Whispers From Yesterday written by Robin Lee Hatcher and published by RobinSong, Inc. (2018) is a story within a story. I love this book because it is so focused on God and his wonderful work in our lives. 

The back story is about a family, the Thompson's, in Oregon in the early 1930's. There are two daughters, Sophia and Esther, in the family. The girls are two years apart in age with Sophia being the eldest. Both young women end up liking the same young man, Mikkel Christiansen. Mikkel is from Denmark. He chooses Esther and when she is eighteen, they marry and go to live with Mikkel's grandfather in Denmark. Mikkel becomes a pastor.

Even though Esther and Sophia had been extremely close growing up, Sophia shuns her sister when Esther and Mikkel marry. She refuses to speak to her, to attend the wedding nor does she answer the letters Esther writes from Denmark.

Later in the novel, we learn that when things became unbearable in Denmark during the Nazi occupation, and after Mikkel died, Esther sent her one-year-old baby, Margaret Rose, to live in Sweden with her Jewish neighbors who had sought refuge there. Esther died and baby Margaret was sent to Sophia who was now living in Nampa, Idaho with her husband Bradley Taylor.

The story begins after Margaret's daughter, Karen Butler, has attempted to commit suicide. As a spoiled rich girl living in California, Karen grew up with everything she ever wanted. However, her mother Margaret died four years before, and her father recently committed suicide when he lost all his assets.

At Karen's hospital bedside, MacKenzie Gleason, her father's attorney and family friend, tells her that all the family money is gone. Karen decides her best option is to live in Idaho with her grandmother, Sophia. Karen who has never heard the story of how her mother came to live with Sophia, still thinks Sophia is her grandmother. 

During World War II Sophia married Bradley Taylor and they bought the Golden "T" Ranch in Idaho. They never had any of children of their own children. Sophia, though a Christian, remained bitter toward Esther until Esther died. Sophia was heartbroken then and always regretted the way she treated her sister.

Now, in her eighties, Sophia helps to support young Dusty Stoddard who runs a youth camp for troubled boys on the ranch during the summer. The boys currently under his leadership are Billy, Hal, Ted and Noah. He shares the love of Jesus with them and encourages them to seek the Lord. As a troubled young man himself, he now knows the transformational power of Christ and desires to help them.

When Karen arrives, she is snobbish, looking down on Dusty and the way they live so simply on the ranch. Sophia gives her Esther's diaries, but still does not tell her that Esther is her real grandmother. She wants her to discover that as well as Esther's faith in God through her writings.

This is a very interesting story with many plot twists and turns. Exciting and suspenseful things transpire. The characters grow and are transformed by God's love. The story ends happy, with the characters learning more about God's love for them. This story would best be enjoyed by readers eighteen and above.  

Patsy Ledbetter has written poetry, short stories, devotionals, and book reviews for many years. She has also been a drama instructor, special needs teacher and substitute teacher. She and Kevin have been married for 41 years. In 2020 they lost their oldest son Craig, age 33. They now have three children, Vanessa, Bethany and David. They also have three grandchildren, Elyse, Aurora, and Hayden. Kevin has been a music pastor most of his life and together they serve the Lord in a local church. Patsy loves to read, pray, and spend time outdoors and with family and friends. Her main desire is to bring glory to God through all the talents He has given her.