Frost

Discover all the Seasons of Joy and Hope from Calvin Miller. The fall will require more than coal to bring warmth to the icy chill felt all around. The chilly nights turn to frost in this Great Depression era King of Prussia, Pennsylvania town. Frost covers the grass, the cows' pastures, and the coal fields. Can the seasons "bring the coal people and the cow people together and give bright new hope a chance to lie on the ground and sparkle"? Mabel Cartwright's mind is failing and her daughter, Christine, is trying to shed her undesirable past and fit in back at home. A Bible salesman sets her heart on fire and causes her to hide in shame. But making ends meet is nearly impossible for her because they are penniless. Christine finds herself bridled with two people who now depend upon her completely for their existence. A life-changing, sobering experience. She wants to go to church, but she knows people there will look upon her with disgust. Is there room in God's pasture for one such as she? Would He accept even her with her soiled reputation and present circumstances? Ingrid Mueller is grieving the death of her husband, Hans. Her adult sons, Otto and Erick are helping her run the coal business without their father as well as dealing with their own life decisions. Otto also has Marguerite, his little girl, to consider and care for after his wife's death. Would Isabel consider marrying both of them? And Erick is pining away for a lost love. Mary Withers is about to make the biggest mistake of her life and her little girl, Alexis, is suffering for it. How could a God in heaven allow such things? She mourns the death of her husband then turns to the wrong person for love, understanding, and comfort. Will she see her mistake before it's too late? And, Isabel and her brother Peter are at odds in running the milking business and hiring a new employee, an employee with a secret Peter would just assume bury for eternity. Peter, a miserable human being, experiences a complete turnabout after a strange visitor in the night makes him see what God has planned for him. Holding it all together is Ingrid. Not wanting to be pushy or dominate, yet, wanting to make things right, Ingrid takes the important steps to bring the cow people and the coal people together in harmony and as God's people. Calvin Miller's well-drawn characters come to life in "Frost" as well as full circle in this fourth novella of the season's series: "Snow," "Wind," "Shade," "Frost." The novel is filled with rich, vivid language. Calvin Miller is a talented storyteller and he won't let you down in "Frost." He'll make your mouth water and your senses taste and smell the cinnamon strudel and apple pies, the apple butter, the knackwurst and sauerkraut, schnitzel and cabbage, and strong ground coffee. I highly recommend this beautifully written novella. -- reviewed by Susan Shelley for Christian Bookshelf