From This Moment by Kim Vogel Sawyer

About the Book:

After losing his fiancée in a terrible accident, heartbroken Jase Edgar abandons Texas and all its troubling memories for the chance to start over as a youth minister in small town Kansas. But as someone who spent his entire childhood adrift in the foster-care system, he struggles with a sense of belonging and can’t seem to set aside his doubts long enough to fully embrace his new life. After all, how can a God who’s supposed to be good allow such awful things to happen?

Lori Fowler is battling her own challenges. Due to a strained relationship with her father and a hidden eating disorder, she’s never been sure she is worthy of love. She conceals her insecurities beneath her spunky personality, and even her best friend, Kenzie Stetler, a former Amish woman living apart from her family in the English world, doesn’t realize how desperate Lori is for change.

When a donation to Kenzie’s weaving project leads to a puzzling mystery, the lives of these three people will intersect in ways no one ever expected. The journey will require courage…if they ever hope to release the past and move forward into a joyful future.

My Review:

Sawyer offers readers a gentle exploration of characters, how to heal from past tragedy, how to overcome dysfunctional relationships, and how to dare to share the good news to works oriented parents.

This novel takes us into the lives of several people and the narrative jumps from person to person. Each one has an obstacle to overcome. Jase is in a time of spiritual dryness, wondering where God is after the devastating loss of his fiancée. Kenzie is still trying to understand God's grace having grown up in a very restrictive Amish sect. Lori turns to food, trying to fill the emptiness she feels. And Merlin hides his medical condition from his loving wife. They work together to help each other as we see the importance of friends in healing and spiritual growth. They must wrestle with issues of trust and honesty while allowing others to be a part of their lives.

Readers who like tender novels about everyday Christians learning how to navigate the life God has given them will like this novel. There are discussion questions included and I can see a reading group having a lively meeting centered on this story. And you'll have to have brownies. Fortunately, the recipe for the best brownies is included in the book.

My favorite line in the book, from husband to wife: “When God designed you, He must've been showing off.”

You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a highly acclaimed, bestselling author with more than one million books in print in several different languages. Her titles have earned numerous accolades, including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.

Kim lives with her retired military husband, Don, in central Kansas, where she continues to write gentle stories of hope. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and her grandchildren. You can find out more at https://kimvogelsawyer.com/. 

WaterBrook, 352 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by the publisher.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)