Book Review: Wings of a Dream
Author: Anne Mateer
Review by Grace Olson
What kind of book do you prefer? Are you drawn to nonfiction? Maybe you’re looking for a fiction book that lures you into the story and makes you really think. Or perhaps you’re looking for a novel that allows you to put up your feet and relax for a while as you immerse yourself in the story. If you currently fit the latter category, then the book Wings of a Dream just might be what you’re looking for. An easy read with colorful characters and a sweet romance, this book is perfect for a rainy day, or really any day when you need to unwind for a while.
The Story
Rebekah Hendricks longs for a life outside of her parents’ Oklahoma farm, so when Arthur Samson comes along, a young, handsome aviator, Rebekah becomes convinced this is the man she is intended to marry. But the Great War (World War I) is going on, so she must be patient in waiting for it to end before she and Arthur can start their adventurous life together. When her aunt contracts the Spanish flu, Rebekah journeys to Texas to care for her. Surely, she thinks, this will be more interesting than her mundane life at the farm. Her plans, however, are not meant to be. Left in charge of four young children, Rebekah searches for God’s will as the dreams of her heart seem to slip farther and farther from her grasp. Will Rebekah allow her dreams to change for something better, something entirely unexpected? Or will she miss happiness as she clings to her long-held goals?
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In Wings of a Dream Anne Mateer weaves a story of romance, heartache, and dreams realized. Her characters are engaging, and as they work through their struggles, she expertly captures the reader’s attention and carries it throughout the book. Written in the first person, the reader gets to know Rebekah well and roots for her as she struggles to learn what God’s will is for her.
I enjoyed the sweet romance Mateer creates throughout the story. From soaring on the clouds of love to plummeting to the earth in a mushroom cloud of heartbreak (okay, so maybe not that dramatic), Mateer keeps her readers guessing.
Rebekah’s struggle to know God’s will for her life is one that I think all believers in Jesus Christ can identify with. Sometimes the path before us is black and white and what we should do is clear, other times a gray fog seems to overwhelm us. When God’s will seems to differ from what Rebekah wants, she must learn to trust Him, a good lesson for us all.
While I’m on the subject of the book’s spiritual content, it should be noted that though it is clear that Rebekah is a Christian, the name of Jesus was not used as much as I would have preferred. The reason I say this is because Jesus Christ is the one who saves. Many different religions believe in a ‘god’, many people say they believe in God, but only belief in Jesus Christ saves us (see John 14:6 and Romans 10:9). That being said, Mateer did use Jesus’ name several times, but I personally felt that there should have been more of these references so there is no doubt in the reader’s mind who the Redeemer is.
About the Author
By her own admission Anne Mateer has been writing her whole life, but in 2001 she finished her first novel, thanks, in part, to the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) challenge. From this time on, she began to study the craft of writing, being named a finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest three times before succeeding in publishing her first novel, Wings of a Dream. Mateer’s passion for history and historical fiction is evidenced in Wings of a Dream as well as her second novel At Every Turn, which is currently available, and A Home for My Heart, due to hit the bookstores in September of this year. Mateer currently resides near Dallas, Texas with her husband and their three teenagers.
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I really enjoyed Wings of a Dream. I was in need of a good book for the weekend and ended up reading this novel in two days. Mateer draws readers into the story in a way that makes them care about what happens to the characters, maybe because we see a little of ourselves in Rebekah as we search for God’s will in our own lives. Whatever the reason, be it the characters, easy-to-understand writing style, or theme, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read after a long day.
Wings of a Dream is available for check-out, download, or paper copy.
Onto Her Bookshelf 