All stories affect us to some degree, but in some cases when the topic strikes such a chord in our hearts, we hold the story up beside our own lives as a filter to perhaps look at life a little differently than we did before. The issues surrounding slavery, and the courage of the men and women who helped the slaves escape their prison, are a prime example of a very poignant slice of history for many people. I have only read a handful of stories set during the Civil War, but Tara Johnson’s newest novel is definitely one of the most memorable. “Engraved on the Heart” was published by Tyndale House in the fall of 2018, and is a moving saga of courage, faith, and love.

Have you ever felt God telling you to do something so unexpected, so extraordinary, that it simply must be from Him because you never would have thought of it by yourself? Consider what it would have felt like back in 1861, if you felt the Lord calling you to be a conductor in the Underground Railroad, helping slaves find their way to freedom! This is the position that a young southern belle named Kezia Montgomery found herself in – and the heroine’s resulting story is one that readers won’t soon forget.

“Engraved on the Heart” is a powerful novel set during one of the most turbulent times in American history. This story is heartfelt and deeply moving. The only issue I had with it is occasionally the author seemed to settle for ‘telling‘ about some of the key events (such as Underground Railroad missions), rather than ‘showing‘ them play out scene by scene. Overall, however, I found this story to be well-written, with realistic characters and thought-provoking themes that are relevant even today. Although this is my first book by Tara Johnson, it certainly won’t be my last!

This book was provided courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.