Book Review & Giveaway - Of Stillness and Storm

ABOUT THE BOOK:

It took Lauren and her husband ten years to achieve their dream---reaching primitive tribes in remote regions of Nepal. But while Sam treks into the Himalayas for weeks at a time, finding passion and purpose in his work among the needy, Lauren and Ryan stay behind, their daily reality more taxing than inspiring. For them, what started as a calling begins to feel like the family's undoing.

At the peak of her isolation and disillusion, a friend from Lauren's past enters her life again. But as her communication with Aidan intensifies, so does the tension of coping with the present while reengaging with the past. It's thirteen-year-old Ryan who most keenly bears the brunt of her distraction.

Intimate and bold, Of Stillness and Storm weaves profound dilemmas into a tale of troubled love and honorable intentions gone awry.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in France to a Canadian father and an American mother, Michèle Phoenix is a consultant, writer and speaker with a heart for Third Culture Kids. She taught for 20 years at Black Forest Academy (Germany) before launching her own advocacy venture under Global Outreach Mission. Michèle travels globally to consult and teach on topics related to this unique people group. She loves good conversations, mischievous students, Marvel movies and paths to healing.

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MY REVIEW:

This book was a difficult one for me to read. Perhaps because of the hard things I'm going through myself, reading a book full of difficulties and hard emotions was not an easy read. I found it difficult because of the emotions it brought to the surface, however, it shows what an amazing writer Michele Phoenix is. The book feels very real and as if you are living through what the main character, Lauren, is going through.

This was an eye opening novel for me as I knew that being a missionary is no picnic, but I never thought about the impact it has on marriages and families. Especially if there are already issues in these relationships. I'll admit, I had to set this book aside several times because it was a very intense book.

The book takes us through the early relationship of Lauren and Sam and how they end up as missionaries in Nepal. We see what happens when one member of the family says that he is called by God to do something without truly seeing if it's the calling for his whole family. I found this interesting because I have seen this time and again in my work in the church. Someone in a marriage saying that God has called him/her to something that I can see will have devastating results for their family. Sam is gone for weeks at a time out in the jungles doing his work. This leaves Lauren alone with Ryan, their son, who is not doing well in this situation. Sam seems oblivious to their unhappiness when he is home.Enter an old male friend into Lauren's life online and you have an even more complex situation that erupts with tension within their family.

The thing that makes this book good is the beautiful writing and wording that Michele weaves throughout the story. She takes a very difficult, even sad, situation and makes it readable because of her amazing writing style. The ending is not what I expected and definitely not the fairy tale ending you might want or expect. This is a deeply thoughtful book that will keep your emotions running high. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by LitFuse Publicity Group


Blessings - Julie