Divine

Emma looked at the dark window for a long time. Her chin trembled. "Your story is amazing."

"Jesus rescued me from everything that trapped me. My fear and deception, my pain and my addiction. My faithlessness and promiscuity." She took a breath. "Even my desire to end my life. It's all in the past now."

"Nothing on earth could save a person from that." Emma's words were pinched by emotion, almost too soft to hear. "So what about me? How do I find that love, Mary? that love of Jesus that's so big He's all I could ever need?"

Mary felt elation race through her veins. Telling her story was draining. It took her back to unspeakable darkness and horror, back to the doubts and uncertainties and loneliness that had driven her into a life that should've killed her. But she would tell it over and over again until she died, for the privilege of having a woman like Emma ask her about Jesus. (p. 323)

Divine by Karen Kingsbury is a modern day story of Mary Magdalene. Emma Johnson has arrived at a women's shelter in Washington, DC ready to end her life. She meets the famous Mary Madison, a woman with a past who now devotes her life to others who need rescue from abuse. Mary's story is moving and horrific. As it unfolds, Emma finds it nearly parallels her own story. And as the two women share their stories, they discover the life saving love of Jesus that will change their futures and their lives forever.

A powerful story of abuse and rescue, love and faith, Divine is open, honest, and rich in detail. Karen Kingsbury again demonstrates her ability to make fiction come to life with characters and storylines that encourage her readers to question and evaluate their own relationships with people and with God. Karen Kingsbury is one of my favorite authors and Divine reminds me why. I highly recommend this book to others.