Review: Joy comes from putting Jesus first. It's what's inside that counts!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 25, 2014
The year is 1888 and Ruth Glick is 18 years old. She has been helping out old Mr. Fisher and one day comes upon him unconscious on the floor from a fall. His son, Gabriel, is the closest relative but he was shunned by the community 10 years ago and now owns a profitable saloon in the nearby town. Seeing that no one else wants to go talk with him, Ruth rides with a neighbor to town and walks bravely, although in trepidation, into the saloon. Will Gabriel come help his father?Ruth is known throughout the community for her delicious cooking and so continues to bring food for Mr. Fisher. What does she think when Gabriel brings his friend, Constance? Ruth is not used to having the "English" around and seeing how they dress etc but she does not shun them. In fact, she especially enjoys the banter back and forth with Gabriel.What about her relationship with Isaac Zook, her betrothed? Is he truly the man for her? One Sunday evening, after their courting, Ruth's life changes for ever when she wakes up to the smell of smoke. Sacrificing herself to get Abe her brother out of the house, Ruth suffers dreadful burns and is expected to die. When she pulls through she has to get used to people flinching at the sight of her followed by looks of pity. Who is the one person that treats her just as he always has? Is it Isaac? Is he happy to marry her, despite her dis-figuration? Does he see her for who she truly is? OR does God have a different and better husband for her? Ruth longs for a mirror to see what she looks like. Who begrudgingly gets her one? What is her reaction?This is the third and final book in the Faith and Peril Trilogy. I have really enjoyed this series but have to admit that I did not enjoy this book as much as the first two. It was very slow moving to start with, there were more editorial errors and a LOT of repetition - for example: talks about the seating arrangements in church way too much. I absolutely LOVED the conversations between Ruth and Gabriel. They were alive, vibrant and very real. This is what made the story for me. SO overall a great series that I do recommend but this one could have been better with some "tweaking."