I could not put down this book once I began. It was such a beautiful story, full of heartache, love, forgiveness and redemption. I have thankfully never had to forgive such a grievous thing as murder. However, the story was so compelling that I completed the book in complete awe of the Awesome God that we serve. It has inspired me to live more fully and be more attentive to His calling in my own life.

Letters from My Father's Murderer was an inspiring book. It is a journey of forgiveness for a daughter whose father was murdered. The correspondence back and forth from the jail are a demonstration of her walk of faith. It shows how God can work in our lives. It is a must read for any age.

I received the book from the Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

Laurie Coombs endured more as a young woman than many do. When she was 15, her parents divorced and, less than a year before her college graduation, her father was murdered. By someone he knew, Anthony, who even admitted to killing him. She would finish college and marry before the trial came to be, and Anthony was given two life sentences.

The week before his murder, Lauries father shared with her of his new found faith in Jesus. She had turned away from the Lord after her father left, not returning even when their relationship was restored. She knew he seemed happy, different with his new-found faith. It would be several years and two babies, one a miracle, and a horrifying time of darkness and severe anxiety before she began to believe in Jesus as her Lord and Savior. What a challenging, magnificent journey He has led her through! He called Laurie to do what many might have refused to ever do forgive her fathers murderer. Not just forgive him, but to love her enemies. The Lord put on her heart to take him a Bible. Thus began an intensive season of communicating primarily by letter.

Laurie faced obstacles, not the least of which was the reaction of her husband and mother and her fathers girlfriend Anthonys ex-wife what she needed to do. Travis and Laurie had been together since three years before the murder. He and her father had a good relationship. She endured health challenges and the aftereffects and waiting for approval of visiting rights. Simply writing to him had to have been hard; it would have been easier to get through the impossible red tape to send him a Bible than to write and receive letters.

Many things she wrote resonated with me, either as a reminder or as the sweet water bubbling up through the Holy Spirit and giving me fuel for another day, especially:

All through the Bible bad things happen people sin or something goes wrong but over and over two words make it okay but God (pg. 55). no matter how bad things seem to be, God is the constant. (pg. 55) Laurie references Joseph in the Old Testament, and Romans 5:8, But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

What amazes me is not just their correspondence, but how God would use their testimonies. There are many things that I admire in Laurie. The passion she had as a new Christian and her walk of obedience through the irritable, tedious, tumultuous challenge to forgive what for many seasoned Christians would be unforgiveable. How many of us would slog through life, miserable, just trying to endure until Jesus came back rather than seeking to forgive as she had?

I also admire that she gives God the glory for His work in the unique ministry He called Laurie to; even the fact of the changes in Anthony and, as a result, other men that he knew in prison had their lives changed, too. The ministry included sharing the reconciliation, redemption, mercy, forgiveness and peace through Christ. I highly recommend this book to Christians in any age or stage of their faith, or whatever their challenge of forgiving, and those who have volunteered in prison ministry groups; it is an open encouragement that obeying God, even when it is hard, is a blessing when we are willing to try it and see.

With a grateful heart, I received a copy of this book through the For Readers Only group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own; no monetary compensation was received for this review.

I highly recommend this book. Laurie Coombs effectively writes about her journey towards forgiveness. I appreciate her openness and honesty at every stage of this journey.

Her father was murdered by his girlfriend's estranged husband. She and her family seek justice and get it when the murderer is sentenced to prison. She describes the months that follow and her failing health, including a difficult pregnancy and depression. All of the emotions and stress from this difficult time are completely understandable. What is not understandable, humanly speaking, is how God enters her life and changes her whole perspective! A simple challenge to visit this man and give him a Bible starts an incredible and surprising journey. I can't even imagine what it must have felt like to receive even the first letter, let alone the dozens that followed. Indeed, God can work miracles and He can and will help you fulfill his will, even if it means forgiving your father's murderer.

This was a good read. I was convicted, encouraged, and inspired as I read this book. As I said at the beginning, I highly recommend this book. Its message will stay with you.

I received a copy of this book from the Publisher in exchange for my honest review which I have given.

Letters from My Fathers Murderer, A Journey of Forgiveness is written by Laurie A. Coombs. This book is a poignant, compelling story of one womans journey of faith and forgiveness. Through her perspectives and personal experience we see the truth about grace and forgiveness. Her words check the reader about his own judgments and ideas about sin and sinners. She reiterates a truth that has been expressed before that a person needs to forgive for his own peace of mind and relationship with the Lord, whether or not it changes the offender.

Her obedience to Gods direction to reach out to her fathers murderer and correspond with him, and through that, forgive him has untold influence and has changed lives and will continue to change lives as people read this work and people share her experience with others. Her blog testimony shared with others by her and by Anthony has helped others to find forgiveness and healing. This is a wonderful story that embraces the truth of God concerning grace and forgiveness.

Her words express wisdom: I know that God will bring good out of it, just as He does all things! Through pain are we molded. Through suffering we are more malleable in Gods hands. Also: Waiting seems like such a waste of time. But really, its not. When God makes us wait, He is moving. He is drawing us closer to Himself, showing us that we need Him, molding and shaping our hearts, preparing us in every way for the journey ahead. Many more beautifully wise passages are in her writings. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. I received this book through TBCN in exchange for an honest review.