This is the story of Geesje, who immigrates from Holland with her parents to escape religious persecution by the state church there and ends up in the wilderness that was then Michigan where their group founds the town of Holland, MI. Years later, as she looks back on her life while writing her story for the local Semi-Centennial committee, she meets Anna, who is also seeking some religious freedom and is staying at a nearby hotel while trying to figure out what to do about her fiancé who wants her to have nothing to do with the church where she has been seeking a closer walk with God. That’s the basic premise but the story is wildly more wonderful that than sounds.
Wow. I didn’t read this book all in one sitting like I do many books that I absolutely love because this one was so special I wanted to savor it. I wanted it to last forever. This book is set in Holland, Michigan. I remember visiting there as a child and still have the wooden shoes my parents had made for me. My ancestors were from a nearby town. I have also visited the Netherlands.
I first learned about Lynn Austin’s work from my daughter who loves WWII stories. Since I read that book that she recommended I have collected all the Lynn Austin books available. My daughter and my granddaughters and I enjoyed the OT Kings books together. This book, however, is, I think, the crème de la crème of Lynn Austin books.
I obtained this complimentary book from Bethany House Publishers and the author in exchange for a review, but I can assure you that this book was on my wishlist on Amazon long before that came about and before the book was available for purchase.
If you want to read something really satisfying, grab this book and put your life on hold so you can wrap this story around you like a warm hug.
