An emotional story that not only entertains, but challenges the mind and soul–that is Heather Wood’s latest novel, Until We All Run Free!
Jed and Jack Young may be brothers by birth, but as orphans, their separate upbringings produced polarizing results. Now that the Civil War is over, the brothers look forward to settling into the next chapter of their lives as they learn to walk in their new faith. Each brother’s ideal happily-ever-after is the other’s worst nightmare – and when that nightmare becomes their own reality, their relationship with each other is threatened. Mary Pierce has a picture-perfect life with three beautiful daughters and a husband who adores her. When tragedy alters the course of her life, Mary has to lean on God in deeper ways as she learns to navigate a confusing and painful new path.Face to face with their greatest fears, Jed, Jack, and Mary must anchor themselves in the unchanging character of God, holding fast the belief that what God is doing in them is greater than their pain. As they each overcome sin, learn everyday obedience, and find peace in surrender, they discover there are no dark corners in their lives that God’s grace won’t illuminate and His power can’t resurrect.
If you have read Heather’s first book, Until We All Find Home, you may notice that this book picks up right where that one left off! I really enjoyed this, especially since I finished the first book and started this one on the same day, so I literally did not miss a beat with the characters and their journeys.
As with Find Home, this book is very character driven, though I felt like the plot was more prominent in this story. The characters are well-written and well-rounded and you easily become invested in what happens to them. Once again, I had my favorite characters whose story I was most eager to read about, and this time that was Jed and Mary. Ahhh, Jed…. He is adorably soft-spoken, endearingly awkward, and yet… painfully frustrating! Sometimes I wanted to shake him by the shoulders and get him to just open up to Mary. But Heather masterfully plays out their romance in a way that leaves you dying to reach the next scene between them, and all of the waiting pays off beautifully in the end! I couldn’t have imagined a sweeter or most satisfying conclusion to both their journey to love, and the book as a whole.
What makes this book such a gem, though, is the moving and profound message that Heather weaves into the very fabric of the story. I love books like this, where God and the characters’ spiritual journeys are not just side notes in the story but are integral to the entire book as a whole. Both Jed and Jack’s journeys of learning to accept and live in the freedom that God gives us from our pasts, and Mary’s journey of learning to trust and wait upon the Lord, are so beautiful and give the reader much food for thought.
If you are looking for an inspiring read full of heart, tender romance, deep spiritual themes, and characters you can’t help but love that go through very real and relatable struggles… then you need to read this beautiful novel! 5/5 Stars for Until We All Run Fee!
