The Discerning Heart

by Pieters Jos Van Manen and Jos Van Manen-Pieters

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0800754352
• ISBN13: 9780800754358
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Company
• Length: 204 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 16 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 11 and higher

Customer Reviews

Refreshing Christian Romance

Set in the countryside outside of Amsterdam around the 1950's or so, the novel begins with the 22-year-old heroine, Marion, taking a job as a nanny for a little girl, Inge, whose mother, Meg, is dying of cancer and whose father, Reinier, is beset with the trials of caring for his wife and daughter, owning a large factory, and living with the burden of his mother's rejection of his choice to turn his back on his title as a baron and the stilted life that goes with it. This is Marion's first venture away from home (she has cared for her ailing mother for four years) and it is a test of her strong Christian morals. She is rather plain at first glance, but those who get to know her realize that her depth of character makes her a beautiful woman capable of great love and passion. Her character reminded me a bit of Hadassah in Francine Rivers' Mark of the Lion series. Soon after she takes her post as Inge's nanny, Marion meets a young artist, Jaap, and the two are instantly attracted to eachother. The plot is full of surprises. I started off thinking it would be trite but it led in directions I could have never foreseen.The characterizations Pieters has crafted are well done. It was a pleasure to discover what the characters were like; they remained with me long after I finished the novel. If you do not care for the contrived characters and predictable plots of Grace Livingston Hill or Janette Oke, you will probably love this novel (and also those by Francine Rivers). It's a good read; I stayed up till 2 A.M. to find out what would happen because it hooked me.