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Be Still My Soul - A Review

by Dawn Janis

September 17, 2012

@DawnJanis

Lonnie Sawyer is the oldest child in her family. When she walks home from a community event one evening with handsome neighbor Gideon O'Reilly, she doesn't realize her life will change. Gideon is a bit of a ladies man and the man mothers warn their daughters to stay away from. He doesn't think one kiss will change his life either. When her father learns of Gideon's kissing Lonnie, he's outraged and insists that the two marry immediately. Soon after they're married, Gideon packs up Lonnie and they leave their small community. He's sullen about having to be married, and she's scared of this man she barely knows and doesn't love. Yet through it all, Lonnie clings to the fact that God is watching over her. Will Gideon ever truly love her and they find happiness together or will he forever resent her for forcing him to settle down?

This is the debut novel by Joanne Bischof. Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the early 1900's, I was quickly drawn into the lives of Lonnie and Gideon. What I found the most fascinating was the fact that Gideon struggled to do what was right. Even with the love shown him by an older couple, he's still reluctant to admit that there was a God who loved him enough to care for him. His breaking point was his turning point. I loved how the author showed Gideon as flawed and was still redeemable. Lonnie's sweetness was touching as well. I look forward to reading the second book in this series sometime next year as I want to see what else will happen in the lives of Gideon and Lonnie.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook/Multnomah's Blogging for Books program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Catherine Marshall's Christy, Janette Oke's Love Comes Softly series

Rating - 4 stars