June 1, 1997
Christian fiction powerhouses Oke and Bunn team up again (after Return to Harmony, Bethany, 1996) with a story of wartime romance and its tragic consequences. Martha and Harry Grimes were married for only nine weeks when he was sent overseas during World War II. When Harry is declared "missing and presumed dead," 18-year-old Martha panics at the thought of raising their expected child alone. When the baby girl is born, Martha gives it up for adoption. When Harry is found to be alive, though gravely wounded, it is too late for Martha to get their baby back. Returning home from war, Harry is bitter over his wounds and refuses to forgive Martha for her action. Though they have other children, the couple is never truly happy; their children grow up incomplete and eventually become Christians, which allows them to bring Harry and Martha back together. This is a truly unique and touching view of the effects of Christian belief on ordinary lives. It is beautifully written and should satisfy the authors' many fans.