Friday, August 16, 2013

Review: What Once Was Lost

 
What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a historical novel set in 1890s Kansas. This is the type of story the author excels at writing, and I was thrilled to be able to get an advanced copy! It reeled  me in right from the beginning and kept me glued to the page to see the resolution and the growth of the main characters. It was realistic, at times heartbreaking, and filled with truths we all need to be reminded of.

Christina Willems has been the director of the Brambleville Asylum for the Poor ever since her father died a year ago. But then a fire burns down the kitchen leaving everyone homeless. Christina manages to find temporary lodging for everyone but Tommy Kilgore, a young blind boy. She has only one option left. The recalcitrant mill owner.

Levi Johnson is taken off guard when Christina arrives at his door with a boy in tow. When she asks him to keep Tommy until the poor farm is fixed, Levi reluctantly takes charge of the child. The boy brings up many unpleasant memories from his own childhood, and Levi is determined to help Tommy while he has him in his care.

Christina is desperately trying to keep everyone together amid the upheaval. Her faith is in tatters, her reputation has suffered, and she has no idea how she can convince the mission board to repair the house and keep her on as the director. Plus, there is the disconcerting fact of Levi. How can he be both wonderful and irritating at the same time?

I highly recommend this book! I love how well she wrote for Tommy. I felt like I could understand a little what it is like to be blind. Plus, all the characters were well developed, and you could feel with them because of how she fleshed them out so well. Plus, the message at the end was pretty powerful and something I think we all can recognize in ourselves.

Here are some additional links you can check out about the novel. And don't forget - it comes out September 17th! :-)

Author's Website

More Info

Read Chapter One

Author Bio

*I was given this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for an honest review.*




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