Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Book Review: Secrets of the Pastor's Wife by Christina Ryan Claypool

About the Book:

Wherever Cassandra Martin goes, her secrets go with her. And hiding her past is beginning to take a toll.
Cassie lives in a small white parsonage in the village of Maple Grove. For 15 years, the beautiful and talented artist has appeared to be the perfect wife for Rev. John Martin, the new pastor at Maple Avenue Community Church.
The couple has moved frequently, and Pastor John is too busy with other people's problems to notice Cassie's distress. She has no close friends to confide in, fearing her secrets could jeopardize her husband's position.
That’s until Maple Grove coffee shop owner Katherine “Katie” Montague embraces Cassie as if she were the daughter she never had. Sensing her pastor's wife is haunted by something tragic, the caring widow begins praying for her. Will Cassie trust Katie with the pain of her past or will she let the secrets destroy her?


My Thoughts:

Secrets of the Pastor’s Wife by Christina Ryan Claypool offers readers a tale of tragic mistakes, long-held secrets, and the need for spoken truth. Although I’d consider this book a “heavy” read due to the issues it deals with, I enjoyed the gradual unveiling of Cassie’s story. It was easy to relate to Cassie. She loves her husband, supports him as best she can, and strives to follow Christ. Yet, she struggles with unaddressed issues from her past. I have a friend who is a pastor’s wife and based on what she has told me, I think the author offers an honest insider view into the realities of a pastor’s wife’s life.

I sometimes shy away from novellas as I feel they often lack character development due to the shortened form. However, the pages of Secrets of the Pastor’s Wife are packed with a character-driven plot. Although there is some action, Katie’s observations and lots of dialogue serve to put the focus on Cassie’s character growth. Several themes weave into the storyline and I appreciated the emphasis on mentoring/friendship that is shown between Katie and Cassie.

Secrets of the Pastor’s Wife by Christina Ryan Claypool is an inspirational novella that will appeal to readers (and book clubs) who enjoy character development mixed with spiritual truths.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author. All opinions in this review are my own.

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