MY REVIEW:
I have eagerly anticipated the release of this book since reading Thomas’ first novel, “Miracle in a Dry Season”. The setting of “Until the Harvest” is the same but the time frame has changed. Twenty years have passed and the next generation has become the central focus.
Much like real life, a death occurs at the beginning of the book that I was not too happy to see. And like real life, this death has a far-reaching influence on others, especially Henry Phillips whose reaction is less than positive. For reasons I did not entirely understand, Henry became involved with some very unsavory individuals whose influence brought about some disturbing consequences for Henry. Fortunately for Henry, there were people in his life who cared about him and were willing to give him more than one second chance. I personally did not like Henry very much for most of the book but he eventually came around.
Then there was Margaret, older sister to Mayfair, a young diabetic. Daughter of two unbelievably incompetent parents who thought only of themselves, Margaret was dedicated to taking care of her neglected sister. Mayfair was such a pure and caring individual despite her health issues – and she seemed to have a mysterious gift of healing – at great risk to her own health.
“Until the Harvest” is a down-to earth story that does not hesitate to deal with common Appalachian problems such as moonshine and drug running but in the midst of the ugliness was a story of wonder, love, hope and redemption.
I love these Appalachian novels with their touch of Holy Spirit miracles and cannot wait for the next installment.
This book was provided for review by
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Take This Journey of Broken Souls Restored
and Tentative Hearts Brought Fully to Life
When family tragedy derails Henry Phillips’s college studies, he’s left unmoored and feeling abandoned. The only things that can tamp down his grief are the family farm, his fiddle, and an unexpected friendship with sweet but unusual preteen Mayfair Hoffman.
Unfortunately, Mayfair’s older sister, Margaret, despite her spray of freckles and cute, turned-up nose, has a completely different effect. His grandmother’s helper, she’s always around, ready to push his buttons, and it seems at first that she doesn’t care about his troubles.
Henry soon realizes, though, that Margaret’s facing her own struggles. Mayfair’s health and unique gift sit at the heart of those worries. Henry and Margaret soon find themselves relying on each other as potential tragedy collides with growing hope in a warm story of family bonds and the surprising ways healing finds us all.
Read an excerpt from “Until the Harvest” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sarah Loudin Thomas is a fundraiser for a children’s ministry, who has also written for Mountain Homes Southern Style and Now & Then magazines, as well as The Asheville Citizen-Times. Her debut novel was Miracle in a Dry Season. She holds a BA in English from Coastal Carolina University. She and her husband reside in Asheville, North Carolina. She can be found online at www.sarahloudinthomas.com.
