Category Archives: Book Talk

A Passion Redeemed By Julie Lessman

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A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman

From Amazon.com:
From the Back Cover
No man can resist her charms. Or so she thought. Charity O’Connor is a woman who gets what she wants. Her stunning beauty and flirtatious ways have always succeeded with men. Until Mitch Dennehy, that is. Brilliant and dangerously handsome, Mitch is a no-nonsense newspaperman who wants nothing to do with her. Charity burned him once, destroying his engagement to the only woman he ever truly loved. He won’t play with matches again. But Charity has a plan to turn up the heat, hoping to ignite the heart of the man she loves. And she always gets what she wants–one way or another. Or does she? Will her best-laid schemes win his love? Or will her seductive ways drive him away forever? Book 2 in the Daughters of Boston series, A Passion Redeemed will captivate your heart and stir your soul with a story of faith and redemption rising from the ashes of temptation, desire, and shame. Praise for the first book in the series: “Full of romance, humor, rivalry, and betrayal, A Passion Most Pure will captivate readers from the first page.” –Historical Novels Review “Superb! Incredible! I loved Julie Lessman’s A Passion Most Pure from the second I picked it up until the very last moment I stopped reading.” –Armchair Interviews “I devoured this book and loved every single page. . . . This is a thick, juicy read, and one I would pick up again in a heartbeat.” –christianreviewofbooks.com Julie Lessman is the author of A Passion Most Pure and the recipient of ten Romance Writers of America awards. She resides in Missouri with her family.

I loved this book! I’m afraid my review is based upon memory since I finished reading this book weeks ago, before I temporarily shut my blog down due to a self-imposed writing deadline!

Charity O’Connor is used to getting what she wants. Beautiful, flirtateous, and somewhat self-centered, she gets angry when a man doesn’t fall for her feminine charms. When she falls for Mitch, her sister’s former fiance, she feels she’s finally found a man that she wants to spend her life with, however, her lies and deceitful ways are a big turn-off for Mitch since he’s a Christian. However, as Mitch gets to know Charity, he discovers a woman who has been tormented by an early childhood experience that fuels her current, somewhat destructive behavior. Mitch doesn’t know if things can work between him and Charity since she doesn’t share his deep faith in the Lord. However, a traumatic event forces Charity to take a good hard look at her life and her actions, makes her think about how her behavior has affected others, and makes her take a deep hard look at her own faith.

This book was full of lust, passion, and real feelings. There was also a very deep inspirational message. This is the second book in the Daughters Of Boston Series, and as I’d mentioned before, YOU NEED TO READ THE BOOKS IN ORDER. I didn’t read them in order because I “discovered” this author when the third book was released and I read it for a blog tour. All three books are exceptional reads and I highly encourage all of you to check out Julie’s books if you haven’t already done so. Here are the books, listed in order:

I thought the author did an awesome job with the setting. A large portion of A Passion Redeemed takes place in Ireland! She used elements that made me feel that I was in another place and time!

I’m going off on a tangent here and I’m going to talk about Irish food for a minute. While I was reading this book, I noticed that Julie mentioned several Irish dishes. I wondered about these dishes and so I looked them up online and found some recipes. If you’ve ever tried these dishes, leave a comment and let me know if you liked them. Here are the dishes that I was curious about when reading Julie’s book:

Coddle – this was a ham, sausage and potato casserole
Apple Duff – this looks like it’s similiar to apple pie.
Crubeens – Pig’s feet!!! I haven’t had pig’s feet since I was a kid! I know people eat these, though, but I don’t care for pig’s feet!

If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, and if you’ve read my writing, you know that I like to talk about food. I doubt I’d try the crubeens….pig’s feet? Not my favorite, but I would be interested in trying the Coddle and Apple Duff!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Samson By Jacquelin Thomas

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Samson by Jacquelin Thomas
Samson Taylor has just been installed as assistant pastor at a thriving North Carolina church. He’s a man of God—and most definitely no saint. Handsome and charismatic, Samson is controlled by his lust for beautiful women, a weakness that stirs up trouble, heartache, betrayal, and damaging rumors—and soon costs him his marriage, his best friendship, and even his new job. Samson loves God and tries harder than ever to keep his temptations in check. Then he meets Delinda. . . .Beautiful, irresistibly sexy, and married to a famous NBA star, Delinda has Samson head-over-heels in love . . . in a dangerous affair that leads to a physical confrontation with Delinda’s husband.Now, the disgraced pastor begins a journey he could never have anticipated, where his heart is now his guide—not a heart of lust, but of new wisdom and a new kind of seeing. God will forgive Samson’s past—but will Samson himself be able to let go of bitterness and regret, and find a new light in his life?Inspired by the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah, Jacquelin Thomas powerfully portrays a modern-day pastor’s dance with earthly desires . . . and the faith that made him whole.

In yesterday’s blog post, I asked what would it be like if Samson from the Old Testament were living today. What kind of life would he be living? Well, if you want to know the answer to that question, read Jacquelin Thomas’s book Samson! This book gives a vivid portrayal of the life of Samson, a pastor who lusts after women, and he also marries a Buddist – a strict no-no for Christians since we’re not supposed to be unequally yoked with non-believers. After marrying his Buddist wife, his life continues on the path of lustful destruction that causes him great physical pain and disability. If you want to read about a modern-day Samson, then this book is for you!

Jacquelin Thomas has also answered the following questions:

Were there challenges in turning to Biblical fiction for you?
J.T.: Not really. I made the decision and I did it because I knew this is what God required of me.

Why Samson?

J.T.: “Samson was inspired by the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah. I’ve always been interested in this particular story, and often wondered why Samson couldn’t see what Delilah was up to–how could he not know that she would be his ruin? It was these questions that prompted me to write this story.”

The story of Samson and Delilah is one of the most popular in the Bible. Did you find yourself having an ‘ah ha’ moment during research for your story?

J.T.: “Mostly for me, I had a hard time understanding why Samson continued to deal with Delilah as she had betrayed him on more than one occasion. I liked most that although he loved God, he was still a flawed man–I could relate because I strive to do right each and every day, but there are times when I fall. However, this shows the depth of God’s love for us, even when we disappoint Him.”

When Samson and Savannah play scrabble you included some Hebrew words, was there a point to that?

J.T.: “Not really–at my church, we are learning Hebrew and so it was my way of retaining what I learned.”

What do you hope to accomplish through this particular topic?

J.T.: “Despite Samson’s earthly desires and the tragedy that befell him–I want readers to understand that it was his faith and his love for the Lord that made him whole. We are nothing without God and sometimes it takes something terrible to happen to us before we come to this realization.

How can readers keep up with you online?
J.T.: You can reach me at the following:

Facebook/www.facebook.com/jacquelin.thomas,

Twitter — @jacquelinthomas

Email — jacquelinthomas@yahoo.com

Thanks so much for being on my blog today! I’ve enjoyed this discussion about your new release, and I pray that you’ll continue to write Biblical and entertaining stories!
Here are the stops for the blog tour! Visit these blogs to find out more about this powerful story:

Monday, June 7th
Linda Beed http://letusbearfruit.blogspot.com
Maurice Gray http://www.mauricemgrayjr.com/

Tuesday, June 8th
Patricia Woodside http://readinnwritin.blogspot.com
Cecelia Dowdy http://ceceliadowdy.blogspot.com/
Paulette Harper http://pauletteharper.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, June 9th
Gregory Turner http://www.blogtalkadio.com/asemotivation
Call in: (718) 508-9600
6P/PST-8P/CST-9P/EST
Wanda Campbell http://www.wandabcampbell.net/blog.html
Tia McCollors http://tiaspen.blogspot.com/

Thursday, June 10th
Carla Nix http://www.blogtalkradio.com/passion4life
Call in: (646) 652-2527
5P/PST – 7P/CST – 8P/EST
Jill Elizabeth Nelson http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com/artisticblogger.html
Jeanette Hill/Sharel Love http://www.sasprod.org/

Friday, June 11th
Alvin Romer Live Tele-book Party 6P/PST – 8P/CST – 9PEST w/LaShaunda Hoffman and friends Call in: 605 475-4700 Access: 176632#

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Crossing Oceans By Gina Holmes

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I wanted to mention a book that’s just been released entitled Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes.

From Amazon.com:
Jenny Lucas swore she’d never go home again. But being told you’re dying has a way of changing things. Years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind. They welcome her in the form of her oxygen tank–toting grandmother, her stoic and distant father, and David, Isabella’s dad . . . who doesn’t yet know he has a daughter. As Jenny navigates the rough and unknown waters of her new reality, the unforgettable story that unfolds is a testament to the power of love and its ability to change everything—to heal old hurts, bring new beginnings . . . even overcome the impossible. A stunning debut about love and loss from a talented new voice.

Here’s the book trailer:

It sounds like a good, emotional read that’ll bring you to tears. If you’ve read this book, leave a comment and let me know what you thought about the story.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Dawn’s Light By Terri Blackstock

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Dawn’s Light by Terri BlackstockPaperback: 411 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (May 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310257700
ISBN-13: 978-0310257707
In the face of a crisis that sweeps an entire high-tech planet back to the age before electricity, the Brannings face a choice. Will they hoard their possessions to survive—or trust God to provide as they offer their resources to others? #1 bestselling suspense author Terri Blackstock weaves a masterful what-if series in which global catastrophe reveals the darkness in human hearts—and lights the way to restoration for a self-centered world. As the Pulses that caused the outage are finally coming to an end, thirteen-year-old Beth Branning witnesses a murder. Threatened by the killer, she keeps the matter to herself. But her silence could cost her life. Meanwhile, as Deni’s ex-fiance returns to Crockett with a newfound faith and the influence to get things done, Deni is torn between the man who can fulfill all her dreams and Mark Green, the man who inhabits them. As the world slowly emerges from the crisis, the Brannings face their toughest crisis yet. Will God require more of them than they’ve already given? How will they keep their faith if he doesn’t answer their prayers?




This book continues Terri Blackstock’s saga that involves all of the world’s electronics and electricity – both segments cease to work, leaving people scrounging for food, water, and survival since there is no way to transport food and there is no heat or electricity to cook or clean. People still struggle to survive, but the book opens with the lean times getting a bit better, the banks open and customers are allowed to withdraw 2% of the balance shown on the last printed bank statement they received. Thirteen year old Beth Branning sneaks to the bank to see the action, and instead finds herself the witness to a brutal murder. The murderer threatens Beth and her family if she mentions what she’s seen that day. Scared, Beth suffers in silence while her family struggles to understand what kind of demons are haunting her.

Meanwhile, Deni Branning is falling in love with Mark, a Christian neighbor. When Deni’s unsaved ex-fiance, Craig, surpisingly appears from Washington, he makes a big announcement: He’s saved now, and he wants to court Deni again. Deni is torn – Craig has major pull in Washington and he might have the power to get all of the lights in their district turned back on before the others since the Pulses is now over and in a matter of time, things could be back to normal.

When Beth is hurt, Craig comes to the rescue, and Deni is somewhat drawn to Craig’s newfound kindness. What should she do?

I thought the ending to this book was bittersweet. I think I would have had a somewhat different ending. I thought the book was enjoyable and it was a quick fast read that held my interest.

I also noticed that this book alters the way that I think about some things. Like, when my son doesn’t finish his food on his plate, and I throw it away, I remember how the characters in Terri’s books are starving and about how they’d enjoy the food that I’m tossing in the garbage! I know that’s weird, but I think it’s because we’re a land of plenty, but wouldn’t realize it until a crises of this magnitude were to happen, and it would change our attitudes and perceptions about life drastically.

I reviewed the other three novels in this series, here, here, and here.

I emailed Terri Blackstock to ask her some questions about this series and she responded:
How did you come up with the Restoration Series idea?
I came up with the idea when we were all preparing for Y2k (the turn of the century). We thought computers would crash and our power grid would fail. The whole thing captured my imagination. When it didn’t happen, I decided to create an event like that on my own.

Did you lose power and wonder what would happen …?
While I was writing Night Light, Book Two, Katrina hit my state. My power was out for several days, and we had to sit in line for three hours or more to get gas, so I was kind of thrust into the world I was writing about. It turned out to be great research and helped me with the rest of the series.

I hope that helps. Thanks for asking, and for blogging about the series.

You’re welcome, Terry, and I really enjoyed the series! You provided me with several hours of reading pleasure!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Mom’s The Word By Marilynn Griffith

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Mom’s The Word by Marilynn Griffith

Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Steeple Hill (January 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373786417
ISBN-13: 978-0373786411

When her tall, dark, delicious husband joins their three kids in calling her “Mom,” Karol Simons has an identity crisis. Sure she loves the pint-sized trio, but what’s happened to her dreams of writing a novel? Determined to have it all, she turns to her neighbor for help.

Dyanne Thornton is thrilled to stand in as Mom for three weeks so Karol can write. Bursting with baby fever, the career-woman trades her glamorous clothes and four-inch heels for the playground and potty training. She hopes to convince her reluctant husband they should start a family of their own, right away.

Everyone’s in for some big surprises….

This book was a refreshing read that took me back in time – back to the days when I was growing up and we were close to our next-door neighbors. Karol misses her best friend, Hope and Hope’s husband, Singh. Their former next-door neighbors and their tribe of children have moved away leaving Karol mystified and sad. Their new neighbors, Dyanne and Neal, are quite different from their old neighbors. Dyanne is a career woman, and she fancies herself as a future mom, only if she can convince her husband that it’s time for them to multiply.

When you add Fallon, a mature eccentric author, into Dyanne’s and Neal’s household, the story becomes even more interesting.

Karol is facing a crises – she wants to write her book but has no time since she’s a full-time mommy. Dyanne wants to try her hand at motherhood so she steps in, offering to help Karol and her family while Karol takes a vacation from being a parent so that she can finish writing her book.

Both couples find their marriages in trouble when Karol discovers the real reason that Hope and Singh left and Dyanne and Neal face their own problems especially when Dyanne continues her quest for pregnancy.

I recommend this book if you want a good, insightful, refreshing story that you’ll read pretty quickly. The characters are quirky, but realistic and I believe lots of people could find something in this book that they can relate to.

I haven’t gone off on a tangent like this for a book review in a long time, but this novel got me to thinking about my childhood. We were close to our next-door neighbors when we lived on the military base. I recall playing at each other’s houses and I remember my mother being friends with the mom who lived next door. I remember she was a large woman who wore glasses and she had a loud voice. When she laughed, she threw her head back and opened her mouth so wide that I could sometimes see her tonsils when she was laughing about something! I remember their names, but not sure if I should post them here! I did look up the boy on Facebook and I think I found him! I’m not sure if he’d remember me if I contacted him, though!

The reason why I have fond memories of next-door neighbors is because it’s something that I have NOT experienced as an adult. After getting out of college and working full time, living in apartments and houses, I just never really connected with next-door neighbors the way we did while on the military base when I was a kid.

Are you close to your next-door neighbors? Do you think people are close to their neighbors nowadays, or are people just too busy working and living their own lives to develop close relationships with people in their neighborhood?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Secrets And Lies By Rhonda McKnight

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Secrets And Lies by Rhonda McKnight
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Urban Trade Paper; Original edition (December 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601629400
ISBN-13: 978-1601629401
Faith Morgan is struggling with her faith. Years of poor communication and neglect leave her doubting that God will ever fix her marriage. When a coworker accuses her husband, Jonah, of the unthinkable, Faith begins to wonder if she really knows him at all, and if it’s truly in God’s will for them to stay married.
Pediatric cardiologist Jonah Morgan is obsessed with one thing: his work. A childhood incident cemented his desire to heal children at any cost, even his family, but now he finds himself at a crossroads in his life. Will he continue to allow the past to haunt him, or find healing and peace in a God he shut out long ago?

In her debut novel, Secrets and Lies, Rhonda McKnight delivers unforgettable characters and page-turning drama about a couple whose troubled marriage is pushed to its limits amidst secrets, lies, and an enemy set on revenge.

Cardiologist Jonah Morgan is a workaholic – he neglects his wife and family as he struggles to save the lives of children. One young child comes into his office in need of a heart transplant. Jonah knows he has to save this boy – he reminds him of a lost loved one from his childhood. He struggles with the ghosts from his past, burying his pain and heartbreak by drinking alcohol.

Jonah’s wife, Faith, feels that she can’t trust her husband. He’s never at home, and she feels like a single mother as she spends time with their children. However, when crank phone calls become a regular factor in Faith’s life, she wonders if her husband has found himself a mistress.

When Jonah’s job is in jeopardy, he wonders why these things are happening in his life. When Faith discovers her husband’s childhood secret, their marriage crumbles – what other secrets and lies could Jonah be hiding?

I really enjoyed this story because the characters and situations were so realistic! You’ll keep turning the pages, wanting to know what happens between Faith and Jonah – will they be able to save their relationship?

This book focused on very realistic problems that couples face in a marriage. Secrets And Lies will also make you stop and take a look at your faith in God. We need to learn to trust Him with all of our problems instead of carrying the burdens on our own. When you do that, the burden just gets heavier and heavier, slowly affecting your own life, as well as the lives of your loved ones.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Dreams That Won’t Let Go

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Dreams That Won’t Let Go
by Stacy Hawkins Adams
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3268-4
January 2010; $12.99

I finished this book a few weeks ago but waited to post my blog entry during the tour dates. Indigo Burns is planning her wedding with fellow photographer and soul mate Max. Her life seems good, but, beneath the surface, there are familial problems lingering in her life. These problems are stewing, simmering, waiting to erupt because these complications have been around for several years! Indigo’s brother Ruben is back in town with his blind wife and young son. Indigo’s parents hover over Ruben, ignoring her and her other sibling. Ruben’s recent move has caused both happiness and sadness within the Burns family and it takes pastoral intervention for the parents to see the errors they’ve made in raising their children/grandchildren.

Indigo and her siblings lost their parents in an auto accident years ago, which caused a lot of disharmony in their family. They were raised by their grandparents, and the grandparents did not always make the best decisions about the upbringing of their grandchildren.

I think a lot of people can relate to this novel because it deals with issues that most of us face within our own families. The book also stresses that we need to lean on God in order to overcome the problems that may cause a burden between ourselves and our siblings and parents.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

ESSENCE BESTSELLING AUTHOR RELEASES NEW BOOK:
Sometimes you have to come home to discover who you are…

Essence bestselling author Stacy Hawkins Adams
releases the final book in her popular Jubilant Soul series: Dreams That Won’t Let Go.

Readers have followed along with the Burns family of Jubilant, Texas as they’ve experienced heartaches, celebrated new faced life-changing choices and learned how far faith can carry them through it all.

Now in Dreams That Won’t Let Go, everything seems to be going along perfectly for Indigo Burns: Her wedding preparations to the man of her dreams are under way and her career as a photographer is a success. Even her family seems to be doing better than ever—all except her brother Reuben who no one has seen in years. But that’s about to change, because Reuben has decided to move back home to Jubilant, bringing with him all his unspoken secrets and upsetting all of Indigo’s best-laid plans.

As the family struggles to deal with the pain of the past and find healing, Dreams That Won’t Let Go illustrates that despite what has happened in our lives, there is always a second chance where love conquers all.

Stacy Hawkins Adams is a writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the author of several novels, including the Essence bestseller The Someday List and Worth a Thousand Words. All of Stacy’s novels have been bestsellers in Black Expressions Book Club.

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life. They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.

Night Light By Terri Blackstock

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Night Light by Terri BlackstockPaperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (July 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310257689
ISBN-13: 978-0310257684
From the Back Cover
In the face of a crisis that sweeps an entire high-tech planet back to the age before electricity, the Brannings face a choice. Will they hoard their possessions to survive or trust God to provide as they offer their resources to others? #1 bestselling suspense author Terri Blackstock weaves a masterful what-if series in which global catastrophe reveals the darkness in human hearts and lights the way to restoration for a self-centered world. An era unlike any in modern civilization is descending, one without lights, electronics, running water, or automobiles. As a global blackout lengthens into months, the neighbors of Oak Hollow grapple with a chilling realization: the power may never return. Survival has become a lifestyle. When two young thieves break into the Brannings home and clean out the food in their pantry, Jeff Branning tracks them to a filthy apartment and discovers a family of children living alone, stealing to stay alive. Where is their mother? The search for answers uncovers a trail of desperation and murder . . . and for the Brannings, a powerful new purpose that can transform their entire community and above all, themselves.

I reviewed the first book in this series here. I can see why this author is a #1 best-selling writer! I was so impressed by the first book that I ordered the rest of this series from Amazon! I kept thinking about the characters and the fact that the lights, electricity and electronics had not been restored by the end of the first book. The characters never left my mind so I eagerly started the second book in the series months later. This book won’t disappoint you! The world is still without power and mankind is still scavenging for food and clean water. Most of the residents of Oak Hollow have banded together to stay alive. They’ve combined their manpower to build a well, so that they can have clean water to drink. Food is still scarce and when the Brannings find children stealing their food, they discover that the youngsters are living in a dirty apartment building, alone.

The children come to live with the Brannings and the family wonders if they’ll have enough food to feed the extra youngsters. Meanwhile, technology in the world does get a slight boost when it’s discovered that old automobiles, build in the seventies and before that, will work because they don’t use a microchip.

Meanwhile, Deni Branning wonders about her fiance. He doesn’t seem to care that’s she’s almost gotten killed during the blackout. Should she breakup with him?

I highly recommend this novel. The story will keep you entertained for hours. Blackstock is one of my favorite authors. Her suspense is extremely intriquing.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Latter-Day Cipher By Latayne C. Scott

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Latter-Day Cipher by Latayne C. Scott
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Moody Publishers (April 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802456790
ASIN: B002SB8NQC

When rebellious Utah socialite Kirsten Young is found murdered in Provo Canyon with strange markings carved into her flesh and a note written in a 19th Century code, questions arise about the old laws of the Mormon Church. Journalist Selonnah Zee is assigned the story—which quickly takes on a life of its own. Even before the first murder is solved several more victims appear, each one more mysterious than the last.

Adding to a slew of other distractions, Selonnah’s cousin, Roger, has recently converted and is now a public spokesperson for the Mormon faith. But paradoxically, Roger’s wife Eliza is struggling to hold onto the Mormon beliefs of her childhood. If something is really from God, she wonders, why does it need to be constantly revised? And could the murderer be asking the same questions?

I thought this book did a great job of showing the truth behind the Mormon church. I was compelled to purchase the novel more for the subject matter than for the storyline. Since I was raised in a religion that’s considered a cult, I was interested in finding out more about the weird teaching of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

There’s a murderer on the loose and after he/she kills, there’s always a message left behind, showing that the murderer is affiliated with the Mormon church. Selonnah Zee, a writer, is given the assignment to cover the murders and to find out more about the Latter-Day Saints church. While bunking with her male cousin and his wife, Selonnah finds herself taken on a journey where she questions the Mormon church and tries to find the answers behind the questions about her own faith.

This book will blow your mind, especially if you know little about the Mormon church and long to know more. I read it in a few days over the Christmas break.

~Cecelia Dowdy~