The Watered Soul

Finding Refreshment in the Word

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The Fragrance of Surrender

By Wanda

How do you petition a God you’ve come to hate and are not even sure exist?

That’s the question we find Gabriella, April Geremia’s central character in The Fragrance of Surrender facing.  What is it that would make a loving mother of a young son contemplate death?  From a young girl, it seems that life has not been kind to Gabriella and just when she feels things are turning around for her life throws another curve ball. Geremia’s book challenges readers to examine our faith and walk with God and how our past experiences may be influencing the way we view God. It’s interesting to see how Gabriella’s lost pushes her away from God yet her son is drawn to Him.

Is that not how we are in our lives? Life circumstances have a way of either drawing us closer to God or propelling us away from him out of anger and disappointment. Yet even in the disappointment and anger, God pursues us and when we are open salvation and transformation can come to even the hardest of hearts. The author writes a beautifully compelling story filled with mystery, faith, and hope in the midst of pain.  This intriguing book kept me up late at night as I anxiously read to find out what happened next in the lives of the characters and hated to say goodbye to them as the book drew to a close. I look forward to reading the next book in the Souls of the Sea series. I appreciate the author providing a copy in exchange for my review.

The Fragrance of Surrender

SUMMARY

What would cause a woman to stand on the edge of a cliff deciding whether to slip over it or to live another day?
How bad would it have to be?
And what if she can’t turn to God because she believes He’s the root of all her problems?
Set among the fragrant sweet smell of ripening orange tree blossoms, this emotional story is about a woman who battles God for the right to determine how things should be. Gabriella’s life has been filled with tragedy, including the mystery of why her own parents disappeared one night, leaving her alone at a tender young age. Soon after her husband dies, she and her son move to her childhood home—a house on a cliff by the sea in a village that time has left behind. It’s there that she and some local villagers begin the process of bringing her parent’s old orange grove back to life.
As Gabriella begins to put together the pieces of why her parents abandoned her, she soon learns they were victims of powerful forces that threatened to tear apart the quiet little village by the sea. And that knowledge, along with all the other losses she’s experienced, causes Gabriella to view God with great suspicion and fear. So when her young son experiences a dramatic conversion and begins to serve Him, an all-out battle ensues.
During this time, Gabriella often feels called to the edge of the cliff, torn between letting herself slip over it and ending the pain, or fighting for a happiness she’s not even sure exists. Will Gabriella continue to do battle with God? Or will she come to have faith in the God she blames for all the tragedies she’s suffered?
And what role will her young son play in her decision?
This book considers questions like: What happens when God doesn’t act like we think He should? And Can someone who has experienced so much pain and disappointment ever really let go of the hurt and learn to trust Him?

About the Book


The Fragrance of Surrender: Inspirational Women's Fiction (Souls of the Sea, #1) by April Geremia
Series: Souls of the Sea
Published by Psalms 96:3 Press on November 10th 2015
Genres: Christian fiction
Pages: 210
Format: ARC
Source: Author
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
Ratings:

 

About April Geremia

April Geremia has made her living as a professional writer for 20 years, and has recently turned her attention toward her true love—fiction. She loves God, her family and friends, the sea, mysteries, and stories of people battling impossible situations. The books in this series, Souls of the Sea, all have those elements in common.

When she’s not writing, you’ll find her coaxing vegetables out of the ground, playing with her chickens, or whipping up a simple gourmet meal in her tiny house by the sea. Her favorite part of any day is connecting with her readers.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

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Comments

  1. April Geremia says

    23 January, 2016 at 5:12 pm

    Wanda, thank you so much for the beautiful review-your words really touched me. God bless you! April

    • Wanda says

      25 January, 2016 at 7:20 am

      You’re welcome April. It was a delight to read.

  2. Cheryl says

    25 January, 2016 at 1:53 am

    You certainly piqued my interest by your review! It sounds like a wonderful book. Thanks so much for sharing, Wanda. God bless you, dear friend. 🙂

    • Wanda says

      25 January, 2016 at 7:21 am

      Indeed it was Cheryl. It has a beautiful message of God’s faithfulness.

  3. Pam says

    25 January, 2016 at 6:21 pm

    Sounds very interesting, Wanda! you’ve got me intrigued!

    • Wanda says

      29 January, 2016 at 8:43 pm

      It’s a good read Pam. One I think many can relate to if they are into fiction.

  4. Sharon says

    25 January, 2016 at 7:12 pm

    Sounds like a great book, and it certainly addresses a problem that we’ve all experienced. What to do when we think God is at the root of our troubles? Do we run away, or run closer?

    I think of what Peter said: “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.”

    The Narrow Way is a hard path at times, but we never walk it alone.

    GOD BLESS!

    • Wanda says

      29 January, 2016 at 8:42 pm

      So very true Sharon. At times we might be tempted to turn away from God but the alternative is not very good. So grateful that even when we can’t understand His ways he knows how to fulfill his purposes for our lives.

  5. Rhapsody says

    30 January, 2016 at 9:30 am

    Blessings…
    sounds rivetting.
    i will add to my “want to read” list.
    thank you for sharing.

    Stay blessed.
    Rhapsody
    Rhapsody recently posted..SHE COLOURS IN SECRET – COLOURING MY WAY THROUGH THE EVERYDAY MADNESSMy Profile

    • Wanda says

      3 February, 2016 at 9:14 am

      Love to hear your thoughts after you get a chance to read it. If you are like me your want to read list is ever growing. Have a great week.

  6. Lindsey says

    30 January, 2016 at 9:56 am

    This looks like an amazing! Thank you for sharing. Facing trials in life is what brings us closer to the Lord. I discovered this and faced suicidal thoughts after losing my newborn son. God rescued me even in my darkest of times. I am so grateful for my relationship since this major trial in my life.
    Lindsey recently posted..Like Humbled Wife, Humbled Mom on Facebook!My Profile

    • Wanda says

      3 February, 2016 at 9:13 am

      Lindsey sorry for the loss of your son but what a beautiful testimony you have shared about God’s faithfulness in the midst of trials. Thanks for sharing.

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