My rating: 4/5
Incredibly riveting, The Past Behind Me by Embassie Susberry is an enthralling tale that explores the impact of one’s past on the present, the significance of community, and the restorative grace of Jesus.
Main character and POV Delilah Lacey Benson is nothing like her namesake in the Bible. A kindhearted and compassionate woman, she is the beloved former First Lady of a church, and a highly respected resident of the small town of Adams, Missouri. Most of the residents of Adams are migrants from Tulsa, Oklahoma and survivors of the horrific massacre that occurred in 1921. Two years after the gruesome event and now living as a widow, Delilah has had to get used to being the single mother of two teenage girls, and the sole owner of a multiple acre farm and house she inherited from her deceased grandparents. After spending most of her life in a city, Delilah is unfamiliar with the farming lifestyle and finds herself desiring assistance with reviving the farmland. That help comes in an unexpected arrival from a man, who is suddenly discovered hiding out on her property. His presence resurfaces undesirable events from her past, provokes forgiveness, and results in her anchoring herself in Christ like never before.
“The Lord measures winning and losing differently than the world around us. So long as we have Jesus, we always win” (Delilah, The Past Behind Me).
Written with empathic clarity of the blessing of second chances, author Embassie Susberry created a phenomenal page-turning novel with great character development, delightful Christian faith content, and a fascinating plot that grips the reader throughout the entire story. There are elements of thrill and mystery in the plot that add a layer of intrigue to the story. I really enjoyed this novel, and I highly recommend this to others.
