Title: Called
Author: Lisa Arnoux-Brown
Publisher: Westwood Books Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-64361-412-0
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 194
Reviewed by: Ella Vincent

Read Book Review

Called is an inspiring novel about love, faith, and forgiveness. Lisa Arnoux-Brown has written a book that readers will love. Called tells the story of Emma, a woman who survives brutal domestic abuse. She survives a brutal stabbing and miraculously survives with the help of prayers from the grandmother who raised her. After she leaves her husband, she revives her faith and fatefully meets Nina, a famous singer, in a supermarket. She becomes a congregant in a church with Nina and her minister husband, Darius. Just as Emma becomes active in her church and rebuilds her life, she reunites with her long-lost mother. Her mother’s return leads to other family revelations that change Emma’s life forever.

Emma is a brave protagonist that survives domestic abuse and family turmoil with grace and determination. Even though she has overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, Emma still finds time to help underprivileged children in her church. Nina is a sympathetic character that is famous, but still down-to-earth as a pastor’s wife.

Darius and Emma’s grandmother, Grandma Oakley, are religious characters that are spiritual and provide the real emotional heart of the novel with their expressions of their faith. Even though Darius encounters situations that could test anyone’s faith, he handles them with a steady Christian belief in forgiveness. Grandma Oakley is a strong presence in the novel as a loving influence on Emma’s life throughout her ups and downs. The characters are so optimistic and dedicated to their faith throughout the novel that readers will find their hope contagious.

Arnoux-Brown’s writing is so relatable that readers will be eager to read Called. Her writing is spiritual, but drives the Christian message of the novel with subtlety. The messages of love and forgiveness in the novel are evident through the characters’ kindness towards each other. Arnoux-Brown’s writing also shows faith and family can heal old wounds.

Called would be best for readers who want to read Christian fiction from authors like Karen Kingsbury. The novel would also be best for readers of heartwarming novels about families from authors like Jodi Picoult or Nicholas Sparks. The book would also be best for readers in church groups or could be given to women who are domestic abuse survivors. Even readers who aren’t religious can find hope in the inspirational message about love and forgiveness.

Called is an emotional and impactful novel. Arnoux-Brown has written a novel that shows the power of perseverance and love.