Sometimes miracles are right in front of our faces we fail to see them as what they truly are. Such is the case in Sarah Loudin Thomas' novel, Miracle in a Dry Season. Set in the mid 1950's in Wise, West Virginia, the small town believes that it will rain soon like it does every other year. Even though there isn't any clouds on the horizon and the temperatures remain hotter than usual, Casewell Phillips, a cattle farmer's son, wonders if this year might be different than all the others from the past.
His father, John was what you might call a man's man. Strong, determined and not afraid to speak his mind. His plans include getting his cattle to birthing a few calves and then when spring comes, sell of the more sturdy of the herd and keep a handful to repopulate his existing herd. Even though he isn't afraid to speak his mind, he believes that he needs to tell his son, how he feels. Yet Casewell would love to hear from his father's lips that just once he was proud of him and that he loved him, but that isn't about to happen anytime soon.
Casewell helps his father when he can, but his real love is found in creating furniture from the wood he has and it has been enough to support himself. He keeps busy with the orders from the Talbot sisters, Elizabeth and Evangeline. The small town of Wise has the small town appeal and flavor and establishes its spiritual roots with Pastor Longbourne, whose fire and brimstone sermons put more people asleep than rouse them to action. When Perla Long and her daughter Sadie come to visit, both are attracted to Casewell, but keep their distance. Perla has been running from her past, and hopes that this town might just accept her and the decision to keep Sadie despite not being married.
When the drought in town grows more severe than anyone imagined, the Pastor warns the town that someone in town needs to repent before God will open the skies with much needed rain. He knows exactly who he is referring to when he makes that announcement and Perla realizes once again that this town is more than ready to condemn her like all the others even though God has bestowed upon her a gift of multiplying anything she prepares to feed any number of people, much like Jesus did when He fed the 5000. But Pastor Longbourne warns the town that they are being bewitched by Perla's witchcraft and anyone who eats what she has prepared is feasting on the devil's works and not blessings from God. What will happen when the drought continues? Will anyone survive or will they see that Perla's gift is a miracle in a dry seaon?
I received Miracle in a Dry Season by Sarah Loudin Thomas compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I think the author conveys a powerful message, one of judging books by their covers, and one of the redemptive power found in forgiveness despite what we may feel. There is a mindset of double standards running in the minds of most of the town's residents and show how condemnation can drive wedges into the hearts and minds of people who see someone as different then themselves. I love how redemption is found by the close of the novel and that restoration is only as far as we the limits we set upon our own hearts. I rate this novel a 4 out of 5 stars and is the first novel in the Appalachian Blessings series and is Sarah's debut novel. I can't wait to see if more of the characters we find in this novel will be showcased in the remainder of her series. One can only hope!
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Thanks for such a thoughtful review!
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