"She had many regrets, but she also had, at long last, a contrite heart. And God loved contrite hearts. He could work with them in their brokenness. He could offer them do-overs and new dreams. Maybe He could even delete the echoes. After all, He was God." (pg. 277, Heart Echoes by Sally John c.2012)
The above quote struck me as a great way to sum up this story. There are several phrases in the story that struck a chord with me although I've never been in the situations that the main characters have been in. But their emotional and spiritual turmoil resonated with me......maybe because I have often (in the past) wanted to control my life, too and learned that there is only peace when we allow God to take control.
STORY SUMMARY
Teal Morgan-Adams, a successful lawyer who takes on women's issues is married to River. They've been happily married for almost 4 years. He is a great step-dad to her 16 yr old daughter Maiya, who has never known her biological father. In fact, Teal was never married to Maiya's father. Teal has never even revealed to any one just who Maiya's father was. They live in LA and have just experienced a devastating earthquake. Teal has a bit of post-traumatic stress disorder going on as a result. River is hurt in the earthquake and Maiya is missing!! Much of LA is in chaos from this earthquake and now it seems that there is chaos entering into the family.
Teal and River discover that Maiya has been seeing one of the delinquent boys that River works with (Jake, age 19) at a private school for troubled boys. Jake is a few years older than Maiya and is not allowed to date her. Maiya insists that they are just good friends.
Soon, Maiya is suspended from school for letting Jake into the building and putting the school into lockdown. She is definitely headed for trouble. Teal decides this might be a good time to take her back to her hometown of Cedar Pointe, Oregon. This small town is one that Teal has avoided almost her entire adult life. She comes from a very dysfunctional family, with an alcoholic, physically and verbally abusive step-father (Owen) and an emotionally distant mother (Randi). In fact, Teal only knew her own biological father until the age of 3 when he abandoned her and Randi. Teal has been closed to others emotionally, ever since the abandonment. It has affected her life to the point where she does not share intimately with friends or family members.
Meanwhile, Lacey (Teal's step-sister) and Will are in a crisis. Lacey is in remission from breast cancer and had a miscarriage a few months earlier. They own and operate the coffee and gift shop in town that Will's parents used to own before their retirement. Lacey and Will and his parents are Christians. Teal and River are Christians too but Teal has trouble allowing God to take control of her life due to the abandonment issues and her secrets regarding Maiya's father.
Maiya begins to ponder who her biological father is and wants Teal to tell her. Because River can't take off from work for the 6 week suspension period, Teal and Maiya go to Cedar Pointe without him. This puts a strain on their marriage. Teal, meanwhile, continues to work constantly rather than spending much needed quality time with Maiya. Teal is constantly on her cell or laptop trying to work on a case involving a young mom and a custody battle. It brings up old wounds from her own life. She is forced to face the secrets from her past.....and comes face to face with God. There are many lies she must face...that echo throughout her heart. Will she open up to River and to her daughter? just who is Maiya's father and how does the knowledge of him involve Will and Lacey? Will she learn that God loves her no matter what?
MY THOUGHTS
I really enjoyed this contemporary fiction from a very good Christian author.
Her main theme throughout the book is that God does love us unconditionally and passionately.
Other themes that resonated with me were that we all have choices to make. When trying times come, we can run and hide....but we can never run and hide from God. The author points out in this story that our hearts echo with our experiences, with what others say about us or to us, and with our perspectives on events or situations. To hear a new echo.....a new message from the One who can speak it into our lives, requires us to have a heart that is ready to receive this message.....that He does love us no matter what and not based on performance. He can take our messy pasts and make something new with our lives.
This book is appropriate for ages 14 and older, in my opinion.
On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.
1 comment:
I'll have to take a look for this one. The series I read that authored with Gary Smalley was the Safe Harbour series. I did enjoy that one.
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