Sisters in Spirit #4: Maeve's Symphony and Finale

#4 Maeve's Symphony (PBG)

Maeve’s Symphony

Is it any wonder that Maeve Callahan would stand by and watch her three best friends, KC, Siobhan, and Aileen find the man of her dreams? They each remained true to their commitment to purity. God has blessed them. Maeve, on the other hand, had failed. She’d committed the ultimate wrong and, although God forgave her, she couldn’t hope to find the happiness found in meeting and falling in love with her future husband. She had her chance … and blew it. And when Josh Andrews, her high school sweetheart, comes to town with big news for the group, she is pleased to hear he’s reaching out to others, and that his faith in God is solid. But, he lets her know they’re not through, and this causes a flurry of trouble in her heart. How can she hope for a future with him?

I’ve been there. I can relate to Maeve’s struggle. It’s not an uncommon one. The important thing to note is that there is redemption. Not for part of the sin, but cleansing from ALL unrighteousness, when we confess our sins to one another. Hiding it will only eat away at us, and a good friend (Maeve’s Sisters) will ever know how to pray or counsel, without judgment, if they aren’t made aware … the sign of a true friend. And we will never know who our true friends are unless we take the risk to trust someone with our heart.

Celebration isn’t far off when truth is borne and healing of the heart commences. Marianne Evans understands this, and peeled back the layers of secrecy to expose the wound to Jesus’s healing touch, gently, and without apology. Maeve’s story is my story, and I am still walking out the truth of this incredible installment to the Sisters in Spirit series.

Sisters in Spirit … The Finale

I’ve read many book series before. Some, I can’t wait to read the next in line, while others I feel are a repetition of the previous book with different names. Marianne has created a series in this quartet of stories that are so closely connected they should be read as one story, yet in order—Aileen’s Song, Siobhan’s Beat, Kassidy’s Crescendo, then Maeve’s Symphony. Like any piece of music, there is a definite beginning, middle and end. The music takes us to a crescendo and fades to another scene, until at last, the final note is played, complete with drums and visions of dancing.

As I read this series, I could see the progression from one to the other. Maeve’s story wouldn’t have been possible if the events of the others hadn’t happened. Well, God could’ve worked it out another way, but this is such a beautiful picture of the many things lining up to bring us to the beautiful, explosive end where the entire audience springs to their feet, applause thundering, rattling the rafters of the theater.

Aileen, Siobhan, KC, and Maeve have performed their parts masterfully, and it’s time for their bow, and for you to go purchase the series. Pass it around to the girls you know who are searching for a reason to wait for the man who’ll gladly stand by her side for life in marriage.

#1 Aileen's Song (PBG)

#2 Siobhan's Beat (PBG)

#3 Kassidy's Crescendo (PBG)

Weaving words for the heart and soul,

Karlene A. Jacobsen
Freelance Writer
southpawscribbler@gmail.com

Sisters in Spirit #3: Kassidy's Crescendo

Pelican Book Group

Kassidy’s Crescendo

She was the girl who liked to party, who knew her worth was in her popularity … until that day when her new best friends, Siobhan, Aileen, and Maeve showed her the path to Christ. And then came the commitment to purity she made with her friends in Aileen’s room one day during their final months of high school—a commitment Kassidy (KC to her friends) intended to keep.

She fully relied on God through the accountability she found in her friends, and steered clear of compromising situations. Her husband would be a man after God’s heart and determined to protect her honor. Until then, she was going to give herself completely to serving God and maintaining her loyalty to her “sisters.”

But she never expected for Drew Wintower to come into the picture and upset her plans. Or was she upsetting his unwillingness to believe in the saving power of Christ? Either way, KC would have to make a choice to either abandon her faith and commitment in order to have the love of an incredible man, or she’d have to turn her back on the chance to have the passionate love of a man in order to remain true to God.

So often, girls are faced with this. Some will go so far as to think her Christian witness will one day win him over to Christ and they’ll live together in wedded bliss. This rarely works out for her. Instead, she finds herself disappointed in her relationship, and possibly God.

What I loved about Marianne Evans’s approach to Kassidy’s Crescendo is that KC faced the choice head on and relied fully on her friends to help her remain strong. In the end, KC was a winner because of her commitment to the Lord.

We may have to walk away from that person or opportunity. Sometimes it will be goodbye forever. Sometimes, God will work it out for our pleasure. I will leave the ending of this for KC to tell.

To Purchase at Pelican Book Group
My Review

To Purchase at Pelican Book Group
My Review

*Note: While the book, Aileen's Song was a gift from Marianne, she requested I post an honest review, which I have done.

Weaving words for the heart and soul,

Karlene A. Jacobsen
Freelance Writer
southpawscribbler@gmail.com

Sisters in Spirit 2: Siobhan's Beat … A Review

Siobhan’s Beat

Google Images

Siobhan is petite, a ballerina, and Aileen’s one best friend; but, more than that, she’s Liam’s sister—Aileen’s crush. She sees Aileen as more than a friend, she hopes one day they’ll be sisters. And when she receives a call, promising exciting news, she can’t wait to get over to Aileen’s and find out what has her friend so ecstatic.

Getting to Aileen’s is derailed, though, when Siobhan’s car takes a spin on the icy road and she has to be rushed to the hospital. As the news unfolds, she learns it’s more than she or her best friends, Aileen, Kassidy, or Maeve can fathom in a lifetime. The troublesome thing, however, is Siobhan’s injuries sustained in her car crash. From that moment, she must battle through feelings of doubt, wanting to allow her friends to move forward with their lives, yet feelings of envy as she realizes she may be holding them back.

New and unexpected relationships form with the doctor, AJ Cooper, who’d treated Siobhan, while she and her “sisters” learn that God’s timing is not theirs, and trusting Him is paramount to any plan they think might work. Siobhan is an independent young woman, who doesn’t appear to like being told she can’t. This sparks frustration, in AJ, but before all is said and done, they each find they’re not to rely on their own strength, but God’s.

Again, Marianne Evans has placed a finger on a leaky vein in my heart. It’s that place that says, “I will not let you down, even if I cripple myself. I will make this work.” It takes a voice of reason, and truth, to bring my thinking back to center and focus on what’s most important—faith that God’s in control. The addition of Dr. AJ Cooper to the lineup to our Sisters in Spirits’ support system is that balancing voice of reason—not to mention a perfect match for someone as determined to excel as Siobhan.

Siobhan’s Beat is also the perfect complement to the Sisters in Spirit lineup of stories, as Marianne shares us her heart for allowing God to knit our hearts to those who will help ground us in our faith, as well as give us wings to fly.  

            

Note: While this book was freely given by the author, there was a catch. I must promise to offer an honest review of the work, to which I have complied.

Weaving words for the heart and soul,

Karlene A. Jacobsen
Freelance Writer
southpawscribbler@gmail.com