Renovating Becky Miller, Becky Miller Series #2

In addition to being a young mom, Becky Miller is a daydreamer. Most recently, she's been envisioning herself in the happy endings she sees during her weekly movie nights with husband Kevin. But her real life feels more like a broken filmstrip, spinning out of control!

When Becky and her family decide to purchase a rundown farmhouse, Becky pictures a slower, simpler lifestyle in the pastoral countryside. Of course, it doesn't quite work out like she imagined...

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Reviewed by Connie Wolters (Forest, VA), September 21, 2008

I enjoyed this just as much as the first one, if not more. Through her adventures in this book, Becky learned more about her, her family, and the value of her friends than she ever dreamed possible. A lovely tale - I only wish there had been a third!

Reviewed by Linda (Kansas), June 09, 2008

Great book! I have not read the first book but this one really spoke to me on many different levels. It was as if she was writing about my life (and many other women's lives I know). She does a good job showing how busy we get as wives and moms and get our priorities out of line.

Reviewed by Stephanie (North Carolina), March 25, 2008

I didn't find this one as engrossing as "Secret Life," and I'm not sure why. I guess the plot didn't seem to move as well as it did in the last one. It just seemed to be page after page of regurgitations of the same conflict before it was finally resolved, or resolved in a manner that left too many loose ends. For example, I found myself identifying strongly with Lori as a perfectionist who sometimes battles depression, so I wanted to hear much more about her, and was disappointed that her struggles weren't explored more. I also felt that some of the conflicts, like the solution to Dylan's behavior problems, were not well-developed. However, that said, there's a lot to like here, including the Lori subplot, more time spent with the Bible study gals, and the Grandma Rose situation--we had a similar situation in our house once, and so this was easy to comisserate with. As someone who loves movies, I also enjoyed the fact that all of Becky's daydreams came from movies this time. Maybe books are up next? :)

Reviewed by Kassy Paris (Kilgore Texas), July 27, 2007

Reading books written in first person is not usually my first choice, but I found Renovating Becky Miller so enticing that I forgot it was in first person. Sharon Hinck drew me into the book by opening each chapter with a daydream Becky Miller was indulging herself in. In each chapter, Becky loses herself in a movie she and her husband have seen on their weekly date nights. Becky Miller’s life is not easy. She’s a mother, a wife, has a part-time job at her church working with the women’s ministries, and is disabled, just to add a little icing to her cake of a life. Already harrying, Becky’s life is complicated by the purchase of a new home for her family. What looked like the perfect solution to a cramped home life turns into a renovation nightmare for Becky and husband Kevin. Will their marriage survive? Will the family survive? Will Becky remain sane, or will she lose herself in one of her daydreams and never come home? I kept turning pages of Renovating Becky Miller partly because I had to know what Sharon would use as her next chapter opening, but mostly because I became engrossed in Becky’s life. I laughed and I cried and now I have to go back and find the first book in Sharon’s series about Becky Miller, The Secret Life of Becky Miller. By the way, I guessed most of the titles of the movies Sharon uses as chapter opening scenarios, but in case you don’t recognize them, there is a list of them at the end of the book.

Reviewed by Judy Fedele (Cicero, New York), June 22, 2007

Becky's back and better than ever in this second book about superhero wanna-be Becky Miller. Becky takes on more than she can handle, thinking that her optimism and enthusiasm will solve it all. Becky has the best of intentions, wanting to be a person able to do it all, but she unexpectedly finds that her set-backs help her to move forward again in a more reasonable fashion.

Injured in a car accident at the end of the first book, The Secret Life of Becky Miller, Becky is forced to slow down her own agenda and override her persistent need to be everything for everyone. She exudes good cheer and an overly helpful nature throughout the second book as well, apparently not realizing that she does have limitations on what (and whom) she is actually able to fix. But when the flood from her own rising problems threatens to drown her, Becky still doesn't have the common sense to get out of the water. She finds herself continuing to do laps in water that is way, way over her head.

Becky exemplifies the scripture from 2 Corinthians 12:9, "But he said to me,`My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (NIV) This novel reminds us that despite our best efforts, we still need to rely on God for our true strength. Becky ultimately learns this lesson - again - that when her strength is insufficient, then God is able to work it out in his perfect way and in his perfect timing.

Renovating Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck is wildly funny, poignant in many ways, and touching throughout. This is truly a fantastic novel by a fantastic author. And if you missed the first book, don't wait... get out there or get online and buy both of these little gems for your collection. You'll be glad you did.

Reviewed by Diana Urban (Austin TX), June 05, 2007

Becky Miller’s daydreams provide her with momentary escape from the situations in which she finds herself as she becomes the heroine of each exciting movie-vision. Then she bumps back to earth when she suddenly finds herself immersed in a real-life adventure similar to what she imagines. Becky’s car accident left her with a permanent limp, but her busy lifestyle convinces her she doesn’t have time for her daily therapy. In fact, Becky doesn’t have time for much of anything except dealing with one crisis after another. When her best-laid plans fall through, Becky realizes she must bring her life under control, but she never imagines how God will help her accomplish her goal. With Renovating Becky Miller, Sharon Hinck delivers a second great mom lit book, because Becky is every woman who questions what God wants her to do and how best to fulfill God’s plan for her life. Hinck writes interesting characters who struggle with the real-life problems of busy women. She portrays Minnesota’s Twin City area with accuracy and detail, including the huge Halloween snowstorm that occurred a few years ago. By the end of the book, you’ll want to invite Becky over for tea, because she you’ll feel as though she’s a good friend.

Reviewed by Chandra Lynn Smith (Littlestown,PA), March 20, 2007

Renovating Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck is an entertaining look into the life of a multi-tasker sure she can do it all and fix it all. You will laugh and angst and maybe even cry as you read this book. There could be times you wonder if Sharon actually peeked in your windows as she researched this book. . . . Becky Miller is wife of Kevin, mother of three, leader of the women’s ministry at church, housewife, fixer and daydreamer. She tries not to even let the pain in her leg and cane she must use for walking slow her down. Becky goes out of her way to work for the church ministries and help anyone who seeks help. She can see the solution to all of the problems around her. But when her sister and mother-in-law both end up living with them in their new fixer-upper home she cannot find the way to fix them or herself. The love between she and Kevin is strained by the finances of renovation, the stress of extra family members in the house and small miscommunications between the two of them. Little things start adding up. And it is not until Becky realizes that she cannot do it all, and turns things over to God that He steps in and works His own perfect renovations . . . Within the pages of this book you may recognize yourself , your mother, your sister or wife. Life circumstances are real and for many of us almost a bit too close to home. This is a humorous, poignant look at marriage and motherhood. But more than that is the grace-filled truth of the beauty that God sees in each of us despite our faults and the way His Hands will ‘fix’ all of our circumstances. Clear you calendar, because when you travel to this suburb of Minneapolis, you will not leave until you close the book.

Reviewed by Mary DeMuth (Dallas, Texas), March 14, 2007

Those who enjoyed rollicking through life with Becky Miller will enjoy Sharon Hinck’s honest and beautifully written sequel, Renovating Becky Miller. Hinck’s ability to get us behind Becky’s paranoia, self-talk, and angst illuminates the reader’s need for inner renovation. I felt like I spent a month with a family—a real, breathing, normal American family who struggled with following Jesus in the midst of sticky circumstances.

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