Into the Fire

 (Originally published on May 17th, 2015 under "Enclosed in . . . Memory Box Secrets".)

Memory Box Secrets by Brenda S. Anderson is the third book in the Coming Home Series preceded by the prequel Pieces of Granite and the first book Chain of Mercy.

Familiar characters Richard and Sheila have married and are looking forward to making a family and forgetting their pasts, but it's never quite that easy to discard those places where hurt and pain were the norm and the ability to absolve oneself of guilt is a trial all its own. Well aware their mistakes have been forgiven by God's grace, their enjoyment of one another and their future together looks golden.

Richard's business is flourishing, and Sheila has always exceled at her work. Their common objective is to raise a family. Sheila wants to be the loving parent she never had, her mother an ice queen, her dad distant. Her new in-laws are near perfect in the family department, and she's grateful for their loving acceptance.

When Richard's former employer in Manhattan calls asking him to return, not only is he shocked at their offer, he's afraid to even consider it. The fast, indulgent New York lifestyle had been his undoing and those personal memories from that season of his life bring only heartache.

Before I say anymore about this story of hope and heartbreak, forgiving and unforgiving, joy and pain, I would like to say Memory Box Secrets is Brenda S. Anderson's best work yet. Handling difficult issues with tenderness and insight, Brenda takes the reader on an emotional journey through the excruciating pain of adults and young people forced to make impossible decisions.  

Memory Box Secrets examines the "befores" of several lives and their consequences which lead to the "afters". Besides these circumstances, the different kinds of pain embodied in the past desperately need healing in the present. While I've never been particularly fond of Sheila, she displays some endearing qualities in this episode of her life. Having her early past revealed more clearly in a stunning scene with her mother, she is ill-prepared for what she learns. When trauma happens, she reverts to her closed-off self-preservation, pushing away the man who loves her while not allowing God to ease her pain.

The peripheral characters are well-designed and add substance to the story. The faith factor is always present but blends organically with the characters. There are hard moments in this story, the kind that elicit tears, but each moment is well-worth the emotional investment of this very well-written story of sinful pasts and healed futures, of abandonment and rekindled love, of personal sorrow and renewed hope. Brenda's unforeseen twists add depth to the complex situations in play.

Highly recommend Memory Box Secrets in this Coming Home Series by Brenda S. Anderson.  

Father, please continue to bless Brenda with meaningful stories designed just for her to tell. Encourage her and give her what she needs to keep this part of her life thriving in you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.