A Soft Place to Fall
by Liz Flaherty
Reviewed by Kim Ford

“He’d been a soft place to fall long before it had become wither a popular phrase of the name of a quilt shop.”  

Liz Flaherty has written a tender story that will rock your heart to the core and cause you to consider the soft place to fall in your own life.  The story of the McGrath family begins at a very broken point.  Divorce after many years of marriage becomes rather like trying to untangle the threads of – well, of a quilt for instance.  The stitches of your life are so blended that its hard to determine a good or right place to begin pulling it apart.  Early and Nash McGrath have grown children, grandchildren and aging parents to care for, and they are finding it difficult to move in separate directions with so many threads binding their hearts and minds.  Nash has declared his intent, and Early finds herself in a home of her own, running a business and caring for her parents.  Is this the new direction of her life?

Direction is something that both Nash and Early are seeking, and both of them can’t seem to find anyone to point the way.  And then….life takes unexpected and alarming twists and turns, and the entire McGrath family must make profound decisions that will change the course of their lives forever.

Flaherty’s novel is a magnificent portrait of family, mercy and unfailing grace.  This novel kept me glued to each page, and left me challenged and changed.  It has mounting tension, realistic emotion and family dynamics that will make your heart ache.  I laughed. I cried. I was left a different person than when I began the journey.  I enthusiastically recommend this novel!!

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Need a soft place to fall? How about the arms of your Savior?

Reviewer's Choice Award Winner!
The Wisdom Tree
by Mary Manners

Review of The Wisdom Tree
by Deena Peterson (2012)

"The Wisdom Tree" by Mary Manners is an extremely enjoyable reading experience.  Mary knows how to sprinkle the literary breadcrumbs to keep you turning page after page until the tale she has spun concludes.
 
Jake Samuels has his hands full, pastoring a congregation and raising his kid brother.  Corey used to be so different: happier, more lively and able to laugh easily.  Losing their parents in a tragic accident has robbed Jake of both his parents and his younger brother.  Can anything break through the wall of defiance Corey's built up?
 
Enter new middle school English teacher Carin O'Malley, eager to teach and more strict than expected.  When she and Corey butt heads over his outrageous behavior and lack of effort, Carin has no choice but to conference with his older brother.
 
When a case of mistaken identity gets Jake and Carin off on the wrong footing, a disagreeable introduction quickly turns into a joint task force on helping Corey for the better.  Can cooperation lead to romance?  Will Carin's secret past be a stumbling block to finding love, or will Pastor Jake be able to help her find faith in God once again?
 
Mary has crafted a novel that's rich with faith and filled with delightful characters.  Even though Corey is an obvious handful, it doesn't take long for his pain to reach you through the words on the page, and Jake's evident love for his brother and for God are easy to spot as well.  You'll be curious about Carin's past and urging her to unburden herself and to lean into God...and to fall in love with Jake along the way!

As a bonus, Mary includes a 31-day journal.  Since it was good for Corey (and he's fictional) it's good for us to!  I enjoyed reading through the daily devotions, and each day's reading includes easy to respond to questions, a passage from Scripture, and a prayer for you to guide you as you speak to God about what you've read.

This is the first of Mary's novels for me, and I'm eager to read more. 

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Disclaimer 

Our goal at The Wordsmith Journal Magazine is to introduce readers to authors of books with a strong moral message. Primarily Christian based, we do not adhere to any particular denomination, nor do we question the integrity or worship of our readers, interview candidates, sponsors, columnists, reviewers, or authors who advertise with us. We understand reading is subjective and what one person deems sweet, clean, cozy or inspirational, another will not. Please know we do not read nor endorse every book advertised in our magazine but trust that the author understands our goal and his or her work fits the desires of our readers.