Sweet Sanctuary by Kim Vogel Sawyer

This weekend I had the pleasure of reading "Sweet Sanctuary" by Kim Vogel Sawyer! This was the first book I have read by this author, but I was immediately a fan. The first chapter was a little difficult to get into as the book doesn't really begin with the beginning of the story, but I quickly caught up with the second chapter.

Lydia Eldredge will do anything to keep her little boy, Nicky safe. Even if it means "illegally" caring for him without his father's knowledge. Lydia has kept her secret for so long, but she fears that Nicolai Pankin, Nicky's biological father will eventually find out about Nicky's whereabouts and try to claim him as his own. Lydia knows the truth though, that Nic has no intentions of keeping his little boy. In Nic's eyes, Nicky is only a pawn to attain more of his "magic dust" to feed his addiction. Lydia searches for a way to legally claim Nicky as her own, but she fears that in doing so, Nicky will be removed from her care. There must be a way for her to keep her little boy.

Lydia eventually recruits the help of Micah Hatcher, an old friend from her days of working as a nurse in Oahu. Micah is surprised by a letter he receives in the mail from Lydia's father asking for help regarding Nicky, and quickly travels to Boston to speak to Mr. Eldredge personally. Although he was skeptical about seeing Lydia after all of these years, he quickly falls in love with this little boy that they are trying to save. He soon heads back to his hometown in New York, only to find his thoughts drifting back to Nicky...and Lydia.

Micah and Lydia keep a frequent correspondence during the next couple of months, and search out every possible avenue for keeping Nicky away from Nic. Lydia is amazed by Micah's strong faith and begins seeking out her own personal relationship with God. She learns that while hers and Nicky's lives may not go as she planned, God may have bigger plans in store for both of them. A life much better than she could have ever hoped for.

I found this book to be easy to read, and once I began, I couldn't put it down! I found myself relating to each character, rejoicing in their successes and grieving with them in their trials. The chapters alternate between the perspectives of Lydia, Micah and Nic, so you really get the full effect of what each character is facing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it!

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group.