THE BIRTHRIGHT

The third book in the "Song of Acadiaser" series moves slower than the first two books, climaxing in the last four or five chapters. Janette Oke and T. Davis Bunn once again do a superb job at bringing to life each character and taking the reader back into time as if they walked the streets of London during the years of the American Revolution following the French and British war in the Americas, resided in Harrow hall, or visited the small villages within Lord Charles' demesne. Although "The Birthright" seems to trudge along rather than move swiftly with exciting adventure, the reader catches a significant glimpse into the life inside British manors and their Lords that presided over them, the British parliament and feelings toward those in America who sought to break away from British rule, and the high society of Britain that seems to continue to catch the world's fascination. Despite the fact that the story develops at a slow pace Oke and Bunn engage the reader to consider the struggle of seeking the good of others above one's personal desires, social status, and maintenance of material possessions, especially when it involves family relations. The authors tap into a more individualized battle of human emotions involving grief, sacrifice, and happiness vs. duty. The latter provides the foundation upon which this story revolves. As Nicole states in her conversation with Anne, she says,

"At some level, I think I've always assumed that when I found my place in the world, then I should be happy. Yet in all my searching of the Scriptures, I haven't found a single instance where God promises this. In fact, nowhere is such a thing even requested by His servants...It has made me realize that all my life I've meaured how well I was suited to a place by how happy it made me. Only now, as I learn my way through english society, Have I come to see that, although happiness is a fine thing, it comes and ti goes. So long as I base my happiness upon what I have or how life suits me, it will always remain fleeting. For as soon as something changes, as soon as a cold wind blows through my life, as soon as life takes an unpleasant turn, my happiness would be gone...My studies have shown me that I need to find my happiness in God, and in Him alone. By placing my life in His hands and seeking to live as He wants me to, I now have a peace that's greater than whatever struggle I might face. My frustrations and my difficulties, all these will pass. But He remains always...Yes, I've been granted many gifts...And with each gift there comes a responsibility..."

Each one of us at some point in our lives struggle with coming to grips with finding peace in our "duty" or "obligation" in life and being happy according to the world's definition of happiness, or perhaps our own definition of happiness. Upon what does our security lie? Do we seek to fulfill what it is God has called us to do on this earth, or do we seek only our own personal happiness? After reading this book, the reader is brought to a place of soul searching; a place where grief and sacrifice may be experienced for the sake of following God's will for their life.

THE SACRED HEART

The sequel to "The Meeting Place" by Janette Oke and T. Davis Bunn encompasses a journey of two people, one who is a British nobleman and another who is but a peasant girl deep in the bayous of Louisiana after the French were expedited to all corners of the world by the British. Little could either one conceive what they would encounter and learn as they set forth in search of the unknown. The history and descriptions of life in Acadia settled by the British, the bayous of Louisiana settled by the French, and travels upon the Atlantic Ocean during the mid-1700's reaches through the pages and takes the reader back into time as if traveling through a time machine. It almost feels like you are in the same room with each of the main characters and their families, or traveling with them through the storms at sea, or riding along on horseback through the woods to the village of Minas. These two authors have an incredible ability to draw the reader in as if they actually become the characters themselves, feeling all the emotions and inner turmoil experienced along their journeys and then the peace they find within themselves at the end. Oke and Bunn tap into the human need to find purpose in life, much which comes through the struggle of seeking that purpose between self and God. A thread that reappears many times, and at least once with each of the main characters revolves around the human eyes. Tenderness, piercing, softness, love, understanding without words, strength, resolve, and release are all expressed with eyes. It has been said that the eyes are the windows into a person's soul, something that both Oke and Bunn truly grasp and convey in this sequel. Each reader will personally respond and connect with at least one character, bringing them to a point of looking within themselves either because they walk a similar road, or perhaps experienced many of the same emotions, or presently have embarked on a similar journey. Books that completely capture the mind and the emotions of the reader make for excellent reading. Although this series so far may not be intellectually stimulating, delve deep into theological studies, or directly speak to educational subjects, in their simplistic nature offer deep insight into what it means to trust God in the most dire of circumstances. How does a person, young or old, make their faith personal, full of strength and understanding? This sequel allows the reader to catch a glimpse of how people come to their own personal understanding of God and who He is to them in very different lives and circumstances. Once again, I've been pleasantly surprised and engulfed in the 1700's through the authors' abilities to encompass the totality of history and human life into one package that brilliantly allows me to escape for a while into another period.

SUMMER READING

This summer presented the difficulty of what to read since so many genres and subjects hold such rich gems to be discovered through countless pages. After some deliberation and perusing through shelves of books, I concluded that the past few years my head has been buried in the seriousness of text books, home schooling material, and other heavy reading. Thus I chose to embark on a lighter note beginning with an author I came to love many years ago with "The Meeting Place." I usually do not delve too often into "romance" novels, but thought I might allow myself to revisit what became to my taste too girly, too silly, and too shallow. I hope my decision pleasantly surprises me and my summer reading presents refreshment and enjoyment.

"THE MEETING PLACE"

The first of my summer reading. A wonderful story of sacrifice, love, commitment, and forgiveness. The pages come to life especially if one is familiar with history and the area of Canada the Northwest Territories during the mid-1700's. Two women, two families, two cultures living so close together, yet never setting foot inside the villages of the other. Bonds of friendship break the barriers of years of hatred as two women risk their lives for the sake of learning more about God and one another. Their friendship reaches the hearts of their husbands and in turn whole villages. Lifestyles of French clans allow the reader to gain a glimpse into the Huguenots and their purpose for relocating to the Americas from their homeland. The authors do a great job at intertwining history and real places with fictional characters and a fictional story line. Although I still consider romance novels shallow and not full of depth, Jeanette Oke and T. Davis Bunn grabbed my attention with their creative styles bound together to form anticipation, intrigue, and enjoyment. Their research into the historical places and life of both the French and British cultures during this period draws the reader back into days and times long forgotten unless one is a regular student of such subjects. Personally, I did not take away a lot of deep theology, sociology. psychology, or spirituality from this book, but the morals and story development offers reading on a lighter and simple, but pleasurable level.

Author's Note

In researching the material for this story, we have learned a new sympathy for those French Acadians whose only offense seemed to be their land of birth - and the fact that they wished to remain neutral in a conflict involving the homeland. And we also came to appreciate the predicament of those Britishers who found their role distasteful and morally difficult to enforce.

We as individuals may not be able to stop wars. But we can begin by resolving conflicts in our homes, in our churches, in our communities. Let us learn to be people of peace.