The Silver Suitcase

by Terrie Todd

It’s 1939, and Canada is on the cusp of entering World War II. Seventeen-year-old farm girl Cornelia has been heartbroken since the day her mother died five years ago. As a new tragedy provides Cornelia still more reason to reject her parent’s faith, a mysterious visitor appears in her hour of desperation. Alone and carrying a heavy secret, she makes a desperate choice that will haunt her for years to come. Never telling a soul, Cornelia pours out the painful events of the war in her diary.

Many decades later, Cornelia’s granddaughter, Benita, is in the midst of her own crisis, experiencing several losses in the same week, including the grandmother she adored. The resulting emotional and financial stress takes its toll on her and her husband, Ken, who is unemployed. On the brink of divorce, she discovers Cornelia’s diary. Now the secrets of her grandmother’s past will lead Benita on an unexpected journey of healing, reunion, and faith.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Book Club, Audiobook, Christian, World War II

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 26, 2016

About the author

Terrie Todd's debut novel, The Silver Suitcase, won the 2017 Word Guild award for Historical Fiction. Her second, Maggie's War, won the same award for 2018 while her third, Bleak Landing, was a finalist. In 2018, she was awarded the Janette Oke Award by Inscribe Christian Writers Fellowship. She has published eight stories with Chicken Soup for the Soul, two full-length plays with Eldridge Plays and Musicals, and writes a weekly faith and humor column for her hometown paper. 135 of the most popular columns are found in Terrie's first nonfiction book, Out of My Mind: A Decade of Faith and Humour. Her fourth novel, Rose Among Thornes, released in August, 2021 and her fifth, The Last Piece. in November, 2021.
After 20 years leading a church drama team, Terrie worked part-time as an Administrative Assistant at City Hall. Recently retired, she lives with her husband, Jon, on the Canadian prairies where they raised three children and where her novels are set. Over the years, Terrie has pursued acting, vegan cooking, and playing the saxophone, all with mixed reviews. You can catch up with her latest escapades at www.terrietodd.blogspot.com

Reviews

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in absolute awe of this book....it stayed on my mind for days afterwards as it was powerful. I felt enriched and amazed for having read it. Some tearful moments yes but yet a truly uplifting book. These years being "middle aged" and as I have read countless books, I tend to try out various authors as well as give one chance basically to decide if I would want to purchase/read any others by him or her...Terrie Todd is a definitely will read again for me!

[Elisabeth Plimpton · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up

[Kellie O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy 5 star rating from me, however it deserves so many more shiny stars!!!
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
How many of you have read an amazing book that you simply can't find enough of the right words for? It's happened to me quite a few times in my life. This is one of those rare books!! First of all I want to thank one of my Goodreads friends, Cindy Sheppard Gidge for recommending this beautiful book to me!! Thank you very much, Cindy because if you didn't tell me about it, I probably wouldn't have heard of this treasure 💕
This is a wonderful, beautiful, emotionally moving, loving,tender, sweet, wholesome, meaningful, beautifully written,clean uplifting book that makes your heart sing and wraps you up in a blanket of love!!
The characters are fully developed and the story which takes place in Canada spanning the years before, during and after WW2, is totally believable. I've shed many tears as well as smiles while reading this amazing heartfelt book!! It's full of Bible Scriptures, which I know as well as old hymns that I never knew. I googled the hymns up and boy are they wonderful!! 🎶🎵🎶 There's also a mystery surrounding the silver suitcase which was fun to unravel!!
I really enjoyed this book and I loved everything about it! Terri Todd is a wonderful author and in the authors notes I found out that this is her first novel!! I very highly recommend this book to everyone, especially those who need something encouraging and uplifting! Who doesn't need that every so often?! We've all heard it said "You can't judge a book by it's cover." Well, this one you can! A beautiful,serene cover for a beautiful treasure of a book! Enjoy unraveling the mystery of the silver suitcase! 😊📖🍀💼🦋

[CL · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover hooked me not to mention the diary aspect of this story. Corrie has kept diaries for many years where records her secret desires and fears. Not to mention her other secrets as well. When her granddaughter Benita discovers these diaries in a “silver suitcase” Corrie’s secrets are discovered. Benita is dealing with her own crisis and as she gets to know the real Corrie she is able to get thru her own crisis. Great Read!! I would like to thank the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secret Diaries
The Silver Suitcase by Terrie Todd

Most teenagers love to write their thoughts in a diary. Their secret desires, high school crushes, heartbreaks, wedding dreams, etc. They write them never thinking anyone would ever read them.

This is exactly what happens to Cornelia (aka Corrie). Years after she’s put her pen to paper and after her death, her granddaughter Benita, finds these diaries inside a silver suitcase.

And Cornelia’s shocking secret is unleashed.

It’s a secret she kept even from her daughter, but one that haunted Cornelia all her life. However, her written words bring comfort to Benita, helping her find healing and peace in her current crisis.

First of all, I have to say I love the cover of The Silver Suitcase! It’s beautiful and inviting. I believe that a cover can truly make or break whether or not someone picks up a book, and this one definitely gets top marks.

I also enjoyed the characters in Ms. Todd’s debut novel. I loved Corrie’s spunk and Benita’s determination even though there were times she irritated me. That’s a great sign of a well-rounded character!

The plot kept me intrigued and turning the pages. However, I did find the format at the beginning a bit confusing. Jumping from generation to generation was a little difficult to get used to but once I did, I was fine (didn’t take me that long!).

The most intriguing part of this novel for me was the epilogue. I loved how Ms. Todd tied up the lost diary pages. That’s all I’m saying. Don’t want to spoil it for you.

Even though this is probably not normally a type of story I would pick up (I’m a mystery girl), I enjoyed it. It was refreshing and an awesome read. Great debut novel, Ms. Todd. Looking forward to your next one.

I give The Silver Suitcase four diary locks. It’s one journal you will want to unlock.

**Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two women, decades apart, joined by the secrets in one suitcase. In 1939, Canada is teetering on war. Farmgirl Cornelia's heart hasn't been the same since she lost her mother five years before and blames God. When a young man named Henry arrives for the summer, the two become close. When tragedy strikes again, Cornelia doesn't know what to do. She's alone with a secret, so she makes a choice that will haunt her for decades to come. Unable to talk to anyone, she pours out her heart to her diary. Decades later, Cornelia's granddaughter, Benita, is struggling in her marriage. In the span of a week, she experiences several losses including the death of her beloved grandmother. The resulting emotional toll take their place on Benita seeking her to discover her grandmother's diary. Can the secrets of her grandmother's life bring healing to her own?

This book intrigued me because the cover is so pretty. I'll admit that I didn't know anything about the book or the author before picking it up.

I was rather surprised at how quickly I was drawn into Cornelia's story, especially her diary. My heart for all she went through. Benita on the other hand, kinda of annoyed me. I found that she didn't like to let go of controlling things. But the way things worked out, made it all worth it in the end.

I'll probably read more by this author because her style was quick and easy to follow along with.

I received the Kindle version of this book from NetGalley for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Tracie Peterson, WWII fiction, historical & contemporary fiction, women's fiction.

Rating - 4 stars

[Mindy Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After cracking open The Silver Suitcase, I was unable to close it again. In exchange for many hours of sleep, I simply had to read it through in one sitting. Gripped by the story and the characters, I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. Here's to hoping I won't have to wait long to get my hands on Terrie Todd 's next book!!

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Silver Suitcase by Terrie Todd intriguing novel. Cornelia Faith Simpson is eighty-four years old when she passes away. She leaves behind her daughter, Grace Gladstone and her granddaughter, Benita Gladstone. Benita was particularly close to her grandmother and will miss her dearly. They are cleaning out her house when Grace mentioned the silver suitcase to her daughter. She believes it will be helpful to her and suggests she take it home and look through it. The silver suitcase is actually a trunk that Cornelia kept her favorite treasures in along with her diaries that she started when she was twelve years old. These diaries are just what Benita needs. Benita is going through a rough time. Her husband, Ken is out of work (and not going out and looking for a new job), Benita’s employers pass away (and she may be out of a job), and now the loss of her grandmother. Benita starts reading the diaries and embarks on a journey.

Cornelia started writing diaries at age twelve after her mother passed away. She wrote about her everyday life, her worries, and her secrets. The novel takes us back to 1939 in Roseburn, Manitoba Canada when Cornelia is seventeen. Cornelia had to quit school after the ninth grade because she was needed at home to take care of her father and brother. That summer she meets Henry Roberts and they fall in love. Unfortunately, war is declared and Henry insists on enlisting. Henry is killed in a train accident on his way to Halifax (where he was boarding a ship for England). Cornelia had quit believing in God when her mother died and this just makes things worse. But then an angel shows up. Read The Silver Suitcase to find out how this visitation forever changes Cornelia life and the lives of her descendants.

The Silver Suitcase was a slow starter (and a little confusing) but I ended up liking the novel (more than I thought). The Silver Suitcase is well-written and very interesting. In the beginning it jumps around a little going from generation to generation (or person to person). After a while I got used to it and the novel just flew by. I especially loved the epilogue. It was my favorite part of the book. We get to see how Cornelia’s diary affected other people and their lives. The Silver Suitcase is a Christian novel with many scripture references (not just a historical novel). I give The Silver Suitcase 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).

I received a complimentary copy of The Silver Suitcase from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Check out my blog, The Avid Reader for more details: http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogs...

[Michelle E · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book not knowing anything about what it was about, and I have to say it pleasantly surprised me! I got a bit nervous first, when it launched into the story of how this couple met; as I'm not really a reader of romance, but that was just a way to start off the story and set the scene. The book is much more a look at family, and different relationships in the many generations - including grandmother and granddaughter; siblings, and husband and wife. I liked that it followed all these different stores, woven together by a stack of diaries that are found in an attic. I flew through this, and actually got a little teary at one moment! It is an inspiring story of love, and redemption and I recommend!

[Jenny Knipfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable and unusual split time story, linking a grandmother and her granddaughter through diary entries and past secrets.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the life of Cornelia and the writing style. I thought there was plenty of interest and detail to keep the story going and interesting. I got a bit annoyed in the middle withe the start of Benita being grown up... for Cornelia being said to having such an inspirational faith and loving her daughter so much, I would have thought she would have taught her daughter to choose a better husband, teach Grace and Benita more about God and just be nicer people. Benita overall was mostly annoying and clueless but the rest of the story made up for it. The faith aspects for as much as they were talked about were pretty shallow... mostly just about visions, trusting God, and attending church. Nothing about what faith is or means, what it entails, how or when any of them were saved (besides Cornelia) or if they are just religious. But the idea of the story was beautiful and enjoyable... so liked it but all in all can't say I loved all of it. Again, loved the idea of the epilogue, but also, it's a pretty sad faith that can't be shared with anyone her whole life, especially those closest to her. Written records can be useful, but really it was used in others lives against her will and was a pretty far stretch.

[Karen Lucille · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully crafted narrative weaves together the stories of four generations of women in one family as they each experience life's cycles of love and loss; faith and forgiveness; regrets and redemption—all intertwined with the pages of a diary kept in a silver suitcase. A must-read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for the purposes of this review. I was not required to write a positive response.

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

a beautiful story that kept me reading into the night. Would recommend to all.....

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

For years, Christian fiction often glossed over the ugliness in life, but lately, almost the reverse accusation could be lobbed at it--that we almost revel in seeing how much we can pile into a book and still call it redemptive because Jesus was mentioned. But now and then you find an author like Terrie Todd who knows how to show life as it really is--all the heartache and stupidity, all the loss and cruelty--but without forgetting the beauty, the self-sacrifice, the forgiveness... the love.
The Silver Suitcase takes all the terrible things that people sometimes have to go through and shows what God can do with them. She doesn't make every ugly thing into a shiny, happy outcome, but she sure does show that what seems irredeemable is no match for an all-powerful, loving Father who acts with a view to eternity rather than the moment.
In the end, we see how generations are impacted by the decisions of today--all in a story that keeps you rooted to the page (or your earbuds!) until that final moment when you have to say goodbye. I'll be reading this book again, of course. All of Todd's books are worth multiple rereads. You'll find things you missed in these delicately but intricately layered stories.

Note: while this was a reread, I hadn't tracked or reviewed it, so this review reads almost as the original would have had I written it. The only exception is that there is one element of the story (would be a spoiler if I shared it), that I didn't feel comfortable with the first time I read it. This time, however, I loved it. I can see no Biblical "support" for it, NOR can I see it contradicting Scripture. What support there is is more for the idea rather than the execution, but since we aren't told HOW in Scripture, I like seeing how it COULD be. Just noting in case readers are bothered by any speculation of how God might choose to do things He has mentioned in the Bible.

[Janet Sketchley · Rating 4 out of 5]

When teenaged Cornelia Simpson confides in her journal in the late 1930s and into the 40s, she has no idea that other eyes will ever read her words... or how God will use those words to touch hearts, starting with her granddaughter, Benita.

The Silver Suitcase is written in three parts. The first shares parts of Cornelia’s life, and the other two follow Benita as she reads the diaries her grandmother had hidden in a silver suitcase.

Benita is married, with two school-aged children and an unemployed husband. Money is tight, stress is high, and neither she nor her husband, Ken, have a strong faith to sustain them. She always wondered how her grandmother developed such a faith. The diaries will show her – and inspire her own faith to grow.

Set in rural and urban Manitoba, Canada, this is a gently-written story about ordinary people, with hurts, fears and attitudes to which we can easily relate. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about the characters and wondering how things would turn out.

The Silver Suitcase is Canadian author Terrie Todd’s debut novel, and before publication it was a finalist in the 2011 and 2012 Christian Writers Guild’s Operation First Novel contest. Terrie Todd is working on a second novel, and in the mean time, readers can enjoy her faith-based blog: Out of My Mind.

[Review copy from my personal library.]

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exceptional debut novel! It has so much going for it. Canadian author. Dual timelines. Solid inspirational thread. Quality storytelling. I was completely captivated from page one.

The story flips between decades -- the past both from Cornelia's viewpoint and from her diary entries -- and the present from her granddaughter, Benita's perspective. The author fuses this generational story through tragedy and triumph as Benita begins to put unexpected pieces of her grandmother's past together. And in the process, she learns a lot about herself and her own relationships.

The faith thread is strong and moving and anchors both women in the midst of life struggles. The epilogue gave me goosebumps -- the way the author reveals the fruition of an inspired promise in the most unexpected of ways.

Though I'd label this as 'Women's Fiction' there are a few pivotal romance threads that flush out these women's lives in various ways. A truly inspiring and captivating story.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good, sweet book! And by sweet I don't mean syrupy sweet. I just mean sweet. The story is about a Grandmother , Cornelia, her daughter Grace and her granddaughter Benita. Cornelia keeps a diary a year for all of her life. Benita inherits these diaries and discovers a lot about her beloved Gram. I also had a close relationship with my "Grammy" and that might have played into my love of this book. I wanted to know all three of these women and their families. I wanted to know Ramona and even Ken. I think this is an indication of a good author when you want to know her characters. It is very well written. I will definitely recommend this book to family and friends.

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. A good story, with characters I could connect with. Definitely recommended.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reviewing this book for Netgalley, but the review is completely my opinion, and I wasn't asked to make it sound better than it was.
The cover of this books is so pretty! I was drawn to it immediately, and I the description made me even more curious and excited to read it. I was certainly not disappointed.
My favorite character was probably Corrie, aka Cornelia. I loved her stubbornness at the beginning, and her spunk. It really gave a bit of a humorous tang, and even though she was sometimes stubborn about the wrong things, it made her seem really realistic and it made me sympathize with her.
I loved Henry, he was probably my second or third favorite character. He was funny, and kind, and had a charm to him, even though he could be shy and awkward. The author did a great job of portraying him, and making you really love him before he died. So again I could sympathize with Corrie.
Bonita was also a great character, I loved the Grandmother / Granddaughter relationship at the beginning of the book, it was so sweet. I also loved the legacy of the ice-cream maker, which was so cute. When she grew up Bonita was exactly what many people are like today. She had marriage problems, wasn't spending time with God, was worried all the time and stressed about work, and missing out on time with her children. But I don't think it was stereotypical, and thought it was a good thing this character was in that position, because this book could really help a lot of people!
The plot was great. It really had me guessing, and wanting to read more of the diary. I kind of sped through the description, or forgot it about a quarter way through the book, because some plot twists really surprised me even though they're foreshadowed in the description.
The ending was amazing, I loved it SO much! Even though I was a little sad that I couldn't finish reading the entire diary, this completely changed that.
This book also had some really good lessons. Well, the whole book was practically a lesson. It showed what the consequences are of acting too early in a relationship, and how much pain it can cause. It showed how bitterness eats you up, and that God never leaves you through the hard times. It taught that we have to fight for our relationships, and try hard to make them work and understand other people's perspectives. I could keep going, but I'm only going to include one more thing I learned from this book. Even little things, that seem so small or insignificant, (like keeping a diary), can be used by God to change and help others.
I would 100% recommend this book, for girls ages 14+. I give it five out of five stars.

[Fiction Aficionado · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Cornelia’s mother dies on her twelfth birthday, she decides God is a liar and she will never forgive Him. And yet, more than seventy years later, her granddaughter, Benita, wonders what it was that made Gram’s faith so strong; what enabled her to survive the losses in her life without surrendering to bitterness?

Despite ostensibly being the story of two women, I felt as though The Silver Suitcase was really Cornelia’s story. The narrative alternates between Cornelia’s point of view in the past (as a young woman), and Benita’s point of view in the present (as a wife and mother at a time when her life seems to be coming apart at the seams), but I felt as though Benita’s point of view facilitated the closure of Cornelia’s story more strongly than it told Benita’s own story. I also thought the scenes told from Cornelia’s point of view were more engaging, particularly early on. There was an air of nostalgic simplicity that really appealed to me, and this probably helped me to connect with her more as a character.

Cornelia certainly does suffer loss during the course of her life, but the novel doesn't spend unnecessary time dwelling on this. Although I wasn’t enamoured with the 'mysterious visitor' method of turning Cornelia around, the rest of Cornelia’s story rang true, and I couldn’t help but feel for her and the numerous other women who have shared similar experiences.

As Benita began reading her grandmother’s diaries the story took some unexpected turns that made me wonder where the story was heading. At times the flow of events felt just a little too neatly orchestrated, but at the same time, the novel was seeking to portray God’s overarching hand in the story of these women, so I found myself a little conflicted over this aspect. Nevertheless, it was satisfying to see Cornelia's story come full circle.

All in all, a pleasant read that made me wonder what kind of a legacy I will be leaving behind for those who follow after me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for the purposes of this review. I was not required to write a positive response.

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benita is mourning her Gram who she embraced as her best friend. She and her mother are cleaning out Gram’s house when she comes upon a silver suitcase. In it are notebooks that her Gram journaled in starting in 1939. This is the story of how those pages brought generations together and of the great faith that was passed down. Benita learns much about her family from the journals and many lessons to apply to her own life. Unknown to her Gram, who has passed on, a great legacy has been imparted.
This was a joy to read and sometimes brought tears to my eyes. I so appreciated the history within the pages. It was interesting to see what life was like in Canada just before and during WWII.
A lesson brought forth to me was that even though you think you are living an ordinary life, you touch more people than you know. God can use us for His purpose even if we don’t realize it.
From the beginning of the book : “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. “ Jeremiah 29:11.
Recommended for those looking for a Christian Fiction that has a message that not only can be enjoyed but can be applied.
*I borrowed this ebook from Prime Reading. All opinions are my own.*

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrie Todd does a magnificent job of taking the reader back to an earlier time in history where life issues were so much different then they are today yet at the same time, so much the same. The vivid description she provides in each chapter, engages all of the readers senses and allows the reader to experience the story just like they were personally present at the time. A tear was shed for the characters in the story but mostly for the memories unearthed in the readers own heart of years since past. Like Benita says in the novel as she reads the diary excerpts, "I'll read one more, then I'll go get some work done"...couldn't put it down until it was all done! Well done Terrie Todd and congratulations on accomplishing your dream.

[Clarice James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, authors who write for the CBA market feel, for God to be glorified, they have to create Christian characters with tiny, little faults, making tiny, little mistakes, all fixed within a few weeks. Not so in The Silver Suitcase. Terrie Todd has created authentic people who know Christ, yet mess up big time, seek forgiveness, and find His peace. The author shows a loving God who uses our mistakes for His good purposes. I love how the characters with their virtues and defects intertwine to make this multi-generational story come full circle. I also enjoyed the historical elements surrounding Cornelia's story. I felt better for having read it.

[Abbi Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this story! My friend warned me that it wasn’t her favorite so I was a bit wary upon beginning it. I listen to the audiobook and at first was like “oh please”. But the more I got into it the more I enjoyed it!

[Diane Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an extremely good book! I really liked the storytelling and how things intertwined. It was quite predictable for the most part, but it still was entertaining and left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling when I was done!

[Amy Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The first Canadian solder to be killed during World War II never saw a battle. He died in a train accident on his way to Halifax to ship out to England."

This book has a dual perspective of Cornelia and Benita, and then a random short chapter where Miriam is given her own voice.

I wanted to like this book, and I really really tried to, but after a while I realized that this book was not what I thought it would be. Instead of being about Cornelia's life and what happened during the war in Canada it was about Benita and how reading her grandmothers diaries were showing her a different perspective and slowly making her realize that others had feelings as well and they also had their own struggles.

Throughout this story I really struggled reading Benita's parts just because of how awful she treated her husband Ken in the beginning and then how he treated her towards the middle of the book. They had horrible communication with each other and Benita always made everything into his fault and didn't try to help him out when needed or let him have any feelings really at all until the end when she realized how close he had been with Cornelia and how she had helped him out.

Now to the part of the story I really did enjoy reading. Cornelia's diary entries. I loved reading about her struggles and triumphs and how she dealt with something that wasn't ever supposed to happen to girls during that time and if it did then, they were supposed to hide it and then get rid of it. She handled it all so well and I really wish that she had been able to deal with it a little better and not have to hide it as her life went on and the world changed. I also really liked how as she grew as a person and didn't let anything stand in the way of her being a teacher. I didn't end up figuring out the whole Miriam issue well before it was explained in the book thanks to their being several hints thrown throughout.

To me this book would have been so much better if it had just been Cornelia's diary entries and Benita's story-line completely left out.

I received this book from Netgalley and Waterfall Press in exchange for my honest review, Thank you.
See reviews first on my blog

[Beth | Faithfully Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.faithfullybookish.com/revi...
The Silver Suitcase is a beautiful story about the lives of a grandmother and granddaughter. Cornelia's girlhood, first love, tragedy, early teaching career, and marriage experiences take place in the 1930s and 40s. Her contemporary granddaughter, Benita, copes with her own marriage and financial struggles and begins reading the volumes of Cornelia's journals after her grandmother's death.
Terri Todd has expertly woven five generations of this family into one book from a 2nd and 4th generation point of view. The Silver Suitcase is hard to put down and full of heartache, faith, and triumph. The story appeals to both contemporary and historical fiction fans.

I had the opportunity to read and review this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

[PhyllisRBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Story of Faith & Family-

A heartfelt story of love, loss and the sacrifices one must make to find faith. Generations later, a family…crushed by the stresses of life’s hardships…projecting their troubles upon each other, failing to communicate, tending to isolate… God has a plan and begins to pull it all together, using what one young woman wrote years before to bring those lost back to Him.

This audiobook was enjoyable. The narrator was successful in creating distinct characters throughout the dual storyline.

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a joy to read. It really touched me. I looked forward to bedtime every night so that I could continue reading. The story is multi-generational with several twists and family secrets that are slowly unfolded. It is Christian fiction, which is not usually my cup of tea, but I enjoyed the love and faith of the characters. The epilogue is very unique and impactful. And what a bonus that the story takes place in Manitoba, where I live, and specifically a lot of it in Winnipeg, where I grew up.