A Chance at Forever Review!

About the Book

In early 1900s Kansas, Mercy McClain, determined to protect Teaville’s children from the bullying she experienced as a child, finds fulfillment working at the local orphanage and serving on the school board. When Aaron Firebrook, the classmate who bothered her more than any other, petitions the board for a teaching position, she’s dead set against him getting the job.

Aaron knows he deserves every bit of Mercy’s mistrust, but he’s returned to his hometown a changed man and is seeking to earn forgiveness of those he wronged. He doesn’t expect Mercy to like him, but surely he can prove he now has the best interests of the children at heart.

Will resentment and old wounds hold them back, or can Mercy and Aaron put the past behind them in time to face the unexpected threats to everything they’re working for?

 

 

 

My Perspective

Oh my goodness, this book had so much going for it! There was romance, orphans, mystery, secrets, forgiveness, and more. I enjoyed every single page of the book. Mercy and Aaron’s characters captivated me right from the start, and I found myself longing to spend more time with them. If we’re going to be honest, I enjoyed my time with all of the characters, even Jimmy! With a decent size cast of characters, Ms. Jagears has found a way to bring life into every single one of them in a way that makes them each stand out on their own.

There is a big lesson to be learned from reading this book – people CAN change. We like to say that a leper can’t change their spots, and with God’s help they really can’t. But WITH God’s help, anything is possible, and that is proven to a T in this book. In fact, when I got to the epilogue I gasped out loud at the transformation of one specific character (who shall remain nameless to not spoil anything for you). It put a huge smile on my face, as it is something I certainly did not see coming. The thing is we all judge people by their past. To be honest, I can see myself behaving like Mercy and putting up a wall if a former bully were to see me today. It was endearing to see Aaron talking with her and the children in this book. The way he dealt with Jimmy was so sweet and patient. You would have never dreamed his background was as it was, but isn’t that the same for many of us? We aren’t the type of people we are today as we were in grade school, thankfully. This was a great reminder of how not to quickly place judgment on someone because of their past.

Great meaning aside, this story was wonderful and fun to read. It is full of hope. Hope for the poor. Hope for the rich. And even hope for the lost. I have not yet met a book of Melissa Jagears that I did not like, and I am looking forward to seeing more from her in the future! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Much to her introverted self’s delight, ACFW Award winner and double INSPY finalist Melissa Jagears hardly needs to leave her home to be a homeschooling mother and novelist. She lives in Kansas with her husband and three children and can be found online at www.melissajagears.com