Covenant Child, by Terri Blackstock

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Publisher's Description: Kara and Lizzie are heiresses to one of the largest fortunes in the country. But when their father dies suddenly, the toddlers are ripped from the arms of Amanda, their loving stepmother, and given to their maternal grandparents, who only want the children’s fortune for themselves.

While even the stipend their guardians get for supporting them is squandered, the children are left to raise themselves. Kara and Lizzie grow up believing they are worthless . . . until the day when they learn the truth.

I've read other books by this author, but this is by far her best yet. She strayed from her usual mystery-thriller genre to write this heart-warming story with real characters, believable dialog, and a plot that pulls you in and doesn't let go. I particularly liked the part of the story where the twin sister shares about her life since moving "home," and I was reminded of the importance in telling those who aren't yet a part of God's family, how wonderful it really is.

This modern-day parable rang so true to the lives of people I love, and at times my own life, that I bawled through half of it. What a beautiful picture of the Father's love for us, of the inheritance He offers us through His Son, of the lengths He goes to in wooing us into His family. As strongly as that was portrayed, this book still wasn't preachy, and I could imagine non-believers enjoying the story line without thinking about the parallels to the Christian life. But knowing the "story behind the story" made reading this book a rich experience for me, one I will be reflecting on for a while.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishing through netGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.