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To finish up Opening week I’m doing my very first book review! And the Book I’m reviewing is Bridge to Haven, by Francine Rivers.

Confession: I LOVE Francine Rivers. Her books always leave me riveted. And when I bought this one with my birthday money I confess I spent most of that night reading it, and finished it by the next morning, and it isn’t a small book!

As always, Francine challenged me in this story of a woman chasing love. And that really is what the story is about, a young woman seeking love and acceptance. Unfortunately because of misunderstandings and things that happen to her in her past she can’t see the love people already have for her. I cringed as I followed her journey into the depths, seeing easily the pain she was heading towards. But I could see and understand why she had to walk this journey in order for her to fully understand herself, and for her to fully understand her Savior.

There is beautiful imagery and use of place here. Especially in the central figures of the Bridge into the town of Haven, and the relationship she has with the Pastor of the town.

The best books touch your heart because you can relate to them, even in their extremes. This is true for Bridge to Haven. My heart cried with Abra because it is so easy to fall into the trap she was in, and most of us do so repeatedly. The trap of believing lies about yourself formulated in childhood, and letting those lies rule your perceptions, your relationships, your happiness, your very existence. I’m quite sure we can all see a bit of ourselves in Abra. I’m quite sure we can all understand the pleading of her heart that she “wants to be somebody.” That desire for value is deep inside of all of us.

I’d like to place a note of caution in this book. Like many of the books by Rivers it deals with some difficult subjects that some might find hard to face. These subjects include such things as domestic abuse, rape, abortion, abandonment, PTSD, suicide, the Vietnam war, and probably more I’m not thinking of. In many ways Francine packs so much detail into this book that some authors would have had a whole manuscript just within the first few chapters. It is not a simple and lighthearted read. Still, I challenge you to read this book, even if some of these subjects sound hard for you. Because, as always, Francine expertly weaves this story to a point, and that point is God’s healing, grace and love. As you travel along with Abra through her pain, and as you see God’s relentless pursuit of her, you might find God speaking to you too.

As an extra treat, I actually wrote a poem and posted it within hours of finishing this book, it was that inspiring! Head over to read it!

Took Me Home

~Joy Aletheia Stevens

Would you like to purchase Bridge to Haven? Here is a link to Amazon:

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Disclaimer: I was not paid to write this review. However linked images in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through the link and choose to make a purchase I make a small commission. This does not change your price in any way, but it will help keep the site up, and maybe even pay for some groceries. So thank you.