Until the Havest - Sarah Loudin Thomas

Henry Phillips is home for the holidays. Whilst he's studying agriculture, he'd rather give it all up and play his fiddle. Would his parents understand? He doesn't want to disappoint them, so when tragedy strikes, Henry is left despondent and alone.

His unlikely friend of one pre-teen called Mayfair Hoffman shows him another way to think. However, her sister Margaret is very protective of the diabetic young girl and whilst tries to understand his loss, doesn't know why Henery just doesn't head back to college. If she wasn't a disappointment to her mother then she would have liked to have had a decent education.

As his grandmother's caretaker, Henry can't avoid the somewhat pretty, freckled woman with the looks and the opinions. She winds him up and seems wrapped up with her own life.

However, the young frustrated man, soon realizes that Margaret has her own problems. Coupled with Mayfair's unique gift and condition, they both come to understand that they may be of help to each other. When Mayfair takes a turn for the worse, they rally - along with his mother and grandmother - to truly help each other cope.

Thomas' second outing is another deeply engaging, wholesome read. Her characters are rich, interesting and real. Their story is moving, thwart with complications and emotional. Yet the underlying peace is found through their faith - even if they (Henry, Margaret) aren't sure of it.

Whilst the author has the same eloquence with her writing, language and characters (as with her first novel) I did prefer Miracle in a Dry Season (where you first meet the Phillips family). Perhaps it was the time it was set in (50s) or the romance seemed more prevalent but regardless, Until the Harvest is a great book. A highly recommended read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, to review. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not required to give a positive critique.