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."

Not A Sparrow Falls

A carefully planned escape allows Mary Bridget Washburn to leave behind the drug dealers that she lives with. In an attempt to start life anew, Mary takes on her mother’s identity and becomes known as Bridie. When her plans seem to be going askew and she considers returning to the drug dealers. However, a child-care job neatly falls in her lap and she agrees to care for the children of a troubled Presbyterian reverend. She can not know the journey of healing that lays before her for both herself and the family she cares for. Still she is plagued by the thought of the drug dealers coming after her. However, it is only by the fear being realized that she can find true freedom.

I enjoyed Not a Sparrow Falls by Linda Nichols. By the time I got a third of the way into the book, I was hooked. The book was well-written, though personally, I would have like to have seen a little more romance. I absolutely loved the ending though. The way in which the author wrapped things up and released Mary Bridget Washburn from the very fear she had been running from was absolutely superb. The title of this book is certainly appropriate. Nearly all of the main characters have “fallen” in some way, yet the theme is that God can lift up a broken life and bring restoration.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House 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 Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."