Winter Is Past

Winter is Past Ruth Axtel Morren has created her first compelling master piece. Winter is past an inspirational- historical novel that will captivates every reader's heart. After being raped Althea Breton renounced to her life of wealth and social position to serve the Lord. She lived her life working t at children orphanages and nursing the sick. Simon Aguilar needed a trustworthy woman to care for his seriously ill daughter: Rebecca. Althea accepted to work for him as a favor to her brother even though she didn't want to do anything with a converso (as men like Aguilar were known) were more common in nineteenth-century England. Simon Aguilar, a Sephardic Jew who has made a nominal conversion to Christianity in order to realize his goal of a political office. The author herself descended from Shaphardim which makes the novel credible. When Althea Breton arrives to act as Rebecca's governess she certainly has no idea what Simon is like. Althea hopes that when she is no longer needed in the Aguilar household, she can return to her life in service to the poor, never knowing of what would happen between them. The love between them grows and they acknowledge it, but they are wary because of their individual backgrounds and secrets. Winter is Past is a very touching novel which captures the essence of time. This well crafted story gives great description of the living conditions in London and Sephardic culture in England at the time. Morren brings a lot of historical background, making the novel a success. I took great pleasure reading her novel; it is a great piece of writing which I personally can connect with. I recommended it to all Christian fiction readers, it will make you rejoice. Maria A. Cervantes

This book far exceeds most writing that I have been witnessed to, and I most heartily recommend it to others. Not only was it well written and well-researched, but delved beyond the cliches and the far fetched plots. It was real, the characters, the plot, everything. It is deep, far beyond the shallowness of Christanees that plagues the American church, and delves into the issue of God's true plan for His church. I am glad to see an author take the high ground, and actually move beyond our Gentile Christianity, and look into our Hebrew roots. The heroine's realization of her heritage from the Old Testament is what moved me beyond words. I say, Bravo, and recommend this to a person who can truly appreciate the art of writing.

I loved Winter Is Past. A historical inspirational set in Regency England, the book?s hero was a jew who had converted to the Church of England in order to be a PM in the House of Commons, thus helping to further his family?s ambitions, and the heroine was the illegitimate daughter of a lord who left the comforts of the ton to practice Methodism and help the poor. Simon, the hero, hires Althea, the heroine to be a nurse to his dying daughter. The book had very original characters with a well-researched background you don?t often see in romance books today. There are no miracle cures for any of the events in this book, but the uplifting message of the healing power of faith in the face of overwhelming tragedy and despair is certainly uplifting and appealing.

Winter Is Past was probably the best historical book I read last year. The plot was quite unique. Simon Aquilar was a Sephardic Jew who joined the Church of England so he would be able to serve in Parliament. In the foreward the author states that she is of Sephardic descent, and the scenes of Sephardic culture were very interesting. This book is not your typical romance book and I would highly recommend it to anyone.