A Whisper of Freedom

A Whisper of Freedom By Tricia Goyer Review by Roseanna White The war in Spain is escalading, and so is the hunt for Inca Gold. Sophie is grateful to have escaped from her former fiancé with both treasure to help the Spanish people and the man she loved--but the future is still so uncertain. When she came to Spain, she never imagined how deeply into its troubles she would be pulled. . . and the high price she'd pay for her involvement. A Whisper of Freedom is the third and final installment in the Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War, and the book follows all the characters introduced in earlier books as they march toward their respective homes. Sophie, Phillip, and Walt are on the run from Michael and the Fascists with a priceless treasure; Michael is determined at any cost to find those who betrayed him; Jose is determined to save not only his precious horses but his wife; Ritter seeks favor in Hitler's ever-stronger government; Berto and Father Manuel grow their friendship in Paris and each strive to find God's purpose for putting them there. Any readers of this series will definitely want to pick up this concluding novel; newcomers will want to read the previous books first. I hadn't, and though the story still made sense and drew me indelibly in, I'm still dying to know the details of what came before and will have to go back and fill in the blanks with the first two books. It's easy to see why Tricia Goyer has plenty of awards to her name. She writes with honesty and poetry, unafraid to look into any situation and any heart, shedding humanity and God's grace upon it. I was drawn into this story not only because of the mystery of Inca Gold or the adventure of a little-known war, but because the characters were people--people I feel as though I've met before and whose lives I'm now a part of. This was my first Tricia Goyer book, but it will not be my last!

When I was in Junior High, I studied the Spanish American War but remember little about it. So when I started this book, I did not know what to expect. I learned a lot about the Spanish American War. But what I loved most about this book was learning about how people related to this war and how it affected their lives. Faith is interwoven all throughout this book. My faith was increased and uplifted as I read about all the things the characters endured. The book grabbed hold of me and I just kept reading. Near the end I was a little shaken by the events but that is as life would have been. There is more than one romance story throughout this book. There is striving to stay alive in the conflicts of war. It is a good read anytime but with things as they are today, it would encourage you. Amazing book from beginning to end.

If you love history and mystery, if you love great characters, then you are in for a treat reading Tricia Goyer's novels. She gave us new insights into WWII in her first few novels, but she goes into mostly unexplored territory with her Spanish Civil War series. It's a risky endeavor, writing about subjects not fully understood, and Goyer took a big jump in plumbing the depths of this subject. "A Whisper of Freedom" is a wonderful conclusion to another great set of books by one of my favorite authors. We again follow Sophie's struggle between love for Michael and Phillip, and her place in the discovery of long lost Inca gold. We see Deion, and Ritter, and Jose. We find out the truth about Maria and her child. There is so much here, and Goyer pulls all the threads together. For some, this might be too much to digest, yet Goyer never apologizes for her obvious love of her characters. She allows us to spend time with each one, and for those willing to take the journey, it's a rewarding one. To dig into a Tricia Goyer novel is to search for hidden treasure. She's not going to hand it over without some effort, but the results are worth it. Her research is exemplary, her details faultless, and she shows unflagging respect for the people and stories that have brought us to this point in history.

A Whisper of Freedom by Tricia Goyer is the third and final book in the Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series. It picks up almost immediately after book 2 (I recommend reading the two back to back). Sophie, Phil, and Walt have escaped with the truckload of gold they stole from Michael. Deion is still fighting, not only in the trenches but his feelings for Gwen as well. Jose and Ramona remain separated by their individual quests, and Father Manuel is still in Paris trying to find for what purpose God brought him there. Each one of these stories is powerful in its own right and could carry a book, but Goyer wraps them all together under the mantle of the Spanish Civil War and creates a book that is filled with tension and drama. Secret brothers, hidden gold, and politics make for a book that's tough to put down. Goyer has a talent for creating realistic characters and dialogue that allow the reader to be in the moment. She ends this series well, while there are some loose ends, the book ends with hope.

Tricia Goyer has totally mastered the art of historical fiction. She is able to skillfully blend real life events with dramatic storytelling. This series has taken a little known event and brought it to public attention, allowing the reader to become more knowledgeable about this important part of history. I really felt like I was drawn into the story. I could see myself on the battle lines with Deion, going into hiding like Sofie and Philip, or being tortured like Juan. There is non stop adventure with twists the reader doesn't expect to see. The element of the gold adds more intrigue to the story as there is a race against time involving this plot. I'm really sad this series is ending. I've felt like I have connected with all the characters throughout all three books. To me the best part about reading the series was knowing how much research went into creating the story. As a history major, I can fully appreciate this because I know how hard this can be. Spain has never been so vividly described in this book. The reader walks away from the series with a better understanding of not only the country itself but the sacrifices that were made for the name of freedom. I hope these characters will pop up again in another book because I feel like their story isn't finished yet!