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Gift from the Storm
One cold, dark evening a young stranger appears outside the Morgan home with two small children. Injured and on the verge of complete exhaustion, she will only say that her name is “Amy.”
Where did she come from? Who is she? And what has she been through? Dr. Justin Morgan and his family look for answers as they struggle to minister life and health to the needy ones in their midst.
Where did she come from? Who is she? And what has she been through? Dr. Justin Morgan and his family look for answers as they struggle to minister life and health to the needy ones in their midst.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2015
7 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Rebekah A. Morris
120 books271 followersRebekah A. Morris has lived her entire life (as of now) in Missouri. Being home educated during her school years was great, except for writing. That was the worst subject (along with math) that she had to do. It wasn't until after she graduated that she discovered the joys and wonder of writing. Now she can't write enough. After spending six years in research and writing, she completed her first book, "Home Fires of the Great War," a 500+ page, historical fiction about home life in the United States and Canada during the First World War. Since then, she has been an avid writer and always has more than one story going on at once because only one story at a time got tiring and dull.
Get a free collection of stories here: https://sendfox.com/lp/3ezo5k
Get a free collection of stories here: https://sendfox.com/lp/3ezo5k
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 18, 2018
This was a really sweet book. I loved the Morgan family, the closeness they shared, and the way they just enfolded Amy and the children. The pacing was a bit slower than I expected, but once I settled into the quiet, relaxing rhythm, I didn't mind it at all. Even when it seemed that nothing important happened for a long time, I still found myself pulled in by the homelike atmosphere and the sense of family that radiated off the pages.
There were times when I felt a little disconnected from the narration (just a personal style preference), but the dialogue really shone! I don't get to say that very often--usually if I have trouble with one or the other, it's going to be the dialogue--and I love reading dialogue, so that automatically bumps it up several notches for me.
The characters were wonderful, somehow conveying the same loving warmth without being carbon copies of each other, which can be very difficult to pull off. Justin was my favorite, but I was continually surprised at the way that Adam's few quiet words always managed to hit just the right notes. Amy was a bit less relaxing to read, but I definitely felt her struggle and rejoiced with her as she slowly found peace. The minor characters were really good, too, without seeming like a stock cast brought in for the sake of the plot. I especially liked old Mrs. Duffey and the scene where Justin's colleagues had to kick him out of the hospital to get some rest.
With the feel and the theme of the story, I was actually glad that the author didn't try to work in a romance, but I did love the epilogue--it's always fun to get a glimpse of the happily-ever-after, and this one was done very well.Four solid stars! After re-reading, bumping this up to 4.5 stars, right in line with most of the rest of my favorites from Rebekah. ;)
There were times when I felt a little disconnected from the narration (just a personal style preference), but the dialogue really shone! I don't get to say that very often--usually if I have trouble with one or the other, it's going to be the dialogue--and I love reading dialogue, so that automatically bumps it up several notches for me.
The characters were wonderful, somehow conveying the same loving warmth without being carbon copies of each other, which can be very difficult to pull off. Justin was my favorite, but I was continually surprised at the way that Adam's few quiet words always managed to hit just the right notes. Amy was a bit less relaxing to read, but I definitely felt her struggle and rejoiced with her as she slowly found peace. The minor characters were really good, too, without seeming like a stock cast brought in for the sake of the plot. I especially liked old Mrs. Duffey and the scene where Justin's colleagues had to kick him out of the hospital to get some rest.
With the feel and the theme of the story, I was actually glad that the author didn't try to work in a romance, but I did love the epilogue--it's always fun to get a glimpse of the happily-ever-after, and this one was done very well.
December 13, 2016
I have some mixed feelings about this book. Don't get me wrong, I did like it, but not at first. I had to do a bit of slogging before I got to the place where things clicked and I actually enjoyed the story, but I did enjoy it.
Plot
Dr. Justin Morgan has just started to fulfill his dream: a hospital in his hometown. Then, out of the blue a young woman shows up at his doorstep, walking on a broken leg, half-frozen, and carrying two little children.
Amy has amnesia. As she tries to recover from her harrowing journey she has to cope with her memory loss, and the questions of who she is and what happened to her. Why is she here? Who are the two children with her? And why do storms terrify her?
The Morgans take her and the two children she brought with her into their home and into their hearts. Slowly she recovers from her injury and starts to piece together who she is.
Things I Liked
Amy wasn't a hopeless Mary-Sue. Perhaps she was quite passive, but she wasn't a sugary sweet Elsie Dinsmore like most heroines in the Christian fiction genre, so I suppose applause are in order. *applause*
Sara, who had the most personality of anyone in the book. And she was always baking cookies. I rather like characters who spend time baking. Must be a taste I acquired from the Little House books.
Danny was cute. Especially at first, when he was featured more in the story. He is just like one of the little kids I helped teach in Sunday school. And his interactions with Justin were adorable. Danny was probably my favorite character. I wish there had been more of Danny throughout the story.
The wintery atmosphere. The cold, the sweaters, the snow. Fun stuff. I like winter.
This one goes along with winter: CHRISTMAS! I love Christmas! A lot of this story was set during the Christmas season, and I really like Christmas stories. There was decorating and lots of cookies involved and plenty of Christmas songs. (I can relate to Adam's annoyance at people singing Christmas songs waaaaaaaay before time. I love Christmas songs, but the Christmas season gets longer and longer every year and too much cake will make your stomach ache, as the saying goes.)
Amy and the cookies. I enjoyed that scene and wish there had been more of Amy decorating cookies. It would have been fun to see her take this skill further.
Characters who actually took snow into account when driving in country! (Characters who live in the country and do tons of driving up and down mountains in winter are one of my pet peeves. I realise that a lot of people don't have a lot of experience with mountains but I do. I lived near the Rockies for most of my life. Those mountain roads can be treacherous in good weather, and they are decidedly dangerous winter.)
"Literary little people" is going to be incorporated into my vocabulary.
The Laura Ingalls reference. That exchange between Amy and Sarah sounds just like me and my cousin.
The things I was not so fond of
The dialogue was often very choppy, and, at first especially, it was very maid-and-butlery. It grew better as the story progressed, but it made it difficult for me to get into the story.
The author kept switching between "Justin" and "Dr. Morgan" during the scenes in the hospital and that made things very difficult to keep straight. Personally I think she could have stuck to plain "Justin" even for the hospital scenes, because he was a view point character.
There was a lot of head hopping.
The scene breaks were difficult to navigate. There were no extra spaces or dingbats to indicate new scenes or characters and I was frequently disoriented by this.
The characters spent waaaaay to much time navel-gazing and not enough time doing anything proactive. I think that's why I enjoyed the cookie decorating scene so much, because Amy was actually doing something. Also in this category is how there wasn't much visible effort put into really trying to find out who Amy was and what was going on. I have a feeling that this particular case could have been cleared up in under a month, probably in less than a week. It's not that hard to find people these days. (Edit: I've been informed by the author that this story is set in the '50s, so perhaps the timing isn't as unrealistic as I first thought.)
There were too many doctors for me to keep track of. I couldn't remember who was who.
The epidemic at the end of chapter twenty-two was set up as though it was going to be important to the plot and I got excited about it...and it was resolved in four paragraphs. Alas! My disappointed was very sore indeed.
Now this next one is the biggest pet peeve I have with the entire Christian fiction genre. Storybook conversions. I do not like them, Sam-I-am. And the biggest problem I have with them is because they try to be so warm and fuzzy. They focus completely on comfort and do not focus at all on conviction of sin. That, not warm fuzzies, is what makes a true Christian.
I do not know a single person who has became a rock-solid, real-world Christian because somebody told them "God will love you no matter what, you're not alone." I do believe God loves us, and that we are never alone, but that is not why people become rock-solid, real-world Christians.
People become rock-solid, real-world Christians when they learn how desperately we need a savior. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory. The only way we can have any hope of being saved is to place our trust on Jesus, who died for us while we were still sinners. I know many people who became rock-solid, real-world Christians this way.
We become rock-solid, real-world Christians not because we need warm fuzzies, but because we need hope, and more than that, we need salvation. Jesus Christ is our hope and our salvation, not our security blanket.
And in a storybook conversion, once the character has said the sinners prayer and is now a "Christian," nothing changes. Their life is the same. Their character is the same. In the real world, people who are glorying in their salvation are changed. They are almost different people. Yes they still do things wrong--they're still human--but they have let the gospel change them to be better people. You almost never see this in a book from the Christian fiction genre, because the only message Christian fiction teaches is "God loves me as I am, therefore I do not need to change." And I think this is a very harmful message to be giving. It is the main reason I stopped reading Christian fiction.
It is my belief that if you could take out the "conversion" (and all the subsequent prayers and "spiritual" thoughts) without changing the story, then the "Christian" parts need to be removed. They are not doing anyone any good, not non-Christians, not believers. So I mostly skimmed the parts concerning Amy's conversion and subsequent prayers and "spiritual" thoughts and got on with the story.
In Summary
This book was a bit messy at the beginning, but somewhere around chapter fourteen things clicked and I started to enjoy myself. There were promises made by the author that were not met, but over all I was satisfied. Once I realized a promise was dropped, I pushed past it and kept reading and didn't let it bother me too much. The end was a bit too tidy, but I was glad to have everything resolved, so I don't mind. It ended on a happy note, so we're all good.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2016
I would recommend this book for ages 13+.
This book was WONDERFUL!!! Absolutely brilliant! It fast became one of my favorite stories!
Usually I don’t like to read things where people lose their memory yet keep remembering events that happened before their loss. But “Gift from the Storm”, although that kind of book, is so well-written and intriguing that I honestly didn’t mind the memory-loss! Instead of dragging the whole story on until you just about give up on it out of sheer boredom, Rebekah Morris wrote this book in such a way that it just adds to the suspense and mystery surrounding the girl, Amy, who appeared with two little children one dark night out of the woods, collapsing near the cabin of the Morgan family. She couldn’t remember anything about her past, but occasionally, over the course of the months she spent with the Morgan household, would lapse for a moment into the past that she struggled so hard to remember. The family, trying to piece together the bits of scattered information and half-remembered clues, set out on a trail of mystery and difficulty, as they did their best to help the young girl who could only remember her first name.
The whole plot line was amazing, the characters extremely life-like, and there was a strong Christian message running throughout the book which was wonderful. I especially loved the ending; it was exactly what I had hoped would happen! I can’t wait to read more of Miss Morris’ works, and she has now moved onto my 'Favorite Authors' shelf. The cover was lovely too, and so fitting to the story!
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
This book was WONDERFUL!!! Absolutely brilliant! It fast became one of my favorite stories!
Usually I don’t like to read things where people lose their memory yet keep remembering events that happened before their loss. But “Gift from the Storm”, although that kind of book, is so well-written and intriguing that I honestly didn’t mind the memory-loss! Instead of dragging the whole story on until you just about give up on it out of sheer boredom, Rebekah Morris wrote this book in such a way that it just adds to the suspense and mystery surrounding the girl, Amy, who appeared with two little children one dark night out of the woods, collapsing near the cabin of the Morgan family. She couldn’t remember anything about her past, but occasionally, over the course of the months she spent with the Morgan household, would lapse for a moment into the past that she struggled so hard to remember. The family, trying to piece together the bits of scattered information and half-remembered clues, set out on a trail of mystery and difficulty, as they did their best to help the young girl who could only remember her first name.
The whole plot line was amazing, the characters extremely life-like, and there was a strong Christian message running throughout the book which was wonderful. I especially loved the ending; it was exactly what I had hoped would happen! I can’t wait to read more of Miss Morris’ works, and she has now moved onto my 'Favorite Authors' shelf. The cover was lovely too, and so fitting to the story!
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
November 24, 2016
This is a great children's book and sweet story. Amy ends up on the Morgans' doorsteps with two children but she doesn't remember who she is or her relation to these children. The book follows the journey of Justin and Adam trying to unravel Amy's mystery and Amy struggling not to fear as she remembers only bits and pieces of her life.
Younger children may not like the unknown of why Amy couldn't remember -- and, when she finally remembers, the tragedy she had been involved in.
There is a hint of romance but feelings were not expounded on at all and there was no kissing.
As far as writing style, it is a more laid-back approach with everyday details explained.
Younger children may not like the unknown of why Amy couldn't remember -- and, when she finally remembers, the tragedy she had been involved in.
There is a hint of romance but feelings were not expounded on at all and there was no kissing.
As far as writing style, it is a more laid-back approach with everyday details explained.
August 23, 2016
I love, love, LOVED this book! I had read the first half of the story on Rebekah's blog, and so I was on pins and needles until the book was published!
It wasn't disappointing! It really kept you on the edge of your seat up until the last chapter and the epilogue. There were so many different twists and turns it literally kept you guessing THE WHOLE TIME!! It has now moved to my "Favorites shelf" in my bookshelf and it's definitely one I'll read over and over again!
It wasn't disappointing! It really kept you on the edge of your seat up until the last chapter and the epilogue. There were so many different twists and turns it literally kept you guessing THE WHOLE TIME!! It has now moved to my "Favorites shelf" in my bookshelf and it's definitely one I'll read over and over again!
August 31, 2015
Beautiful story!
I really enjoyed reading this book. The mystery unfolds in a very real-life way, the characters are engaging, the story intriguing. The family's faith in God and care for Amy is very sweet. Recommended for any age, really!
I really enjoyed reading this book. The mystery unfolds in a very real-life way, the characters are engaging, the story intriguing. The family's faith in God and care for Amy is very sweet. Recommended for any age, really!
September 13, 2022
I fell in love first with the author’s writing style, then with the vibey cover, and then with the story. (I even read it aloud to a sister right after finishing it, it was that good. ;) ) Since then, it’s become one of my top favorite indie books, and I talk about it often on my blog and to anyone who will listen.
The cozy, sometimes Christmassy (yes, I’ve chosen to obsess over that part ;) ) mountain cabin setting was so accurate and beautifully descriptive, it made this country girl right at home. I loved all the characters (Justin the most of course), and Danny was hilarious.
Amy was a very interesting main character. I hadn’t read many books with the amnesia trope (still haven’t) at this point, so I was completely drawn in by her struggles and the slowly unfolding mystery. I loved seeing the Morgan family support her so well and how their ordinary faithfulness and family culture was used by God to bless her so mightily.
My favorite scene was when Amy is holding a glass of water. *chills*
CW: danger, amnesia, grief, off-screen death, speculation about if a character is an unmarried mother.
This intriguing, cozy, and wonderful Christian mystery is forever a favorite. ;)
The cozy, sometimes Christmassy (yes, I’ve chosen to obsess over that part ;) ) mountain cabin setting was so accurate and beautifully descriptive, it made this country girl right at home. I loved all the characters (Justin the most of course), and Danny was hilarious.
Amy was a very interesting main character. I hadn’t read many books with the amnesia trope (still haven’t) at this point, so I was completely drawn in by her struggles and the slowly unfolding mystery. I loved seeing the Morgan family support her so well and how their ordinary faithfulness and family culture was used by God to bless her so mightily.
My favorite scene was when Amy is holding a glass of water. *chills*
CW: danger, amnesia, grief, off-screen death, speculation about if a character is an unmarried mother.
This intriguing, cozy, and wonderful Christian mystery is forever a favorite. ;)
Read
March 6, 2021This was fun to reread and revisit with characters from six years ago.
July 18, 2020
5 stars. I really enjoyed this story. I think my favourite part was how although the mystery kept teasing and baffling me and leading me on, the setting was so peaceful and happy and calm that I also kept calm. I loved the idea of singing evening hymns (my favourites) and Justin was an amazing doctor. My favourite scene was when Amy panics during the snowstorm—talk about drama! Adam was a darling, and the minor characters were interesting too. And I love the cover :)
A Favourite Quote: “‘That’s what I feel my mind is like,’ she said quietly as though to herself. ‘A large blank nothing. Only the snow sparkles when the sun shines, but my mind doesn’t. It’s just empty.’
“Coming into the dining room just then, Adam caught the girl’s troubled words. ‘The best thing to do with an empty mind is to fill it with good things.’”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “The grass began to turn green, and here and there brave flowers poked up their heads and looked about as though making sure winter had really gone and taken its cold blanket with it.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘[Amy] said she’d help ice and decorate the gingerbread men later.’
“‘I help too,’ Danny grinned up at Justin before popping a piece of cookie dough into his mouth. Justin laughed.
“‘Well, surely you don’t need me to taste test for you with such a willing and irrepressible taster right here.’”
A Favourite Quote: “‘That’s what I feel my mind is like,’ she said quietly as though to herself. ‘A large blank nothing. Only the snow sparkles when the sun shines, but my mind doesn’t. It’s just empty.’
“Coming into the dining room just then, Adam caught the girl’s troubled words. ‘The best thing to do with an empty mind is to fill it with good things.’”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “The grass began to turn green, and here and there brave flowers poked up their heads and looked about as though making sure winter had really gone and taken its cold blanket with it.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘[Amy] said she’d help ice and decorate the gingerbread men later.’
“‘I help too,’ Danny grinned up at Justin before popping a piece of cookie dough into his mouth. Justin laughed.
“‘Well, surely you don’t need me to taste test for you with such a willing and irrepressible taster right here.’”
March 6, 2021
Rebekah Morris has delivered such a sweet tale in "Gift From The Storm"
She is such a talented weaver of stories, I love how through all the twists and ebbs of the story she kept the overall theme of God being in control.
I truly appreciate that the characters she writes feel real and the dialogue is engaging.
It would be a great book for a wide range of age groups - such a delightful & clean read.
Definitely recommend.
She is such a talented weaver of stories, I love how through all the twists and ebbs of the story she kept the overall theme of God being in control.
I truly appreciate that the characters she writes feel real and the dialogue is engaging.
It would be a great book for a wide range of age groups - such a delightful & clean read.
Definitely recommend.
September 5, 2024
I loved this book!
Firstly, I want to say how much I love the characters. Justin was probably my favourite, but really, there was not a single character that I disliked, from Dr Wright to Danny to Heather to Mrs Morgan. Each one of the family was so different and yet all were so kind and understanding to Amy, and saw to it that she was as happy as, under the circumstances, it was possible to be.
And I was SO pleased with the ending. I sort of saw it coming, but on the other hand, I didn’t. I was certainly HOPING it would end that way from the start, but as the book went on I decided I must be wrong. So when it DID end like that I was kind of surprised but not completely, and I was absolutely delighted! And there was something else I did NOT see coming, and I loved it!
One little thing is I thought the fact that it’s set in the 1950s should be a bit more clear. It wasn’t a problem for me, because I had been told it was before I began to read, but if I hadn’t been, I think I would have been a bit confused. But that’s my only (very small) complaint.
All in all, I LOVED this book! I would highly recommend it and I look forward to reading other books by Rebekah Morris in the future.
Firstly, I want to say how much I love the characters. Justin was probably my favourite, but really, there was not a single character that I disliked, from Dr Wright to Danny to Heather to Mrs Morgan. Each one of the family was so different and yet all were so kind and understanding to Amy, and saw to it that she was as happy as, under the circumstances, it was possible to be.
And I was SO pleased with the ending. I sort of saw it coming, but on the other hand, I didn’t. I was certainly HOPING it would end that way from the start, but as the book went on I decided I must be wrong. So when it DID end like that I was kind of surprised but not completely, and I was absolutely delighted! And there was something else I did NOT see coming, and I loved it!
One little thing is I thought the fact that it’s set in the 1950s should be a bit more clear. It wasn’t a problem for me, because I had been told it was before I began to read, but if I hadn’t been, I think I would have been a bit confused. But that’s my only (very small) complaint.
All in all, I LOVED this book! I would highly recommend it and I look forward to reading other books by Rebekah Morris in the future.
April 1, 2024
3/24 - I had forgotten most of what happened so I was glad to reread this book. Lovely family dynamics:) This book is like a warm hug.
5/22 - Though slow-paced, I enjoyed this book immensely. I loved reading about the daily goings-on of the Morgan family and how they didn't miss a beat when a mysterious young stranger showed up at the door with two small children and no recollection of how they got there or who they were other than their first names.
The Christ-like love in this story is beautifully portrayed. Not preachy at all, just genuine love and care for one another.
This will definitely be a re-read.
5/22 - Though slow-paced, I enjoyed this book immensely. I loved reading about the daily goings-on of the Morgan family and how they didn't miss a beat when a mysterious young stranger showed up at the door with two small children and no recollection of how they got there or who they were other than their first names.
The Christ-like love in this story is beautifully portrayed. Not preachy at all, just genuine love and care for one another.
This will definitely be a re-read.
December 9, 2018
I spent two hours reading this after my family went to bed on vacation, which I never do, so that should tell you how good it is.
I always love Rebekah Morris's books, and since this book had one of my favorite situations in it, it was a no brainer to pick up. Unfortunately telling you that situation would be a spoiler, but it was awesome.
I loved Justin and his whole family, they were really awesome. Amy was really lovable too.
I think one of my favorite parts was them celebrating Christmas. It felt so real and something a lot of us can relate to.
The climax was super awesome. I felt so sorry for Amy, but it was so amazingly well done it was perfect. And the epilogue was super sweet.
My one and only complaint was that the time period was a bit unclear.
Overall, I loved this book even more than I had expected to. I have never been disappointed with this author and I doubt I ever will, she's definitely one of my favorites.
(REREAD 2018)
This was almost as fun to listen to as it was to read to myself. The only thing I didn't like about the person who read it was that he did female voices very breathy, which just got on my nerves.
Also, I didn't love the scene where their hiking up to the picnic. I felt like Justin handled it badly. =/
I always love Rebekah Morris's books, and since this book had one of my favorite situations in it, it was a no brainer to pick up. Unfortunately telling you that situation would be a spoiler, but it was awesome.
I loved Justin and his whole family, they were really awesome. Amy was really lovable too.
I think one of my favorite parts was them celebrating Christmas. It felt so real and something a lot of us can relate to.
The climax was super awesome. I felt so sorry for Amy, but it was so amazingly well done it was perfect. And the epilogue was super sweet.
My one and only complaint was that the time period was a bit unclear.
Overall, I loved this book even more than I had expected to. I have never been disappointed with this author and I doubt I ever will, she's definitely one of my favorites.
(REREAD 2018)
This was almost as fun to listen to as it was to read to myself. The only thing I didn't like about the person who read it was that he did female voices very breathy, which just got on my nerves.
Also, I didn't love the scene where their hiking up to the picnic. I felt like Justin handled it badly. =/
May 23, 2015
Very enjoyable story! A mystery I couldn't figure out until it was clearly spelled out in the end. Lots of fun!
August 22, 2016
A very thrilling read!! I'm always excited to read books by Rebekah and this was no disappointment. A little bit of mystery that adds a lot to the main plot. Teenagers would love this book!!
August 10, 2016
Loved this book! I remember reading snippets from it on Rebekah's blog one, two (or possibly three) years ago, so it was good to finally be able to read the book and find out what happened! :)
When Amy, Danny, and Jenny show up at the Morgans' doorstep half-frozen, the reader goes on a fascinating adventure as the family helps the trio and tries to find out who they are and where they came from.
Justin is such a kind person, and a very considerate doctor. The book didn't elaborate too much on his care of other patients (probably woulda made it too long ;)) but if his care for other patients was anything like his care for Amy, they sure ought to feel tons special! ;)
The rest of the Morgans are so much fun too. Family ties are definitely strong and all the teasing that went around was a delight to read! Their kindness to Amy and the two children with her are a great example of Christian hospitality and all-in-all they made their home very warm and comfortable :)
Amy struggles with her emotions a lot, especially since she can't seem to remember what happened before she arrived. Flashes of memory come to her as the story unfolds, but it only seems to leave her frustrated and the reader wondering more and more how on earth she came to be in the woods in the middle of a storm. When I finally got to find out who she was, what happened, and where she came from, I was just like "Oooohhhhh.....ohhhhhhhh....OHHHHH!" :P But really, how comes out; it's just amazing. Very interesting and veryrelieving to find out ;)
I'd definitely consider this a re-read. And I'm SO glad I decided to get a paperback copy as opposed to a kindle. Holding an actual book while reading just makes it 110% better :D
When Amy, Danny, and Jenny show up at the Morgans' doorstep half-frozen, the reader goes on a fascinating adventure as the family helps the trio and tries to find out who they are and where they came from.
Justin is such a kind person, and a very considerate doctor. The book didn't elaborate too much on his care of other patients (probably woulda made it too long ;)) but if his care for other patients was anything like his care for Amy, they sure ought to feel tons special! ;)
The rest of the Morgans are so much fun too. Family ties are definitely strong and all the teasing that went around was a delight to read! Their kindness to Amy and the two children with her are a great example of Christian hospitality and all-in-all they made their home very warm and comfortable :)
Amy struggles with her emotions a lot, especially since she can't seem to remember what happened before she arrived. Flashes of memory come to her as the story unfolds, but it only seems to leave her frustrated and the reader wondering more and more how on earth she came to be in the woods in the middle of a storm. When I finally got to find out who she was, what happened, and where she came from, I was just like "Oooohhhhh.....ohhhhhhhh....OHHHHH!" :P But really, how comes out; it's just amazing. Very interesting and veryrelieving to find out ;)
I'd definitely consider this a re-read. And I'm SO glad I decided to get a paperback copy as opposed to a kindle. Holding an actual book while reading just makes it 110% better :D
May 10, 2023
So...I liked the story; the mystery is what piqued my interest in the first place. But...
The telling over showing kind of bogged it down. Some sentences seem a little awkwardly-phrased and there was some unnecessary capitalization.
Head-hopping.
The constant switch between 'Justin', 'Justin Morgan', and 'Dr. Morgan' and 'Dr. Justin Morgan' to refer to Justin in the narrative was a bit...annoying, for lack of a better word. I was fine with other characters calling him 'Dr. Morgan', but using the multiple variations in the narrative kept taking me out of the story.
Not having Amy's thoughts in italics confused me at first, making me think she was talking aloud to herself until it was said she was thinking.
I didn't know what time period it was until I found out it's supposed to be the 50s. To be honest, it doesn't sound like the 50s, but more like the 30s. Maybe even the 20s.
The ending was a bit jolting too, especially since I never saw any hint of romance between the younger couples. Not that I can remember, anyway. And I found out that one character was actually young, not old like I'd thought. (I may have missed that earlier in the story though, come to think of it)
I also thought another character was a woman at first, until his first name was mentioned long after he had been introduced.
Anyway, those are my thoughts.
The telling over showing kind of bogged it down. Some sentences seem a little awkwardly-phrased and there was some unnecessary capitalization.
Head-hopping.
The constant switch between 'Justin', 'Justin Morgan', and 'Dr. Morgan' and 'Dr. Justin Morgan' to refer to Justin in the narrative was a bit...annoying, for lack of a better word. I was fine with other characters calling him 'Dr. Morgan', but using the multiple variations in the narrative kept taking me out of the story.
Not having Amy's thoughts in italics confused me at first, making me think she was talking aloud to herself until it was said she was thinking.
I didn't know what time period it was until I found out it's supposed to be the 50s. To be honest, it doesn't sound like the 50s, but more like the 30s. Maybe even the 20s.
The ending was a bit jolting too, especially since I never saw any hint of romance between the younger couples. Not that I can remember, anyway. And I found out that one character was actually young, not old like I'd thought. (I may have missed that earlier in the story though, come to think of it)
I also thought another character was a woman at first, until his first name was mentioned long after he had been introduced.
Anyway, those are my thoughts.
August 30, 2016
Gift from the Storm by Rebekah A. Morris was a sweet story, although it definitely had its sad and stormy themes. It took me a little while to get into, and wasn't my favorite story ever; but I did enjoy it overall. The Morgan family were wonderful people, and Amy's story of trauma and memory loss was interesting and mysterious. The faith theme was also touching. It's always good to be reminded that, as Christians, we are never alone - Jesus Christ never leaves us.
I'm not a fan of tragedies, and Gift from the Storm had quite a bit. But there were a lot of light, happy family moments too. All in all, it is a story about family and faith and healing. A nice tale.
I'm not a fan of tragedies, and Gift from the Storm had quite a bit. But there were a lot of light, happy family moments too. All in all, it is a story about family and faith and healing. A nice tale.
October 25, 2020
I listened to this book as an audiobook, but I LOVE it! The story is so interesting, and the characters are all different! Not knowing what is really going on with Amy keeps you in suspense and "into" the book!
February 27, 2025
I loved this book! It's like a warm hug. It's overflowing with family banter, mouth watering food, beautiful music, little kids, a super cozy home, snow, and family...did I say that already? Amy was scared and relatable, and I loved how Justin cared for her. Talked to her. It was so sweet to watch them interact.
June 28, 2016
I love how she connected the characters and i love how it ended. i liked Dr.Justin Morgan and Amy the best. great book hope she keeps writing more mystery's and stand alone books.;
December 15, 2015
Let me just start by saying this is one of the best books I have read here lately! Rebekah Morris did a wonderful job with this book. The writing is all wonderfully done, and the characters felt very real. It was easy to relate to the different characters, and to understand their struggles. It was really thought provoking to watch the way Amy handled the things she went through.
It is rare that I find a book with such a amazingly done mystery in it. It really did keep me guessing until the end! I had no idea how the mystery would turn out.
And I really liked the way faith was woven into the story. It was very nicely done, and it really felt like part of the story.
It was a good clean book that had a great plot. And the story line moved along at a nice pace. I really enjoyed it, and I defiantly recommend it! I am looking forward to seeing want books Rebekah Morris releases next!
I received this book free from the author, Rebekah A. Morris, for my honest review. The opinions are my own.
It is rare that I find a book with such a amazingly done mystery in it. It really did keep me guessing until the end! I had no idea how the mystery would turn out.
And I really liked the way faith was woven into the story. It was very nicely done, and it really felt like part of the story.
It was a good clean book that had a great plot. And the story line moved along at a nice pace. I really enjoyed it, and I defiantly recommend it! I am looking forward to seeing want books Rebekah Morris releases next!
I received this book free from the author, Rebekah A. Morris, for my honest review. The opinions are my own.
August 26, 2016
This book was extremely unique in storyline, and, while not a masterpiece, I was very impressed with the author's ability to so vividly portray Amy's loss of memory and the half-flashbacks that overwhelm her at times. You can practically feel what Amy is feeling when the fears and half-memories grip her. However, while these parts of the story are amazingly written, other moments and characters are not developed very well. Some of the characters are hard to relate to, as they are shallowly depicted (a little too perfect to be believable). The love story was predictable, but sweet. Overall, I'm giving this story 4 stars, because Rebekah has a lot of potential, and Gift from the Storm is an enjoyable read, despite the poor characterization at times, with an intriguing plot and no grammar/spelling mistakes that I can remember.
October 14, 2021
This is a gentle mystery. It kept me reading to find out who Amy was and why she and the children were out in the mountains in a storm, but the writing style made the book a bit hard to read. There was more “telling” than “showing,” and sometimes conversations got a little long-winded. All the same, I didn't lose interest in the plot. This is a delightful mystery that depicts the love of a Christian family.
October 22, 2024
Now I should be able to make progress on some other things since I finished gobbling it up. This story sucked me in, and I was so eager to find out what happened next that I couldn't read quickly enough. Such a sweet, gripping story! I got a bit teary near the end. The spiritual truths were beautifully woven into the story. This definitely belongs on my list of favorite books by Rebekah A. Morris!
February 25, 2017
Gift from the Storm
: Rebekah Morris
A sweet clean faith based book that has mystery, suspense, and a bit of romance. It took a while to get into this storyline, and the characters could have been developed more deeply. It wasn't my favorite but it's ok.
The narration was well done.The characters were well portrayed by Shawn Saavedra.
"I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator."
March 26, 2023
Content Warnings:
Can be depressing read and would not recommend to anyone who has airplane trauma or PTSD.
In addition, perspective changes often without good warning. Like other reviews have said it moved from “Justin” to “Dr. Justin” and “Dr. Morgan” and can get confusing. It also should have had a date in the book somewhere, based on the other reviews I have since found it was set in the 1950’s, which would have been nice to know.
Well written but depressing topic. It has a good Christian plot point.
I also liked the Narrators’s performance.
*I was given a free audio copy by the author in exchange for a review. I was not required to leave a positive review, all thoughts are my own*
Can be depressing read and would not recommend to anyone who has airplane trauma or PTSD.
In addition, perspective changes often without good warning. Like other reviews have said it moved from “Justin” to “Dr. Justin” and “Dr. Morgan” and can get confusing. It also should have had a date in the book somewhere, based on the other reviews I have since found it was set in the 1950’s, which would have been nice to know.
Well written but depressing topic. It has a good Christian plot point.
I also liked the Narrators’s performance.
*I was given a free audio copy by the author in exchange for a review. I was not required to leave a positive review, all thoughts are my own*
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