Sarah's Smile (The Daughters of Riverton, Book 1)

By Dawn Kinzer

Description:

Sarah McCall is waiting to leave for the mission field when the man she once loved steps back into her life. Abandoned as a child by her mother and gambler father, she strives to overcome a tarnished history she didn’t create and a heartbreak she can’t forget. Peter Caswell returns to his Wisconsin hometown a pastor, dedicated to his four-year-old daughter and new congregation. But no matter how hard he tries to move on with his life, he can’t forgive himself for his wife’s death. Although ten years have passed since he left Riverton, Peter hopes Sarah still cares enough to give him a second chance. They shared a past, but can they share a future?

Book Takeaway:

Readers who are searching to find their calling or purpose will be inspired by the characters' journeys. I believe readers will also relate to the characters as they struggle with forgiving others, accepting forgiveness, and being willing to forgive themselves. My hope is that they'll close the final page with fresh insight.

Why the author wrote this book:

The setting and some of the characters in the book were inspired by my hometown in Wisconsin. I wanted to portray a young woman who was seeking purpose for her life out in the world, not realizing that she could find it in her own backyard. But in the process,a second theme emerged. In the end, this story also became about forgiveness - the grace to forgive others, the willingness to accept forgiveness, and the ability to forgive ourselves.