Ours for a Season

This book deals with human-trafficking in a whole new way. It is very well written and will stay with you after you finish the last page. The author has also included tips at the end on how we can help bring an end to this vile, harmful practice. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for a honest review.

This is the first book I have read from this author. I must say. she is a really good writer!

This story of Mennonite Marty and her husband and her non-Mennonite friend, Brooke is so different! A breath of fresh air, for sure.

The story covers some difficult topics and the author does that very well.

As Marty's husband Anthony and his crew set out to help Brooke with her ghost town project, some really interesting surprises happen, and you can't stop reading this fascinating story.

I have a childhood fascination with ghost towns so this story grabbed me and kept me reading. You will love it as you read how they learn about God's paths for them. Really great read.

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

'Would this fear be her companion for the next several months?'

I was a bit hesitant to read this book because I'm not an Amish/Mennonite fan. But this is very far from the typical Mennonite book. I've enjoyed Kim Vogel Sawyer's books and I read it on the strength of her name alone. I am so glad I did.

Anthony and Marty Hirschler are an Old Order Mennonite couple. They have grown apart since they were told they would never be able to have children. In their culture, that is a huge deal. Marty is practically despondent and does not enjoy life at all. She desperately wants away from their town in Indiana. Anthony is a contractor and works away from home a lot, often feeling guilty that he doesn't have to be around Marty's morose attitude. When Brooke Spaulding, Marty's childhood friend calls and wants Anthony to restore an old ghost town to a resort area, Marty feels it's God's answer to her prayers to get away. They leave to go and fulfill Brooke's request, not knowing that Brooke has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Everything that happens seems to be filling right in with God's plan for them. Then moral complications arise and they are torn with what to do? Should they leave? Should they trust God to reveal His plan?

Kim Vogel Sawyer tackles some pretty tough issues here: marital problems, infertility, cancer, human trafficking, and she does it very well. She fleshes out these characters so well that the reader feels each one's heart. It was a very moving book. Sawyer reaches deep into her readers' hearts and pulls them into the very lives of these characters. It was difficult to put down when life intruded. Highly recommended.

*My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Let me start off by saying I LOVED this book! If you’re looking for a typical Mennonite book, this isn’t it. But, don’t let that keep you from reading it. The message is so powerful, and the story may just stick with you long after the final page (as it certainly will for me).

Old Order Mennonite couple Anthony and Marty have lost a child and are unable to have any more. Anthony is putting himself into his construction business, and he travels a lot, spending time away from his wife. Marty can’t seem to move past her longing to be a mother, and it’s putting a strain on their relationship. Her friend Brooke offers them an opportunity to get away and hopefully heal their marriage, and they decide to go for it and see where God leads them. The journey will take them on some unexpected turns, and they will need to rely on their faith.

There is so much depth to this story, emotionally and spiritually. It’s wonderful to see the way God works through and uses each character, and not one character is wasted. They all fit perfectly together. Brooke was one of my favorites, and she experienced the most character growth. But, then again, so did Elliot, and Marty, and… oh, I just enjoyed them all!
The author tackles some serious issues, such as infertility, marital problems, serious illness, sex trafficking, and homelessness. It’s nice to read a story that doesn’t gloss over such things that are prevalent in today’s society. This powerful story is a reminder that God’s hand is always at work, even if we don’t always see it at the time.

This review was posted on Goodreads, and I'll post on Amazon after the book is released.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

The story of a childless Mennonite couple and their friend who is doing her best to help them regain their footing in their marriage. Themes abound—miscarriage, grief, cancer, human trafficking, etc. It was a beautiful story coming to a satisfying end. Highly recommend!

Thanks to Net Galley for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ours for a Season by Kim Vogel Sawyer, is a heartfelt story about coming to turns with heartache and lost dreams. This book had a powerful message that will stay with you long after you put it down.
Old Order Mennonite couple, Anthony and Marty, are struggling to keep their marriage together. Right after the loss of a child, they are given the heartbreaking news that they will never be able to have a child of their own. All Marty has ever wanted is to be a mother and she struggles for years to come to terms with her new reality.
Brooke, Marty’s childhood friend, has built a successful life for herself as a real estate tycoon. Her newest venture will be her biggest score yet, and she wants Anthony to lead the reconstruction of her new ghost town.
Anthony, Marty, and Brooke have no idea what God has in store for them when they start on this new adventure.
Kim does an impressive job with keeping the reader interested as she presents some very serious topics in her novel. You don’t generally see sex trafficking and homelessness arise in many books and she does a great job keeping the story going while opening the eyes of her characters and readers. The take away message is that God always has a hand in our lives even if we are too blind to see.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from netgalley.com and WaterBrook & Multnomah in return for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.