The Messenger by T. Davis Bunn

Book reviews are subjective. I tend to rate books not according to how “perfect” they are, seem to be, or are said to be in general but rather to how perfect they are to me.

The Messenger by T. Davis Bunn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Description: An angel-in-training is sent to Philadelphia on a surprise assignment and finds her task complicated by the theft of her pass card needed to return to heaven.

My thoughts: Having always appreciated this ChristFic author’s command of language and versatility of genres, I jumped into this novella from the ’90s with about 2% knowledge of what I was really in for.

The aspects that felt somewhat contrived or like pretty clichéd evangelistic writing weren’t my favorites. But I liked the more supernatural aspects, reading this tale about people and angels as I would a fantasy story, not a strictly theological one.

I also enjoyed the illustrations throughout the book.

The Quilt by T. Davis Bunn

Book reviews are subjective. I tend to rate books not according to how “perfect” they are, seem to be, or are said to be in general but rather to how perfect they are to me.

The Quilt by T. Davis Bunn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Description: Despite her arthritis, Mary, an elderly grandmother, is determined to make one more quilt in order to pass along her spiritual legacy to her family and friends.

My thoughts: An oldie novella from one of the most versatile authors to ever write ChristFic.

This isn’t a story with a sermon or a come-to-Jesus moment stuffed into it to make it “Christian.” Rather, one woman’s soul-deep task of faith is the story here, along with the way she gently impacts the lives around her.

It’s a simple tale but not a shallow one. Heartwarming but not corny or oversweet. The style is almost rambling, but it’s an intentional ramble, taking its time to show the intricate nature of some imperfect, loving relationships between compellingly human characters.

Really, Mary’s relationship with her younger, middle-aged son, a bond that isn’t particularly sentimental but that’s still deeply felt on both sides… I could have read this book just for that.

It’s a poignant story—not the kind to reach for when you’re looking for an upbeat, happy ending for everyone. Rather, it’s for those contemplative moments when you feel like pausing to appreciate the blend of joys and sorrows that make up this priceless thing we call life.

Another Homecoming by Janette Oke and T. Davis Bunn

Book reviews are subjective. I tend to rate books not according to how “perfect” they are, seem to be, or are said to be in general but rather to how perfect they are to me.

Another Homecoming by Janette Oke and T. Davis Bunn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

With her husband off fighting in the Second World War, the last thing a woman like Martha wants to receive is one of those dreaded…telegrams. But its arrival leaves Martha with a heart-wrenching decision to make—one that will profoundly impact a number of lives in the years to come in Another Homecoming by authors Janette Oke and T. Davis Bunn.

It’s been over twenty years since the first time I read this book. My return to it was purely for comfort reading, and even with the way that I and my preferences for Christian Fiction have changed over the years, sheer comfort is what I got from reading this a second time.

It’s a gentle drama, somber and grave in different ways but also infused with nostalgic Americana and, ultimately, hope.

I wouldn’t call the novel perfect, as some aspects are a little overdone, oversweet, or redundant. Some of the characters could have used more dimension, especially the key villain. Also, the story may tell about the heroine without showing enough about her, as she largely seems to be a rather passive part of the story until the last fifth or quarter.

Even so, books don’t have to be perfect to give me a meaningful experience, and there are reasons why this serious, warm, and life-affirming novel has remained in my memory. Though it’s unlikely that I’ll revisit the sequel, I’m so glad to have read this one again.

Return to Harmony by Janette Oke and Davis Bunn

Book reviews are subjective. I tend to rate books not according to how “perfect” they are, seem to be, or are said to be in general but rather to how perfect they are to me.

Return to Harmony by Janette Oke and Davis Bunn

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

As girls in the Southern town of Harmony, Jodie and Bethan form an unlikely friendship. Jodie dreams of going off to college in a big city someday while Bethan wants nothing more than to stay in her hometown and become a wife and mother. As the two best friends begin to transition from girlhood to womanhood, they run into a disagreement that forms a terrible rift in their relationship in Return to Harmony by authors Janette Oke and Davis Bunn.

I’ve read this historical fiction novel at least three times over the past twenty years or so, this first collaboration between two of my favorite ChristFic authors.

As I enjoyed this easily digestible novel when I was younger, I returned to it out of curiosity. But I didn’t quite enjoy it this time. Some aspects of it are oversweet, including Bethan, who’s too timid, gentle, and near-perfect for me to find her compelling. While the story paints her as the innocent “good guy” in her rift with Jodie, I now feel that Bethan’s actions are somewhat out of pocket, and the faith conflict at the crux of it is oversimplified.

That’s partly due to the rushed nature of the story as it flies through the years once the characters reach new adulthood. Several events that should be important lack sufficient development and originality, and the conclusion is mostly open-ended for Jodie, with no sequel to follow. Honestly, I think this novel bears some of the mark of this genre’s earlier years, where it seemed that oftentimes, the most important thing wasn’t necessarily to tell a solid story but to share a “come to Jesus” message.

Even so, the revisit here was good for me and my own development, and I’m happy to say the co-writing of these two authors gets better with later books.