Need You Now

Need You Now
Beth Wiseman
(Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-1595548870
April 2012/320 pages/$15.99
When big-city life threatens the safety of one of their children, Brad and Darlene Henderson move with their three teenagers from Houston to the tiny town of Round Top, Texas.

Adjusting to small-town life is difficult for the kids, especially fifteen-year-old Grace who is coping in a dangerous way.

Married life hasn’t always been bliss, but their strong faith has carried Brad and Darlene through the difficult times. When Darlene takes a job outside the home for the first time in their marriage, the domestic tension rises.

While working with special needs children at her new job, the widowed father of one of the students starts paying more attention to Darlene than is appropriate. Problem is, she feels like someone is listening to her for the first time in a long time.

If Darlene ever needed God . . . it’s now.

Experience a family’s triumph over lies, betrayal, and loss while still clinging to the One who matters most.

“You may think you are familiar with Beth’s wonderful storytelling gift but this is something new! It’s a story of how God can redeem the seemingly unredeemable. It’s a message the world needs to hear.” —Sheila Walsh, author of God Loves Broken People

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Beth is a Carol Award Winner, Inspirational Readers Choice Winner, INSPY Winner, and the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. All of her books have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) bestseller list and the CBA (Christian Book Association) bestseller list. She grew up in Houston, Texas and now resides in a small town west of Houston with a population of around 300. She lives with her husband, two dogs, two cats, two pot bellied pigs, two chickens and a pygmy goat. Her two grown sons also live in Texas.

Beth has been writing in some capacity for most of her life. She's a former award-winning journalist with eleven honors, including 'First Place News Writing' for The Texas Press Association. However, writing love stories with a spiritual message is where her heart is.

When Beth isn't writing (which is seldom these days) she enjoys traveling, cooking, fishing, reading, or just settling in for a good movie. Her best times are spent with family and friends!

MY THOUGHTS:
Beth Wiseman has made her mark in the Amish fiction genre, and with this book she shows that she has a heart for contemporary fiction as well. The issues depicted in this novel are relevant to families no matter where they live, whether in a tiny town such as this book's setting or in a large metropolis, or somewhere between. Many themes thread throughout this book as Brad and Darlene and their children experience the challenges of life, and the message of faith, trust, and redemption is strong. I also found the story to be a clear demonstration of the "slow fade" of which Casting Crowns sang a few years ago and the many opportunities for better choices that are often ignored, as well as the slippery slope that is often closer than one thinks. While there was much I liked about this book, I did feel that it was a bit excessive in details and conversations at times and that the story lagged somewhat. It took a bit of patience to get through some of the set-up, and I felt like the writing could have been a bit more concise. But the message and the outcome are too important to cast aside, so grab your copy today!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson and The B&B Media Company as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”