Healing Waters, Sullivan Crisp Series #2

Lucia Coffey longs to feel good about herself and her body . . . but she can't get the negative voices out of her head. Lucia has always lived in the shadow of her sister Sophia, a charismatic ministry leader with a huge following. She doesn't feel worthy of her sister or her husband, and her own dreams of being a dancer have long since gone by the wayside. As her self-esteem and self-worth plummet, her struggle to keep her weight under control soars.

But then she meets Sullivan Crisp, the decidedly unorthodox psychologist who is well-known for his quirky sense of humor and incorporation of "game show" theology into his counseling sessions. He sees the beauty hidden in Lucia and sets about trying to help her find it for herself. Lucia longs for the faith to walk on water. And with the endlessly creative ways God uses our meager efforts to bring hope and new life, she just might find the path that leads her there.

When life seems to conspire against you, how do you find the courage to dive into Healing Waters?

When Lucia Coffey looks at her reflection, she sees fat and failure. When she looks at her sister Sonia, she sees svelte and success. When she looks at God, she sees that divine love can’t possibly be doled out equally. All her life, Lucia has coped by throwing herself into taking care of those who seem more worthy of God’s goods, and feeding the dreams she has buried alive.

But when tragedy strikes Lucia’s family, she meets Sullivan Crisp--a decidedly offbeat psychologist who is trying to cope with his own shattered past. They form an alliance to try to hold her family together and, in the process, both tentatively dip their toes into the waters of healing. Step by faltering step they wade in, forging an unlikely community and digging deep for the courage to face a lurking danger that could pull them under . . . or remind them what it’s like to dance on the waves.

Evangelical Christian writing duo Rue and Arterburn collaborate again in this follow-up to Healing Stones, the first of many (one hopes) Sullivan Crisp novels. Therapist Crisp re-emerges in this second outing after a stint of therapy he himself undergoes as he grapples with his faith following his wife's suicide and their baby girl's death. Enter the less-than-doted-on obstetrics nurse Lucia Coffey, who is battling her weight, her drug abuser husband and her famous televangelist, miracle-healing sister, Sophia. When Sophia's private plane bursts into flames and her face is burned beyond recognition, Lucia, with all her acumen and saucy wit, takes on the task of tending to her injured sister. What happens during the healing process is both tender and tragic, and psychologist Crisp is dead center in the middle of all the action. This well-written tale will move and engage readers in its volatile mix of questionable religious healing claims and the real deal—inner restoration of the soul. (Dec.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Average Rating:

4 of 4 Reviews Showing:

Reviewed by Stephanie (North Carolina), July 22, 2009

Sullivan Crisp and his authors do it again in a book that deserves more than five stars. Lucia, Sully, Bethany, and the rest of the characters are drawn with such depth that you know they could be real people. Meanwhile, their conflicts definitely do not come from your average "oops, I forgot to pray" Christian Fiction Conflicts shelf. Therefore, the way everyone deals with and solves their conflicts also comes across in a poignant, yet realistic way. Also, once again, Nancy and Stephen do a great job with their antagonists, Chip and Sonia. The former, you might never suspect of what he ultimately did (nice job on the suspense!) As with Estes and St. Clair in Healing Stones, the latter is a Christian, but has clearly received and given some toxic messages about God in her lifetime. Altogether, these elements make for a seriously fantastic book that actually made me cry. Looking forward to snatching up Healing Sands in November!

Reviewed by Lisa (Hays, KS), March 17, 2009

This was a good book. It kind of dragged for me in the middle when Sonia was constantly in denial over her burns and appearance AND was busy ordering everyone around. It was hard to watch Lucia, once again, cower to her demands and lose any shred of self esteem that she had. However, the book did pick up as Lucia met Sullivan Crisp, who is a really great character. Through his own pain, he helps Lucia by being kind and understanding. I was impressed by his character...he was pretty brave for having the low-key personality that he did to go after two people that came to the house unexpectedly. What a guy! If you stick with the book, you will enjoy it.

Reviewed by Deborah (Reston, VA), January 22, 2009

Like the first book in the Sullivan Crisp series, reading this book was not like reading your normal Christian fiction book. If you're expecting safe, happy endings, everyone gets along in your fiction, keep moving. From the get go, this book has unhappy people who are frustrated with life and question their faith in God. Lucia is a character that you instantly feel sympathetic towards. As the story progresses and she tells her past to Sullivan, the reader will react the same way he does. It was heartbreaking to read about what type of a life she had to live due to her sister. Thus, there were times throughout the book when I felt like Sophia got what she deserved. I did not like her character at all. The way that she treated people was just uncalled for. Her faith did seem very fair-weathered and it was interesting to see her finally being tested to practice what she preached. That whole storyline is something you don't normally see in Christian fiction. It's edgy because you wouldn't think to see Christians question the faith of those who believe in the power of healing. We also learn more about Sullivan's family throughout the story, as to what really happened to his wife. I will admit that sometimes these parts were a little show and interrupted the flow of the main story. However I am interested to know if he will ever confront the psychiatrist who gave his wife the faulty advice. That should make for a very interesting meeting. His insight throughout the whole story was a great way to see the plot from a different point of view. Like the first book, there is also a mystery storyline that runs throughout the book. It is very well played out and adds to the complexity of the story. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is not everyday that a Christian book questions the faith of a Christian in such a frank matter. I totally loved it and I am eagerly waiting the release of the next book in the series.

Reviewed by Carrie Turansky (New Jersey), January 05, 2009

I wish there was a way to give more than five stars for this book. I laughed and cried and couldn't wait to see what would happen to Lucia and all the characters in Healing Waters. The story included some surprising twists and turns that kept me guessing to the end. The relationship between Lucia and her niece Bethany was very touching. The truths about faith, healing, and God's comfort through the pain touched me deeply. I highly recommend this book. It will challenge you to think more deeply about your faith.

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