Freedom’s Kiss (2018)

About the Book

Book: Freedom’s Kiss

Series: Carrington Family #3

Author: Sarah Monzon

Publisher: Radiant Publications

Genre: Time Slip — Christian Contemporary and Historical Fiction

They were both prisoners of their past. Could legacy be the key to setting them free?

Olivia Arroyo knows who she is and where she’s going—her sense of family responsibility a stepping stone to her dream of becoming a chef. When her employer refuses her the chance to move from server to the kitchen, she makes another opportunity for herself with the owner of a new food truck. But her life derails when a hidden piece of her past suddenly comes to light, and she discovers everything she thought she knew about herself has been a lie.

A single decision can have innumerable consequences—a truth that has changed Adam Carrington’s life. A criminal defense attorney turned food truck owner, he is haunted by his role in an unpardonable act and driven by his need to make restitution. Unexpected help comes in the form of a feisty, raven-haired beauty, but she soon begins challenging his kitchen as well as his heart.

Florida, 1816
Propelled by a fleeting hope of freedom, Winnie and her family escape slavery and find refuge and new life with the Seminole Indians of Florida. But their future is still uncertain as threats of war, a return to slavery, and removal to the west shake their tentative grasp on freedom. Will they ever step out of the shadow of fear to leave a legacy of deliverance?

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My Thoughts

In Jonah 1:1-2 our Bibles tell us that “the Word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.'” The story continues with Jonah, a chosen prophet of God, telling God, “NO!,” and then choosing to run and hide. Jonah is NOT going to do what God has asked. Instead, he catches a ship out of Tarshish and sleeps; and, man, does he sleep hard. Adam, the gloriously gorgeous, brooding, sensitive oldest Carrington child, is a modern-day Jonah. God’s purpose for Adam is to be an attorney. And not just any attorney, but a superior attorney — no one is as good at being a lawyer as Adam Carrington is. But one day, Adam wins a case and it rips his very soul to shreds. God says, “Adam, don’t give up. Keep going. On to the next case. You’re wiser now. You’ve learned. Let’s move on to your next client.” But Adam says, “NO!” and chooses to run and hide in the belly of a food truck.

Adam believes he deserves a life sentence of punishment and penance. His sins are so big they should never be forgiven. He tries so hard to make up for his sins that he sells all of his earthly possessions. He doesn’t deserve nice things or God’s blessings. He just deserves living in the pit of the whale’s tummy forever. Adam wants to be as far away from God’s purpose for him as he can get, and it kills him one piece of his soul at a time.

Of all the Carrington men, I relate the most to Adam. I 100% understand that run-away-and-hide instinct. This world hurts me. I battle fear and anger and worry. Then, like Adam, I feel guilty. Verses like “if God is for us, who can ever be against us?” assault me with shame. Why do I fail so much against these feelings? Why do I fail at trusting God and His promises? Why can I only ever see the bad? I cry out to God all these questions and then I run. I hide in a whale of my own making. I stop praying. I stop reading God’s Word. I plug my ears and scream, “La, la, la, I’m not listening.” The storms in my life get worse. I burrow deeper into my whale and sleep. All this running kills my soul slowly, until one day, like Jonah, like Adam Carrington, God reaches into my heart and grabs my attention away from myself and reminds me that He’s got me, that He will forgive me, and that He will always love me. Then He shakes me up a little and tells me to get back to the purpose He created me for. As Adam is in Freedom’s Kiss, I, too, am grateful to have an Advocate in Heaven who refuses to give up on me even when I choose to give up and run away from Him. I’m so grateful God still wants me. And, I’m so blessed to have read this exceptional novel so I could be reminded of God’s sure and never-ceasing love for me even when I’m being a Jonah.

Freedom’s Kiss is an AMAZING novel. I loved every moment of Adam and Olivia’s story, and I’m a little heartbroken my time with them is up. And the historical plotline — Winnie!!! — broke my heart, yet left me so hopeful. Freedom’s Kiss is one of the best timeslip novels I’ve ever read. I highly, highly, times infinity, recommend this outstanding story.

I received an eBook copy of this book from the author in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.