Haven

Rating:
Summary: Uplifting story about ordinary people
Review: A first for veteran novelist Bobbi Smith, and the first in a new line of inspirational novels from her publisher, Haven is a contemporary, faith based story of the love and hope shared by ordinary people facing monumental issues in their daily lives.
Smith does a terrific job by plotting a fast-paced novel and crafting strong characters with real emotions. She is a fantastic storyteller who never fails to please. Lay down all your troubles and find a safe and glorious haven within the covers of her latest work of art. You'll be glad you did.

Rating:
Summary: Haven
Review: **** The lives of several disparate individuals intersect at a local church as their individual worlds begin to fall down. An ex con seeks refuge, then guidance after witnessing a murder; an embittered matron faces life after her husband walks out for a woman young enough to be her daughter, and an unwed mother seeks strength to face her new responsibilities. Witness their struggles and the hope they are able to find thanks to the light they are given inside the church. Unlike many inspirational romances, this is not a cheesy, sweetness and light book- it acknowledges that good people are not so good, even petty or wrong, yet that does not make them hopeless. If I were to sum the message of this book up in sentence, I would say that it's about the only people who are candidates to receive a miracle- people with problems. ****

Rating:
Summary: uplifting tale of faith lost and faith found
Review: He was hoping to start over, but former convict Darrell Miller witnesses a horrible violent act that has him fleeing for safety with pursuers chasing him. He ducks inside a church seeking a respite and figure out what to do while a service is going on.

Pregnant Jenny Emerson will give birth in the next few weeks by herself. Her boyfriend Mark has rejected their child and consequently her. She sits in a pew praying for a miracle.

After thirty plus years together, Alan Pennington informs his wife Dorothy that he is leaving her for a younger woman. Stunned she feels deserted by one and all including God whom she always firmly worshiped.

Sixty-five years old Joe Myers is having doubts about God as everyday he reads about murders and rapes in the streets. As the violence rises, his beliefs fall.

These four lost souls have come together at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in need of miracles. What they get is each other but can they help each other gain a renewed faith in the goodness s of humanity?

This inspirational tale will provide plenty of solace to readers interested in an upbeat contemporary story. The issues seem monumental especially to the individuals confronted with them and Bobbi Smith does a superb job laying out the problems. However, the key characters and important secondary players are never fully developed so that the impact is somewhat abated. Still HAVEN is a fine uplifting tale of faith lost and faith found.

Harriet Klausner