"The Compelling Conclusion to an Inspiring Trilogy"
Reviewed by Jessica Dunn
Posted September 28, 2012
Inspirational Romance | Inspirational
It has been thirty-two years since the end of The Algerian
War for Independence. Eric Hoffmann has spent his life as
the youngest son to Christian missionaries Gabrielle and
David Hoffmann. Eric spent many years of his youth in
Algeria after the war and once told his mother he would
marry an Arab woman someday. Now back in France, Eric has
fallen in love with a young Arab woman who has converted to
Christianity and is in a most precarious position with her
family and country. Rislene Namani is an Algerian woman living in France with
her family. Rislene has been attending the university and
has not only fallen in love with an American-French young
man but has converted from her family's faith to
Christianity. Even though the war is long past many live in
the old ways and her family expects her to marry an Arab
and raise her family with the traditions of Islamic faith.
Rislene's mother has an open minded but her father
would/could harm her if he were to find out. Ophelie Duchemin is thirty-eight and she has seen much
sadness and grief over the years. Ophelie worries for her
step-brother Eric. Ophelie is 15 years older than Eric and
she still remembers the violence and fear of the war and
has seen the prejudice that still rages on. Ophelie had
even fallen in love with an Arab herself and that almost
ended in tragedy but thankfully God was with her and kept
her safe. She had also loved another Pied-Nior like herself
when she was younger. Samuel was her best friend and she
prayed he would one day be her husband but he married
another girl and was lost to her through his own tragedy.
Ophelie had decided she would never have love again but
prayed that somehow Eric and Rislene could find happiness
together. Ophelie never expected to see Samuel again but
when she is volunteering for the Red Cross she
discovers "Ceb" is one of the homeless people she is there
to help. Samuel Cebrian and his family had been rescued from Algeria
by the Hoffmann's and Duchemin when the war was ending and
the Pied-Nior had to escape to France for safety. Sam
became best friends with the daughter of the family that
saved him. Sam adored Ophelie and felt that someday they
would become their own family but he didn't think Ophelie
cared about him in that way. While in medical school Sam
fell in love with and married Annie and they had a
daughter. One holiday driving home from the mountains they
had a terrible accident and Sam lost his wife and daughter.
Sam left home and didn't plan on ever looking back but now
finds himself living on the streets of France. Samuel now
going by "Ceb" because he feels Samuel died along with his
wife and child is stunned to see his first love Ophelie. TWO DESTINIES is the final novel of the Secrets of the
Cross trilogy. In this chapter the war is over and the
children have grown up and have their own destinies to be
fulfilled. Eric and Rislene may love one another deeply and
share the same God but when Rislene's father finds out he
kidnaps her and takes her to Algeria to be married to an
Arab man. The two have much that stands between them and
only God knows where their destinies lie. Ophelie and Sam loved one another as children but can they
let go of their grief and pain to love as woman and man? I
was delighted to read TWO DESTINIES, to have the
opportunity to see what happened to the characters I fell
in love with in the two previous novels. I especially
appreciated the author for giving us Ophelie's story. I
feel fortunate I was able to watch this child become a
woman and witness the destiny God has for her. I highly
recommend reading the books from the beginning of the
series, it would be too confusing if you didn't. TWO
DESTINIES was the perfect closing for the trilogy here's
hoping author Elizabeth Musser gives us another masterful
work in the future.
SUMMARY
The Secrets of the Cross Trilogy by acclaimed author
Elizabeth Musser, already a European bestseller, concludes
with the American debut of Two Destinies, a story of
forbidden love, passionate faith, danger, and
intrigue. Now 1994, France faces unrest and rising poverty while
neighbor Algeria is in the midst of a blood civil war.
Risléne Namani, a French woman born to Algerian parents,
converts to Christianity and falls in love with Eric
Hoffmann, a Christian, committing the unpardonable sin in
the eyes of her Muslim family. Eric must find a way to
rescue her—from a forced marriage in Algeria, or even death. A powerful, relevant tale of social struggle, heartache,
cultural conflict, and faith put to the ultimate test.
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