The Hardest Thing To Do by Penelope Wilcox

The Hardest Thing To Do was an ebook from NetGalley. 

Product Description

This latest in Wilcock’s The Hawk and the Dove series takes readers into the world of a fourteenth-century monastery struggling to forgive an old enemy seeking refuge. 

The first of three sequels to the celebrated The Hawk and the Dove trilogy takes place one year after the end of the third book, in the early fourteenth century. A peaceful monastery is enjoying its new abbot, who is taking the place of Father Peregrine, when an old enemy arrives seeking refuge. Reluctantly taking in Prior William, the upended community must address old fears and bitterness while warily seeking reconciliation. But can they really trust Prior William? 

In her fourth book in the series, Penelope Wilcock wrestles with the difficulties of forgiveness and the cautions of building trust. Taking the form of journal entries, her story will delight the imaginations of readers captivated by a time and place far distant from our current world. Her timeless themes, however, will challenge our prejudices today as we, along with her characters, are forced to ask ourselves, “What is the hardest thing to do?”

I enjoyed this book very much.  I like books set in the medieval period and for some reason, I'm always fascinated by monasteries.  There isn't a lot of physical action.  The plot involves relationships and internal conflicts as the monks must decide whether or not to admit a new member, the former prior of another monastery, known for his arrogance and and past offenses against their own previous prior.

I didn't know this was part of a series, but it easily stands alone.  Nor did I realize that it was considered "Christian literature," but the themes of practicing what you say you believe and of forgiveness are universal.