A Promise Child

We have all heard of the Great Depression from either our history books or perhaps a family member has shared their experience with you, but very few have been impacted by it except those who have experienced it. I have heard it said, that the reason so many people are 'hoarders' is that they remember living through the Great Depression years. It is a by-product of those times. Yet we don't really understand or even empathize with those who have because it hasn't impacted us. I have had the distinct honor to read a series of novels by Kathryn Spurgeon who has based each of her novels around the true stories of her parents or grandparents stories of what they dealt with during their times of growing up.

In the novel The Promise Child, she takes readers into the very heart of what the Great Depression felt like for the Trimble/Pope family. For Sibyl Trimble Pope, she remembers the life of prosperity her family had had during her younger years when she was a child. They never had want for anything. They may have watched the beginning signs of struggle for others but it never really impacted them until she married and watched the signs of the times and had hoped that they would weather the storm. She watched her father leave their family and divorce her mother leaving their children behind to fend for themselves. This was a time in which divorce was considered a bit of a curse in small towns. No one did that. No one had an affair in affluent families and simply walk away for greener pastures elsewhere. But that is what her father had done.

Now with the Depression hitting everyone, her mother and remaining siblings were struggling to make ends meet. To find ways to make clothes and shoes last a bit longer. To find ways to even put food on the table. Sibyl herself in her own new family feels like she needs to help. Her own husband Fremont hold on to the filling station they purchased to help make ends meet. Yet with fewer and fewer people being able to fill their cars, their own business is falling apart. She tries to reach out to her father who is well enough to help but figures out that they need to manage their finances better and refuses to help any of them. Her only option is to take her father up on a job offer and leave her family for a short time to send back money working in the bigger cities or pack up what they have and head for the west where people have been heading since this began.

I received A Promise Child by Kathryn Spurgeon compliments of Memory House Publishing. This really opened my eyes up to the struggle of families have to endure the effects of the Great Depression. Trying to stretch your food sources as much as possible, even doing without food so your own children didn't go hungry. It really grabs hold of you and makes you a witness to what is happening not only to the Pope family but others that they are watching go through it with them. I didn't want to put this book down because I was emotionally invested in their family and their struggles. I was praying and rooting for them to make it every step of the way and for me, those are ear-marks of an exceptional book and the reason for my 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about A Promise Child, Kathryn Spurgeon or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

A Promise Child by Kathryn Spurgeon

You can find Kathryn Spurgeon on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on A Promise Child, please visit Memory House Publishing's website. 

A Promise to Break

WOW! I almost gave up on this novel but took a break and resettled back into it someplace where the outside distractions of life were not present and I am so glad I did! A Promise to Break is the debut novel of Kathryn Spurgeon that chronicles the life of Sibyl Trimble, a young girl who believes she holds the promise of a future generation, at least that is what her father reminds her. She is as actively involved in politics and the outcomes of the country as it begins to enter 1930's with the threats to the economy from job losses to bank closures. Farmers are losing their farms as banks and the government foreclose on them instead of finding a way to help them stay afloat in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

It is advantageous for the Trimble family because they are not impacted like others in the city as they are part of the affluent, and while Sibyl struggles to figure out what her purpose in trying to help will play, her father and mother believe a suitable match to someone who can provide a financial future is the way to go. But James is not the answer to love or what Sibyl defines love truly is. She has a brief moment with a blue-eyed hobo in a train station that gives her a glimpse into what love at first sight might look like, but she knows that is the one promise she can't break to her father. To settle for love instead of wealth and security.

But God has much different plans and He creates a way for Sibyl to gain the insight into what her father's life truly looks like when the facade is removed and she can see him for what he truly is. A man consumed by greed and power, and it begins to divide even her own family beginning with her grandparents. Her younger sister winds up pregnant but is overlooked in her indiscretion as her family believed that would be her lot in life, but when it happens to Sibyl things are cast into a much different light and the future her father had planned begins to crumble one stone at a time.

I received A Promise to Break by Kathryn Spurgeon compliments of Memory House Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this novel in exchange for my unbiased personal opinion of the novel. This is such a two-sided look at what life must have been like for people living through the Great Depression as some benefited from it, while others lost everything they had including their lives when hope ran out. For Sibyl is shows her that God has always had a plan and purpose for her life even though it was not the one she thought it would be, and it always turns out to be better than what we hope. For me, this one rates a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and this story was based on the life of Kathryn's grandparents which we see glimpses of in the Author's Note section at the conclusion of this novel.

For more information about A Promise to Break, Kathryn Spurgeon or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Promise to Break by Kathryn Spurgeon

You can find Kathryn Spurgeon on her blog to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

The Identical - DVD Review and Giveaway

There sometimes comes a movie that really impacts you in a powerful way, portraying just what sacrifice, unconditional love and forgiveness looks like. The Identical is just that movie. Starring Ashley Judd, Ray Liotta and Blake Rayne, that take viewers back in almost a parallel story of sorts you can't help buy compare at times to Elvis Presley. It begins in the mid 1930's in Tennessee, in the midst of the depression. For William and Helen Helmsley it means a whole lot more. As William struggles to find work in a depression laced town, Helen gives birth to twin sons. Knowing how difficult it is to make ends meet for just themselves, William arrives to a revival tent meeting being led by Reece Wade (Ray Liotta) who is telling those present of their own recent troubles of trying to conceive and now being told they will never be able to have children. He asks those in attendance to pray for God's favor to provide and in William's case, the solution to their financial problem.

He invites the Wade's over to announce that with heart-felt prayers by both of them, that he believes God is asking them to give one of their sons to the childless couple to raise. It's a tough decision for the Hemsley's but they believe giving one of their sons to a God-fearing couple is just the answer to the prayers. William begs Reece to never tells the boy as he grows older about his birth and subsequent adoption to the Wade family and they vow to raise him up in a good Christian home.

As the two boys grow their talents in music become apparent. Drexel Helmsley becomes the newest singing sensation while Reece tries to convince Ryan to follow what he believes is a calling in his own life, to follow in his father's footsteps and become a preacher. Soon it becomes too much for Ryan trying to live up to his father's expectations for him despite this overwhelming desire for music and they soon part ways. Along the way Ryan is constantly being asked if he realizes how much he looks like Drexel, to which he is genuinely humble. It never dawns on him that the two might be related no matter how much Ryan feels compelled to copy Drexel's music style. How it plays out in the end is beautiful, heart-warming and one that you will be sure to want to watch again and again.

I received The Identical by City of Peace Films compliments of Propeller LLC for my honest review in exchange for a complimentary copy of the DVD. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained in this review are my own personal opinion. The music in the movie is solid and one I found myself wishing I had the CD for, which is also available. It truly takes you back to those times when Elvis Presley's soulfull melodies filled the airwaves. The Identical DVD is about 107 minutes in length and contains bonus features which include, the making of The Identical, Behind the Scenes and my favorite, the music of The Identical. Perfect for all ages and is Dove Family approved for 12 and up. I think anyone can truly enjoy it and that is why I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

Now for the best part, thanks to the generosity of Propeller LLC, they are providing a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here's all you need to do to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. "Like" my Facebook page, Reviews From The Heart. If you have already "Liked" it, leave a comment on the page.

3. Be a resident of the US or Canada. No P.O. Boxes please.

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols. You can enter as many times as you wish, be sure to simply comment each time. 

I will notify the winner of the giveaway when it ends on January 15th, so please be sure to include your email address with your comment.


For more information about The Identical, City of Peace Films or where you can pick up a copy of this DVD today, please click on the links below:

The Identical

You can find The Identical on Facebook for more great movie information!

You can find out more about the films City of Peace is working on by visiting their website. 

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”