Hope Deferred

This is a novel based on a set of twins June and July who are both trying to conceive. For June and her husband Toby, they struggle with trying to figure out why they can't have a baby alongside discovering just how far they can pursue things until their insurance fails to cover anything further. While Toby remains optimistic, he understands June's struggle and desire to have a baby, and offers to support her any way he can. When their doctor reveals she has done all she can for them, she recommends they seek more testing with an reproductive endocrinologist. But June knows, if they do they, the likelihood of the insurance company covering that will be almost 0% and they will have to pay all the costs to have further testing and treatment.

It doesn't make things any easier knowing the her sister July at least got pregnant but when they learned it was an ectopic pregnancy and threatening July's life, her husband Gareth was more than relieved when they miscarried. Now he is more than apprehensive to try again without knowing if July's health will be at risk. He isn't willing to risk the potential of having a child only to lose July in the process and leave him as a single parent. He is fine with the way things are right now, but July isn't. She just isn't sure how to convince Gareth to give it another try. When they find themselves at opposite ends of the playing field and arguing more than they are willing to talk things through, July gives him an ultimatum, either seek options to find out why they can't have a baby or get marriage counseling.

As both couples try to come to terms with having a child, they are pulling on opposites of the marriage spectrum. One is willing to work together to see what options they have while the other struggles to maintain the sanctity of their marriage. It is a difficult process and I think the counseling sessions that July and Gareth attend show how we can see things differently than through the eyes of our loved ones in difficult situations. While each of them struggles in uniquely different ways through the crisis, the twins try to rally their own level of support for one another while dealing with other couples and friends that are having no problems becoming pregnant and having babies.

I received Hope Deferred by Elizabeth Maddrey compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Hope Springs Books for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is the second novel in the Grant Us Grace Series and deals with the struggles of trying to have a child on various levels. It gives one insight into struggles of infertility and knowing what God's stand in the matter is, how to keep the lines of communications open between married couples and also how to be understanding around those who want a baby but all the options for them are simply not working. I think Elizabeth did an exceptional job at showing both sides of the coin in this situation and one I can give a 4 out of 5 stars for!

For more information about Hope Deferred, Elizabeth Maddrey or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Hope Deferred by Elizabeth Maddrey

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Fiery Secrets

The one thing we can never hide from is God, yet so often times we try to convince ourselves that what we are attempting makes sense. No one will ever be able to judge if they don't know. That sounds fine, until that guilt begins to eat away at you bit by bit. Pretty soon however, what you are holding inside gets to be too much for you to justify any longer especially if those secrets can keep you from moving forward and finding true freedom. The enemy would prefer you keep that to yourself.

Such is the premise behind Stephanie McCall's novel Fiery Secrets. Grace Taylor became a doctor to aid in the care and treatment of her ex husband Kyle when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Instead of seeing that as a blessing Kyle found that his illness was an excuse to verbal and physically abuse her. His childhood became the backdrop to teaching Kyle that abuse was something he could use to get what he wanted in life if he wasn't given freely to him. But when Grace divorced him, Kyle began to take control any way he could by abusing alcohol and drugs. Now with having custody of their son Jacob being stripped from him as well as his $100,000 trust fund, he knows he has to do something to keep his addiction going any way he can.

Grace has been struggling with her own demons from the past. She too, became addicted to alcohol when she was married to Kyle in an effort to find a way to get along. The more they both drank, the less hostile he would be to her. But soon it would become too much especially after Jacob was born. But when her drinking cost her joint custody of Jacob, she resolved to become a better mom and put her entire past behind her and that included trusting men ever again. No one would ever be good enough for her and she would do all she could to win back Jacob no matter what the costs.

Now that Jacob has been struggling with his test scores feeling unworthy and stupid according the labels his father Kyle placed on him, he retreats further into himself in an effort to protect what little remains of who he is in the eyes of his mother and father. But when Chris Anderson, is assigned to him as a tutor, he excels and finds self esteem is found in those who believe in you and teach you to believe in yourself. Now if only Chris could take that same advice and apply it to his own life. Giving up his career as an exceptional teacher when a school shooting took the life of three of his students. Believing he could have done more to save them, he takes a tutoring position while he continues to deal with the effects of PTSD from that day as well as overcoming the drug addiction his doctor inadvertently put him through. What he didn't expect was to fall for both Jacob and his mom, Grace.

I received Fiery Secrets from Stephanie McCall compliments of Hope Springs Books for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. This is such an amazing story of hope amidst pasts that Grace and Chris believe will deem that as unworthy in anyone's eyes. We all have pasts we aren't proud of, but with God's grace and mercy we can find forgiveness and redemption. We can have a new chance at life, if we are willing to learn to take Jesus' advice and simply trust He can make good things come from all those past hurts and breath new life into each one of us. Stephanie utilizes this through this novel and shows us all what awaits us if we only are willing to try. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Fiery Secrets, Stephanie McCall, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Fiery Secrets by Stephanie McCall

You can find Stephanie McCall on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: HopeSprings Books (July 2, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1938708164
• ISBN-13: 978-1938708169
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 5.4 x 8.4 inches