A Word Award winner.It’s 1939, and Canada is on the cusp of entering World War II. Seventeen-year-old farm girl Cornelia has been heartbroken since the day her mother died five years ago. As a new tragedy provides Cornelia still more reason to reject her parent’s faith, a mysterious visitor appears in her hour of desperation. Alone and carrying a heavy secret, she makes a desperate choice that … desperate choice that will haunt her for years to come. Never telling a soul, Cornelia pours out the painful events of the war in her diary.
Many decades later, Cornelia’s granddaughter, Benita, is in the midst of her own crisis, experiencing several losses in the same week, including the grandmother she adored. The resulting emotional and financial stress takes its toll on her and her husband, Ken, who is unemployed. On the brink of divorce, she discovers Cornelia’s diary. Now the secrets of her grandmother’s past will lead Benita on an unexpected journey of healing, reunion, and faith.
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This was an excellent read. The story was heart warming and realistic. I wanted to get to know the characters and I was rooting for them to succeed.
I really enjoyed this book. I normally don’t enjoy faith based books but this one is a wonderful story that is not “preachy”. The characters are very realistic. The main character’s grandmother has died and left a silver suitcase which contains a journal. Her grandmother was a role model and inspiration in her life. She is at a crossroads in her personal life as her husband has lost his job and they seem on the brink of divorce or separation. The story has many twists and needs to be read without giving away too much of the plot. The suitcase is taken in a robbery resulting in the majority being lost; however surprisingly the contents brings hope and inspiration to so many. I highly recommend this book as it is beautifully written and highly enjoyable,
Realistic conflict, good resolution, surprise ending.
Really liked this book
A good read!
I loved this book! It’s a broad story covering a couple of generations. It has mystery mixed in with how people deal with loss and life.
And it’s wholesome which is sometimes hard to find.
Not your typical book…present day and diary entries that present a good and thought provoking story. Very different times in the diary 1930s and 40s.
This book touched my heart. Great ending. As much as it may seem too Christian to some readers for me I know sometimes works in crazy mysterious ways.
The setting is in Canada prior to World War II and again years later. It doesn’t deal directly with the war, but is an interesting sketch of life in rural Canada. The characters are likeable and have realistic struggles with faith and family. Good book!
Benita is mourning her Gram who she embraced as her best friend. She and her mother are cleaning out Gram’s house when she comes upon a silver suitcase. In it are notebooks that her Gram journaled in starting in 1939. This is the story of how those pages brought generations together and of the great faith that was passed down. Benita learns much about her family from the journals and many lessons to apply to her own life. Unknown to her Gram, who has passed on, a great legacy has been imparted.
This was a joy to read and sometimes brought tears to my eyes. I so appreciated the history within the pages. It was interesting to see what life was like in Canada just before and during WWII.
A lesson brought forth to me was that even though you think you are living an ordinary life, you touch more people than you know. God can use us for His purpose even if we don’t realize it.
From the beginning of the book : “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. “ Jeremiah 29:11.
Recommended for those looking for a Christian Fiction that has a message that not only can be enjoyed but can be applied.
*I borrowed this ebook from Prime Reading. All opinions are my own.*
This is the 2nd book I have read by Terrie Todd and it was one of those rare books that I wanted to keep reading and, yet, I did not want it to end. The characters were well-developed and intriguing. The book has dual time periods and it was not difficult to transpose from Cornelia’s story in pre-World War II to Benita’s time who was Cornelia’s grand-daughter. The thread that binds the story occurs when Benita’s grandmother, Cornelia, dies and Benita discovers Cornelia’s journal in the Silver Suitcase. Cornelia’s secret is revealed in the journal, a secret well-kept through many years. Benita’s own story involved difficulties in her marriage and a financial struggle; she was inspired by the strength and endurance of her grandmother. In addition, story-line included other interesting characters.
Wonderful writing
I couldn’t put this book down. I so enjoyed seeing the characters in each generation meeting and overcoming challenges. It was interesting to see how the hardships of one generation impacted the next generation, and I appreciated how the characters learned from their experiences and found forgiveness and redemption. I shed tears (the good kind) over this book.
I enjoyed this book immensely. The story was well written and original about a present day family and the grandmother from the past and how the actions of the grandmother in her youth
affected the family. The secrets being slowly revealed kept me turning pages
Although I am most likely biased, because books about this era are some of my favorites, I loved and recommended this to others. Well thought out parallels and an enjoyable read.
Loved this book. The characters seemed very real!! Heartwarming!!
It’s 1939, and Canada is on the cusp of entering World War II. Seventeen-year-old farm girl Cornelia has been heartbroken since the day her mother died five years ago. Cornelia pours out the painful events of the war in her diary.
Many decades later, Cornelia’s granddaughter, Benita, is in the midst of her own crisis, experiencing several losses in the same week, including the grandmother she adored. Now the secrets of her grandmother’s past will lead Benita on an unexpected journey of healing, reunion, and faith.
I love anything written about World War II, but this book was inspirational.
Just finished this book today and I didn’t want it to end! Such a great story about love and family relationships! So many surprises!
Thought provoking because we never totally know those we love.
Real characters with struggles and endearing friendships.