Positive Grace by Deb Haggerty

Deb’s Dozen: Three needy children, one widower, one woman with estranged daughter, plus God!

Jacqueline Dunn, flooded out of her home by a hurricane, moves to Willow Springs to be near her estranged daughter, Delana. Jacqueline had neglected Delana when she was growing up and now Delana barely wants anything to do with her mother.

Jonathan Cohen, widower, has moved to Willow Springs for a new railroad job and to be near his sister, Beanie, and her husband, Walter. But all is not well at his new job.

Gavin, Adele, and baby Jaya—and a mother who’d rather chase men than care for her children—are in a local church shelter opened to help those flooded out by the hurricane.

Will Jacqueline stay and keep trying to win Delana’s trust? Will Jonathan survive at his new job or be fired just short of retirement? What are the children to do when their mom takes off and they’re separated? Will they ever be together again?

Jennifer Slattery adeptly melds these stores together at the same time as she educateds us about the paucity of help for those in need after a disaster. She also shows us the disaster that is many a child services system. I didn’t like reading the descriptions of foster homes and homes for boys. I didn’t like reading about the plight of those who’ve lost everything. But she made me aware of the great need—and I can pray for solutions and those people caught in such a situation.

I did, however, like the characters—and I prayed they’d all have “happily ever afters.” I was hooked by Slattery’s character development and by my need to continue to read until she resolved their situations.

You will laugh, cry, and become involved with all of these people—and you will see how their dependence on God helps them in their struggles. I can’t call this a good read, because the conditions made me very uncomfortable, but When Dawn Breaks is a compelling one—and reminded me there is always a dawn! Four stars.

New Hope Publishers gave me a copy of this book in exchange for my candid review.

Deb’s Dozen: Hadassah, unaware of her beauty becomes, to her amazement, Queen of Persia.

Beauty does not always benefit the woman who possesses it. On occasion it betrays her, and at other times it endangers her, even to the point of death.

We are all familiar with the Biblical story of Esther, the Jewish woman who becomes Queen of Persia. Esther saves her people from extinction, but what do we know about the times and culture in which she lived?

Angela Hunt has given us a beautifully-written and researched fictionalization of Esther’s story. The ancient times come to life through her pen (computer?) as she portrays the day to day events in the life of Hadassah, her uncle, Mordecai, and her aunt, Miriam.

Told through the eyes of Hadassah (Esther) and Harbonah, King Xerxes’ chief eunuch, we switch back and forth between life in the Jewish quarter of Susa and life in the king’s palace.

Hadassah is much like most modern teen girls as she grows up—somewhat selfish, intrigued by material things, worried about her looks and her clothing. One wonders how someone so superficial could grow up into the woman who would save her people.

Harbonah is a likeable character given to musings about the king and keeping him satisfied. Seeing Hadassah one day while accompanying Queen Vashti’s entourage through the market, he becomes intrigued with the beauty of Mordecai’s young niece. Neither Hadassah nor Harbonah knows the role the girl who becomes Esther will play.

Hunt’s portrayal of Esther reminded me somewhat of Tommy Tenney’s book, Hadassah: One Night with the King, released in 2005. I thought I had read parts of the this book previously because I had read Tenney’s book. However, the similarities are not great enough to detract from the enjoyment of Hunt’s Esther.

I loved Angie’s retelling of Esther’s story and watching young Hadassah grow into the role of Queen of Persia. The interactions between Esther and Harbonah are fascinating as are the descriptions of Persian life in the palace.

Five stars—you’ll love this first entry in the Dangerous Beauty series.

Bethany House gave me a copy of Esther for my candid review.