Review: Integrity!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 2, 2011
Integrity is the word I have to use for Ms. Turansky and her writing. In Surrendered Hearts she had the integrity to write her characters with biblical knowledge and they weren't afraid to be obedient to what they knew to be right.  The believers in this book reminded me of many passages from Proverbs about acting in wisdom and knowledge of the Word, even when their hearts feel contrary.  Being pulled in different directions, they still prayed for what they needed to do, and then, surprise of surprises... they DID it.- Bill was clearly attracted to his roommate's sister, Jenn, but knowing she wasn't walking with the Lord meant he couldn't pursue a relationship with her.  Integrity.  Do you know how many authors won't write their characters that way so as to avoid offending fence-sitters? Or to attract a wider variety of readers, thereby risking their own spiritual integrity?- His roommate, Wes, wanted what was best for his sister (which might have been a wonderful man like Bill), but agreed that a relationship based on attraction alone wasn't healthy.  It needed a mutual love for the Lord.  Integrity.- Everyone shared their faith in some ways with Jenn and encouraged her to realize God's blessings without minimizing her hurts. Integrity!Jenn, healing from burns, and the inward scars burns can leave in a person was a part of the book, but not so central that a reader would feel apprehensive about reading it.  Very well dealt with.  In fact, in my own life, as a teenager, I suffered pretty severe burns that left one hand "not normal" looking.  Reading this book has actually caused me to do a lot of thinking about how I deal with it publicly, which is to basically hide it and never speak of it.  Clearly this book has pushed me into working on that, as this week is the first time I've ever spoken of it publicly.The supportive characters let her know that anyone who loves her, or who counts in her life, doesn't really see the scars... they see her.  What the Lord sees, and what loved ones see is her heart, and the scars are peripheral.This is the first of Carrie Turansky's books I've read, and I can see I missed the first one about Wes and his bride.  Looking forward to picking it up and anything else she puts out.