The Promised Land - Elizabeth Musser

 

From www.christianbook.com :

"Loss is engulfing Abbie! Her father is going blind; her eldest, Bobby, is taking a year off studies; and her husband is leaving her. Desperate for healing, she follows her son along the famous Camino pilgrimage route---encountering Rasa, an Iranian secretly aiding refugees, and Caroline, a journalist in search of answers. Will their souls find rest?"

There was a lot of depth to this book about needing to let go of control and guilt and the things we're holding onto too tightly that might not be what God wants for us.  As Abbie tried to find the parts of herself that she'd let go of as she tried to control her family under the guise of keeping them safe and organized, she found that she really could listen to others and she was able to bring comfort to those who felt lost.

This book definitely felt like it would be a richer read if I had followed these characters' full stories through the author's previous books; while it read well as a stand alone, I wish I had known the full story to fully appreciate the growth and challenges each of the characters' faced.  

I give this book 4 stars. It was well-written, and had I read the characters' full arcs, it could have easily been a 5-star read for me.

You can find The Promised Land HERE.
You can find connect with the author on Facebook HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Words Unspoken - Elizabeth Musser

Lissa Randall is stuck.  She hasn't been able to drive since her mother died in a tragic accident for which she blames herself.  Since she can't drive, she needs driven to her library job at her old school, and won't consider college plans.  Trying to take a step forward, she begins driving lessons with Ev McAllistair who teaches her much more than where to find her turn signals and headlights; with Ev, she begins to learn to hope again.

This book had been sitting in my queue for awhile, but I am so glad I picked it back out!  There were so many interwoven characters and stories in this book that it could have been confusing, but it was done so well that even before the stories began to weave together, each subplot was engaging and worth investing in.  Every story had its need for forgiveness and redemption; every character had a need to both forgive and be forgiven.  There is a lot of heartbreak in this book, both in the characters' pasts, and in the present telling of their stories, but within that heartbreak comes healing and strength to go on.

I give this book 4 stars.  It's been awhile since I've read a book with such complex characters and such rich backstories.

You can find Words Unspoken HERE.
You can find the author's website HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.