INESCAPABLE
Bethany House, 2012
Reviewed by Diana Flowers
~4.5 stars
A Must Read!
In Inescapable, author Nancy Mehl sweeps us away on a suspense filled journey to Kingdom, Kansas -- a lovely, Mennonite community with a homey atmosphere; replete with quilt making shops, a quaint cafe, cozy homes decorated with window boxes, and a vast array of flowers blanketing the countryside. A seemingly perfect place to live; but underneath the guise of gentle beauty lie secrets, discord...and danger!
Raised by a strict, harsh Mennonite father, Lizzie leaves her home in Kingdom in disgrace, planning never to return there again. But five years later, Lizzie's world begins to fall apart as she finds herself receiving threatening letters and being stalked by a mysterious stranger. Filled with trepidation and misgivings, Lizzie flees to the last place she ever wants to go -- back home to Kingdom.
As Lizzie becomes reacquainted with her hometown and its people, she finds herself reassessing her opinion of Kingdom and begins to enjoy living there...especially when her childhood friendship with elder Noah Housler is renewed. There is still much dissension, however, in the community between the new and the old order Mennonites and Lizzie's obstinate, strict father is the instigator. And just when Lizzie finally begins to feel safe, a body is discovered and she begins to suspect her father or Noah had something to do with it. Who can she trust?... and has the danger she has run from come closer than ever before? Shunned by her earthly father, will Lizzie run to the Father whose love is inescapable?
I absolutely love the combination of Mennonite/suspense/romance mixed with the cozy, hometown atmosphere in Nancy Mehl's novels. Filled with twists and turns, and enough excitement to keep the reader turning those pages, this is a must read for all. I found the main character, Lizzie, strong yet vulnerable as we all are, and the secondary characters stole my heart! With an exciting and satisfying conclusion and a strong spiritual thread of forgiveness and redemption, this novel is guaranteed to leave you reaching for the tissue box! I am anxious to read the second installment in this series, Unbreakable, which awaits me on my Kindle. Super job once again, Nancy Mehl!
This book may be purchased through Amazon, CBD, and your local bookstore.
Giveaways: Nancy has graciously offered to give away a copy of Inescapable and Unbreakable this week. OWG will give away an ebook copy of any of Nancy's books, also, this week.
Question: Have you ever left a place (ex. a church, hometown, etc.), under bad circumstances, only to feel God is leading you back there for a purpose?
Giveaways: Nancy has graciously offered to give away a copy of Inescapable and Unbreakable this week. OWG will give away an ebook copy of any of Nancy's books, also, this week.
Question: Have you ever left a place (ex. a church, hometown, etc.), under bad circumstances, only to feel God is leading you back there for a purpose?
Hello Diana. And, hello to Nancy. Always good to see you. Still trying to win one of your books! No, Diana, I haven't ever left a place or church for a bad reason on my part. I guess you could say I left one place I loved because my husband got to running around on me, and we wound up getting a divorce. But God never called me to go back there. But, my friends didn't want me to leave. The others I left was for jobs, or illness, like illness, and family member with cancer. I really would like to win Nancy's book, but can't use an e-book. Love to visit this site. Maxie OWG
ReplyDeleteMAXIE, we love having you visit us! I'm so sorry that happened to you -- I can't imagine going through infidelity. How devastating! Hoping for a win for you, dear Maxie!
Deletegreat review !!! have never left a church under bad circumstances, but have been going with my daughter and granddaughter to South Church, it's amazing the way I feel while listening to the Pastor's speak, I feel so good emotionally !!!! thanks for the chance to win, I truly want to read both books, Nancy Mehl is a great writer and I know these books are outstanding !!!
ReplyDeleteRosemary rfoley@salemstate.edu
ROSEMARY, I'm so glad you never left a church under bad circumstances! Many people have, including me, and it's a very hard thing!
DeleteNo, I have never left any place because of bad things happening. I did move to Nebraska to be with my now husband. Have not felt that the Lord is calling me to go back. Would really love to win this book. Love reading and this book sounds like a really great one to read.
ReplyDeleteForgot to add email address:
Deleteseraphinangel7@aol.com
JUANITA, I was born In Nebraska, but my family moved when I was too young to remember much about it! Snow -- lots of it! I only remember that! lol Good luck to you!
DeleteI have left a church but didn't feel called back to it. Thank you for the opportunity to win these books.
ReplyDeletelorrainealx@hotmail.com
Thank you for sharing, LORRAINE! And you are welcome! :D
DeleteThese books sound so good Diana--great review! We have a church that we left because of some not so good things going on, but t seemed like every time we tried to leave, God brought us back--God wasn't finished with us there yet. Eventually, we felt a release and began attending another nearby church and made some good friends there, and then we moved to a new town, where we knew nobody. We tried attending the church in that town, but it just didn't feel like home. so, we tried several other churches but none seemed right. Then we began our crazy traveling life and are never home to attend a "home church", so guess what? We have been going back to that other church--the one we had left! Our daughter-i-law and her children go there, so we would attend to see their church and school programs. Because we attended this church for many years, as our children were growing up, we had developed many good friends there, including some older pillars of the church, so we always receive a very nice welcome. When we left that church, we never really "left the church"--it was more like moving away from your "family", but you still loved that family and enjoyed your various "visits" with them. You just didn't "live your life" with them. We were once taught by a wise minister, that you should never leave a church with a "broken bridge". You should always leave with a bridge still available, should you ever need to return for some reason. Of course, there are sometimes reasons that are difficult to avoid, that make that an unreasonable possibility.
ReplyDeleteOf course I would love to win one of these books, and e-books are a great source of books for me, with our crazy travel schedule.
Vicki OWG
I really enjoyed reading your story, VICKI, and I love the words of wisdom from that preacher. I can never cross back over that bridge, however, and return to my ex-church for I have no liberty from the Lord to do so. Tho it cut like a knife to leave there, I knew it was God's will for me to do so!
DeleteNo, I've not had that happen yet. Enter me please :D
ReplyDeletewinterrose (at) comcast (dot) net
Throwing your name in my cyber hat right now, WINTERROSE! That is so pretty...WinterRose...love it!
DeleteSuch an enticing review, DIANA! I have requested both books from my library. Can't wait to read them but I'll be happy to win a copy, too ;)
ReplyDeleteI have not experienced that phenomenon you are asking about :)
Ok, just for clarification. We left a church under difficult circumstances and have not returned there for worship. We went once for a funeral of a dear friend and, needless to say, it was awkward.
DeleteANNE, would love for you to win a copy, too! That would be a very awkward position to be put in for sure. Hope I'm not put in that one with my ex-church!
DeleteFYI--the trailer is great!
ReplyDeleteThx, VICKI! I already had the review posted and thought I would just have a look-see on YouTube and lo and behold-there it was! So now -- here it is. lol
DeleteWould love to win a copy!
ReplyDeleteTERESA, can you please come back and leave an email addy for us? And do you have an answer to the question I posed above? Thank you, dear. :)
DeleteHi Diana. Thank you for the great review. I am truly looking forward to purchasing or winning a copy of this book. I love my Amish/Mennonite books because their families seem so secure in Gott (God) and they are always a close, helping family. Thank you again for the opportunity to win a copy.
ReplyDeleteGod bless,
Alyson King Jenkins
Alyson_jen@msn.com
In answer to your question, I had left God and my church for a number of years. I had married someone outside of my faith. When we had our daughter, I fell God tugging at my heart because I really wanted our daughter to know God personally. I went back to church at that time, hubby became a member and we raised a happy little girl in the faith I had been raised in. It is true the family who pray together stay together. Today I am married for almost 46 years and that little girl I took to church is almost 43 years old. Praise God from whom all blessing flow.
DeleteAlyson King Jenkins
ALYSON, thank you for sharing that lovely story with us. You have such a beautiful spirit about you -- I can feel it in your words.
DeleteHave you ever left a place (ex. a church, hometown, etc.), under bad circumstances, only to feel God is leading you back there for a purpose?
ReplyDeleteYes, just recently. I've been shocked by the leading but know that God wants me to go back to a neighborhood that I used to live in to witness to some of the people there.
cindialtman(at)gmail(dot)com
Cindi, you just never know the blessings that will come from your obedience to do that! Thank you for sharing!
DeleteGrowing up my mother was like that and would skip between 2 different churches. OWG
ReplyDeleteMEGAN, please come back and leave you email addy dearheart. Maybe you left it on one of the other posts? :)
DeleteAw DIANA, I love your reviews so much!! You make me want to read every single book you write about! :)
ReplyDeleteThere hasn't been any place I've ever left because bad circumstances and then returned. We've only ever left one church and then it wasn't long after that, that it split, so we were glad we were spared from that, and we were led to a much more positive and powerful church that we're still in, so it all worked out and was just meant to be.
Thank you, NOELA! I know another little lady that is pretty good at convincing ME to read certain books. Ahem! lol I'm so glad you are able to be part of a spirit-filled church...what a tremendous blessing.
DeleteI loved your review!
ReplyDeleteI have left a church because of God's leading. I didn't want to leave. It was heart-breaking for me. There wasn't a problem with the congregation or individuals in the church, but the problem was with the denomination and their stands and behavior. I still have many friends there and would love to go back, but unless the church breaks off from the denomination, I'm confident that the Lord would not want me to do so.
may_dayzee (at) yahoo (dot) com
I'm so glad you didn't have to leave b/c of a church hurt, KAY, and still have many friends at your ex-church. I know it's hard to leave your church under any circumstance -- good or bad!
DeleteI can't say I left anything under a bad situation. I did leave my hometown to live in another city. Wait, I take that back...Yes, after a few years living in another city. The church I was attending received a new Pastor. The first 2 years felt like a roller coaster and I could not ride it anymore. With much trepidation...I felt God calling me back to go to my home city and help a church there to reach the people.
ReplyDeletestrgth4yu@hotmail.com
Many blessings to you, LINDA, for being willing to obey the Lord and return to your hometown. Hoping for a win for you here!
DeleteHi Diana, I can't say that I have. I left a church that we went to That had a church split. Was a very sad time. We started going to a new church, And it just didn't feel right. I n the meantime a lot of the people got together and started a new church. Was started in a garage. We saved enough money and built a church . Labor from all those of attended it. Well we went there for a few years. Things started changing. We left. We have now been going to a wonderful church. So I guess by my story you can see it was not best to go back because of friends. I would love to win the book sounds really good. Maybe this time I keep trying. LOL
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
joeym11@frontier.com OWG
Hi, DIANA! Persistency pays so keep trying! I went to a church that split as well. I stayed but the gossip and the bad feelings among the people stayed as well. It was so sad b/c everyone in that church had been so close to one another and the Spirit of the Lord had been so strong there. I finally left but came back b/c of friendship, which you're right, that's not a good reason to return to a church. Ended up having to leave again. :(
DeleteI'm so excited to read this book. Hope I win it but if not I will get it and read it. Can't wait. Shirley Culpepper at bluebell5071@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteSHIRLEY, this one is well worth the read! I'm convinced you will enjoy it and the luck of the Irish to you, dear, in the drawing!
DeleteI really would love to win this book, it sounds so good. To answer your question, we did leave a church after a disagreement with the pastor on some basic beliefs. We are very happy where we are now and can't imagine being any where else.
ReplyDeletePHYLLIS, there is nothing more satisfying to me in this life than to have a church that you look forward to going to every week. That and gkids! lol
DeleteDIANA another fantabulous review!! After reading Unbreakable I know I need to read this one. Nancy is a terrific writer. :)
ReplyDeleteI've left a church before under terrible circumstances but haven't been led to go back there.
God would have to appear in a burning bush and tell you to go back, huh, TERESA? lol That's the way I feel about my ex-church. I would sure have to know it was Him leading me back there.
DeleteI know you will love this one, T! Everytime the heroine would go anywhere by herself, I'd find myself looking over MY shoulder! LOL
No l have never had that experience. Would love to win Abel.barb@Yahoo.com. Thank you
ReplyDeleteGot your name in the hat, ABEL.BARB! Blessings~
DeleteThis has never happened to me.
ReplyDeleteINESCAPABLE does look like such a wonderful read.
OWG
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I believe you will enjoy it immensely, MARY! Lots of luck to you!
Delete