With the restoration of each building, Michael, Jennifer and a cast of endearing characters uncover three lessons of heart healing from three different centuries (WHITE, 1920; WIDOW, 1870; and WITCH, 1790) that they learn to apply to their own lives and community. Far more challenging—and sinister—than the social landscape of Hermon are the strange accidents hinting that someone doesn’t want them on the Dunham property. Yet Michael’s and Jennifer’s own pasts pose the biggest obstacles to laying a fresh foundation of family and community. The Restoration Trilogy melds humor and heartache to show how only God, The Master Renovator, can heal our most broken places.
My thoughts: This is a short novel in which the author plows the rocky fields of current and past people's lives turning furrows that reveal histories that are troubling.
The back story, though several generations before the current timeline, is the root of the current tale where Jennifer the historic restoration preservationist stumbles and sloshes through the mire of the troubled deep South's roots involving relationships between races.
I enjoyed the characters of Jennifer and Michael once the story got to rolling along. I felt the ending and their relationship were left hanging. Perhaps in the next book in this Restoration Trilogy, Widow, we'll see their relationship blossom.
Having grown up in the deep South myself and in a home built around 1860, I appreciated the romp through the historical elements of the home itself as they discussed the restoration project. (No, I didn't grow up on a plantation, just a simple city home in the historic section of a Southern city. Mantels and fire places in every room. Wide floor boards. Wainscoting. High ceilings. )
The spiritual elements of the book were very good but some might find the discussions a bit preachy. This is to be expected since it is Christian fiction.
GIVEAWAY
Begins February 22
ENDS March 8 @ 12:01 a.m. ET.
DISCLOSURE: I received an advance review copy from the author with a request to review it. I received no compensation for doing so. Opinions are my own.
ENDS March 8 @ 12:01 a.m. ET.
I like historical novels from any time period and I like them to be historically correct, which means that there sometimes are tensions between various groups.
ReplyDeleteskkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
So true! The most surprising incidents in my novels are things I uncovered through research that really happened. The easiest response would be to skirt around those issues, but instead I try to do history the justice of taking an honest look at its tensions and addressing how to resolve them in the light of God's grace and love. Jennifer and Michael find that when they apply lessons learned from the past, it brings resolution and blessing in the present. That healing process provides the impetus for them to move beyond their own pasts and be open to love themselves!
DeleteI find the 40's/WWII era the most interesting to read about.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, the back story of WHITE is actually set in the nineteen-teens and '20s, but I did find a lot of the history felt similar to WWII era. I think in the '40s they were still dealing with some issues from those previous decades! :)
DeleteYes, reading about racial tension can be difficult to read. As a society we need to continually be restoring relationships.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the Regency Era.
While visiting the author's site, I learned that she also wrote The Georgia Gold Series and that Bright as Gold: Winner of the 2015 John Esten Cooke Literary Award.
Caryl, I love Regency era also for books AND movies! SENSE & SENSIBILITY with Emma Thompson!!
ReplyDeleteThemes of restoration spiritually, emotionally, physically and as a society all run throughout this trilogy. In WHITE, the modern day characters get the chance to come together as family and as a community after learning about the past. I hope you enjoy the story!
I enjoy reading books that occur all throughout different periods of history. I like to be well rounded in that area. I don't usually find historical novels with "disturbing elements of racial tension" difficult to read, since of course they are historical novels. I understand that during those periods things were often seen differently and know that you will occasionally see this in writing.
ReplyDeleteHi, Laura, good news! Even though much of what happened c 1920 in our nation was indeed disturbing both in regard to women and non-caucasian citizens, the story sheds light on how we can come together in family and in community - IN CHRIST. What the main, modern characters learn from the past brings resolution and healing in the present. :)
DeleteI learned that Denise Weimer holds a journalism degree from Asbury University and previously directed a group of mid-1800s dancers. Neat!
ReplyDeleteThat was a lot of fun! We got some beautiful photos!
DeleteI do find some elements of racial tension disturbing. I know that it happened, and unfortunately continues to happen. If only we could learn from the past so we don't keep repeating the same mistakes! I love historical fiction in general, and I have used it as a jumping off point to lead me to non-fiction books and as a result, I have learned a great deal.
ReplyDeleteVicki, that's a smart way to approach fiction! Sometimes I read something in a novel that I am curious about and have to check out the facts on. Honestly, in my writing, the most surprising things are the things that actually happened! I let real history shape the story line, then my goal is to show how God in the mix can redeem human struggles.
DeleteNo I can handle racial reads just fine I like all years of history but I'll pick the early 90's because of new inventions happening in that time period
ReplyDeleteThe 1890s? Yes, that was a fascinating time period for sure. Makes me think of the Magnificent Mile and Fifth Avenue era.
DeleteThe link for the website took me here https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/classic/aff53f5/website but I found it here http://deniseweimerbooks.webs.com/ and Denise holds a journalism degree with a minor in history from Asbury University and for many years directed a group of mid-1800s dancers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda for the information. I apologize for the mis-link. My Oops! moment.
DeleteGlad you found me, Linda, thanks for looking a bit! Asbury is indeed my alma mater. It was fun to go to school in the midst of horse farms and tobacco barns. We enjoyed the Lexington area!
DeleteCongratulations, Jennifer H! I look forward to connecting with you to send your signed novel, and I hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDelete