Whisper of Peace, A [Paperback]

A Whisper of Peace takes the reader on a journey through the rugged beauty of the Alaskan wilderness. It also explores the paths of forgiveness in the hearts of people weighed down by the past, and longing for a freer future. The story line is expertly crafted, and wonderful to read. Kim's characters are realistically flawed, and grow as the story progresses. Each character has strong drives, and it is easy to see why they respond the way that they do. I really enjoyed this story.

I recommend this book to fans of Kim Vogel Sawyer and lovers of historical fiction.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review.)

The book A Whisper of Peace is set in Alaska in 1896 and the setting is vital to understanding the plot. Kim Vogel Sawyer builds up the scene of rugged beauty in the early pages as she brings into it one woman called Lizzie. But Lizzie is not only alone; she is isolated and has to provide for herself. Into this situation come two keen missionaries who have to learn new skills and build themselves a home and a school. They do not understand the strict social rules and blunder into problems. Meeting Lizzie is a bonus for the younger woman, Vivian.Her brother Clay is also enamoured. The scene is now fully set for further developments and, without giving anything away, I can tell you that there are more conflicts and some progress in relationships relying on faith, that hold one's interests to the end.
The characters are well drawn and developed through their actions. The tension is maintained to the end. I enjoyed the book and found it an interesting read. I also learned about the wilderness life and Indian customs which was a plus. I am grateful to have received a free copy from Bethany House to review.

Kim Vogel Sawyer's delightful and long-awaited new release, A Whisper of Peace, is finally available after being published by Bethany House* in the early fall of 2011. Certainly fans of this author's previous historical fiction romances will not be disappointed, as A Whisper of Peace possesses all the elements of sweet gentleness, inspiring faith, and warmth of style that have become the trademarks of each and every Kim Vogel Sawyer story. Set in the rather unusual location of the Alaskan wilderness, the majority of the story takes place within a few miles of a small native village.

The main characters bring the story to life in great depth, and make you feel as though each one is a personal friend. Lizzie Dawson is a strong, independent, but terribly lonely young woman who was banished from her village for the sins of her parents - a native woman and a trapper from San Francisco. Clay Selby is on a mission to Alaska to minister to the needs of the small village, but the question is, will the village accept his help? One more important character is Vivian, Clay's stepsister, who has come to Alaska seeking forgiveness for a past she can never forget.

Clay yearns to reach the people of his new home with the message of the Gospel, but begins to feel he is failing God and himself when very few natives show any interest in his teachings. What is he doing wrong? Lizzie longs to find a place to belong, to feel loved, and to feel peace both in her heart and in her family. Thinking that she has an answer for achieving each of these dreams, Lizzie is unprepared when all of her carefully laid plans suddenly crash around her. Will Lizzie ever find the whispers of peace?

One of the several themes woven throughout this story is forgiveness, of setting the past to rest and moving on, with God's help. Lizzie's grandparents find forgiveness in their hearts, and both Vivian and her mother are able to lay their hurtful past to rest by forgiving themselves, and each other. Lizzie also discovers the peace that comes from knowing God's love deep inside your heart, and Clay realizes that it is not a church building that matters in a ministry as much as simply reflecting God's love to his children. Each theme is easily conveyed, as both characters and readers grow and learn important aspects of life together.

A Whisper of Peace is a beautiful, sweet story overflowing with both love and peace. Additionally, readers will learn interesting bits of information about Alaska from an up-close and personal perspective, such as the fact that in the far North, the sun shines both day and night in the summertime - which contributed to many sleepless nights for Clay and Vivian in the story. Although the occasional, slightly uncomfortable scene does take away from the story to a small degree, A Whisper of Peace was, overall, typical of Kim Vogel Sawyer's truly lovable style, in real-to-life depictions, believable incidents, and captivating characters who are easy to love and difficult to forget.

***Note: I received this book free of charge for review purposes, courtesy of Bethany House Publishers and Graf-Martin Communications. I would like to say thank you very much for sending it to me.