Fiction Book Review: Phoebe's Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher (series Nantucket Legacy)

Book Description:

Phoebe Starbuck has always taken care of her father--worrying enough for both of them, as he chases one whim after another. Now, for the first time, she's doing what she wants to do: marrying Captain Phineas Foulger and sailing far away from Nantucket. As she leaves on her grand adventure, she takes two gifts from her father, but desires only one: her great-grandmother's journal. The second gift? A "minder" in the form of cooper Matthew Macy, a man she loathes.

Phoebe soon discovers that life at sea is no easier than life on land. Lonely, seasick, and disillusioned, she turns the pages of Great Mary's journal and finds a secret that carries repercussions for everyone aboard the ship, especially the captain and the cooper.

Sail away with expert navigator Suzanne Woods Fisher, who confidently explores the sometimes treacherous shores of Quaker life on the storied Nantucket Island.

My Review:
Phoebe's Light gave me a feeling of hope. Set in the sixteen and seventeen hundreds, the story goes back and forth between Phoebe and her great-grandmother. The stories have several parallels, which keeps the thread of the book running smoothly. Suzanne Woods Fisher did her homework when preparing to write this adventurous story. The details from Suzanne's research jumped off the pages. I enjoyed learning about the Quaker culture and the Puritan's reign in America. In the front of the book is a list of characters and a glossary. I thought I'd need to keep referring to the character list, but once I got into the story I had no trouble keeping the people straight. Most of the Quaker vocabulary is self-explanatory within the context of the story. Thee and thou are spoken by the characters, but the words flow with the text. Phoebe's Light was a refreshing read about courage, honesty, redemption, and love. I highly recommend Phoebe's story.

Love never fails

Hope and Perseverence

1 Corinthians 13:7b
Love...always hopes, always perseveres.

Psalm 33:22
May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

From a young age, I planned to earn a college degree. What I didn't know—the process would take thirty years. Yet, I had a hope to accomplish what God laid on my heart. When Tim and I married, he took on that hope with me. We persevered together, along with our children, as I worked a full-time job, raised a family, and took classes. They all stuck with me until I accomplished my goal.

My granddaughter plays basketball. All season she's hoped to make her first game basket.

We took on that hope, cheering her on. On Saturday, she swished that ball through the basket. As a family we persevered with her as she practiced and worked toward the goal.

These examples of hope and perseverance may seem simple, but every step we took was dressed in love. Dilly and I had people who cared about us and supported us as we focused on our goals.

Jesus, the giver of hope, came to earth. He knew he'd be crucified— tortured for our sins. Yet because he loves us, he chose to persevere. His is the truest story of hope and perseverance. Jesus, hope in human flesh, rose from the grave to give anyone who follows him the hope of eternal life. With that, God sends the Holy Spirit to persevere with us through this life. I praise God for the Holy Spirit. He's with us every day.

Hebrews 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Love Perseveres

He's our Protector

1 Corinthians 13:7a
Love...always protects, always trusts...

Proverbs 3:6-7
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

When we're at home our dog, Tater, parks himself between us. He's our protector. Without a doubt, he'd place himself between me and an attacker. That's just who he is. He's a good dog who loves us. He trusts us, too. He knows he'll be fed, watered, and walked every

day. If my dog can show love through protection and trust, I can too. With my children, I've always been the mother bear. Protection mode, all the time. My husband loves me by watching out for me, and I love that. But what about the part, love always trusts? Yes, Tater trusts us to take care of him. But maybe there's more to loving and trusting.

I believe God wants us to not just trust the people we love, but to entrust them to him.

One of the most difficult things I've ever done is turn my loved ones' safety, health, and life over to the one who loves them the most. At times, as a mama bear my anxiety choked my ability to think straight. I felt helpless. No matter what I thought I could do, it wasn't enough. That's when I knew I had to look up and pray to God. The one I entrust my loved ones to needed to hear my pleas. He's the one I truly have faith in. It's not easy to let go and give our needs to God. But I know when I do, God gives me strength and comfort. He pours his peace over me. I'll admit, I still struggle with letting go and letting God. But that doesn't keep me from trusting in him and crying out.

Love always protects and trusts when we hand our cares and worries over to the one we believe can move a mountain. Even when the situation seems impossible, God cares and listens. The creator and worker of miracles loves you more than you and those you love even know. Trust the Lord with all your heart because he loves you.

Love always...

The Choice to Love

1 Corinthians 13:6
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

John 11:3-5
So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."
When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

I've been reading a novel where the main character flees from her abusive husband. Here's the kicker—the husband who physically, mentally, and emotionally abuses her, says he loves her. The story breaks my heart, but thanks to God, she's surrounded by friends who love her and help her. Even though this is fiction, the story resonates with truth. People say they love others, but is the love reflective of evil or God's truth? Does the "best friend" gossip behind her BFFs back? Maybe a sibling's anger over who-knows-what creates an uncomfortable situation. I could go on, but I think you see where I'm heading with this.

The love I have for my spouse, my children, my parents, my siblings, my friends, my church— must rejoice in truth. Just like Jesus loved his family and friends. In the book of John, we read about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus could have said, "sorry sisters, I can't do a thing to help out Lazarus." He could have left them to mourn their brother. But instead, Jesus went to them and healed his friend who he loved. He rejoiced in the truth that Lazarus' restored life brought glory to God.

Life brings choices. Decisions on how I treat the people I'm called to love. Do I belittle them to make myself look better? Do I yell at them? Do I ignore their needs? Or do I reach out to them as Jesus did, with love?

Choose to love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.