Books for Christian Girls: "Still My Forever" by Kim Vogel Sawyer

About this book:

  “Four years after leaving town to make a name for himself as a composer, Gilbert Baty has returned temporarily to Falke, Kansas. Now, he's trying to keep everyone from learning the truth about his disastrous years in New York City. He hopes to start writing music again in Falke, but he can't help being distracted by Ava Flaming, the brown-eyed baker to whom he was briefly engaged before he ended things--and who still stirs feelings in him he knows he has no right to pursue.
    Ava had thought she was past the loss of Gil Baty. But to her dismay, she's as drawn to him as ever. The situation only gets worse when Gil establishes a youth band in Falke, showing once more what a good man he is.
    But when the band has a chance to compete in a statewide competition, Ava faces the prospect of heartbreak again. Could music take Gil away forever this time? Or might God be stirring in Ava's and Gil's hearts a new song that will draw them together for good?”

Series: As of now, no, a stand-alone novel.

Spiritual Content- Psalm 28:7 at the beginning; Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, read, & discussed; Prayers; Many, many talks about God, His will, His forgiveness, & God-given gifts; Talks about those in the Bible; 'H's are capital when referring to God; The town this is set in is a Mennonite community & all the characters are Mennonite; Going to church, a Bible study/meeting, & sermons; Ava struggles with wondering why God chooses a different pathway for His followers and if He really cares about her requests, thinking that He doesn’t answer in the way she wants (she wants to believe that God has a purpose in everything, about half-way through she starts changing in her thoughts about it all (positively)); Many, many mentions of God, His will, & God-given gifts; Many, many mentions of prayers, praying, prayer requests, & blessings over food; Many, many mentions of a church, church going, services, a reverend/clergymen, sermons, hymns, & worship; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, & those in the Bible; Mentions of Bible meetings/studies; Mentions of blessings & being blessed; A few mentions of eternity; A mention of an angel choirs; A mention of wooden crosses;
             *Note: A mention of Gil using his baton the way a “story wizard practiced with a magic wand”.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two forms of ‘dumb’; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Fight, being hit and hitting back, pain, & injuries (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Joseph is very jealousy of Gil (*Spoiler* Towards the end, the two of them and his father have a discussion that changes his attitude towards Gil *End of Spoiler*); Ava tells a fib to Gil (at the beginning, to play down her feelings towards him); Mentions of fevers & deaths; Mentions of a fight, accidents (falling down stairs), injuries, pain, blood/bleeding, & a death (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of a fire; A few mentions of gambling (which is not approved of in the town); A couple mentions of a young girl being heartbroken when her cat died; A couple mentions of hunting falcons; A mention of a father who drank himself to death; A mention of children receiving a strapping when misbehaving;

             *Note: Mentions of a baby that came too early, his passing, & his mother’s grieving over him (up to semi-detailed).

Sexual Content- a fingers-to-lips touch, a hand kiss, four forehead/top-of-the-head kisses, and a barely-above-not-detailed kiss; Recalling a kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to be kissed (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss & embrace someone (Gil towards Ava, but he does not because they are not betrothed); Touches, Embraces, Shivers, Hand holding, Nearness, & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing & Staring; Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of blushes; Mentions of chaperones & not being alone with someone of the opposite gender; A couple mentions of flirting; A mention that Gil would be mortified if he accidently saw Ava in her sleeping clothes; Love, falling/being in love, & the emotions;
             *Note: A mention of a mother who died in labor.

-Ava Flaming, age 21
-Gilbert “Gil” Baty, age 22
                                P.O.V. switches between them & Joseph
                                              Set in 1905
                                                        336 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

I’ve never been a big fan of the “second chance relationship” trope (when a couple meets again after a while and they’re no longer a couple, but still attracted to each other). I typically feel jipped with that trope because I want to see their first falling in love and all the sweetness that comes with it, but I hate to see the couple break up—which is an important part of that trope. This book made it work so well.

I adored Ava’s caring for her parents and their relationship. They were focused-on God and His will and therefore their relationship were so supportive and healthy, which was just lovely to read. Her parents weren’t just there, they were a large part of the story with their wisdom and prayers and I loved that so much.

I felt a little frustrated with Ava towards the end and Joseph at the beginning, but it was still a very sweet read with a satisfying ending.

The whole story was wholesome and interesting. It’s a book that you feel like you’re basking in the warm sunshine when you read it, does that make sense? Many of the books I’ve read by this author have that same…element? Ambiance? Experience? It’s definitely a talent. You see the characters grow and fantastic faith content while reading a sweet story.

See y’all on Friday with a new review!