An Unpresentable Glory Review

I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July!

An Unpresentable Glory is by Eleanor Gustafson and is Christian contemporary.

“I trusted you, and some day, you may know just how much you hold in your hands.”

Linda Jensen leads a relatively quiet life in Westchester County, New York, as the owner of a highly-acclaimed garden. Inherited from her parents, the garden is her pride and joy. What is not so joyful is finding a strange man sprawled near her delphiniums! The mysterious man is sick, unable to do anything more than drink water—and beg for secrecy. Ignoring all alarm bells, Linda sees to his needs, but her caring act takes on unexpected significance, an unpresentable glory.
Seeds of trust, and perhaps love, are planted in Linda’s garden haven. But as secrets are revealed and scandal hits the headlines, the act of caring for this man threatens to tarnish both of their reputations. Like weeds in Linda’s garden, circumstances threaten to choke out their fledgling relationship, and small moments prove to be the biggest influencers—on a national scale.~Goodreads

First off, this book gave me a greater appreciation for those who handle political slander well. Jay and Linda were almost always under attack for one reason or another, and yet through it all they stood strong and leaned on God. 

One of the big themes that was threaded throughout the novel was that God moves in ways we don't expect. All the problems Jay and Linda face end up coming together for good, even if it's the result of many hardships. Another theme is how love manifests in different ways, such as in romantic ways or in a parent-child kind of way or between friends. Both were tied into the story well and gave it depth. Native American culture has fascinated me since I was little, so having that aspect tied into the story and seeing some of the effects on today that Jay had to handle also added a measure of appeal to the story. It was incorporated well.

I found all the characters to be well-written. I sympathized with them as they faced new trials and felt their anguish or rejoiced with them when something good happened. The world of politics was also accurately depicted, from the good to the ugly. All of the characters had a place in the story and none of them felt like they could have been removed. The character growth that went on was tremendous as well.

I would recommend this title to anyone who needs hope in their life or is looking to find a story with love past the typical mushy-gushy romances.

Rating:

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.