From the Valley We Rise

By: Elizabeth Musser

Dakota County Library paperback 371 pages plus author's note, acknowledgements, discussion questions, and an excerpt from By Way of the Moonlight

Published: 2025

Genre: Christian historical fiction

Our book club discussed this Monday 9/29 but I've had a very busy week! This book is set in WWII France and focuses on the résistance. Chapters alternate between Isabelle, Réne (her teenage cousin), and Peter (an American chaplain who was in love with Isabelle as a teenager). The book is wonderful and filled with so many messages about forgiveness, doing the right thing, bravery in faith, etc.

Page 38: Yes, God had been a very present help. But it hadn't erased the fear. Or the nightmare. The memory of that incident at once cursed and blessed Peter as he closed his eyes and fought his way back to sleep.

Sometimes we think that having a saving faith in Jesus Christ means we won't struggle, but that just isn't true. The Bible tells us that ". . . In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b). Peter was tortured by a few memories but kept drawing on his faith.

Page 42: "I wouldn't worry about it too much. It's actually nice for the boys to know that we clergy are human. Makes it easier to relate."

Peter feels bad that he lost his temper on the soccer pitch. This conversation with Rabbi Horowitz goes on and is full of good stuff. The Rabbi asks Peter point blank, "What is so terrible in your past that you cannot forgive yourself, Ginger?" This was a good scene and sets up for the "reveal" later in the book.

Page 59: When she looked unconvinced, he had added, "Remember what Saint Augustine said: 'Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.'"

Isabelle's dad is giving wise advice to his daughter before they embarked upon the task of hiding Jewish children and she has expressed her fear and lack of courage. This is one of my favorite quotes from the book.

Page 64: She fell to her knees and admitted, "I am so mad and heartbroken and afraid, God. And alone. I don't have anyone else to love." You are not alone.

Isabelle has a huge crisis of faith due to the war and the deaths she is experiencing. I love that when she tells God this, she "hears" Him answer. Prayer is powerful!

Page 75 has Delphine and Isabelle talking about the Penitent cliffs, God, the Jewish people, faith, Christians, . . .  I can't just pick out a quote or two. The whole conversation is beautiful and raw. Delphine was my favorite character in the book. Her youthful innocence and yet wise observations were the best parts of the book.

Page 76: "My papa told me, 'Izzie, courage is not the lack of fear; courage is fear that has said its prayers.'"

Again, Isabelle and Delphine are talking. I love this quote and its sentiment!

Page 232 is where we finally find out what horrible thing happened in Kentucky that affected Peter so deeply. I had wondered about it with all the references to it but was glad to be able to read about it. We get more info on it on page 328, but it helps make Peter's character that much more understandable and compassionate. He's telling Isabelle about what happened in that part of the story. Her horror and compassion help bring healing to Peter. Horrible people can destroy others too easily . . . 

Page 248: "Don't cough, don't sneeze, and for heaven's sake, don't laugh," the nurse had warned.

That last command she would obey forever. Isabelle could not imagine ever smiling again, let alone laughing.

The nurse's advice has to do with Isabelle's broken ribs, but the admonishment to not laugh was so sad because she honestly felt that she could never be happy again. The war and the atrocities really wore her spirit down.

Page 264 is where Isabelle is pouring out her heart to Peter as he lay in a coma, only she doesn't realize who he truly is yet. Her honesty about questioning God and even being angry with him is so raw and real.

Page 320: "What is the book of Psalms but one long, groaning, grief-filled complaint. One after another, one long lament. Of course, there are praise psalms too. Thank the Lord, often the lament and praise are in the same psalm."

I just really liked this. Peter is telling Isabelle that "God can take it" when she confesses her anger and blame toward Him for the war and suffering.

Page 321 had the word "imprecatory" in reference to a Psalm and I had to look it up! "Imprecatory" basically means "cursing." The AI that irritates me so much refers to "Imprecatory" describes a prayer that invokes evil or a curse upon one's enemies, often calling for diving judgment and vengeance. The term is most commonly associated with imprecatory psalms in the Bible, such as Psalms 58 and 109, where the psalmist asks God to bring destruction and punishment upon the wicked." I do like learning new words.

 

Page 329: "God will forgive me. It's much easier for me to accept God's forgiveness than to forgive myself. Sometimes . . . sometimes I just try to ignore and forget it."

"I do that too." She gave a timid smile. " I have a hard time forgiving myself also."

 

Peter and Isabelle are having a heart to heart conversation. This resonates with me. Sometimes forgiving oneself is the hardest thing to do.

 

Page  332: "There's good and bad in all of us, Pete. Always remember that. Ain't one of us off the hook. All of us need God's grace."

 

These words of wisdom were from Peter's dad. He's remembering his father's words as he's headed back to the battlefield after recovering from his coma.

 

Page  369: "And then he tells the story of the camp, of building it back, of building back Sisteron, and of a God who will help us build back our lives, no matter what we've been through. He'll hold us fast."

 

The theme of building back was worked throughout this story beautifully. It's referencing Isaiah 61:4

 "They will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations."

Musser did a fantastic job with weaving this theme through the story and her characters' lives 

Part I was pages 15-170. Part II was 173-209. Part III was 213-341. Part IV was pages 344-371. The Prologue was before Part I . . . only the separations didn't really make sense to me. I had other post-it notes and thoughts about Rene and his anger, but I was supposed to return this book a week ago so I'm done!

By Way of the Moonlight

by: Elizabeth Musser

Carver County Library paperback 377 pages

Published: 2022

Genre: Christian historical fiction

 

Horses, WWII, polio, mother / daughter relationships, German U-boats on the Atlantic Coast, Tommy . . . I'm surprised that I have so many post-it notes in a book that I enjoyed but was not crazy about.  Nana Dale's WWII story was significantly more interesting than her granddaughter Allie's modern day story. We had a good book club discussion on Monday (even though I had 60 pages left to read).

Page 17: "'Horseshoes are for good luck, Allie . . . I don't like to call it luck, though. I call it faith.'" (Nana Dale)

This made me think of a recent conversation when I was expressing appreciation for my sons' wonderful in-laws. The person I was talking with referred to being "lucky." I was surprised. This doesn't feel like random chance to me . . . 

Page 49: "According to her mother, the chances of this prayer being answered were non-existent. But then again, her mother was only human, and Dale was not praying to her."

I don't like that Dale's mom was discouraging her, but I love Dale's response! God can do the impossible.

Page 58 and page 128: ". . . what I read in Nana Dale's eyes was pure ove." (sic) and "What awful i

rony!" (sic - the "i" was at the end of a line of text and the "rony" was at the start of the next line!!!)

 

PET PEEVE!!! Do editors and proofreaders not exist any more??? At book club, another person had noticed this and one checked their Kindle. Yep. "Ove" instead of "Love." Sigh. And for the word "irony" to be split (with no dash or hyphen in sight . . . ) Okay. I feel better now.

Page 68/69 and other chapter transitions: I love love love that Musser flowed from one story to the next! In this instance, Allie "stopped, turned my face upward, and gave a small gasp. A full rainbow towered above the trees, weaving in and out of the clouds." The next chapter (Dale) starts with "She'd always remember how the rainbow announced his arrival. . . . " It worked beautifully! I definitely liked Dale's story line better, but the two were interwoven so well!

Page 120: "'It will never be enough, Dale, until you decide that you already have it all. You settle in your mind a grateful heart, a content spirit, and everything else will be gravy, girl.'"

Husy (Mrs. Hughes) was more than a nursemaid to Dale! She parented her and guided her in ways her parents were either unable or unwilling to do.

Page 137: "'Don't forget your prayers,' Husy used to say. 'Practice gratitude, Barbara Dale.' Her nursemaid's simple wisdom often drifted into her thoughts."

Gratitude. Prayers. Simple wisdom. Beautiful.

Page 149 just made me cringe. It's the breakup between Allie and Austin. I completely understand her being upset, but I'd be fighting mad. Her grandmother was clearly taken advantage of and the will should be contested in court. You don't roll over and play dead and chase off your amazing fiancé because you're so upset!

Page 203: "The kiss blossomed like daffodils in February, like primroses peeking from under the snow, like the crepe myrtle exploding in fluorescent pink outside her bedroom window, like that giddy feeling in the pit of her stomach when they called her name in first place at a horse show."

I just really liked the descriptive language here!

Page 234: "It could lose almost ninety percent of its water and survive, while most plants could only lose ten percent before they died. . . . Today, I longed for some sort of resurrection too, for it seemed I had lost at least ninety percent of whatever I needed to move forward in my life."

I had never heard of a resurrection fern before, so I found this really interesting. I also liked how the author connected that idea to Allie as a character. I liked her better in the last third of the book.

Page 286: "'It's like learning to ride a horse, Allie. Praying, trusting God - the more you practice, the better you get at understanding how He wants you to live. It doesn't happen overnight."

What Nana Dale learned from Husy, she tried to pass on to Allie. I want to set a good example for Joshua and Benjamin!

Page 352: "'Life ain't fair. It's brutal, sometimes, Miss Dale. And faith don't stop the horrible things. But faith helps you walk through those things, whipped and angry and screaming on the inside. Lord don't mind our screaming and raging. He's done shown us how to do it in those psalms of His that King David wrote.'"

Husy giving good advice as usual!

Page 357: I don't want to leave any spoilers, but I'm relieved that Dale finally told her husband the truth about her past (after ten years of marriage!) "Somehow, it had restored hope in their marriage and given Daniel permission to share his own secrets. And there had been healing."

Horseshoes and diamonds. Hmm. Not sure how I feel about how everything turned out. I still think Allie should have taken Hightower to court.

The Promised Land

by Elizabeth Musser

(Book 3 in the Swan series?)

Carver County Library hardcover large print 515 pages

Genre: Christian realistic fiction

Published: 2020

It's such a delight to get a book club title so that I can read it before book club! (We meet tonight 6/28/21.) I don't ordinarily like reading large print books, but it's better than going to discussion without having read the title. From the back cover: "When her husband of twenty years announces that he's leaving her, Abbie Jowett feels an overwhelming loss. Desperate to mend her marriage and herself, she follows her son Bobby to France to walk the famed Camino de Santiago pilgrimage."

At first, I didn't enjoy the book at all. I don't like broken marriages, I didn't like Abbie's overbearing personality, and I didn't initially connect with Bobby, Caroline, or anyone else. But I'm glad I kept reading!

I wrote down this quotation from chapter four, but am not entirely sure which character said it. "Yes, grief is so odd. It catches me at times when I expect the least of it." Grief can be odd indeed. It's weird how I'll have a thought or memory of my mom or dad and just start crying. And it's been more than a few years now!

Chapter 5 included this blurb about spiritual disciplines:

"Spiritual disciplines are all about making room for God. In our fast-paced life, it is often easier to push God into a tight schedule with the rest of our day rather than take time to truly hear Him."

This was told to Abbie by Diana, a spiritual advisor. Sometimes my practicing spiritual disciplines becomes closer to me checking items off my to-do list and less about drawing near to God. This caught my attention.

In chapter 7, I started to appreciate Abbie's life story and perspective. She is looking through a scrapbook and remembering tragedies and difficult life events. 

"I would have to figure out how to protect everyone I loved. . . . Maybe that was when I went from an ordinary perfectionist to a control freak, hypervigilant and fearful. . . . How perfectly ironic that what drove him away was me trying so hard to make sure he never left."

This was powerful, her realizing how and why her personality changed. I like to empathize with the protagonist. This chapter helped me appreciate her more.

In chapter 8, Abbie is again visiting with Diana. 

"I felt most useful in a group when I could help others come up with a plan. . . . Now I just drive everyone crazy with my planning and my control." 

It's interesting how one's strengths can also mirror one's weaknesses! 

In chapter 10, Bobby is taking on the burdens of his parents and grandparents. They don't *want* him to shoulder their issues, but he is concerned and feels as though he needs to rescue them.

"When I click off the phone, I feel the cloak covering me, smothering me with worry. I feel old. Not just like an 'old soul,' Mom and Dad's description of me, but old like all the fun and adventure and cool stuff I hoped to experience has been ripped right out of my sketch pad, wadded up, and discarded."

In chapter 11, after Bobby has spent time with Jean-Paul, who has lost the use of his hands, he realizes the blessings he enjoys. There are definitely times for us to be grateful for our many, many blessings - especially the ones we can take for granted!

"Then I pause a moment, cradling the phone in my left palm and gazing at my hands. Young hands that work - no tremor, no arthritis, no fear. And I bow my head and think, Thanks, God, for my hands."

Chapter 12 brings an observation by Abbie.

"But Miss Abigail wouldn't have called it ridiculous. She called 'coincidences' like these winks from a God who loves to remind us of His presence."

This made me think of the book Godwinks! I may need to buy a copy of that . . . 

In chapter 13, Caro is tempted to fall off the wagon as a way to cope with stress. The language that Musser used to describe this is so evocative.

"I am tempted to go to the cave and pull out three good bottles of wine and chug them down one after another until the hot sparks of hate are extinguished by the deep burgundy liquid that will kill my soul."

I like drinking wine, but have known people who struggle with alcoholism. It seems that this description is apt.

In chapter 19, Caro is reflecting on the perilous mountain situation. I love that Caro and Abbie connected. I love that Caro had her sister-in-law Tracie as a support in staying sober. I love her growth as a character in this story, though the story line with Bastien felt a bit overdone.

"But you'll be happy to hear that some things are beginning to get through my thick head. Like helping Rasa. It felt, I don't know, it felt really good. And natural. Like maybe some of the junk in my life can help me know how to help others. If that makes sense."

Chapter 21 is where I cried. And cried. Abbie's willingness to let go of those she loves most. Wow. Great book! Makes me want to read the rest of The Swan House Series.

I look forward to discussing this book with other readers.

When I Close My Eyes

by Elizabeth Musser
Carver County Library paperback 338 pages
genre: Christian fiction

Not sure I feel like typing up all the pages I put post-its on . . . but I am excited for book club tonight and the chance to talk about this book. A hired assassin shoots Christian author Josephine Bourdillon in the head. But because someone called her name at the moment and she turned, the bullet wounds her gravely instead of killing her instantly. Lying in a coma, she has "flashbacks" of her childhood as her family rushes to her side to sit vigil and encourage her to pull through. The would-be killer is struggling with his own demons and comes to the hospital to finish what he started.

I read the first forty pages and then put it aside. Saturday evening, I finished the entire book! Musser is a wonderful storyteller who brings the threads of the story together as we hear from the different perspectives.

I've always kind of wondered about / struggled with the idea of a born-again Christian having problems with depression. This book helped make sense of it for me. This was a book about depression without being depressing to read. I loved Paige and her edginess. I also loved the observations about her acting a lot like Jesus even though she claimed not to believe in Him. . . .

Page 30-1: "Miss Josy, you listen to me, and you listen good. There's a whole lot of evil in this world. And you got a heart that feels it more than others. But don't you go tryin' to carry it - you give it to the good Lord, you hear me? Can't be carryin' it on your mighty thin shoulders. The Lord, now He's got big shoulders. You tell Him about it, and then you go on out and drink your ginger ale. Ain't up to you to fix the world's problems." Terrence was such a fantastic character! I loved his wisdom!

Page 69-70: "Josephine, I'm no expert on much, but I know one thing. When I start feeling overwhelmed or angry or discouraged, I try to read what God has to say about it in the Bible. And I keep a list of Bible verses that talk about whatever is bothering me. Sometimes I even memorize those verses." Fred O., her youth pastor, showed her how to use a concordance and find Scriptures that helped her with what she most struggled with! Yes! Excellent strategy!

Page 107: "Their weekly meetings were a gift, a great gift, and gradually Marcia helped her understand how to let go of the burdens, helped her redirect her spiraling thoughts, pointed her more fully to Christ, encouraged her to meditate on Scripture, to let God's Word tape over the cruel voices that played like a cassette in her mind. The voices didn't go away completely, but she learned to recognize them sooner, to prepare herself for the mental fight. And she learned that she could not fix her family." Marcia was another person who really helped Josie when she was younger.

Page 138 - her miscarriages . . . so incredibly sad. I can't imagine that pain.

Page 152 - Henry is being changed as he reads Josie's books and opens his heart to the possibility of forgiveness. Talking to Jase, he says, "These hard times are gonna be used for good. Make you stronger, son. Make you better inside and out. They're changin' your heart."

Page 193: "When she spoke to women's groups, Josephine never shied away from the truth - her need for antidepressants to regulate her moods, her need for counseling, her need for complete rest, her need for Scripture and people. She told it all in living color, always ending with, 'God's Word brought me back from the edge of despair . . . from insanity.'" God's Word has power!

Page 240: I love the whole page because Henry is musing on how "Christians" often act instead of how Jesus says they should act - in love. "I wondered how many religious folks nowadays acted like those Pharisees. And then I wondered long and hard how Jesus would feel about them."

Page 308: "Faith and mental instability aren't mutually exclusive." When Drake says this, Paige has to repeat it and think about it. Interesting how a perspective shift can do that.

Page 328-30: When her family reads her letter, it summarizes beautifully her whole journey. This part really struck me: 'Back in 2007, I tried to take my life. Despite having a wonderful, loving family and community and a deep faith in Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I had slipped into a terrible spiral of hopelessness. By God's grace, my attempt failed. My road back to mental and physical health came from my support group as well as mental health professionals and medication." She goes on to talk about getting help.

Two Destinies

by Elizabeth Musser
Hennepin County Library paperback 450ish pages
genre: Christian fiction, relationships

The culmination of the trilogy jumps 20 or so years and picks us up with everyone's lives, adding another dozen or so characters. Just as with the first book, I had to force myself to read it for the first 100 pages or so. Then I enjoyed it thoroughly and was drawn into Ophelie's and Rislene's story. I love how El Amin's encounters with others (except Yassir) turned out. Not loving how Musser drops hints for many, many, many pages before finally telling the story of what she's alluding to . . . (e.g. the terrible tragedy that has saddened Remi & Eliane Cebrian, the back story about Bachir, etc.) It's kind of maddening, but overall this was a good story. I like #2 the best, then this one, then the first one. Glad I'm done with them, though.

Two Testaments

by Elizabeth Musser
Hennepin County Library paperback 476 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction

Book two in the trilogy, I enjoyed this one much more than the first. Getting David out of Algeria, Hussein at the orphanage, Ophelie's sweet spirit, the future of the orphanage . . . good story! The funeral (I won't say whose!) was the most gripping part of the book. I could barely read for my tears. Loved it. I'm about 100 pages into book three and struggling to enjoy it (like with book one). Book club discusses #2 & #3 next Monday, so I'd better finish!

Two Crosses

by Elizabeth Musser
Hennepin County Library paperback 445 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction and romance

Gabriella is an American from Senegal (missionary parents) who is going to school in Castelnau, France in 1963(?). David Hoffman is an American teacher at the school - gorgeous, charming, mysterious, and only 23 years old. Sister Griolet is the elderly nun who runs the orphanage and the small school for American college students. Each of these people has an extensive back story. And there are dozens and dozens of other characters. The Algerian war for independence drives this story and Ali is the murderous man bent on revenge. The first 350 pages - I had to force myself to read. The last 100ish were phenomenal! Enough for me to pick up book two in the trilogy? Probably not.

And I'll bring my French/English dictionary to book club with me tonight because she used a LOT of french expressions. It didn't bother me because I know enough French to muddle by, but if someone really wants to know what something meant, I'd like a reference tool.

The Sweetest Thing

by Elizabeth Musser
Hennepin County Library paperback 394 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction, relationships, mystery

Loved it! Can hardly wait 'til book club!
"Perri" Anne Perrin and Mary "Dobbs" Dillard do NOT hit it off on their first meeting. Set during the Great Depression (1933-39), Perri is a wealthy Atlanta socialite and Dobbs is a poor preacher's daughter who has come to stay with her Aunt Josie to go to school. When Perri's dad commits suicide, though, her world is turned inside out and Dobbs truly befriends her.
Suicide, depression, finances, status.
Faith, loss of faith, evangelism.
Theft, honesty, evidence, safety.
Family, love, truth, past.
Jackie, Frances, Coobie.
Mrs. Singleton, Barbara, Irvin.
Hank, Spalding, Andrew, Philip, Luke.
Parthenia, Cornelius, Anna, & Hosea.
Dellareen, Jimmy, & 5 kids.
Mr. Bill Robinson.
LOTS of other characters! Parthenia my favorite.

pg. 266 Mrs. Dillard:
"When you love, it will hurt. You have to choose to forgive, again and again. But it's worth it. That's the crux of human relationships, Dobbs. The sweetest thing. Loving deeply. And forgiving. Your father loves you so much. Talk to him. Ask him your questions. Don't be afraid of your anger and your hurt."

pg. 381 Parthenia:
" . . . I said to myse'f that once there's a bad weed in ya - well, apart from the Good Lawd ripping it out - it's gonna stay." (referring to Mr. Robinson.

Words Unspoken

by Elizabeth Musser
Carver County, paperback, 395 pages

I didn't read this in time for the book club discussion (not sure what's up with me these days!) but finished it last week in Michigan. Although this one also had a lot of characters and storylines, it wasn't as overwrought as the last title we read. The main story was about Lissa Randall and her struggle to get over her mother's death. The other intertwining story lines dealt with Ev and Annie and their past. Beautiful story. I really liked this one. I'll need to find some more books by Musser. This contained a great message about hope and possibilities. Some of the characters are bogged down by depression and their struggles to find hope. This was a good story!