Reading Recommendations: The Looking Glass, Richard Paul Evans

"When I started to write The Looking Glass, I intended to create a story about the healing power of hope and love. But as this story developed, a message began to emerge that I had not foreseen, a message about the distorted mirror in which we view ourselves, binding ourselves with shackles of self-doubt and fear.

The Looking Glass is aptly named, for it is about seeing the reality of ourselves to be a true reflection of who we are.

It is the story of Hunter Bell, a Presbyterian minister turned gambler, and the founder of a gold camp named Bethel (Which you may remember was Esther's hometown in The Locket.) He is running from the bitter memories of his past, his ministry, and ultimately, from his God.

Venturing into a blizzard to chase away wolves drawn close to his cabin by hunger, Hunter finds a beautiful young woman in the snow, wounded by the wolves and half dead with the cold. Her name is Quaye McGandley, and she is an Irish woman sold into marital slavery to a brutal husband who then brought her to America against her will. As Hunter nurses her back to health, he finds that his tender ministrations to Quaye have opened his heart to his greatest fear, that he might love again.

"It is my hope that you, and those with whom you share my book might through its message better see the divinity within yourself and the reality of whom you are: worthy of love, gentleness, and grace."

Author of The Christmas Box and The Locket, Richard Paul Evans truly has that gift, the gift of words.

And, Burn English, A Western Story, William A. Luckey

Burn English was known far and wide for the excellence of the horses he captured and bred. He believed that wild horses were his to claim, no matter on whose range they might run. An accident, entangling him in barbed wire, nearly cost him his life. Katherine Donald, housekeeper at the L Slash Ranch, nursed English back to health. He fell in love with her, but she chose to marry Davy Hildahl of the L. Slash. Yet for years English remained in the area. He bought land, put in piped water, and built sturdy corrals. He continued to raise excellent stock from wild mares, using a champion dark colt as the sire. No man ever complained that an English-bred mount lacked stamina, speed or good sense. He became sort of an adopted uncle to the Hildahl children. But now, at age forty five, Burn feels he has reached old age, and his joints confirm it. He sets his horses free, except for a prize mare, destroys his corrals, burns his cabin, and disappears. No one knows where he has gone. He carries wire cutters so he can cut his way through the barbed wire fences he encounters on his way north, but pauses long enough to repair the fences once he and the mare have passed through. He finally comes upon an idyllic grotto near a cold water pond in an area known as Salt Valley. The place gives him a chance to heal his body and soul in the surrounding solitude. He does not venture too far from his camp, game being abundant nearby and the lush grass providing for the mare. But there are others in this valley, watching Burn, wondering about him and why he is there, and very aware of the beautiful mare with him.

Our librarian Mary Lee mentioned this book to me. Hopefully, you readers out there will enjoy Mary Lee's choice as much as I have.

And, one other book I want to mention - I Want My Life Back, Life Management for busy women, Lorraine Bosse'-Smith.

You may be hurting. You may be overwhelmed and feeling completely out of control. You may doubt whether you can ever get your life together. I am here to tell you that you can! - From the introduction.

See you at Rylander!