Hiding in the Light by Rifqa Bary

Hiding in the Light is the memoir of Rifqa Bary, a Sri Lankan girl from a strict Muslim family. She, her parents and older brother moved to the United States in 2000 when she was eight years old. At first they lived in New York City, but three years  later moved to Columbus, Ohio.  It was at school in Ohio that Rifqa was befriended by a Christian girl named Angela who invited her to church. That invitation, to a Wednesday night church service, was what changed everything for Rifqa.
Rifqa's childhood was one that most American's can't quite imagine.  Born Muslim, she was required by age three to eat only certain foods and to memorize prayers during Ramadan.  At age seven, Rifqa fasted all day during the holy month and began memorizing the Qur'an. As a young student of the Qur'an she had no idea what she was saying when she recited from the holy book, only that they she was expected to say it perfectly. Any contact with non-Muslims was forbidden and a girl was taught early that her place was in the home.  Education for girls was unimportant and she held no authority or status.
Two traumatic events marked Rifqa's life: the first was when she was six years old and her brother angrily hit her with a metal toy, permanently blinding her in one eye.  Rifqa's vision loss caused her parents to disdain her, her value greatly diminished to them.  They began treating her with contempt and their hearts grew cold toward her. The second was when she was seven or eight years and she was sexually molested by an uncle. When Rifqa told her mother, despite threats from the uncle, she blamed Rifqa for shaming the family.
Thus began a cycle of abuse, both physical and mental.  Rifqa's parents beat her frequently and often without reason.  She was completely miserable and began cutting herself in an attempt to relieve her pain. Without friends or the love of her own family, the invitation from Angela was an unexpected lifeline.  Knowing she was risking much, Rifqa said yes.

That first "yes" led to Rifqa saying yes to an altar call at church, yes to surrendering her heart and life to Jesus, yes to a secret baptism, yes to a double life.  But that double life was doomed to failure.  Eventually Rifqa's parents found out that she had become a Christian.  She knew she was in grave danger she fled her home; forsaking her family and her heritage, with only the clothes on her back. 

I won't give away any more of the story, but it an exciting one. Exciting the way that Jesus wooed this sweet girl to himself from the time of her earliest memories. Exciting how God continually placed people in Rifqa's life just when she needed them. Exciting courtroom drama. Exciting healings, explained only by miracles. Rifqa's faith is inspiring, her story powerful.

Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for my honest review.

The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy

I liked this book very much!  I had not read anything by Sarah McCoy previously, but will now be checking out her other work.  The Mapmaker's Children was a fascinating read.  I loved the way Sarah wove together the stories of two women, one living in 2014 and the other in 1859. 

The story set in 2014 is that of a woman named Eden, living in New Charleston, West Virginia.  Eden has been struggling with infertility and it has wreaked havoc on her marriage to Jack.  They have only recently moved to New Charleston and Eden is both lonely and depressed. To her own surprise, her spirits are gradually lifted by a friendship with her 11-year old next neighbor, Cleo, and a growing love for a puppy that Jack brings home as unwanted surprise.

The story set in 1859 is that of a woman named Sarah, living in North Alba, New York.  Sarah is the daughter of famous abolitionist John Brown.  She is even a part of his work in the Underground Railroad, using her artistic talents to make maps for escaped slaves to follow north to freedom. Her world is turned upside down when her father is executed for treason and murder after the raid at Harper's Ferry.

There are many twists and turns to both women's story and Ms. McCoy skillfully brings together clues to how the two are connected in a way that kept me wanting more at the end of each chapter. There are elements to The Mapmaker's Children that will please any reader: history, contemporary fiction, romance, suspense and more.

Crown Publishers provided this book to me for free in exchange for my honest review.

Reservations for Two: A Novel of Fresh Flavors and New Horizons by Hillary Manton Lodge

Reservations for Two is the second book in the series Two Blue Doors by Hillary Manton Lodge.  I also read and reviewed the first book in the series, A Table by the Window, and thoroughly enjoyed it, but I liked this book even more.  It was a delightful read and I can hardly wait for the third book to be released in May.

The thing that made this book so much fun was the letters interspersed throughout the book.  The main character, Juliette, discovers a treasure trove of letters to and from her grandmother, and learns bits and piece of family history that she never knew.  She gets to know her grandmother as a young woman, wife and mother, not just as the elderly lady that she grew up with.

But there is so much more going on in this novel than the letters.  Juliette is opening a restaurant in Portland with her brother and takes a trip to Europe to find suppliers.  While there she visits family in both Italy and France.  It is in Italy that she finds the letters, and it is there that her romance with her boyfriend, Neil deepens. 

However, when Juliette arrives back home she finds that their relationship is difficult to maintain long distance.  Neil is a doctor in Memphis and phone calls, emails and occasional visits are just not enough. Juliette is also dealing with the stress of starting a new business and her mother's cancer.  I won't spoil it for you, reader.  You'll have to read the book yourself to find out what happens to Juliette and Neil, and how Portland receives the new restaurant, Two Blue Doors (hence the series name).  I promise you'll love reading all about it for yourself! Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for my honest review.