Reviewer: Trudy Smith
Title: Joy for Mourning
Author: Dorothy Clark
Publisher: Steeple Hill
ISBN: 0-373-78542-9
Release Date: July 2005
Genre/Sub-genre: Inspirational Historical Romance
Year/Setting: 1822/Philadelphia
Overall rating: 4.5
Sexual content rating: None
Dorothy's E-mail: DorothyJClark
I loved Dorothy Clark’s inspirational, historical romance, Joy for Mourning. As
a sequel to Beauty for Ashes, this book’s sensitive and heartfelt story once
again grabbed me from the start.
Laina Randolph Brighton, sister of Justin Randolph (from Beauty for Ashes) was recently widowed. What hurt her more than being widowed was that she was childless. After months of mourning both her husband and her childless state and not knowing what the Lord had in store for her, Laina visits her brother and sister-in-law, Justin and Elizabeth.
Laina had decided to move into the mansion next door to her brother. This gave Laina the closeness to family she needed at this hard time, but she still feels lonely. She throws herself in restoring the house, as it had been sitting idle since their family friend, Abigail’s death. One day while shopping, she witnesses a child being chased and then is run down by a carriage. Laina discovers that the child appears to be homeless. Billy had stolen a couple of biscuits, one for him and one for his little sister, Emma, who was hiding nearby, waiting for Billy. To Laina’s dismay the owner of the carriage is not sympathetic to the child or situation. Dr. Thaddeous Allen happens upon the scene and offers to help Billy to Laina’s relief. Laina finds Emma and insists both Billy and Emma be taken to her home to be treated and cared for.
Later, Laina learns that the city’s orphanage had burnt to the ground several months before and the city did not have the funds to re-build. The orphans had been running the streets since then, doing what they could just to survive. Laina is heart-broken. She knew she had to help them and soon Laina, Billy and Emma find they learn to love each other and discover the meaning of a true family.
Dr. Allen is overjoyed, since he has been trying very hard to help the orphans when they would allow him to. He soon learns that Laina can not turn away one child and she offers her love and support to each child he finds that will trust him enough to accept their help.
Laina and Dr. Allen, or Thad as she comes to think of him, work together and soon Laina begins to wonder if she knows what the Lord has in store for her. Does the Lord want her to take in the poor little homeless children and offer her love and support? She has her doubts, since it seems He hasn’t been listening to her for several years, after all, she’s barren and the Lord knows she want more than anything, a child of her own.
Laina is coming around to believe that maybe this is the way the Lord will give her the children she so desires. Thad is also working with Laina, bringing new children to her every week and spending a lot of time with her and the children. It doesn’t take long before both Laina and Thad start to have feelings for each other. Laina keeps her feelings to herself because she wants to give Thad the opportunity to find someone he can love and have a family with, not a childless relationship they would have since she’s barren. Thad is also keeping his feelings to himself because he feels he can not give Laina the rich, upper-class life she has grown accustom to.
Both Laina and Thad have their pride but we know the Lord can work miracles and sometimes the miracles sprout out of the very trials that we face. The orphanage is quarantined with an outbreak of the measles. Laina doesn’t know if she has had them and soon discovers that she hasn’t. It takes a lot of prayers and trust that the Lord will heal a very ill Laina. It’s during this time that the Lord gives both Laina and Thad the realization that love can grow in spite of the hurdles they feel are insurmountable and they can become a loving family with Billy, Emma and another little orphan girl that Laina comes to love, Anne.
But God is not through with them yet. Their marriage and love grows through the help and guidance of the Lord. Laina and Thad soon discover they are expecting a child of their own.
There were many things I enjoyed about. Laina and Thad’s story. Since I had read Justin and Elizabeth’s story, Beauty for Ashes, a few weeks ago I was very familiar with most all the secondary characters in Joy for Mourning. I appreciated how Dorothy wrote Justin and Elizabeth into Joy for Mourning, as they did play very important roles.
I again enjoyed Dorothy’s writing style with Joy for Mourning. I was hooked, wondering what was to come next. Dorothy wrote with a voice that was insightful and sensitive to Laina’s belief that she was infertile. I really appreciated how Dorothy wrote about this sensitive subject. I can understand all the feeling Laina was experiencing, as we can’t have children. I could relate to Laina’s pain and longing and her pleading with the Lord. I wanted to cry when Laina discovered Billy and Emma’s plight. And I applauded her no-nonsense approach to taking charge or the situation. There was no question that she was going to take both children home. I also really appreciate how Dorothy wrote this wonderful story with no un-wanted language.
Dorothy points out that God can lead those who look to Him and if they trust Him and the plan He has for our lives, it will be the very best for us. God is a God of miracles if we will trust Him and follow the openings and circumstances He give to us.
I greatly appreciated Dorothy’s sensitive and heartfelt romance she has shared with us. And again, I found it refreshing to be able to read the combination of the historical romance I always enjoy and the inspirational that I crave. Readers of all types of genres with find Joy for Mourning a great read. Thank you, Dorothy, for sharing Laina and Thad’s story.
Trudy
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