Review of What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Review of What Once Was Lost

by Kim Vogel Sawyer

God Makes All Thing New…in Kim Vogel Sawyer’s New Novel

In What Once Was Lost, award winning author, Kim Vogel Sawyer, invites readers to join a woman meant to serve, a child in the dark, and a man standing apart—as they embrace a God with new plans for them.

A small Kansas farm is the setting as Christina Willems lovingly shepherds a group of poor and displaced individuals, who count on her leadership and have come to see the Brambleville Asylum for the Poor as their home. But when a fire breaks out in the kitchen leaving the house inhabitable, she must scramble to find shelter for all in her care, scattering her dear “family.”

With no other options, Christina is forced to approach Levi Jonnson, a reclusive mill owner, to take in a young blind boy named Tommy Kilgore. Levi agrees with reluctance but finds himself surprised by the bond that quickly grows between he and Tommy. 

Christina begins to question her leadership ability, when obstacles pile up against her repairing the farm, wondering if she can fulfill the mission to which she's dedicated her life. And when an old adversary challenges Christina, will she find an unlikely ally—or more—in the aloof Levi? Will Levi reconcile with the rejection that led to his hermit-like existence and open his heart and life to something more, especially a relationship with a loving God?

MY REVIEW:

Kim Vogel Sawyer has written a moving story of unconditional love in What Once Was Lost.   Christina loves the people who she cares for in the Mission Board-supported Asylum for the Poor....the little blind boy, the young woman desperately trying to hide a pregnancy and others.....When a fire forces them out of the home they share, Christina must find people in the community to take the people in.   Levi Johnson proves to be far more valuable to Tommy and to her than she or Levi ever imagined.   

I felt like I was taken on a mini-vacation to a previous time period.  Kim used such vivid descriptions to write her story.  As a teacher and former pastor's wife, my heart went out to Christina as she sought to serve as the director of the Asylum for the Poor as a woman.  The mission board doubts her ability to serve, simply because she is a woman.   It is unfair but prejudice of this nature was a true fact for the time period.  At times, even today, women must fight to serve in their churches.   This book is sure to warm the hearts of readers.

I received a free copy of this book from bloggingforbooks.org in exchange for my honest review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kim Vogel Sawyer is a best-selling award author with more than one million copies of her books currently in print. Awards include the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Sawyer lives in central Kansas, where she and her retired military husband, Don, run a bed-and-breakfast inn with the help of their feline companions. She savors time with her daughters and grandchildren.