Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: A Sheltering Heart
Author: Terri Reed
Publisher: Steeple Hill
ISBN: 0-373-87388-3
Release Date: August 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Love Inspired - Contemporary Inspirational Romance
Year/Setting: Current-Seattle/Africa
Overall Rating: 4.25
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language (Profanity) Rating: None
Voilent Content Rating: None
Terri's Website: None found
Gwen Yates is a physician’s assistant who is very devoted to her career and to helping people. That is why she took the job with Dr. Harper in the first place not to mention began accompanying him on mission trips. Her faith had become a large part of her life and she is thrilled by being able to combine a gift she is quite good at with her faith. She has learned so much working with Dr. Harper both through his gifts and by observing his show of faith.
However, this mission trip is different. As she waits at the airport with her team, she is on edge because Dr. Harper’s son is accompanying them this time. She is sure that Derek is not going to help the team much because he isn’t a doctor and he doesn’t display much in the faith department. But to make her even more nervous, Dr. Harper is no longer in a position to lead the team and he asks Gwen to take over for him as the most senior member.
Derek is supposed to be along to learn but Gwen isn’t real sure how much help he will be or how much he will learn since he seems to be more focused on running, keeping in shape, and a race he wants to participate in while down there. All in all she is very frustrated and Derek isn’t sure how to change the belief Gwen has already made.
Terri Reed lays out something to which many of us fall prey to – judging others before all of the facts are in. Gwen has made up her mind even before she met Derek and treated him with just that judgment. Gwen had to re-adjust her thought process as well as her belief of Derek as he rose to the occasion time and time again during their stay down there especially when things became tense and somewhat unsafe.
Derek didn’t waver and Gwen learned a lot about him as well as herself. This was a great illustration of how we all need to withhold judgment until we have more information. Terri also portrayed the maturation of Derek. Derek wasn’t a bad man before this mission trip by any stretch of the means. However, he also hadn’t been fully tested to see what he was capable of. This trip gave him that outlet and a means to faith. A Sheltering Heart is full of symbolism and reminders!
Lori
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