Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

www.biblegateway.com


Thursday, June 30, 2016

Jilted Book Review

Mended Hearts Series
Book Three

SUMMARY:  A heartbroken woman desires to move beyond old memories.  But will her past give way to hope?
     Lynda Turner has struggled with depression since her husband abandoned her and their young daughter fifteen years ago.  Yet unexpected hope awakens when a local ex-convict shows interest.  As long-hidden secrets resurface, Lynda must fight for her emotional stability and for a life in which the shadow of shame is replaced by the light of love.
     Jilted tells of a woman who has lost the joy of living, of a man determined to draw her back toward happiness, and of a town that must - once and for all - leave the past where it belongs.  It is a gentle reminder that all things can work together for good.

REVIEW:  Jilted is different from any other book I've read.  The main character, Lynda, struggles with depression.  She wants to hide herself away from everything and everyone, except her daughter. Lynda fights it by taking a job in a local diner and helping her sister.  The romantic lead, Clyde, is an ex-con who was convicted of a crime he didn't commit.  Even though he's been released, the town will not let him forget.  I really struggled with the attitude of the townsfolk and church members.  Even though Clyde has changed for the better, no one in the community or church want much to do with him.  Even Lynda had been asked to find another place to worship because of her struggles with depression and the stigma of her husband leaving her.  That's not the way the church should act.  The author uses a major event to help the church overcome their pharisaic bias and reach out to all peoples.
     The way Clyde treats Lynda when she is having an episode is tender and encouraging.  He talks to her, listens to her and does what he can to diffuse the triggers.  When information about her husband is uncovered, Clyde is there for Lynda, helping her find ways to adjust instead of retreating into her all too familiar depression. 
     This is the third book in this series but is great on its own.  The other books provide more information about Lynda's daughter Ruthie, Fawn and the town where they live but are not necessary to read Jilted

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group and David Cook 
for review without compensation.

Varina Denman writes stories about the unique struggles women face.  She has five children, teaches creative writing and literature, volunteers in her local homeschool cooperative, and boasts 16 years as a home educator.  She resides with her family in North Texas.  Her first novel, Jaded, won the 2013 ACFW Genesis Award.

1 comment:

Varina Denman said...

Thank you for reading and reviewing Jilted. Much appreciated. :)