Challenge Read : Simply Love by Catherine Anderson

Stumbling blind into a book for me can be disaster or heaven. This read was inexplicably both. I am truly one who believes redemption is something real and possible for anybody who truly is sorrowful and ready to change. Now in my life I've needed redemption more than once. I've had to give and earn forgiveness more than once. But in my love of reading, I've tried to avoid certain elements that cause me to go back to dark times and dark feelings. I felt those emotions very deeply while reading this heart-rending story.   Luke was not a hero. He was not even close. What he was though was a man whose life caused him to take the darkest road and give up almost all of his humanity. Cassie was a light of pure innocent devotion and sunshine in a cavern of endless darkness for Luke. When a light like that shines on a man he can't stop hungering for more.    One lie, one choice, one deed and then a mountain of sins followed Luke around.  When the house of cards he built fell around him, Cassie's light led him through his own man made hell to find redemption. Every moment I hated him I learned to forgive and every moment I wanted to shake him I yearned to embrace that broken boy who was taught that love was evil. By the end of this well written, emotional tale I felt like maybe I was changed a bit to.   When she looked at him , she made him feel fine and brave and noble and kind. Not a whore's bastard , but a hero. And he liked the feeling      Maybe I can let a little redemption into my love of reading now and again to remind me to extend forgiveness and mercy in my everyday life.

The Queen and the Cure (The Bird and the Sword Chronicles #2) by Amy Harmon @aharmon_author

When I heard about this story coming out I was ecstatic. Coming back to Jeru felt like the anticipation of a family reunion. I knew we'd be able to see all the characters I grew to love in The Bird and the Sword. I had so much curious longing for Kjell's story and was totally not expecting where Amy took it. I read certain authors blind. I don't try to find out info on this short list of authors like I do normally. I avoid so many elements that go against my beliefs that I usually have to know ahead of time. I am glad I didn't ask here. If I'd have known where it would take me. How it would break me , hurt me, and then finally heal me, I might have not read it. I don't think there's a way to accurately describe the pure emotional upheaval without spoiling the whole story. I did come to a realization. Love hurts. There isn't always black and white. There's so many shades in between. There's not always a right or wrong answer.  Kjell's loyalty and bravery will always be something I think about when someone's needing a true hero.    He's the perfect example of what it means to love with sacrifice. His heart was no match for the power of Sasha's love and devotion. This slave woman, this red-haired paragon of virtue and long-suffering, would be his undoing, and it would not be a sweet unraveling.    Sasha had the toughest road to travel and a heartbreaking loyalty to all that she loves. Sometimes we have to break our own hearts and Sasha truly had to live through unbearable consequences. While there was times I didn't think I'd survive this story I couldn't put it down. That's where my trust for Amy came into play. I trust her to always put my heart back together and even though it's in pieces, barely put together, it's at least still beating. I trusted Amy and she came through. She proved that there isn't always the perfect answer but there is perfect love and perfect mercy. Because it hurts doesn't mean it's not beautiful. If you read this story. Don't ask for spoilers. Just challenge yourself and experience it blind. You don't know your own strength until you do.