Epub file on my kindle corrupted (lost old one and had to redownload everything from Amazon) so am unable to access - thank you for the opportunity.

How do you keep your heart soft after being hurt so much by the real cruelty of the life? How do you believe that God is still on the lookout for your heart, even in your guilt, shame and/or pain?

Wonderful, touching, raw and real. Not a dull word. 5 stars is not enough.

I am at loss with words and effort of how to describe the truthful, honest and yet tender message of this novel. It will touch your heart, then break it repetitively into a thousand pieces and them make a better one of it. Or, better, it takes a raw material of you and transform it into a gem.

There are two stories in the book - one of Jakob, a 4-year-old Messianic Jewish boy running away from the uninagimable cruelties of pogroms in Ukraine in the beginning of 19th century. And the story of Nel, 43-year-old daughter of Jakob, taking care of his ailing father in his last days. And both are nurturing hidden pain in their hearts. Jakob is hiding his shame and pain of not helping his family in the horrible moments and Nel is hiding her pain of not be able to have a child because of wrong choice.

But this is mostly the story of Jakob. And it is a painful story which is hurting even me (another proof of how good this novel is!). The bloodsheds of pogroms in Ukraine are a new information for me (even if Ukraine is the country neighboring with mine), maybe because of the communism and mismatched history, but one I welcome - we can´t forget things like this. But oh, what the dark times. The land had to cried the blood tears, as they say.

Jakob left his land with his brother, but the scars stayed with him all of his life. Even the beautiful years in the loving marriage with Catherine had not healed them. But the hope is not lost and maybe in his last days he will be able to realize that there is love in the world. And hope. And the unthinkable power of God.
The same goes for Nel, demonstrated maybe in the more physical form - in the loving arms of a man who himself know what pain is - but the message is not less whole and complete.

I am at loss with words. But touched the more. Read this and let yourself heal (at least a bit), if you are amongst the ones hurt by life.