Ms. Butterfield's book is the story of how she came to believe in Christ and the story of her reformed faith. Her story begins when she was a tenured English professor at Syracuse University in New York. She was a lesbian women's studies professor. This book is her story--her testimony. I began reading the book knowing these basic facts about her. I was curious to see how she would address homosexuality and Christianity.

In her interview with Family Life Today, she explains that she doesn't see her homosexuality as the crux of her conversion. But, I understand why many people are reading it simply because she addresses this issue. She addresses many more issues of faith than homosexuality, though. She tells the story of how it was the relationships she had with people that God used to bring her to Him. She shares her thoughts about faith, life, and church. I don't want to share too many details about what she writes, because it was how her book unfolded for me that drew me in.

She tells her story well. She was an English professor. Her book is very well organized, thought out, and clearly conveyed. There are lots of big, descriptive words--in all the right places. What I mean is that the reading level of this book is appropriate for a high school or college student, rather than a middle school student. In reading so many books over the past few years, I've noticed that many authors use simple sentence structures and common descriptive words to convey their ideas. Ms. Butterfield stays true to her literature professor roots and writes as one would expect of her.

Before I finish this review, I want to address some negative reviews on the web of this book. The ones I read were all written by individuals that had been given this book by well meaning Christians. The intention and hope behind these gifts (I presume) was that this book would open the eyes of the receivers to Christ's love for them. But, the giving of this book to someone who is homosexual is the opposite of the example that this author's story is for believers. Ms. Butterfield's testimony is about the relationships in her life and how they shaped her and her faith. It is about how God used people in her life--not to preach at her, but to first listen to her with respect, and then discuss faith with her when she was ready. No one handed her a gospel tract or the four spiritual laws. A local pastor asked her a question and invited her over to dinner at his home. He built relationships with her and the people in her life.

One of the questions that students consider when analyzing literature is who the intended audience of a book is and what is the author's purpose. I believe the author's intended audience is other Christians and that her purpose is to inform. I don't believe the author's purpose is to persuade. She is very strong in her opinions and states clearly why she believes what she does. But, these are her convictions. For example, I can imagine that some readers may feel put off by her exposition about why she feels only psalms should be sung in church. This is a worship practice specific to the RPCNA, the denomination of which she is a member. I see this book as Rosaria Butterfield's memoir, testimony, and philosophy about life all rolled into one. We each could give one. We all have our own convictions, too. We are not identical to one another. It's even scriptural. I am okay knowing that she feels strong convictions about foster care and adoption. I am okay that she feels strongly about psalm singing. I am okay that she has certain convictions about the way the world works that I don't share with her. When I read this book, I felt like I was getting to know someone--learning who she is, what has shaped her, and how God is working in her life. This book isn't meant to be a Christian "How to" about anything. It's a testimony, a collection of thoughts, written with the desire to give the reader something to chew on.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. Unequivocally yes. I hope you will enjoy it.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher Crown and Covenant Publications.

An excellent book about Rosaria Butterfield's dramatic life change; from a feminist, tenured, lesbian professor, to a committed, conservative, bible believing, Christian, Pastor's wife and Mother. She explains in great detail, her personal journey and how the change started out of a Pastor's telephone conversation and invitation to his home for dinner with he and his wife. She also indicates the things Christians do that totally turned her off before her conversion experience. I love the letters in the back of the book to the lesbian, and gay community of friends and her letter to those who might have just received the news that someone they love is gay. Touching and compassonate.

This book is exciting because it shows the power of God in our lives through the conversion of someone it seems impossible could ever reverse her position. I have a relative who is an atheist and, though not lesbian, would agree with every liberal issue this writer believed. I had pretty much given up on my relative but since reading this book I have begun praying again for her salvation. We believers need encouraging books like this to keep on keeping on and to reinforce our own faith..

This book was well written, a good defense of the traditional Christian faith and an inspiration to those turning from a secular, feminist, LGBTQ world view to Christ as well as to those helping them on the way. The author is an example of a total transformation. She is zealous for the Reformed Presbyterian Church, but I do not fault her for this as the Christians that drew her to Christ and nurtured her along the way were of such. I consider this another example of God working in many wings of the divided church of our time.

By far, one of the most powerful books I've read on such a difficult topic. And this conversation seems to get harder and harder as our culture (and a large percentage of today's churches) continue to shift on this. I highly recommend Rosaria because she is so gut-level honest about her own journey, she has deep compassion and genuine love for the LGBTQ community, and she is simultaneously unafraid to hold the culture up to the truth of God's Word as the ultimate measuring stick. You'll have trouble putting this book down once you start.