As the Heavens Are Higher
by Courtenay Burden
Synopsis:
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:9
Adelaide Westall had always believed that God’s ways were higher than earthly ways. She had just always imagined that God’s plan and her plan would have some similarities. A family of penniless orphans facing a hopeless future in a factory city—a heartbroken noblewoman shut up inside a forbidding fortress of grief and reserve—and a mysterious painting of a calm-faced pilgrim were all destined to challenge Adelaide’s faith in unexpected ways. Only God could orchestrate a plan high enough to reach them all.
Set amongst the rolling hills of the English border country, this story of Victorian life is a poignant reminder that we serve a God who brings light out of darkness, who works good out of evil, whose ways are higher than our ways—as the heavens are higher than the earth.
Adelaide Westall had always believed that God’s ways were higher than earthly ways. She had just always imagined that God’s plan and her plan would have some similarities. A family of penniless orphans facing a hopeless future in a factory city—a heartbroken noblewoman shut up inside a forbidding fortress of grief and reserve—and a mysterious painting of a calm-faced pilgrim were all destined to challenge Adelaide’s faith in unexpected ways. Only God could orchestrate a plan high enough to reach them all.
Set amongst the rolling hills of the English border country, this story of Victorian life is a poignant reminder that we serve a God who brings light out of darkness, who works good out of evil, whose ways are higher than our ways—as the heavens are higher than the earth.
(From Goodreads)
My Review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ & ❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎❤︎
5+ stars & 7/10 hearts. What a beautiful story! I really enjoyed it. It was a restfully slow-paced, and yet intriguing and hooking. I really enjoyed all the characters (even Richard, who at first was really a pain to me). I particularly loved Lady B! (And the Duke xD). I really liked the plot as well. Sir H. was a greta addition. I was really impressed how well the plot was crafted. The writing style was delightful as well—old-fashioned but perfectly easy to understand. Also, I was very impressed by how accurate and well-researched this was. Finally, the themes/messages/lessons were SO good! I really appreciated them all. Overall, it was really a wonderful book and I highly recommend it!
A Favourite Quote: “…I thought of the verse I read yesterday, ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ Of course, kindness and consideration are part of the ‘way’ God means us to take. And it seems to me … that we shouldn’t get vexed over the disagreeable things that come along. Because they might be part of a bigger plan.”
“Yes,” said her aunt, “I should think they generally are. Or more precisely, they are part of a higher plan. We can’t say whether a splattering of ink is a link in some great and noble chain, or merely a call to everyday kindness. I was thinking—in my solitary train ride—whether little things, after all, don’t make up the most important part of life. They certainly make up the greater.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “Rolling hills and green valleys stretched away on every side. Heather and gorse were tinting the pastures with purple and gold. The whole landscape lay peaceful and serene, while above—far above—stretched the vast blue heavens in all their glory.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Well, the storms that come up suddenly go off just as fast,’ Lady Bradstock declared. ‘I had a great-uncle Andrew who told a tale of the day he was caught in a rainstorm while following the hounds. He was wet to the skin riding ten yards to a little wood for shelter, but by the time he reached it, the rain had stopped! That’s his portrait on the north wall, you know[.]”
….This particular storm did not follow the illustrious example of the shower in Uncle Andrew’s tale. It continued in full force until Adelaide thought Uncle Andrew might have ridden all the way to Sherwood Forest and still have had cause to be thankful for the trees when he reached them.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
A Favourite Quote: “…I thought of the verse I read yesterday, ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ Of course, kindness and consideration are part of the ‘way’ God means us to take. And it seems to me … that we shouldn’t get vexed over the disagreeable things that come along. Because they might be part of a bigger plan.”
“Yes,” said her aunt, “I should think they generally are. Or more precisely, they are part of a higher plan. We can’t say whether a splattering of ink is a link in some great and noble chain, or merely a call to everyday kindness. I was thinking—in my solitary train ride—whether little things, after all, don’t make up the most important part of life. They certainly make up the greater.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “Rolling hills and green valleys stretched away on every side. Heather and gorse were tinting the pastures with purple and gold. The whole landscape lay peaceful and serene, while above—far above—stretched the vast blue heavens in all their glory.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “‘Well, the storms that come up suddenly go off just as fast,’ Lady Bradstock declared. ‘I had a great-uncle Andrew who told a tale of the day he was caught in a rainstorm while following the hounds. He was wet to the skin riding ten yards to a little wood for shelter, but by the time he reached it, the rain had stopped! That’s his portrait on the north wall, you know[.]”
….This particular storm did not follow the illustrious example of the shower in Uncle Andrew’s tale. It continued in full force until Adelaide thought Uncle Andrew might have ridden all the way to Sherwood Forest and still have had cause to be thankful for the trees when he reached them.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
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