Walking on Broken Glass

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Walking on Broken Glass
Abingdon Press (February 2010)
by
Christa Allan

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Christa Allan, a true Southern woman who knows any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day, weaves stories of unscripted grace with threads of hope, humor, and heart.

The mother of five and grandmother of three, Christa teaches high school English. She and her husband, Ken live in Abita Springs, Louisiana where they play golf, dodge hurricanes, and anticipate retirement.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Leah Thornton's life, like her Southern Living home, has great curb appeal. But already sloshed from one-too-many drinks at a faculty party, Leah cruises the supermarket aisles in search of something tasty to enhance her Starbucks—Kahlua and a paralyzing encounter with a can of frozen apple juice shatters the facade, forcing her to admit that all is not as it appears.

When her best friend Molly gets in Leah's face about her refusal to deal with her life, Leah is forced to make a decision. Can this brand-conscious socialite walk away from the country club into 28 days of rehab? Leah is sitting in the office of the local rehab center facing an admissions counselor who fails to understand the most basic things, like the fact that apple juice is not a suitable cocktail mixer.

Rehab is no picnic, and being forced to experience and deal with the reality of her life isn’t Leah’s idea of fun. Can she leave what she has now to gain back what she needs? Joy, sadness, pain and a new srength converge, testing her marriage, her friendships and her faith.

But through the battle she finds a reservoir of courage she never knew she had, and the loving arms of a God she never quite believed existed.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Walking on Broken Glass, go HERE


MY THOUGHTS:
Alcoholism is not a comfortable thing to discuss or confront. And while we often associate the 20-something or middle-aged man with this addiction, there are all too many women whose problem is disguised behind the facade of social drinking. Leah's friend, Molly, is truly a best friend: one who takes the risk of speaking difficult truth to her friend in order to save her life. This is an excellent book that portrays the process Leah goes through to address her drinking problem and the assumptions we often make about others; it also depicts the impact that dysfunctional families and shaky marriages can have on addictions while making it clear that Leah was a victim of her own poor choices rather than blaming it on those around her. You will hurt with Leah as well as cheer for her as she navigates the difficult journey to sobriety. We are all mastered by something or someone and have a choice, as did Leah, whether we will stay in bondage or become truly free by turning to the only Master who can save our lives.