It’s 1917, and Halifax is at war. Silas Quinn, street sweeper and army reject, remains on the home front, shunning God and society as religiously as they shun him. But the night he stumbles across a half-frozen prostitute, his eyes blink open, and his greater purpose is born: preserve and protect.

There’d been a day when shop girl Helen Fraser was desperate enough to believe a few nights in a brothel would cure her troubles. By some miracle, Major Jack Gordon deemed her worth saving, but Helen knows her meticulously recreated identity cannot last. What she doesn’t expect is for its destruction to come about, not by a john or one of the madam’s goons, but by a force great enough to flatten a city and bury her alive.

Set against the backdrop of the Halifax Explosion, Beautiful in His Sight is a Christian historical romance that explores unequivocal grace and identity in Christ.

my point of view:

WOW.

That was how I felt from the very beginning of reading this incredible story…the historical aspect is amazing, truly. I learned about a tragedy I knew nothing about – and I always considered history my favorite subject! How did I not know about this event? Seriously sad on my part, but I even googled it while reading to see some of the facts. April was spot on with her history and the overall story was truly inspiring.

I absolutely adored April writing, I honestly feel as though Helen and Silas crawled inside me and have a place in my heart forever…this doesn’t happen often for me, but when it does, it never goes away! Characters like these two are hard to come by and I am so grateful I met them. Both Helen and Silas have been through so much heartache and loss, to see them overcome the past and work toward a future with God at the center of it was definitely ‘beautiful in my sight’ no pun intended! I especially loved Helen’s “truths” she tells herself, i have kind of adopted this litany in my own daily life…reminding myself of the truths that are real for me when things get difficult.

If you are like me and April Gardner is a new to you author, I cannot recommend this story highly enough!

About April W Gardner