Abigail Monroe has left her
family in Briar Ridge to seek a new life in Porterfield, Texas. The young woman
has no plans for marriage, however upon arrival Abigail spots a young man in
the towns Infirmary. After opening up a Library across the street Abigail
learns that the young, quiet and efficient man is Doctor Elliot Jenson, who
moved to Porterfield to escape from his tragic past in Cleveland, Ohio. One day when Abigail comes into the clinic
after an accident that caused a sprained ankle, Doc. Elliot realises that he is
falling in love with Abigail and her presence brings back too many bad memories
from Cleveland two years ago. Doc. Elliot tries avoiding Abigail as much as
possible and that includes the countless appointments. Over time Abigail
realises that something is wrong with the Doc., but can’t put a finger on it,
with the Doc. so protective about his past it is hard to get into his private
life. Abigail and family then pray for the young Doctor, after learning that he
has not picked up a Bible in years and feels that Scriptures are useless in his
life. Abigail is getting impatient, can’t the poor Doctor see that she has
feelings for him, but does he have feelings for her?
When
I found this book I thought that it would be good because of the beautiful
front cover, wouldn’t anyone want to look like that. When I read the synopsis
on the back of the book, I was hooked, hadn’t even opened the book to read the first
chapter. I loved this book so much that I read it in five days, which is fast
for me. I enjoyed the book because it was a love story and the minute that the
book started that love story had already started. I especially enjoyed this love
story because it involved a Doctor and a woman that loved the poor Doctor, but
he just ignored her.
My
favourite character in Winters Promise would be Doc. Elliot Jenson. He has come
from a rough past and feels that it is God’s fault, because of the death of his
Angela; Elliot believes that he didn’t need Scriptures to tell him about life,
medicine was a science with truths he could rely on. Through countless
appointments with Abigail after she sprained her ankle after locking the door
on the Library and falling down the stairs, Elliot realises that it has been
two years since he’d been so affected by a young woman and he didn’t welcome
the feeling. After days of sulking because of his past, Elliot decides that it
is time to turn to Scriptures. Elliot learns that God is the only one that stays
true and never leaves our side. Then learns that we live in a broken world and
sin, suffering and death still hold sway, and not until Christ returns will
they be completely vanquished, and in this world we will never understand why
God allows suffering.
Reading
this be of a song, from an old Veggie Tale when I was young and it was about
courage and God never leaving our side. So here it is.
Tell me why, I don’t
understand.
Tell me why, or
show me your hand.
Tell me why
because I can’t see my way through
What now….should I…..do
The battle is not
ours
We look to God
above
For He will guide
us safely thought
And guard us with
his love
I will not be
afraid
I will not run and
hide
For there is
nothing we can’t face when God is at my side
No, there is
nothing we can’t face
When God is at our
side
The battle is not
ours
We look to God
above
For He will guide
us safely through
And guard us with
His love
This passage was mentioned
throughout the book, and was mentioned to Doc. Elliot by his Uncle, many times
but he didn't want to go to it because he thought that the Scriptures wouldn't do
anything for him. Elliot’s Uncle told Elliot to read Psalm 139. And Psalm 139
says:
1You
have searched me Lord, and you know me.
2You
know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3You
discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways
4Before
a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.
5You
hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
6Such
knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
7Where
can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8If
I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are
there.
9If
I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10even
there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11If
I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
12even
the darkness will not be dark for you; the night will shine like the day, for
darkness is as light to you.
13For
you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother womb.
14I
praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are
wonderful, I know full well.
15My
frame is not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was
woven together in the depths of the earth.
16Your
eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17How
precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
18Where
I count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand- when I awake, I am still
with you.
19If
only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, who are you bloodthirsty!
20They
speak of you with the evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
21Do
I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against
you?
22I
have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
23Search
me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24See
if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
If you
enjoyed this book review and want to read more Christian Book Reviews go to
Faithful Books. And if you want to know more about the amazing author that
wrote this book, go to her
website, and check out her
facebook page.
Sadie Sillsby works as the assistant to the matron at the Raystown Home for Orphan and Friendless Children and dreams of the day she'll marry her beau, Blaine. But when the matron surprises everyone by announcing her own engagement, Sadie is suddenly next in line for the job. For a young woman who was once an orphan herself, a shot at such an esteemed position is a wish come true.
In 1763 Massachusetts, Susanna Smith has grown up with everything she's ever wanted, except one thing: an education. Because she's a female, higher learning has been closed to her, but her quick mind and quicker tongue never back down from a challenge. She's determined to put her status to good use, reaching out to the poor and deprived. And she knows when she marries well, she will be able to continue her work with the less fortunate. 
