Forgiveness is a common theme in literature. Why? Well, we’ve all been hurt. We have justified reasons for our anger and resentment. But the bitterness that festers when we don’t forgive . . . well, there’s plenty of internal and external turmoil for a writer to draw from. Here’s a selection of books that highlights forgiveness and mercy over revenge.
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The Haunted Cathedral by Antony Barone KolencThe Haunted Cathedral flows so easily as Xan, Lucy, and some new friends work to uncover the ghost behind the seeming haunting of Lincoln Cathedral. At the heart of the story is Xan’s struggle to forgive the wicked bandit responsible for his parents’ death. His journey from seeking retribution to forgiveness is a slow struggle, making it all the more real. No easy solutions, just gentle prodding from Brother Andrew, the sterling example of Lucy, and God’s slow work in his heart.
As Xan moves toward manhood and decisions about his future, Harwood Mysteries is proving to be a great series for young teens with just the right recipe of spookiness, mystery, history, camaraderie, and moral edification to make it a story readers will return to.
Gentleman Jim by Mimi MatthewsMimi Matthews’ books read so smoothly and easily, meaning she makes writing look easy!
Gentleman Jim had great tension, both romantic and in establishing the hero’s identity. Its revenge theme hearkened to Dumas’s Count of Monte Cristo – a nice homage.
The final chapters were the most exciting and intriguing and resolved in a satisfying way. (How’s that for not giving too much away?)
The Vines of Mars: Murder on a Small Colonial Planet by A.R.K. WatsonThe Vines of Mars brings small-town murder mystery off-world in this strong debut by A.R.K. Watson. The red planet and its vines are another character in a cast of intrepid Mars inhabitants who alternately seek and obfuscate the truth.
Sci-fi fan or not, Tomas’s search for his sister Maria’s killer is bound to intrigue, drawing you further into familial and community entanglements. People are people, whether on Earth or on Mars, and the universal themes of loss and forgiveness resonate.
More Than Meets the Eye by Karen WitemeyerKaren Witemeyer’s historical romances are light, fun and simply well done; she’s incredibly consistent. More Than Meets the Eye is no exception.
Eva is a sweet, innocent, and resilient heroine. Logan is a loyal, upstanding hero. Their romance is rounded out by a delightful cast, including Eva’s brothers and Christie, whom they adopt into the fold. Add a little danger and intrigue, and you’ve got yourself a great story.
The theme of forgiveness is well done, with enough well-placed spirituality to make it real without being preachy.
Tortured Soul by Theresa LindenTortured Soul is a unique supernatural thriller!
After being unceremoniously evicted from her family home by her overprotective brother Erwin and his growing family, Jeannie Lyons must create a new home in the rental house Erwin has found for her.
Lonely and unable to let go of the grief still binding her to her deceased parents, Jeannie and her three-legged cat try to make the best of it.
But something strange is happening in the house. Noises, movement, a specter.
Jeannie must confront not only her grief and loneliness but the terrifying ghoul in the corner of her bedroom. Her family and her parish priest dismiss her concerns, leaving Jeannie with only Oliver, Erwin’s quirky photographer friend, to confide in.
The Christmas setting and snowy, isolated landscape lend an eerie quality to this story that looks like a ghost story, but is really a story about mercy.
Not only will you be entertained – and maybe a little spooked! – but you’ll be mindful of praying for those who need it most.
The Siege of Reginald Hill by Corinna TurnerThe Siege of Reginald Hill is different from any book I’ve read. (Of course, Corinna Turner is probably the most original writer whose work I regularly read.) Most of the book takes place in 1-2 rooms with little outward action. And yet, it held my attention and interest throughout.
The book is an examination of what it means to “love one another as I have loved you” in the most dire of circumstances. Why and how does one love one’s mortal enemies?
The heart of the book is the conversations between former Eurobloc bad guy/all around evil villain Reginald Hill and young priest Kyle Verrall. Reginald Hill’s soul is in jeopardy, and Fr. Kyle is bound and determined to be God’s instrument in bringing him to salvation by any means available to him.
There are some twists and turns and appearances by Kyle’s brother-in-law Bane, who remains my favorite character in the series.
If you’re interested in only the theology and spirituality, you can dive into the I Am Margaret series here. However, without knowledge of the many, varied characters and their histories, I think you’d be somewhat confused by their roles. To get the most out of the book, I recommend reading from the beginning of the series.
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