May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Book
Description:
Megs Devonshire sets out to fulfill her younger brother George's last wish by
uncovering the truth behind his favorite story. The answer provides hope
and healing and a magical journey for anyone whose life has ever been changed
by a book.
1950: Margaret Devonshire (Megs) is a seventeen-year-old student of
Despite her
fear about approaching the famous author, who is a professor at her school,
Megs soon finds herself taking tea with C.S. Lewis and his own brother Warnie,
begging them for answers.
Rather than
directly telling her where Narnia came from, Lewis encourages Megs to form her
own conclusion as he slowly tells her the little-known stories from his own
life that led to his inspiration. As she takes these stories home to George,
the little boy travels farther in his imagination than he ever could in real
life.
Lewis’s
answers will reveal to Megs and her family many truths that science and math
cannot, and the gift she thought she was giving to her brother—the story behind
Narnia—turns out to be his gift to her, instead: hope.
My Thoughts:
Once Upon a Wardrobe took me on the most amazing journey along with Megs
and her endearing brother George. What a wonderful visit with C.S. Lewis and his
brother Warnie. It's 1950 and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has
just been published and eight-year-old George requires answers to the questions
he has about Narnia and Aslam, and Megs is determined to find them. Patti Callahan has penned a beautiful work of
art with her storytelling, characters, and adaptation of C.S. Lewis world in
Oxford. If you are a fan of Lewis, Narnia, or excellent literature, you'll love
this story. I plan to read it again and to read Callahan's Becoming Mrs.
Lewis. I highly recommend this lovely story. 5+ stars. I purchased my copy.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Song of Solomon 2:11-12
See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
Raindrops glistened on tulips.
There is something about a flower garden just after the rain
that brings joy to my soul. Whether the fresh smell of earth, or the
magnification of the colors against the muted sky, the beauty of God's creation
fills me with gratitude. I love the way the tulip blossoms cup above the stem.
Each petal appears satiny soft. Beyond the simplicity of the outside, God
created an incredible system inside the plant that assists in growth so the
flowers return year after year.
Some of my friends are still experiencing snow where they
live, and I'm sure they look forward to the rains and flowers. Even in
southwest Ohio in mid-April, cold air lingers and weather folks speak of the threat
of snowflakes. Yet, as the weather changes the flowers remain. They huddle to
fight off the cold and stand against the storm until the time of singing
returns. Much like believers. We need to stand together and show the world the love
of our Lord and King.
I rejoice and glorify Him as color returns and fragrance bursts
from flowers. In my tiny garden the daffodils nod their heads and the tulips
stand tall. When I see the beauty of the spring flowers, I'm reminded of what
is to come. Solomon calls the time after winter a season of singing. Birds chirp
and tweet; just today I heard a robin's song.
As lovely as the spring blooms are, imagine the glorious
beauty that awaits us in heaven. There will surely be a season of singing when
the heavens open and time on this old earth is finished.
Take time to enjoy spring and sing praises to the King!
Book Description:
Living life to the fullest always requires sacrifice.
Avery Robinson decided to be a physician after helplessly
watching her mother lose a battle with a terrible disease. Now at risk of
developing the same illness, Avery guards her heart from love. She’s driven to
protect her loved ones as a workaholic doctor in the tiny mountain town of
Riverbend Gap, North Carolina.
Contractor Wes Garrett is hiking the Appalachian trail, in
memory of the man who died saving his life, when an illness racks his body.
After an agonizing fifteen-mile hike to Avery’s clinic, he collapses on her
doorstep. He recovers to find himself in debt again, this time to a beautiful
doctor.
When he decides to help her renovate a rundown carriage
house, the obstacles to their attraction sprout like weeds—starting with the
woman waiting for Wes at the end of the trail. Will he be able to relinquish
the debt he owes his best friend? And will Avery find the courage to risk
everything for love?
The second book in Denise Hunter’s popular Riverbend Romance
series explores what it might be like to live fearlessly and free.
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Mulberry Hollow. Denise Hunter digs into the souls of her characters and discovers their
needs, personalities, and quirks. Dr. Avery Robinson has thrown herself into
her work at the clinic she opened, to keep her mind off of the future she
believes is inevitable. Wes Garrett wants to do right by his friend, but has
given himself high expectations. The two meet and their adventures begin in the
beautiful setting of the Appalachian Mountains. I admire both characters for
their integrity and desire to help other people. Hunter has penned a sweet romance
that heals and opens doors to freedoms neither Avery nor Ross dreamed possible.
Mulberry Hollow is a clean read with undertones of faith and hope. If you enjoy
a good romance, you can't go wrong with Denise Hunter's stories. I received a
complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are
completely my own.
