would go unnoticed. She just wants a safe place to raise her daughter, Sadie, where her past can stay hidden, but soon there is talk among the townspeople that Perla is a "harlot".
Casewell Phillips has resigned himself to be a bachelor, until he meets Perla. She's everything he's wanted in a woman, but he senses she is hiding something. When the drought worsens, he sees that Perla has a unique gift; one that will divide the town in two. Some people accept it with gratitude, and others condemn her for it. Casewell and Perla find themselves in the middle of a storm of anger and fear, while others are offering faith and forgiveness.
I really enjoyed this story, and I loved the setting of it in Appalachia. I liked all of the secondary characters in the story too; even the ones that would not be likable in real life, because they were so well written and the author really made the small community come to life.
Casewell Phillips has resigned himself to be a bachelor, until he meets Perla. She's everything he's wanted in a woman, but he senses she is hiding something. When the drought worsens, he sees that Perla has a unique gift; one that will divide the town in two. Some people accept it with gratitude, and others condemn her for it. Casewell and Perla find themselves in the middle of a storm of anger and fear, while others are offering faith and forgiveness.
I really enjoyed this story, and I loved the setting of it in Appalachia. I liked all of the secondary characters in the story too; even the ones that would not be likable in real life, because they were so well written and the author really made the small community come to life.
March 10, 2016
Deep and thoughtful writing depicts a simpler time, but with timeless conflicts faced by the community and the individuals in it. There is a heavy focus on themes of judging and the need for forgiveness- of others and self. Casewell has a genuine heart that is seeking for truth as his perceptions shift and he allows his heart to open. Perla is bravely trying to start over and provide for her daughter. There is a sense of desperation that increases with the drought and the division of loyalties, but in the situations where Christ-like love is given and shared, peace prevails until the miracle everyone is praying for comes to pass. A somewhat leisurely pace throughout the whole book, but the insights and reflections call for it.
(Thank you to Bethany House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
(Thank you to Bethany House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
March 28, 2016
I'd heard so much about this book, and I'm glad I finally got to it. It was rich and very good.
October 7, 2018
Beautiful. I laughed. I cried. I felt this novel deeply.
March 27, 2018
I was drawn to read this book because of the title "Miracle in a Dry Season." Who has not went through a dry season and hoped for a miracle? Many of the town people of Wise, West Virginia in 1954 do not know what to make of the Perla special abilities when it come to food. They do not know if it is a curse or a gift from God. After all she is a single woman with a five year old daughter; a "harlot". Some even believe that Perla may be the cause of the town's drought. Casewell Phillips is the most eligible bachelor in Wise. He is attracted to Perla almost at first sight. He likes her daughter, Sadie from their first meeting. He is initially hindered in following his feelings as he questioned whether he should pursue a woman with Perla's past sin. Casewell has a relationship with God. It is through his relationship with God that he comes to the realization that it is he who needs to seek forgiveness for judging Perla. Can Perla forgive herself and trust that she is worthy to be loved? I found the novel engaging. I wish the author would have told us a little more about Perla's past. I know this was the first book in a series. I will look to pick up Perla's story as I believe there are more secrets to be revealed.
May 21, 2017
A charming,easy read
April 16, 2024
This is one of my favorites by Sarah, love it!
February 3, 2018
Thomas's beautiful language will draw you into this Appalachian community. A beautiful, gentle story about grace, love, and seeing beyond ourselves.
December 23, 2018
I really enjoyed this book set in a fictional town in West Virginia. The author is from the county I now call home, so that added to my enjoyment of the book. I recognized the attitudes displayed by the characters and enjoyed the redemption they received from each other and God.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys Debbie Macomber, Jan Karon, or the Grace Chapel Inn series.
One tiny complaint is that the author used you'ns instead of y'all which is most commonly used around here. (I said it was a tiny complaint.)
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys Debbie Macomber, Jan Karon, or the Grace Chapel Inn series.
One tiny complaint is that the author used you'ns instead of y'all which is most commonly used around here. (I said it was a tiny complaint.)
June 12, 2019
I couldn't put this book down
You will fall in love with the people of Wise. I laughed and cried with them. I was glad I read her book Sereanade first. Even though not part of this series it introduces some of the characters that are important in this book.
You will fall in love with the people of Wise. I laughed and cried with them. I was glad I read her book Sereanade first. Even though not part of this series it introduces some of the characters that are important in this book.
October 15, 2017
The publisher kindly provided a free copy in exchange for voluntarily reviewing and promoting. I'm sorry I took so long, long TBR list. I enjoyed the book full of love, emotion, inspiration, and forgiveness. Looking forward to next book!
November 21, 2019
An enjoyable read about judgment, forgiveness, and living and dying well. The blurb emphasizes Perla, but the novel is really about Casewell, who rushes to judgment (along with the rest of the town) about Perla and comes to learn the truth about her and several other people and situations in the small town of Wise.
January 24, 2025
I read this one for a book club, and it was a great pic! I really enjoyed the writers style and the interesting addition of an unusual gift in one of the characters.
June 5, 2017
What a powerful and poignant story of family and forgiveness!
August 29, 2021
Welcome relief.
What a welcome and inspiring book to have read at this time. The characters were well rounded. This book speaks of a gentler time that is almost forgotten. It speaks very clearly on forgiveness. Loved it and I am looking forward to reading the next two oaks in the series.
What a welcome and inspiring book to have read at this time. The characters were well rounded. This book speaks of a gentler time that is almost forgotten. It speaks very clearly on forgiveness. Loved it and I am looking forward to reading the next two oaks in the series.
Read
August 10, 2019Charming
A charming romance story with just a touch of prayers and God's Word. I adore little Sadie, the storyline, and the setting's community. Great book.
A charming romance story with just a touch of prayers and God's Word. I adore little Sadie, the storyline, and the setting's community. Great book.
June 14, 2019
This was a good book. Well thought out and a good story with life lessons to ponder.
There were allegories throughout the book. An example of our debt which Christ paid...and a similarity to the miracle of feeding the 5000, of a dry season in our lives by insidious sin that goes unnoticed, of evil being cast out, and of the long awaited rain as a symbol of being washed clean after repentance. This is the part that was well thought out.
Story...
As with many books, there were slight writing problems... like history detail between events. (How did we get here? Nothing lead into it!) And the whole town was so sinless that they couldn't accept a repentant woman who had a child out of wedlock? The whole town? Lots of focus on that. But the gospel was presented a number of times, and the sin of judgment was a great focus. (These people had whole logs in their eyes they couldn't see beyond, but they vilified this poor girl who made a mistake, okay, sinned, and continues to suffer the consequences for years. Zero grace).
A solid 4-stars.
There were allegories throughout the book. An example of our debt which Christ paid...and a similarity to the miracle of feeding the 5000, of a dry season in our lives by insidious sin that goes unnoticed, of evil being cast out, and of the long awaited rain as a symbol of being washed clean after repentance. This is the part that was well thought out.
Story...
As with many books, there were slight writing problems... like history detail between events. (How did we get here? Nothing lead into it!) And the whole town was so sinless that they couldn't accept a repentant woman who had a child out of wedlock? The whole town? Lots of focus on that. But the gospel was presented a number of times, and the sin of judgment was a great focus. (These people had whole logs in their eyes they couldn't see beyond, but they vilified this poor girl who made a mistake, okay, sinned, and continues to suffer the consequences for years. Zero grace).
A solid 4-stars.
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