The Leeward Island The Marquis's Pursuit, Book 5, (Paperback)

This is one of those books that sweeps you in as you become part of the story. I immediately loved Evelyn and her strong will to survive. What she has endured has cost her the ability to trust. To think that a man would be so cruel to her is heartbreaking. Evelyn hides a secret that makes her weary of any stranger that comes to the hotel she works at. The author lets readers feel her fear as she daily guards was is most precious to her. Max has come to the hotel with his dear friend Charlie seeking help. His friend is very ill and in need of a physician. To his surprise the doctor who he requested to meet him has not arrived. I know Max was disappointed in this news but God had provided just the right person to help. Evelyn steps up to care for Charlie and shows Max that she is equipped to handle the situation. Even though Max was a little skeptical he allowed Evelyn to take over the care for his friend. What I liked about Max was that he may be a marquis, but he never thought he was better than others. In fact his heart is filled with wanting to help others. He is humble but lingers with a past that he can't forgive himself for. My favorite character was Charlie. That man was such an inspiration. He knows that he is quite ill but believes he is there not to be healed but to be used to help lead someone to God. I loved his faith that was unwavering and how he emphasized how important it is to forgive. With his guidance he led Evelyn to a place in her heart where Jesus could enter. His kindness toward Evelyn allowed her to learn to trust and find hope. With Charlie's help he showed Max that it was time to forgive himself for something in his past he had no control over. The review wouldn't be complete with mentioning Rousseau. He is not a man you can easily like but he did take in Evelyn and protect her from a man who wants to cause her harm. Rousseau is at times a greedy person and doesn't always treat Evelyn with respect. As the story progresses we begin to see another side of him that most don't know. He has been known to mistreat certain people and Max has a problem believing the man has changed. The author delivers a story that has a bit of danger and secrets that keep people from trusting. I especially loved how strong the many lessons scattered throughout the book were. Our past is just that. We are forgiven and can begin a new life when we give ourselves to Him. Forgiveness is for everyone and is given with grace. The characters in the story experience their own Jesus time where emotions run deep with hope and a new beginning. I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.