TWO TESTAMENTS begins in the spring of 1962 and the war in
Algeria is at its peak. The novel picks up right where Two
Crosses, book 1 of the trilogy has left off. Gabrielle has
learned about the secret mission to get children and
families out of Algeria and is working closing with Mother
Griolet and Mr. David Hoffmann to save as many as they can.
In Two Crosses Gabrielle and David fall in love but David
also found out he is Ophelie's father and he must journey
to the heart of the war to bring her mother Anne-Marie
home. With David away Gabrielle throws herself into the
fold by teaching and helping care for the orphans.
Gabrielle fears that she will lose David to Anne-Marie and
part of her thinks it is God's will for them to reunite to
become a family.
In TWO TESTAMENTS the focus is split between Gabrielle and
Anne-Marie. Anne-Marie has endured more than any human
should have to. After the first war she found out she was
pregnant with Ophelie but David was back in the United
States and she didn't want him to have to come back to the
unsafe Algeria. Then after Anne-Marie has her child her
parents are murdered, she is captured and tortured, escapes
to France where she is captured again and taken to Algeria
for another round of torture. Through all her pain
Moustafa, a Harki has been her friend and her love. Now
David has rescued her and reunited her with her daughter
but he stayed in Algeria to help Moustafa. Anne-Marie is
confused and lost about what she should do but Ophelie
begins to teach her about God and begins to show her about
having faith in God.
Where Two Crosses was setting up the story and giving much
information about the war, TWO TESTAMENTS is about the
people and their journey to God and finding their way. I
must admit that Christian Historical novels are not the
typical genre I read. I even put off reading Two Crosses
until I had finished the other books on my list to review.
That being said I loved this novel. I was drawn into the
first book and "had to "find out what happened and learn
more about the fate of the people of Algeria. The
characters in TWO TESTAMENTS came to life in my mind and
heart and I am better person for having had the experience.
The slightest spark will ignite an explosion. The tinderbox
of broken political and racial relations in France and
Algeria provides plenty of kindling. And the growing
friction, especially in Algeria, will soon combust. A
tentative ceasefire offers little to cool the heat.
And in the midst of the turmoil, Gabriella Madison guards
the orphans in her care, while battling jealousy when
Anne-Marie Duchemin, David’s former flame, arrives in
Castelnau, France. As they protect the little ones in their
care amid rising discomfort in the community with the
multi-cultural orphanage, each wonders who David will
choose.
Meanwhile, David is trapped in Algeria, caught in the
turmoil of a country gone mad. He seeks a way to guard his
life and, at the same time, protect the refugees he came to
help. And escape seems impossible.
Unable to predict what lies ahead, Gabriella and David learn
that in life, waiting is the hardest part.
The answers lie in two testaments.