A young widow joins her aunt’s house-restoration project in the wilderness, determined to take a stand for independence, but two men have different plans for her—and so does God.
“Don’t bury yourself in that wilderness!” her relatives say. “Even though you’re a widow, you’re still young.”
No matter what they think, Madeleine decides to go. She’ll help her aunt restore the old house; she’ll sign up for an online baking course; and she’ll bury—yes, bury—those terrible memories. “From now on,” she tells herself, “I’m going to be strong and independent.”
Her plan seems to be working, except for the panic attacks, until she has to deflect the attentions of two men.
The doctor, who has a fire-scarred past, is not upset by her panic attacks and knows he can help her to heal. The writer, who conceals more than one secret, admires her spirit and is certain that she needs him.
God uses both men and her father’s gift of a floral paperweight to remind her of His enduring “forever love,” and as she yields to Him, she finds the courage to take a new and challenging path.
Excerpt
Chapter 2
The wipers swished back and forth across her windshield, clearing portholes in the sluicing rain.
Runn-ing a-way. Runn-ing a-way.
Madeleine gripped the steering wheel. No, she was hurrying towards a new life. She was going to share her aunt’s Great Adventure and find one of her own. Did she have the courage to make it happen?
She shifted gears and sent her red Grand Am past a lumbering truck.
First, get rid of the emotional baggage—the grief and the fearful memories. Leave them behind. She had to.
Second, do a fantastic job for Aunt Lin and save every penny she earned. The time she’d spent studying art and working at the antique store would come in handy.
Third, take one of those baking courses she’d been dreaming about.
The rain became a fine mist, and veils of fog rolled down from the Virginia hills. She changed lanes to join the slower traffic, watching for tail lights ahead of her.
Professional Reviews
The Forever Stone
Believable! Just the right combination of action, traumatic dysfunction, mystery and romance. This is a story of broken people finding hope and restoration. Loved it and could not stop reading.
Madeline (Mollie), widowed, feels broken and unable to love or trust again. She flees the legally shady, shallow, dysfuncional presence of her mother and the pressure of family to remarry after her husband's death--a tragedy for which she is grateful? She flees to stay with a paternal aunt to help restore an old mansion and develop a plan to become strong again and independent. The aunt while providing a place where Mollie can deal with grief and get her head together, flits in and out as Mollie and crew clean and restore room after room. In the community Mollie encounters secret upon secret, broken families, broken parents, broken children and animals--all of whom seem to find their way into Mollie's heart and some into her home. Even a "snake" got into the house, but you will have read to the end to find how he was "smoked out!" In the process of helping others she not only becomes an instrument of healing but at the same time finds love and healing herself.
At one point I wished I could see how much of the book remained. I wanted the sad, horrid happenings to stop but they kept going on and on! Yet, I could not put the book down! I thought the depiction very believable. Some people's lives do seem to keep going from one horrible event to another! Repp did a masterful job in depicting teen responses to emotional and physical abuse, post-traumatic stress and the grief process. I also appreciated the strength, wisdom and faith of Timothy -- and that God's "forever love" won the day!
I would heartily recommend this book. Good characters, good development and never preachy. The story was gripping. I think anyone who reads would enjoy it.
Superb Writing
The thing I loved most about this book was its writing style. It hooked me to keep reading to the end.
Yes, there were a lot of religious references, but even as a non-believer, I found it a quiet and loving belief - though I suppose Mollie should have been given credit for her strength, I suppose it was the author's way of giving it to her.
It's a great story, I loved the characters. There was suspense, mystery and romance, all superbly written.
I don't give spoilers but will recommend this story as a good read.
A Touching Story of Brokenness, Healing and Love,
This book centers around a young widow named Madeleine, known as "Mollie". She leaves home to go and help her aunt restore an old home in an attempt to escape her grief and painful past. However, instead she finds healing, hope and love. Not only does she find romantic love, but also a "forever love" in God.
I enjoyed reading this book - I enjoyed the story and the deeper meaning behind it. It was a good reminder to me of God's "forever love" - even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Throughout the book is also woven a mystery that is solved at the end.
Jodi and Nick’s chance for romance was never realized while they were in high school. Now, five years later, they meet again. Will a class reunion be their first—and last—chance at love?
Reunion of Souls is a sweet, contemporary romance abo
