Review ~"The Winds and The Waves" by Dean Hughes

The Winds and The Waves by Dean Hughes

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reviewed by Bonnie - first time reviewer on Bookworm Lisa & one of my wonderful co-workers!

Source:  Received from Publisher to review
Genre: Historical Religious Fiction

 Book Description: Will Lewis is stuck. the class system in England in the 1840s seems destined to keep him in his place as a poor tenant farmer who cannot improve his lot and will never be able to marry the woman he loves. But the "new religion" that is sweeping through congregations of the United Brethren, Will's church, may hold the key to the better life he longs for. As he listens to the preaching of Wilford Woodruff, he almost dares to hope for the Zion the young Apostle describes.

Will's struggles to believe and to face the rigors of immigrating to an unknown land are paralleled by the modern-day story of Jeff and Abby, a young married couple facing challenges of their own. When Jeff begins digging into his family history, he finds himself particularly drawn to "Grandpa Lewis," an ancestor whose life was more like his than he would have imagined.

The skillful interweaving of these two stories brings Church history to life while demonstrating how much we can learn from those who went before us. Anyone who has ever faced the winds and the waves, in some form, will love this novel

Bonnie's Thoughts: The class system in England in the 1840's seems to be a roadblock for a young tenant farmer who longs to improve his station in life. Will Lewis feels stuck on his father's farm, and mourns over the fact that he will never be good enough for the woman he loves. Until he meets Wilford Woodruff, a missionary for the "Mormons". This new religion begins to answer his many questions about God, love, and equality. 
Jeff and Abby, a modern-day couple, are forever linked to the young immigrant from England. As they struggle in their new life together, they realize just how much history repeats itself.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and am excited for the continuing story of Will Lewis. It's easy to become attached the main characters as they learn about themselves as well as the world around them. History becomes easier to understand when you can picture someone living it, struggling in it, and learning from it. 

~Bonnie~