My latest blog for Bethany House Books blogger program is A Chance At Forever by Melissa Jagears.
A Chance At Forever explores the topics of bullying and forgiveness. Mercy finds herself face to face with the bully who teased her about her deformed arm many years ago in their childhood. Aaron is back in town hoping for a fresh start and a second chance. It's in Mercy's hands whether bor not Aaron is accepted for a teaching position, can she put aside her past feelings and forgive him?
I loved the honest way the book dealt with putting old resentments behind you. In this case, Mercy looked for answers from God, but she also had to make the decision herself that she had to let go and try to see Aaron for who he is today.
Aaron is a great character who is repentant for his past bullying and doesn't make excuses. He finds himself in a new position to help out boys at an orphanage who are experiencing the same anger he used to feel. Now that he is a changed man, he goes to work trying to show others that they can change for the better too, and I think that is a really good message. The relationship between Aaron and Jimmy is particularly poignant because Aaron sees in Jimmy the troubled boy he used to be, so Aaron takes him under his wing to try to get the boy from going down the same path he did.
Even Jimmy, the teenage rascal, has qualities about him that don't make him an unlikeable character. You feel there is something under the surface that is causing him to act out. It's revealed later in the book that Jimmy is acting out for a good reason and it makes you sympathize with him and his life.
The relationships between all these characters are wonderfully drawn out with layers and complications, just like in real life.
I really enjoyed this novel and I think others will feel the same. It has great storylines, great characters, and a moral about forgiveness and moving on from a troubled past.
