Changed by These Hills
Written by Tamera Alexander
Published by Tyndale Fiction
Release Date: 09.08.26
Genre: Christian Historical Romance, Historical Christian Romance Fiction, Southern Fiction
5+ Stars!
I cried when I finished In These Hills. This story is so full of living. People trying to love each other well. Trying to make choices that honor God. Struggling. Getting things wrong. Asking forgiveness. Offering mercy. Learning to see the person standing in front of them.
Josephine came into Lynchburg with strong convictions and very definite ideas about people and what was right. Then she started living among them.
That got very personal for me. I know what it is to find yourself in a completely different environment and later see how God orchestrated it. People you never expected become part of what He is teaching you. Your eyes open wider. You begin seeing things you could not see before. I felt that so deeply while reading Josephine’s story.
There was one point when I was furious with Josephine. I mean truly upset with her. I cared enough about these people by then that her choices hurt. Watching what came after that, and seeing her grow, made me love her and those around her even more.
The friendships in this book are beautiful. Miss Mary. Calla. Josephine. Dodge. Bethie. Jack Daniel. So much care between people. They show up. They listen. They forgive. They help. They try again.
“Love your neighbor” is lived out here.
The Jack Daniel’s Distillery setting fascinated me. I had no idea going in how I would feel about that part of the story. Tamera Alexander made Lynchburg and the people behind its history feel alive. I kept wanting to know more.
Dodge and Josephine were wonderful together too. I really enjoyed them, especially the way faith mattered in how Dodge approached what he wanted and the choices he made.
Jesus is throughout this story.
People pray and seek God’s guidance. They surrender things to Him. They cry out to Him. They talk about His grace and His mercy. They want to live in a way that honors Him. They seek Him and find Him.
Jesus is Lord and Savior and Master. That is what made this story so beautiful to me.
Compassion. Mercy. Grace. Understanding. Priorities. Loving your neighbor and wanting to do better every day.
I was overwhelmed by how beautifully these people lived and loved, and by the end I was crying because it had all become so very tender and eternally meaningful.
Amazing story.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, Tyndale Fiction, via NetGalley. My review reflects my honest, heartfelt opinion.
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