Book Spotlight: Steady in the Storm by Shonah Marie

About the Book:

Walking through my husband's alcoholism as a newlywed...

No one likes the unpredictability of life and the storms it brings our way. Steady in the Storm documents Shonah's personal journey as she navigates through the storm of her husband's addictions as a newlywed. Coming from a background of homeschooling and Sunday school, Shonah is ill prepared to handle the uncontrollable situation.

Reaching deep into her relationship with Christ, Shonah walks you through the gift of grace, the grit of gratitude and the lavishness of the goodness of God that got her through the storm. Told in humour, with a deep vulnerability and a realness that will have you experiencing the story right alongside her, Steady in the Storm is a captivating and emotional telling that will have you page turning late into the night.

Purchase at: Amazon

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Excerpt (Chapter 1):

Accepting I was out of control was just about as difficult as accepting my husband was an alcoholic. How could I be out of control? I’ve been so responsible my whole life. Working through my parents divorce, I helped my mom with responsibilities when we were on our own. I moved to another city when I was 21 and helped all my friends be responsible. I was told my whole life I seemed older than I actually was, I was mature and trustworthy. How could I be out of control? I was most definitely out of control of the circumstances at hand and that left me reeling, feeling like I was trying to climb a rope with oil on my hands.

When large storms hit our lives they are always out of our control. We cannot fix someone’s illness, we cannot turn the economy around, we cannot single handedly bring a broken church back together, we cannot turn the clock back and stop that horrific accident from happening. We are helpless. Learning one's level of helplessness has got to be one of the scariest realizations out there and we usually learn this through a traumatic event. We suddenly understand how fragile we are and how susceptible to hurt we are. Our brokenness moves from the hidden away broom closet we shoved it into and takes a front row seat in our lives, controlling our emotions and outbursts. We feel like school children again, wishing the adult would turn up and help us navigate the situation, only to realize we are now the adult. This is where surrender comes in. We must surrender to the acknowledgement of our weaknesses. We must surrender our thoughts and expectations, our ability to help and fix, and acknowledge our weaknesses. Only at this point of surrender can we acknowledge that God is our strength. We must step down from the place of control and shift the authority in our lives.

“In your weakness, I am made strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 used to be one of my least favourite verses. There is a loss of control and a shift of power and authority in this verse. We have to come to terms with our limitations and realize where our capabilities end. This is a humbling journey and one that was fast tracked for me. This verse is also the most beautiful depiction of the unity we receive in Christ. Jesus joins together with our weakness to bring His strength to our lives and reality. He breathes into us what we do not have and are incapable of producing in order to weather the storm. He is the strength we are looking for. He is the hope, grace, guidance and peace we need. When our limitations end He begins. I came to the point where every day I would wake up with anxiety and the first thing I would do was pray to God to help me with the day. Be my strength, be my voice and answers and my personality at my job today because I have nothing. I am at this moment incapable of getting out of bed. God be my legs to carry me today. I don’t have the strength to stand on my own. At the end of every day I would fall into bed and wonder how I did it. How on earth did I manage to work a full day today and with a smile on my face? I even laughed with patients. How did that happen? The next morning; God I can’t do this. It’s too hard. Please help me. I would fight tears as I drove to work and some mornings I would cry the whole way in. God help me, and I would start into my list of all the ways I needed His help that day. My list was as pathetic as “God, please help me not to cry at work today” and it was as powerful as, “God, help me have the grace to bring my drunk husband home tonight. Help me withhold judgement.” Every time, God met me. Every time I drove to the bar I still cried and felt as helpless as ever, but every time God met me.

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About the Author:

Shonah is a self-published author from British Columbia Canada. This is her second book. Through her writings Shonah desires to remind people that Christ never abandons those in the midst of storms. That God is not only with us, he is our hope and strength and how we will manage to get through the storm, becoming better versions of ourselves on the other side.

Website: steadyinthestorm.com

Facebook: facebook.com/steadyinthestorm

Instagram: @shonahmarie

Waiting For His Heart by Joy McClain

In Waiting For His Heart, Joy McClain recounts the joy of her wedding day, her husband's unexpected alcohol addiction, the difficulty of a legal separation and a glorious restoration that only God could accomplish.

I first heard a snippet of Joy McClain's story as she was interviewed by a radio show host on Moody Radio. When I received the opportunity to review McClain's book, I eagerly accepted it. Reading her story was a bit different that I had expected. Rather than straight autobiography, McClain recounts certain events and times and then follows it up with a “Learning Along the Way” section in which she gives practical advice derived from her lessons learned.

Waiting For His Heart is a well-written retelling of the author's struggles within her marriage. However, I have some mixed feelings as far as recommending this book. McClain has some excellent spiritual insights and encouragement for a women with a marriage in crisis. Themes such as learning to sacrificially love someone as Christ loved us and learning that personal joy shouldn't be dependent on one's spouse are wonderful lessons for any spouse. However, I would caution women in crisis marriages about reading this book. McClain admits that she had to go to professional counseling before she could see how she had been enabling her husband's downward spiral and there is even a disclaimer at one point that neither McClain nor the publisher intend for readers to take the advice as counsel for their own situations. It seems like it would be far too easy for a struggling wife to read this and just think that she should stay in the situation and stick it out until she gets a happy ending like McClain did.

You can read a free sample of Waiting For His Heart by Joy McClain on Amazon Kindle, Barnes&Noble Nook Book, and at Christian Book Distributors.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Love Comes Calling by Siri Mitchell

Ellis Eton may be about broke, but at least her life doesn't lack for excitement. As the semester at Radcliffe College comes to an end, she's managed to write, direct and act in her own play while planning her Hollywood career and avoiding the attentions of Griff Phillips. When she agrees to fill in for her friend, Janie, as a telephone operator, Ellis jumps at the chance to play the roll of someone else. However, Ellis' plans begin to unravel as she finds Janie's job is more complex than simply assuming a role. When Ellis accidentally overhears a plan to hurt Griff, it's up to her to make sure he stays safe. Keeping him safe is more difficult than expected and puts her together with him more than she should be. Will she be able to save his life and keep their relationship platonic? Read more in Love Comes Calling by Siri Mitchell.

Love Comes Calling by Siri Mitchell is a stand-alone novel set in the Roaring Twenties. Prohibition, a big issue during that time period, was a significant part of the book. I thought Love Comes Calling excelled in dealing with the dilemma of attempting to legislate morality through the characters' dialogues, actions and consequences. I would have liked more romance in this book. It seemed that while Ellis and Griff's relationship did progress, it didn't really deepen until perhaps the final scene. I liked the character development. Ellis seems to be an air-head in the beginning, but develops into a very likeable, well-intentioned, somewhat distracted heroine. Though categorized as a Christian romance, there are only a few references to God and one reading of Scripture. Some people like this while others prefer more spiritual development. For me, the spiritual content was a bit too light. I think it could be categorized as clean, secular fiction.

In conclusion, Love Comes Calling by Siri Mitchell was a quick, enjoyable read. I recommend it to fiction readers who are looking for a little humor and a sweet story.

Read an excerpt from Love Comes Calling on the publisher's website. 

Love Comes Calling  is currently on sale for $3.99 for Amazon Kindle and $3.95 at Christianbook.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Shadowed Mind by Julie Cave

All men are created equal. Or are they? One of America's core beliefs is about to be challenged. There's a killer on the loose who is intent on making a point. Those deemed unworthy – the prostitutes, mentally ill, alcoholics, and homeless – are all lower on the evolutionary scale and ought to be eradicated. Former FBI Agent Dinah Harris is hired by the mysterious Detective Samson Cage to assist in the investigation and gets a crash course into the world of neo-eugenics. As a recovering alcoholic, staying sober is hard enough. But when the killer targets her personally, the stakes are higher than ever before.

The Shadowed Mind by Julie Cave is the second book in the Dinah Harris trilogy. In my opinion, it is better than the first book though I do recommend reading them in order. Dinah Harris is a deeply intricate character that captures and holds the attention of the reader. Half-mystery and half-suspense, this book keeps the reader guessing about the killer's identity. There is also a sub-plot that doesn't seem to have anything to do with the Dinah's part of the story until the very end. I am always impressed when an author writes so well that I can't predict who did it until the chosen moment of revelation.

I applaud Cave for her boldness in tackling the topic of neo-eugenics. In way of warning, I think that politically liberal readers will probably take offense at some portions of this book. The book takes obvious stabs at prevailing liberal philosophies. From mocking evolutionary beliefs to quoting Obama's “no longer a Christian nation” statement, the author attacks ideologies and defends her own. Personally, I agree with the author's beliefs. I just feel it necessary to warn of the prevalent conservative bias that may cause some readers to discard the book rather than considering Cave's argument.

I recommend reading this book with an open mind.

Click here to read an excerpt from The Shadowed Mind.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from New Leaf Publishing Group as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Possession by Rene Gutteridge

Vance and Lindy Graegan are ready for a new start. Raising a child, living with terror induced by a past sniper case, and working as a detective has taken a toll on Vance. Lindy has always dreamed of her own deli and the prospect of a new life lures them to California. Entrusting all their possessions to furniture movers in a bright, yellow truck, Lindy and their son, Connor, start out for California with Vance planning to follow quickly. When they expect the furniture and possessions to be delivered, they instead receive a bill for eight thousand dollars. The bill increases daily as do the stakes. The mover has discovered Vance's most-guarded secret and is holding it for ransom. Vance has many secrets from his time on the force, but this secret threatens to shatter his reputation, devastate his family, and hurt numerous others. In the midst of the turmoil, Connor clings to a faith that can move mountains. Vance and Lindy find their son's faith embarrassing, but when their lives are endangered, they realize that faith is the only thing that can save them.

Possession by Rene Gutteridge is filled with mystery and suspense. The content of the prologue keeps the reader slightly confused until the end when everything is exposed. Kudos to the author for creating unique situations and keeping things unpredictable. I also appreciated the way the author approached the topic of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Gutteridge did not ignore the effects that traumatic events can have on people and made everything seem believable. This book was almost addictive. I kept wanting to know what was going to happen! I also enjoyed the Q&A with the author at the end of the book.

To read the first chapter of Possession, Click Here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Deadly Disclosures

Dinah Harris was a one time a highly skilled FBI agent. Now she has been delegated to teaching a class while she fights depression, numbness and alcohol addiction. When a former partner, pressures her to help him with the murder case of the secretary of the Smithsonian, she hopes to escape the emptiness inside. Unfortunately, the emptiness remains. Through events related to the case she is brought into contact with a former friend of the deceased secretary who seems to think that the murder may have been motivated by the secretary’s religious beliefs. When additional bodies appear, Dinah must fight her personal issues at the same time she searches for a murderer.

Deadly Disclosures by Julie Cave was very interesting to read. The plot was well-written and the mystery element of the story kept me guessing about who was behind the murders and why were the murders done. The ending satisfactorily closed the case and the story; however, it certainly left a strong hint about the upcoming sequel to this book. The author did an excellent job of addressing Dinah’s depression and alcohol addiction. She did not gloss over it and seemed to express the situation realistically. I appreciate authenticity.

Although I certainly consider myself a Creationist, I must admit that all the Creationist talk at times got to be a little to much for me. Not that I disagreed with what was said, but it seemed like certain characters would go on long diatribes explaining Creationism. I think one weakness of the book is that it almost blasts the reader over the head with Creationism. I certainly am not against Christian views being presented by Christian authors in Christian fiction books; however, I think it could have been done with more tact. It certainly would not have appealed to someone who was not a Christian. With a little different style, the material could have been presented in a way that an unbeliever would still be interested in the story, at least. Unfortunately, the way the material was presented was more overwhelming than appealing.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from New Leaf Publishing Group as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."