Book Review: BRIDGE TO HAVEN

Guys! I've got to take a break from reading page turners! I can't get anything done once I've started a good, quick-read book. I become just about the laziest person on the planet, looking for any excuse at all to sit down with my book. "Oh I think I'll get in the car line today instead of walking to pick up my kids so I can read for an extra 10 minutes." "I can make mac n cheese tonight. Those ingredients for a nice, home cooked meal will last one more day." "Just one more section before I check my email." "I didn't sleep well last night. I should probably just relax today and read for a bit." And then that "bit" turns into ALL. DAY. LONG.

I have a problem.

What's a girl to do when her favorite thing in the whole wide world is reading and her kids are at school all day and she has a nice husband who doesn't nag about housework being ignored and she has a day off from her random schedule of part-time work? Well, I guess the obvious answer is to READ! I'll tell you what, I can't wait to start homeschooling so that 1. my days have a bit more structured purpose to them, and 2. I can read all I want with, to, and alongside my children in the name of educating them!!! It kind of seems like a dream come true.

Anyway... off of my bad habits and on to the book I recently couldn't put down: Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers. Rivers is an old favorite of mine, although I haven't read one of her fast-paced stories in a while. I'll never forget the frenzied rage her Mark of the Lion series caused at our church one season. All the ladies were passing around the books and talking about Hadassah like she was an old friend.

Sometimes I find that books written by authors with numerous manuscripts under their belts can be a bit dull or formulaic or can put in too much filler description to cover up flat characters. And perhaps that feeling arises when you've read several books by the same author close together. However, I didn't feel that way with Bridge to Haven. Yes, of course there were some foreseeables in the story. There always are in a romance novel, even a Christian one, but the characters were interesting and the storyline wasn't completely predictable.

I cried like a baby several times near the end. So that's always a good sign. :) The story was a good reminder of how God pursues us no matter where we are or how far we've gone astray. And sometimes we have to go astray to find our way back and to be forever rock solid in knowing how much we're loved and forgiven. It's a good reminder as I raise my children. It's my job to give them the tools, the training, the scripture, the love they need now so that when they're older, those truths are deep in their souls. It's God's job to use all that training when and how He wants to draw them to Him. That part isn't up to me.

I loved how Rivers used hymns ingrained in the heart and mind of the main character to continuously remind her of the truths she learned as a child when she needed to remember them most. Again, a reminder that God's word does not return void... even if doesn't come back until years later.

She mentioned this beautiful scripture at the beginning of one of the chapters. It stood out to me and perhaps it will have great meaning for you as well.

And I'll leave you with that thought. If you're looking for a fun, quick, intriguing, encouraging read, Bridge to Haven is a good one.

(See... I finished a book, wrote a blog post and will now have time to make a home cooked meal tonight. I'm not a complete sloth! ;))

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