Song of the Brokenhearted - eBook
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a thought provoking novel
This novel comes at a time when lives are being crushed by the recession, uncertainities in the world around us from natural causes such as earthquakes and hurricanes and broken families and lives, bringing a ray of bright sunshine to an otherwise dark world. Although my family is not dysfunctional no family is perfect, and even though we may be grounded in our faith, I don not believe that any one of us can say we have never had a difference of opinion with someone in the congregation.
As I read this, I examined my own thoughts and opinions, my perceptions of happenings and stories heard about.
There is a saying that you can not go back home, but Ava showed that it is possible. And I was inspired by her attitude to the things that happened when she was a child, from the death of her mother, to the growing up years in her Grandmother's house. As I witnessed through the story her maturity from the time she left her family at the age of 17 years to this return, how she faced the circumstances that were happening to her own family, her son, daughter and husband and the choices she and they made, I felt like my choices were not as extreme, and that with God all things are possible.
We can all glean some nugget from this truly thought provoking novel, and I will not hesitate to give it my endorsement.
I received this ebook free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through their Booksneeze program in exchange for an honest review. A positive critique was not required, and the opinions stated are my own!
November 28, 2012
God can turn old torments into a new start
Ava has come a long way from her hurtful childhood in Sheila Walsh and Cindy ColomaâÂÂs latest book Song of the Brokenhearted. Now the perfect image of someone who has it all together, Ava runs the Broken Hearts Ministry out of her Dallas church with compassion and smooth efficiency.
But no sooner are we clued in to her student daughter SiennaâÂÂs impending wedding, her high school son JasonâÂÂs prowess at football, and husband DaneâÂÂs successful business when things begin to fall apart in an almost Job-like way.
By the end of the story Ava is at the point of herself needing help from Broken Hearts as she faces the broken pieces of her life and, worse, feels compelled to revisit her painful past even though she has to do it in the old VW van and without a credit card in sight.
The setting and day-to-day activities of this middle-aged urbanite and her family felt believable and easy to relate to. I especially enjoyed the description of AvaâÂÂs impulsive road trip through Texas near the bookâÂÂs end. Meeting her quirky family was a delight for me, even though it gave her little pleasure.
The way AvaâÂÂs past came back to haunt her is a lesson to us all that we ignore a painful past at our peril. On the other hand, the story illustrates that there are treasures to be mined even from hurt and God, in His surprising way, can turn old torments into healings and a new start.
(I received this book as a gift from the publisher for the purpose of writing a review.)
August 10, 2012
WITH A TRIUMPHANT REFRAIN
Ava is one of those women who seems to have it âÂÂallâ â the loving successful husband and family, beautiful home with hired help to care for it, even a flourishing ministry outreach. SheâÂÂs well-liked by most, but underneath all the gloss, she has a secret, and sheâÂÂs afraid. When the time of testing comes, Ava clings to her faith in the God she loves, as her âÂÂperfect lifeâ appears to unravel.
The Song of the Brokenhearted explores the story of Job in the setting of an upscale American suburb. I found myself very engrossed in the story of Ava and her family, as unexpected surprises continued to appear throughout the book. It was gratifying to see her emerge from the time of testing with her family intact and her faith strengthened.
IâÂÂve âÂÂknownâ and loved Sheila Walsh as a Women of Faithî speaker for over a dozen years. IâÂÂve heard her personal testimonies and her honesty, and when she crafts a story about the broken-hearted, she knows whereof she speaks. While in no way a biography, this story portrays accurate reactions and emotions in an endearing manner. We may not all have the material blessings of Ava and her family, but we can all relate to a life where blessings mix with disappointments, or where a smile may mask experiences weâÂÂd rather keep hidden. And perhaps, like Ava, through reading her story, we can release the hurt and embrace the truth.
I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my fair and honest review.
Christian Fiction
Copyright September 2012
ISBN 978-1-59554-687-6
September 12, 2012
Secrets in a Tree
When âÂÂunfathomableâ tragedies ravage other families, a phone call is all it takes to summon Ava to the front-lines. A compassionate heart and clear headed instincts have made her an asset to the Broken Hearts ministry team she founded. She walks into emergency produced chaos and organizes other peopleâÂÂs lives while scarcely chipping her manicured nails.
Although Ava and husband, Dane have cultivated a comfortable, somewhat affluent lifestyle for their children in an upscale Dallas neighborhood, AvaâÂÂs past and present are about to collide. Her willow âÂÂprayer tree,â dug up at the riverside near her childhood home has begun to wither and âÂÂWhile most of her life was an open book, there were a few secrets to keep within a tree.âÂÂ
The writing dynamics of Walsh and Coloma have created believable characters set in the current struggling economic world where a familyâÂÂs budget dreams can quickly spiral into nightmares. As Ava senses her season of summer blessing may be shifting dramatically, she also feels GOD is âÂÂwith her, tugging at her to draw closer. It was time for her to listen even more.âÂÂ
However, just as I was thinking the characters and plot were settling into a typical predictable path of simplistic self-discovery, the authors managed to weave tantalizing bits of back-story into a delightfully unexpected plot twist.
Climax builds as Ava is forced to open doors which sheâÂÂd slammed shut, and just as unpredictable storms leave âÂÂno time for preparationâÂÂthe tempestâ is gathering âÂÂat their doorstep.âÂÂ
August 17, 2012
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