Devotion

In a marriage there are a lot of issues for a husband and wife to deal with. Having their faith in God is a great foundation to have. However with all the challenges the world has to offer, even our faith can be tested in ways we would never consider crossing the line for. We often think we are strong enough in our faith to handle anything the world would throw out there, confident we would pass the test with flying colors. But that is our weakness, thinking we can remain unscathed from temptations even in the strongest marriages who seem to be completely ground in their faith in God.

In the novel Devotion by Marianne Evans, a marriage between Kellen and Juliet Rossiter will be tested by fire. It was Kellen's job that drew Juliet to fall in love with him. As a music agent for Associated Talent, Kellen's goal in life is to get to the point where he can manage Christian artists. So it isn't unusual to find him in the latest hot spots and clubs trying to find the next top performer for his company. At times Juliet has accompanied him, but knowing after nine years how these meetings generally go, Juliet has developed her own interests working with the homeless at the local shelter as part of an outreach for her church.

Juliet and Kellen know that after nine years they wouldn't always spend their free time with one another, after all the time trying to have a family of their own, nothing seems to have for them. Tests after tests show that both of them are able to conceive but for whatever reasons it just hasn't happened despite all the questions from family at every event wondering just when they planned on having a child. No one really knew the struggle that they both faced when posed with that question. But when Kellen is asked to seek out the next big thing at a club called Iridescence, he wasn't planned for the detour his life would take when Juliet opted out this time. But it only takes an act of infidelity to result in a lifetime of forgiveness and their marriage will be tested in the worst way possible.

I received Devotion from Marianne Evans compliments of Pelican Book Group and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. Aside from a complementary copy of the novel to review I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. The opinions contained here are my own. This is such a brilliant novel because of its transparency in dealing with the subject of infidelity in a marriage. It rates right up there with Karen Kingsbury, as it takes an indepth approach at the foundation that the Rossiters build their marriage on and just how subtle temptation can be. It doesn't start with something big, but those little nuances that happen when we think we can handle ourselves instead of listening to God. You can feel for each of them in this situation from the anger that Juliet feels to the heart-wrenching pain Kellen has to contend with when Juliet insists on moving out.

For me the biggest take away is one I shared with my husband. Is that temptations are subtle and there are so many opportunities for us to leave the situation but we don't. In marriage there will come times when we are all tested and undoubtedly mistakes will be made that will inflict pain into each other's heart. The point is not trying to get back what you had before, it's building on what you have moving forward. What an "A-ha!" moment that was. Too often we try to fix things wondering why we can't go back to before those hurts, and it results in frustration on both spouses wondering where they are going wrong. They aren't. As long as they are moving forward building on what they have, that is the success in moving past those situations and hopefully have the outcome that Kellen and Juliet Rossiter have. The best part is seeing it from a third parties eyes and realizing how quickly something like that happens when we least expect it. No one is immune. This one is not only a must read but a must keep on your bookshelf and thus the reason why I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Devotion, Marianne Evans, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Devotion by Marianne Evans

You can also find Marianne Evans on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Devotion, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliance's book tour page. 

To strengthen your marriage, check out some tips and resources at imdevoted.com

Dry As Rain

Behind every broken vow, lies a broken heart.

When Eric and Kyra Yoshida first met, they thought their love would last forever. But like many marriages, theirs has crumbled, one thoughtless comment and misunderstanding at a time, until the ultimate betrayal pushes them beyond reconciliation. Though Eric longs to reunite with Kyra, the only woman he has truly loved, he has no idea how to repair the damage that has been done.

Then a car accident erases part of Kyra's memory - including her separation from Eric - and a glimmer of hope rises from the wreckage. Is this a precious opportunity for the fresh start Eric has longed for? Does he even deserve the chance to find forgiveness and win back Kyra's heart? Or will the truth blow up in his face, shattering their last hope for happiness?

My Review:

I received Dry As Rain by Gina Holmes compliments of Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review and found this to be a perfect example of what it truly means to seek and find forgiveness. While the premise behind the story involves infidelity, the second chance that Eric sees as a sign from God leads him to delay telling Kyra the truth, even though the doctors have warned him that Kyra's memory could come back at any time.

He spends the first few nights dealing with the feelings of guilt, remorse and regret because even though Kyra remembers nothing, he still knows that nothing has changed from his own perspective. He now holds in his hand a simple choice, to tell the truth or live a lie, and ultimately he chooses wrong. The book is filled with what happens when we don't live alongside God's truth and the darkness that will follow for those wrong decisions.

For once I was happy that this didn't end up the way we would all like, because much like reality, we don't get second chances. Not all our life decisions end up for the best and sometimes life throws us a curve ball. Yet its what we chose to do in THAT moment at the crossroads, that determines the course of the life that follows. This is a shining example of that and how the road to forgiveness isn't an easy path as we'd like it to be sometimes. That is real and for that reason, I award, Dry As Rain, a perfect 5 out of 5 stars because life isn't perfect!

For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Dry As Rain by Gina Holmes

You can also find Gina at her website, just click here

Indemnity

Indemnity (in-dem-ni-tee) Noun; 1. protection or security against damage or loss; 2. compensation for damage or loss sustained; 3. something paid by way of such compensation; 4. protection, as by insurance, from liabilities or penalties incurred by one's actions; 5.legal exemption from penalties attaching to unconstitutional or illegal actions, granted to public officers and other persons.

Sometimes in life it takes a life altering event to change things and allow us to see things differently. Often times we are the ones who get in our own way of seeing God's plan.

Bobbi has spent the last 7 years dealing with the affects of Chuck's affair with his co-worker, Tracy Ravenna. This time has been spent in counseling, and learning how to rebuild the trust within their marriage. Now that Tracy is no longer working at the law firm and has dropped her harrassment lawsuit against him and the firm, their marriage seems to be on the mend.

That is until 3 weeks before the beginning of the school semester, Bobbi notices a name on her first grade roster, Jackson Charles Ravenna. Pure coincidence or has her pain come back to haunt her once again. She learns the mother's name is Tracy Ravenna and believes that once more Chuck is keeping secrets from her and confronts him after work. Chuck is just as shocked as Bobbi is and demands to know if Jack is really his son, a product of his affair with Tracy. He also wants to know why she has been keeping it from him for 6 years and why now, she is back in their lives again.

For Bobbi, it has brought back all those feelings of betrayal, distrust and anger in having once more to deal with Tracy and Chuck's affair. This time with a child in the middle, she isn't sure she is capable of dealing with it again or if her marriage can weather this storm.



In the sequel to Contingency by Paula Wiseman, we are introduced to Indemnity, the second book in the Covenant of Trust Series. Paula once more puts your emotions through the ringer in how Bobbi is forced to confront some of her deepest fears and pain again. I found myself siding with her so many times and often wondered just how heartless and clueless Chuck could be in this situation. In the end, we see the perfect example of just how forgiveness works and what the true purpose is in dealing with the really hard issues we have to face.

I received this book compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and Paula Wiseman for my honest review. Since reading the first book and knowing there would be a sequel, I was once more torn with how this family would deal with a child being born in the midst of trying to heal their broken marriage from an affair. This one really hit home in so many areas for me. Paula writes so well, you immediately feel connected to all of the characters, from Bobbi's insecurities, to Jackson's desperate need for a family. It all works once again and rates a stellar 5 out of 5 stars!!! Now I wait in anticipation to the last book in the series to roll out. Throughout all the books I've read it really does show you how God can use the absolute worst circumstances in our life, to bring about His will, His glory and His good for us in this life.

For even more information about this book, the author and where to pick up this must read series, please click on the links below:

Indemnity by Paula Wiseman

You can also find her on Facebook by clicking here.