The First Gift Ruth Logan Herne

Description:

Bringing to mind classics like Catherine Marshall’s Christy, society’s standards are put to the test and a Northern Appalachian town comes together to save a neglected child in Ruth Logan Herne’s new romance, The First Gift. This poignant novel tells the story of five-year-old Cassie Carruthers, who lives in a bug-infested shack in the hills of Western New York’s Southern Tier. Her mother has died and Cassie spends her days fending for herself while her alcoholic father drinks himself into a stupor. But Cassie’s isolation has not gone unnoticed in the tightknit community of Phillipsburg. When a concerned neighbor alerts the county, the community sets a plan in motion to rescue the neglected little girl. Through fundraising efforts, Cassie is tucked into the kindergarten classroom of independent, beautiful Kerry McHenry. Kerry has her work cut out for her in dealing with Cassie’s depressed father, but despite the child’s loveless start in life, she soon reveals herself to be an intelligent, eager student. Moreover, she possesses a resourcefulness that has saved her life more than once—and will be called upon again. Kerry McHenry is nobody’s fool. She sees her own tough upbringing in Cassie’s dire situation, so she works tirelessly to guide the young girl, trying to help her become everything that God wants her to be. At the same time, she finds herself torn between a commitment-phobic pediatric oncologist from a nearby town and Phillipsburg’s widowed deputy sheriff, a complicated man who is still angry with God. As the stakes grow ever higher and the characters’ lives intersect in unexpected ways, each will face a true test of faith—and come face to face with indisputable evidence of God’s love.


My thoughts on the book:

 Cassie is living a hard life at such a young age when a group of people set out to try and help all the know how to do. Kerry loves teaching but when she is given the task at helping a young child in need things from her own past out brought to the forefront. Jake has a beautiful family at home his only loss is his beloved wife and his mom and sister keep encouraging him to get out there, but he needs to deal with some bigger things first. 
I will start off saying I really loved the storyline of this book. The book gets to the matter of the heart in a lot of place and leaves you hoping for the best and holding your breath in some places. I did not like that there was so many characters and so many different view points I wish in a way that the story could have been told in the view points of less as it seemed to be confusing at some points. There are some very intense parts in this book and so very hard subject dealt with. Every time the point of Cassie came up my heart would just break for the little girl I was beyond in love with her little character. Over all I would say this book is worth the read and just connecting with each character may add an element to it, its worth it in the end. 

Where you can buy the book:
Amazon.com
barnesandnoble.com
CBD.COM

Where you can connect with the author:
ruthloganherne.com/

While at amazon check out Ruth Logan Herne's other books, You will not be disappointed. Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.