New giveaway! Enter to win Love Finds You in Nazareth, PA by Melanie Dobson (plus bonus review!)

To enter for a chance to win this great holiday story, simply read my review and then post a comment as to why you'd like to win this book. That's easy, right? I'll select a winner using the Randomizer program next Sunday. Best wishes to you all and have a great week!


About the book:

Christian and Susanna had never met when they were chosen by lot to marry in a Moravian community in Germany. But in 1755, they traveled with a dozen other newly married couples to Nazareth, Pennsylvania, to help establish a Moravian borough and share their faith with the surrounding Indian nations. Susanna's heart warms toward her new husband even after she learns that he had wished to marry another woman in Germany. As war rages between the British and French Indians and their young marriage faces hardship, Susanna wonders if Christian will ever return her love.

My review:


This was a deeply insightful book with the kind of emotional tie-in that I always expect when I read one of Melanie's books. She does such an impeccable job with research and with communicating so many things between characters with few words spoken. I love that about her writing. My heart was broken a number of times for these characters. I found that part of the pull of the story, which kept me reading in anticipation of how things would work out.

One thing I love about Melanie's books is that her characters always have a consistent and strong "voice" that is grounded in their culture. This author doesn't have to agree with it to write it well. My heart hurt for those separated families and those children. They really believed they were doing the right thing. Plus that whole decision by "the lot" thing was intriguing and a bit heart-wrenching as well. The good thing is God used even man's foolishness to accomplish His will in those "iffy" cases.

The mission to the Native Americans captured my attention as well. I loved the characters' hearts for the lost. I felt like I was fully entrenched in their belief system and experienced their conflicts along with them. The whole way their society dealt with marriage was seriously flawed, but the author was true to the times. I can't imagine having to sneak away to be with my own husband or limiting our private time to one our per week in the room designated for that act. Oy, how embarrassing that would be to have people know why you were going in there.

I guess they took that sex for procreating "only" thing a bit too seriously, though the author never mentioned that in the book. I believe many religious societies held that view. I can't imagine... In short, this was a deep, moving, emotional story that dealt with a number of issues including forgiveness, true love, following God's will, and learning to be content wherever God has placed you. It must have been difficult to fear the very people you have come to share Christ's love with. The fact that they persevered anyway was truly inspiring, and no doubt rewarding for them as well. Great story!

Love Finds You in Nazareth, PA was published by Summerside and released in October 2011.