Customer Reviews

The Breaking Point

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This has to be one of the most grace-filled books to be published in the Christian marketplace. Karen Ball doesn't evade or diminish the pain of the characters' story, but instead writes a riveting novel about what God can do with the patience and perseverance--and trust--of his hurting children.

The author has written an honest, realistic novel about real people and a real God. Powerful writing, wonderful characters, and a memorable story about a marriage worth fighting for.

This is Hallmark movie material--and a great read!

Gabe and Renee Roman were driving almost blind from the blizzard wracking the Oregon Mountains because he wanted to get home to put an end to this miserable trip. Renee and even their Husky Bo are frightened with this storm that leaves visibility at zero. However, Renee is also worried that she and Gabe are finished as a couple as they can no longer communicate and when they do the receiver misinterprets the sender. As Renee ponders the future, suddenly Gabe warns her as their vehicle plunges off the mountainside.

Perhaps it was the deep snow or more likely an act of God, but the three travelers survive the crash though Gabe is unconscious. Somehow they must survive the weather, their feelings towards one another, and a cougar with the most dangerous being their animosity, for to survive, they must work as a team and find their lost beliefs in God because they will need a miracle.

Inspirational romantic suspense readers will appreciate this delightful cliffhanger. Flashbacks provide depth to the lead couple, but also slows down the action caused by the current peril. The "re-finding" of God is brilliantly incorporated into the plot in a no atheist in the foxhole manner yet Karen Ball makes the growing hope and belief seem genuine, as readers will believe in miracles. Fans will reassess what is truly their personal THE BREAKING POINT while enjoying a powerful contemporary tale.

Harriet Klausner

The Breaking Point is an excellent, honest way of dealing with issues of love and intense pain in a marriage, and the trials that come with. This novel shows a couple's way of working through their issues over a period of years until they find peace with God and each other. It illustrates how there are no quick fixes. I love how the author delves into the hero and heroine's pasts and shows how their childhood influenced the way they viewed the world and themselves even after salvation and how they had to be willing to allow God to heal them individually before they could love each other as they wanted and needed as a couple. It also gave a great accounting of the consequences of sin and the ramification of that one mistake over the years of their marriage. A friend of mine is going through the exact same thing right now. She isn't a Christian, but is open to the Lord. She just lost her baby and was almost six months pregnant and she is struggling to cope. She wants to read The Breaking Point because I told her about the similarities. I hope and pray that full understanding of who God is, and His power to heal, will result from her reading this book.

This story reflects well the way we so often make a mess of our relationships and the often incredible lengths God will go to to put things back to rights, if we only cooperate. The pain and struggles of this couple are not only believable, I suspect many readers can identify with them and various aspects of their issues. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

I read this book about 2 1/2 years ago, and I can still remember most of the details because it was such a marvelous book. I always tell people looking for a good read to look for this book because it just inspired me. This book is full of a married couple that has struggled a lot throughout their marriage, but in the end, they come out of it restored by God's redemption. It truly shows that God can bring you from rock bottom to the top of Mt. Everest and that God is always with you. When I was reading this book, I couldn't focus on anything else because it was so intriguing! Definately recommend it!

I really wanted to love this book. I've read most of Karen Ball's books and have loved them! With this one, I expected some uncomfortable moments in a book about marital problems...all married couple have ups and downs. This couple, however, seemed to have mostly downs. The husband Gabe, just seemed like a whiner to me that with serious commitment problems. He had legitimate leftover issues from an abusive father. With all the flashbacks, I expected more in the way of how he and his family dealt with his horrible father--but very little was revealed. In fact, we never knew how his relationship with his parents evolved beyond the abuse when he was a young boy. And the wife Renee irritated me by her inability to take a stand on dealing with her husband. He was abusive in his own way (many children of abusers often are), but she made excuses and seemed to be comfortable with her bitterness and self-doubts. Also, I couldn't help but wonder where her "wonderful, loving" parents were during the many years of Renee and Gabe's marriage.

The last thing that made me go "hmmm" was that the final flashback was in 1995, a good 8 years before the accident that eventually brought them back together. Flashbacks prior to that were every few years...then this 8 year gap. Bottom line: I liked the book, but found myself ready for it to be over.

If I could give this another half star, I would; it's a solid 3.5.

The author was sooo authentic with the feelings of despair, rage, emptiness that a marriage on the rocks experiences. I know, I've felt those emotions myself.

But after taking us through the depths of their despair, I was hoping the author would let us soar through the clouds a little with the couple by the end of the story. There was so much time spent on their problems, I was just hoping to be able to see them living together happily for a little while. I know the novel ended with a feeling of hope, but I wanted to see more of that in action.

I also found the flashbacks a little distracting. Some of them were good, but I skipped several.

This book is such a powerful piece of writing. I know for me it hit home. I went through many years of a difficult marriage and have seen God do some amazing things so when I read this it was very meaningful. It would make a wonderful gift for struggling couples or even those newly married. The message is timely for all of us. Karen has done an excellent job in bringing the reality of us as humans and how God can take something broken and make it new. I can't say enough good about this book. It is very emotional and I recommend a box of kleenex beside you when you read it. It's a keeper.