Kim Vogel Sawyer is my favorite author and I am always very excited to have an opportunity to review her books. In 2017 she released an outstanding novel called Bringing Maggie Home. I said in my review that if you enjoy Christian fiction, Bringing Maggie Home was a must read. I also said, "Bringing Maggie Home is a stand alone novel (although I would love to see some kind of sequel featuring Meghan and Sean.)" I received my wish! Today (May 15th) is release day for the sequel to Bringing Maggie Home, Unveiling the Past.
Although Unveiling the Past is a sequel it will work as a stand alone novel. The author weaves the story in such a way that you do not have to read Bringing Maggie Home to understand and appreciate the story. The story line is independent and the characters are well developed in this story even without previous knowledge of them, but I highly recommend Bringing Maggie Home because it is such an amazing story.
In Unveiling the Past we are reintroduced to the main characters of Bringing Maggie Home; Hazel, Margaret Diane, Meghan, and Sean. We also learn more about the detectives that Sean and Megan work with: Captain Ratzlaff, Tom Farber, and Greg Dane and are introduced to two new main characters Sheila Menke and Kevin Harrison.
Sean and Meghan are newlywed cold case detective partners in Little Rock Arkansas. A new case if brought to their unit and Meghan is the requested detective to work on the case. Sheila Menke's father went to work when she was a little girl and never returned. He was accused of embezzling a large amount of money from a bank and it was believed that he took it ans started a new life, but Sheila did not believe that to be true. Meghan takes the case with a new partner at the same time she decides to try and search for her own absentee biological father. While Sean investigates the death of two young brothers also with a new partner, he very much longs to start a family with Meghan. But Meghan is afraid that she is not fit for motherhood. As Meghan and Sheila learn more and more about the case, they have to choose to stumble on the road of bitterness and resentment or walk the path of forgiveness and healing. They learn that while earthly fathers can and do fail, there is one in heaven who is a father to the fatherless.
Ms. Sawyer has an amazing writing style that draws the reader in and brings her characters to life. I was excited to learn more about Sean and Meghan and their loves together and revisit Hazel (I love that spunky lady!) and Margaret Diane. I really loved the mystery element of this story. Following the clues to solve the cases added excitement to the story and kept me turning pages because I needed to see how it all was resolved! There were many life lessons and messages throughout the book. Diane was very hurt (and understandably so!) when Kevin left her to raise Meghan alone. She knew of her life and experiences but never really thought about his side. Even then she could've have stayed bitter and resentful but through a lot of prayer and counsel from her mother is able to rise above all of that. Kevin struggles in his relationship with Kip and doesn't understand why. He is powerful and wealthy, a successful business man but not successful at life. He doesn't think his son can ever change. But Diane says, : If habits can be learned they can be unlearned."An important message for us all along with ," It's never too late to begin a relationship with God the Father though His Son, and it's never too late to fix a human relationship that's gone wrong."
I loved the relationship that developed between Meghan and Sheila. Things that happened in their past had made them bitter and resentful, but they chose to overcome it and hold on to the happiness. Reminding Sheila that there is a loving Father in heaven who never leaves us and never lets us down, reminded Meghan of that as well and is a good message for all who are reading.
I loved how everything was resolved in the story. Unveiling the Past is on the list of my favorite books and is highly recommended. I cannot wait to read what Kim Vogel Sawyer writes next!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own. I received no other compensation.
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