In His Dreams

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques Marsha Sullivan is still grieving her husband's death after four years and needs a fresh start. She heads back to Beaver Island, a favorite vacation spot of her and her late husband in the hopes of recapturing some of the joy she found there. She brings her sister Barb along, who hides away from the world in the imaginary world of the novels she loves to read. While at Beaver Island, Marsha runs into Jeff, her widowed brother-in-law and his young disabled daughter, Bonnie. Jeff is dealing with his own struggles in raising his daughter alone. When Jeff and Marsha meet up again, they find a lot of common ground to form a relationship on. But Jeff has lost faith in God where Marsha's is stronger than ever after. God always has a way of making things work out though, if only we listen to Him.... I have found myself becoming quite a fan of the Love Inspired lines in the past year or so, drawn to the sweet and tender stories about life and love with a strong theme of faith in God through it all. Gail Gaymer Martin's In His Dreams is a perfect example of what I love about these stories. She tackles some very serious subjects in this book, one very obvious one about trying to raise a disabled child and all the struggles involved. There is another, even more powerful message revolving around Barb. I can't reveal what this was as it is a shocker that doesn't come to light until near the end of the story. I challenge you not to be moved by Bonnie or Barb's circumstances and how a strong faith in God can overcome anything. Of course, we have a very touching story about Marsha and Jeff as well. Marsha has spent so much time caring for her dying husband that she doesn't know anything else. Her instinct is to take care of everyone around her, though she often forgets to take care of herself. This causes a bit of tension between her and Jeff sometimes, in addition to the issues they both face about their growing feelings for one another. They share experiences in losing their spouse which causes an extra bond between them. The added fact that they are already family adds another dimension to this already richly woven love story. I thoroughly enjoyed In His Dreams and am going to have to hunt down more books by the clearly talented Gail Gaymer Martin. I did think one secondary story line was wrapped up a little too simply and easily but even so, I could tell there is more to that situation and I hope we'll get to explore it in a later novel. © Kelley A. Hartsell, October 2008. All rights reserved.

Lou Gehrigs Disease is a slow killer. Marsha Sullivan nursed her husband through a prolonged illness, and even though he's been gone for four years, she can't let go and move on. She and her sister, Barb, have come to Beaver Island, to the cottage Don and Marsha owned. The island is as beautiful as ever, but memories are everywhere she turns. Her brother-in-law, Jeff, has been through his own valley of despair. Not only did he lose Don, his brother, but his wife, Marilou died and he's becoem the single parent of Bonnie, their handicapped daughter. Bonnie's body is maturing, but she has the mind of a child, and she's given to out of control tantrums. The Island is small, and Jeff and Marsha are bound to meet, and in time they become attracted to each other. They have strong feelings of guilt, because while they used to be a foursome, now Don and Marilou are dead, while they are still alive. Both Jeff and Marsha have been hurt by life. Can two wounded people learn to trust each other and trust God? Could they even fall in love again? Gail Gaymer Martin's heartwarming stories are well known to her fans. In His Dreams is another great addition to her Beaver Island Series.