Review: The Wordsmith Journal: Reviewed by Linda Attaway
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 30, 2012
Just as Jesus spoke in parables to teach his disciples, so can an author of Christian fiction weave threads of truth throughout a story, providing the reader a thoughtful experience in addition to a pleasant  read.Such is the case with Give Us This Day by June Foster.  This character-driven novel introduces us to Jess Dalton and Holly Harrison as they become trapped together inside an elevator at the apartment complex where they both live.  Bonded by their experience, they move beyond acquaintances to become friends - safe friends, because each is certain that his/her flaws guarantee that the other would never consider a romantic relationship.For Jess, it is his weight.  He successfully quit drinking upon becoming a Christian, but he now weighs more than 300 pounds,  a result of replacing alcohol with a food addiction.  He despises who he has become and his self-loathing is compounded by the insensitive comments others make, yet he continues to turn to food to cope.  Completely discouraged, he is convinced that no woman will ever love him, certainly not one as lovely as Holly.Holly feels unworthy of love due to her prosthetic leg, a constant reminder of a time in her life when she had strayed from God's path.  Although she sees beyond Jess's outward appearance and is drawn to his kindness and gentle ways, her shame and guilt keep her from revealing her scars to him, certain that he would reject her.Give Us This Day is a charming story that illustrates how internal issues can keep an individual from accepting the grace s/he offers to others.  Foster writes with sensitivity as she demonstrates the inner battles with which Jess and Holly wrestle, as well as the hope and fresh starts within their reach. Far from being a heavy or preachy book, however, this book can be equally enjoyed by readers simply looking for an satisfying story as well as those who like a bit more depth in their leisure pursuits.(The Wordsmith Journal strives to guide readers to books of personal interest, with the understanding and respect that what appeals to some may not appeal to others. Therefore we attempt to keep our reviews focused on content, genre and style. The rating is necessary to make use of Goodreads and Amazon. It reflects the reviewer's own level of enjoyment, but the review is intended to be informative for the benefit of all readers.)