Bookshelf Friday - The Thornbearer by Pepper Basham

I met Pepper through my critique partner, Dawn Crandall. Dawn had recommended Pepper's debut novel, The Thornbearer, and after reading the description I knew it was a book I'd want to snag. I'm kinda, maybe, just a little happy I did, too:) Here's the blurb, and we'll chat on the other side!

From the decks of the ill-fated Lusitania to the smoke-filled trenches of France, Ashleigh must choose between the forgiveness of her past, life in the present, and a Savior who can rescue her from them all.

When her fiancé leaves her eight months before their wedding, the unexpected blow ignites a battalion of insecurities stemming from her father’s intimate betrayal. Her worst fears are confirmed – who could ever love a soiled woman?

In an attempt to escape the shame and disappointment of her past, Ashleigh boards the ill-fated Lusitania to cross the war-torn waters of Europe. Much to her dismay, she isn’t traveling alone.

Sam Miller is always making up for his best friend’s mistakes. Determined to help Ashleigh, he offers his compassion and protection as she ventures across a perilous sea. With the faint hope of renewing his lost love for Ashleigh’s sister, Sam never expects to find the woman of his dreams in his best friend’s former fiancé and his own childhood companion.

As they travel across the Atlantic, neither is prepared for the life-altering and heart-breaking journey of their friendship.

When the truth of Ashleigh’s past explodes in the middle of war and Sam rejects her, Ashleigh must decide if God is enough – or if the double weight of her betrayal and past will crush her life forever.

I'm a lover of history, so the setting of this book captivated me. Pepper does an amazing job of putting the reader smack dab into the middle of The Lusitania, the city of Queenstown, and eventually a hospital/orphanage in a small European town. I enjoyed each character I met, including the secondaries.

Sam and Ashleigh are an amazing pair. Having married my own best friend, I was immediately attached to this couple. I rooted for them from page one and loved watching their attraction move from friends to more. They had their own rough road to navigate, and Pepper authentically handled their struggles. The motivation surrounding their choices all made sense, and their character development was neither rushed or drawn out. The core message that God is more than enough for any situation and can heal even the deepest wounds is one that many will relate to.

Add to all this, I simply enjoyed Pepper's voice as an author. Her characters' dialogue flowed easily as did their internals. Her descriptions were colorful but not overdone--she left more than enough for the reader to fill in with their own imagination, which I always enjoy. Working within this historical period and having her characters navigate many of the struggles that occurred during this time frame only deepened the plot and setting, snagging and keeping my interest. If you're looking for a book for this weekend, you can purchase The Thornbearer here.

Happy reading, friends!