SWEET DEVOTION - Felicia Mason
Harlequin/Love Inspired
February 2004
SYNOPSIS: When Amber Montgomery is mistakenly arrested by police chief Paul Evans, they become instant adversaries. But when they chaperone a church youth camping trip, both find faith and the love of a lifetime.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE: (4+) Tricia-Anne Blades
REVIEW: Fear is the controlling factor in the lives of many individuals, as seeds of fear may be planted during a horrific childhood experience within the home or school environment or emotional, mental, or physical abuse in adulthood. Fear, being no respecter of persons, shapes the path of life. In SWEET DEVOTION, Felicia Mason takes this theme and effectively weaves a story that tugs at the heart of the reader and makes one more aware of the fear factor within life.
The author, however, does not only address the theme of fear but also provides the solution to this fear - Love. Here the reminder is given: “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, of love and of a sound mind” {2 Timothy 1:7}. Fear, except for that of reverent worship, was never intended for people to encounter. Ms. Mason shows that “there is no fear in love; but prefect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears have not been made prefect in love” {1 John 4:18}.
The main character of SWEET DEVOTION is Amber Montgomery. A feisty beauty whose catering to the needs of others masks the emotional pain she carries. This mask is shifted when she comes face to face with her past. Fear clutches the very core of her being but God places many people in her path in order to take the broken pieces of her life as the Potter puts her back together again. Being a fugitive from God is never easy. Neither is being a fugitive from life. Amber not only has to fight to stay alive but has to be willing to be captured by the love that is extended to her in order to be freed from the clutches of fear.
“Nothing just happens!” Paul Evans, the male protagonist, meets Amber by change under explosive circumstances and this leads him to question the divine order within his life. Paul also carries scars and much pain, but instead of burying this pain has sought help and faces his fears. He is therefore able to show love to the wounded animal in others. His character is one that reminds the reader God will fight your battles for you.
The interplay of characters with the theme of fear and love is heart rending. Ms. Mason uses her characters to compare and contrast the way fear is handled. One such character is found in Marnie. Her contrast is seen when she declares: “It takes one to know one.” She has been through emotional and physical abuse but in contrast she has allowed herself to move from brokenness to wholeness. Not of her own doing but rather with the help of those who have walked the path and mainly by making Jesus the Lover of her soul; allowing Him to walk with and talk to her through the garden that is her life.
Felicia Mason weaves a beautiful love story with the aim of reminding readers that no matter what has occurred in your life, God is there, and is still the Potter who desires to take the broken fragments of life and instead of seeing fear one can see Jesus in every tear that falls. Instead of allowing fear to eat away at you like a cancer, allow God to put you back together with love!
tricia@romanceincolor.com (10th February 2004)