#1: It's Not About Me

Annie has it all. But one night her safe world is destroyed. As she fights to put the pieces of her shattered life back together, she is caught in a war between two brothers who both claim to have her best interests at heart.

Who will Annie choose? And will she finally come to know the One whose love will never fail, even in her darkest hour? Will she learn the truth about life-that it's not about "me"?

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I think this is a very good book for young adults or older teens. It deals with sex before marriage, the temptation, and peer pressure teens face today. So deffinently not for younger kids. Michelle really deals with issues like that instead of just saying, "This is wrong, don't do it". She shows you the consequences, the pain that kind of stuff can cause. I loved it and can't wait for her next book.

Here is a book that calls it like it is. While so many of the Christian books you read try and soften things in life with the "Christian-ease" way of talking, Michelle writes it as true to life as possible. There are some who will find it uncomfortable to read, but I would say to them...keep reading until the end because it all comes together. Teenagers today live in a culture that accepts sexual promiscuity, whether being raised in the church or not. And that is only one of the topics covered in this book! Selfishness, respect, love, sacrifice, and alcoholism (and one very shocking attack scene) are a few of the other things covered in “It’s Not About Me”. Michelle delves deeper as we find out what a ‘real’ relationship with God is; it’s more than going-to-church and ‘looking good’ on the outside. I had a hard time putting this book down. Some of the situations were difficult to read through, but it took me to a place where I had to think, “What would I do if I were in that situation?” Or “What would I want my daughter to do in that situation?” I do think that she overdid the descriptions at a few points, but all in all a good read and a great book to discuss as a book club or with your friends.

This is a great read for mature teens and young adults waging the war of staying sexually pure until marriage. As an adult and mother of three teenage children, it brought home the terrific pressure the world puts on young people to give way to the momentary pleasures of sin, particularly Christian teens and young adults, some of whom are children of pastors and bible study teachers! In this story, sweet and innocent Annie fights off the advances of her high school love, Tony, who is also an avid churchgoer and son of the local pastor. Tony is handsome and dreamy, but has succumbed to the worldly idea that “waiting” isn’t realistic, particularly with the girl he loves and plans to marry. Sound familiar? Despite Annie’s resistance, she caves under the pressure of an enormous diamond engagement ring – one owned by his grandmother. But, as fate would have it, the night Annie plans to give herself to him, she is brutally attacked and maimed and left for dead – a victim of robbery (you guessed it – over that precious ring!) Tony’s guilt for not having been there to protect her will not allow him to forgive himself or face her in her time of need; he instead turns to alcohol to assuage the pain in his heart. Enter Tony’s older brother, Dan, who is equally handsome and dreamy and who has loved Annie from afar for several years. With Tony going AWOL, he now becomes the friend she needs and helps her recover from her injuries, both physically and spiritually. Dan tells her she is beautiful and treats her with tenderness and affection without the pressure of a sexual relationship looming in the background. Of course, when Tony comes to his senses and wants to resume his romance with Annie, she is torn. Was what they had real love? Or has Dan showed her something far deeper and richer: a love that comes only by first having a love relationship with the Savior, Jesus?

I’ve consistently heard Michelle Sutton's writing described as “edgy.” So, I read “It’s NOT About ME” with an expectation that it might be teetering on the brink of gratuitous. But what I found was not that, at all! In this first book, Sutton introduces us to Annie, Tony, and Dan. Annie has just graduated high school and is somewhat nervously looking forward to the future. She has grown up in church,sheltered and protected from much of the ugliness of the world. Currently, her biggest problem is how to deal with the sudden pressure for intimacy from her boyfriend, Tony. Tony is a little late to pick her up on the night when she meets evil and tragedy face-to-face. Hurt, alone, and confused, Annie turns to Tony for comfort only to find that he isn’t there. While Tony turns to alcohol to cope with his guilt, his brother, Dan steps in to give Annie the friendship that she desperately needs. As her friendship with Dan brings her closer to God, it threatens to destroy the relationship that she’s tried so hard to build with Tony. What I really appreciated about this book was that the characters were people that I could identify with. They were very real to me. Annie—the sheltered girl, looking into the future and wanting a man to protect her as she walks into the unknown. Tony and Dan—the pastor’s sons, living life under a microscope—trying to figure out who they really are while simultaneously trying to please their parents and the rest of the world. I can understand these characters and found myself cheering for them, scolding them, and sympathizing with them as I read. Michelle Sutton has given us an edgy book here, but not gratuitous. It’s realistic and hopeful. While it shows us some of the real pain and ugliness that today’s teenagers are facing, it also leads us to the remedy to that pain and ugliness—God. Overall, this is a skillful, gripping, and entertaining book. I am looking forward to the sequel!

It is good to see real Christians placed in real situations. I love how Michelle captures your attention and never lets it go. I fell in love, got angry, got excited and almost cried with Annie as she learns the difference between friendship, a crush, and real love. I look forward to her next book. I have read other first novels and this reads more like the work of a seasoned writer. I expect as she continues to write she will get even better as she tackles more taboo subjects. I highly recommend this novel to young adults as well as adults.

Not often does a book keep me up till four thirty a.m not wanting to let me go, but this one manged to do just that Michelle Sutton brilliantly weaves a story together, that nearly everyone can relate to, and for a Christian book it may seem a bit edgy, but I wish I had this book when I was teen. It shows that many young adults go through struggles of faith, questions of love, and life changing moments. I can't wait to read her second In Christs Love Michelle~

Great escape for teen-age girls! Annie is a strong heroine, grounded in her faith, but realistically touched by temptation. I can imagine hordes of teen-age Christian girls passing this book around, giggling at those sweet, sexy spots, lost in the fantasy of having two gorgeous Christian boys fighting over them. I love the fact that this story shows those stirrings to be natural and--above all--controllable. Girls don't need to succumb to the pressures of their adorable boyfriends, or their own desire.

It's about time Christian fiction embraces real life issues. IT'S NOT ABOUT ME is a compelling, rivoting tale of two brothers and one very brave yet fragile young lady. Each of these characters has issues to cope with - drinking, sexual pressure, self esteem, shaky faith. The issue that spoke so deeply to my heart was Annie's battle with her self image - both outwardly and inwardly. Ms. Sutton eloquently incorporated Bible truths such as 1 Samuel 16:7 illustrating that the Word clearly applies to our world today. As Annie, Tony, and Dan learn that they find their roads merging and parting in ways they never expected, which is often the case when one discovers that it's NOT about her or him.

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    Tell us a little about yourself.  I read a LOT of books and write reviews for a variety of blogs and websites as a media reviewer. Along with reviewing Christian fiction, I've written 9 novels in a variety of genres (YA, Women's fiction and romance for starters.) It's Not About Me is my first book in print. I also serve as Volunteer Officer on the ACFW Operating Board, am the Marketing Director for Sheaf House (my publisher), work as Editor in Chief of Christian Fiction Online Magazine, and when not writing I work full-time for the Arizona State government. Last, I've been married to a wonderful man for 18 years and we have two teenage sons.

    What was your motivation behind this project?  It's actually based on something that happened to a friend of mine when I lived in Phoenix. Can't say what that is as it spoils the mood. You know something bad is going to happen by chapter 3.

    What do you hope folks will gain from this project?  A better understanding of faith, love, and true joy.

    How were you personally impacted by working on this project?  Everything I write challenges me to grow more spiritually, as long as my heart is open to what God is trying to teach me.

    Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists?  Too many authors I love to count. There is a lot of talent in the CBA these days.

    Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know:  If you've enjoyed my story and know someone who would benefit from the message, please let them know about it. Thanks!

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