4 Stars Out Of 5
Faith and Crisis" Where the Rubber Meets the Road
July 26, 2016
Age: 55-65
Gender: female
Quality:
5
Value:
5
Meets Expectations:
5
Intertwined is a challenging, yet satisfying read about two broken families in which one of each of the parents believes in Jesus in spite of the crises faced. It is about depth of character and spiritual lessons which make this powerful book one that should not be missed. This seasoned author, includes excellent descriptive prose, realistic conversation, and real life challenges.
Tammys husband walked out on her after twelve years of marriage, moving in with another woman. Brody rarely follows through on promises made to see their children. Tammy works as an organ procurement coordinator, facing life and death situations daily. Work hours are crisis-driven, around the clock; then her favorite babysitter has to quit due to family needs. Tammys list of people to consider was short. Her best friend, Vanessa, helped when she could.
Nick, a former classmate of Tammys, is the father of two boys and is in custody battles with his ex-wife. During a scheduled visitation, Nick left his boys at a neighborhood barbecue where they had been until he received a call that his restaurant was on fire. Before he arrived at the fire, his neighbor called and told him that his 13-year-old son Payton had just been seriously injured by a hit-and-run driver. Jeremy, his seven year old son, was having a hard time with the changes.
Tammys parents were so concerned about her and her children when she lost her sitter that they got into their RV and went to visit her with short notice. They would stay as long as she needed them, hoping Tammy would evaluate her life and move back with them. Thankfully her 13 year old daughter Becky and younger son Tylan were happy to see them.
Tammy and Nick had been best friends throughout school, and were slowly becoming friends again after running into each other at the hospital during Paytons surgery. This time both of them are Christians, which changes their outlook and how they live. The needs of her children, and his desire to change the custody situation, are their top priority, even as Tammy tries to keep her job and Nick tries to rebuild his restaurant.
The main characters were extremely likable and realistic. Tammy, Nick, and Tammys parents are very well defined, and I really liked Tammy and her spirit of independence. I also liked Nick and empathized with his situations.
The novel is executed with excellence, through the characters faith journeys, respective crises, and spiritual lessons. This novel pulled me in from the beginning and held my attention through the end. This is definitely a book to be read with tissues handy! It is commendable that the spiritual lessons can be applied for both single and married folks, with or without children, and it is easy for the reader to see themselves through the characters. Overall, the novel was very satisfying even while this reader had a few ouch moments for the lessons I need to learn! The author clearly shines the love of Christ, the value of prayer, and the need a Christian has for community within the body of Christ without being preachy. I highly recommend Intertwined to women of any age including book clubs; it is definitely a novel to be read, discussed, and re-read.
With a grateful heart, I won a copy of this book from the author through Lena Nelson Dooleys Blogspot and am providing an honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation has been received for this review.