A REVIEW OF "COURTING EMMA" Monday, March 24, 2008 - 11:26 AM

I POST THIS REVIEW BECAUSE I WANT MY READERS TO KNOW THAT, FOR ME, WRITING CHRISTIAN FICTION IS ALL ABOUT REACHING THE LOST AND TOUCHING THE HEARTS OF MY READERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE OPEN THEIR BIBLES FOR A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT, BUT FIND GOD'S MESSAGE OF LOVE IN A NOVEL. MY DEEPEST HEART'S DESIRE IS THAT AFTER READING ONE OF MY BOOKS, SOMETHING IN THE STORY WILL PROMPT ITS READER TO SEEK ANSWERS THROUGH THE HOLY WORD OF GOD.

THIS REVIEW ENCOURAGED ME IN SUCH A POWERFUL WAY BECAUSE IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT GOD TRULY DOES USE FICTION TO DELVE DEEP INTO THE HEART OF A WOUNDED WARRIOR. PLEASE READ ON...

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Emma Browning has always had her issues with trust and love, never having received it freely, nor ever freely being able to give it. Her father, Ezra Browning, lived through is own kind of torture, until he'd met and married Emma's mother. When she died giving birth to Emma, Ezra's desire to lead a productive and healthy life died right along with her. In the years that followed, Ezra's life took a downward spiral, aided by the poison of alcohol. He took his anger out on Emma, berating and belittling, beating and punishing her, and if not for Clara Abbott, her guardian angel, she might not have survived. Emma went to live with Abbott when she turned 16. Since Abbott's home was also the town boardinghouse, Emma had inherited it when Abbott died, leaving her pretty much set for life. One day, Reverend Jon Atkins was in need of a room and reluctantly, Emma let him have one. She was against the idea of a preacher living in her boardinghouse, pushing religion or judging the other boarders, but what she didn't realize was that by taking him in, she'd unleashed a life changing series of events that would change her, her father and their relationship between each other. These events would also change the way the town looks at themselves and their duty to God. This is truly a happy ending.

This book touched me in ways that are totally unexplainable. Never before has a book made me shed tears, especially in a crowded roomful of strangers. It made me think of my own issues, which helped me to strongly identify with the main character. My only reaction was a strong desire to fall to my knees and pray. This book reopened things about myself that I'd let go of and should probably find my way back to. This book, without a doubt, gets a 5.

***REVIEWER: I AM LEAVING THE REVIEWER'S NAME UNPUBLISHED