Healing Stones (Sullivan Crisp Series #1) [Paperback]

Nancy Rue (Author), Stephen Arterburn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

With one flash of a camera, Demi's private life becomes public news. She doesn't know it yet, but her healing has just begun.

Christian college professor Demitria Costanas had vowed to end her affair with a colleague. But she gives into temptation one last time...and a lurking photographer captures her weakness for all to see. Quite literally, she's the woman caught in adultery. And almost everyone--herself included--has a stone to throw.

Enter Sullivan Crisp, a decidedly unorthodox psychologist with his own baggage. He's well-known for his quirky sense of humor and incorporation of "game show" theology into his counseling sessions. And yet there's something more he offers...hope for a fresh start.

Reluctantly the two of them begin an uplifting, uneven journey filled with healing and grace. By turns funny and touching, this story explores the ways humans hurt each other and deceive themselves. And it shows the endlessly creative means God uses to turn stones of accusation and shame into works of beauty that lead us onto the path of healing.

An auspicious debut for a candid yet tender series about pain, healing, and God's invitation for second chances.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nancy Rue is the best-selling author of books for teens and adults, including the Christian Heritage series and the Lily series. Nancy has been an English teacher, a public speaker, as well as a contributor to several publications, and her books have sold more than a million copies. She and her husband, Jim, live in Tennessee.

 

Stephen Arterburn is the founder and chairman of New Life Ministries, the nation’s largest faith-based broadcast, counseling, and treatment ministry, and the host of the nationally syndicated “New Life Live!” daily radio program heard on more than 140 radio stations nationwide—including SIRIUS and XM satellite radio. Steve is also the founder of the Women of Faith® conferences and has written over 70 books, including the best-selling Every Man’s series.

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

From AudioFile

An angry teenager, a depressed firefighter, an anguished mother--these are only of few of the characters brought vividly to life through Pam Turlow's extraordinary skills as a narrator. An audiobook with so many characters and plot lines could be a challenge to the listener, but Turlow's distinct character voices make the story easy to follow. When college professor Demi Costanas is caught in an adulterous affair, it almost destroys her career, her family, and even her own sense of self. Although the novel is filled with dramatic incidents, the truly compelling parts of this story are Demi's sessions with Christian psychologist Sullivan Crisp, during which he helps her accept her own brokenness and the healing power of God's grace. M.K.B. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 391 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849918901
• ISBN-13: 978-0849918902
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nancy Rue is the author of 110 books, including 9 novels for adults, 17 for teens, and 60 for tween readers, as well as 2 parenting books, 32 non-fiction books for tweens and teens, and the features for the FaithGirlz Bible. Her Lily Series, published by Zondervan, has sold well over one million copies. Her ability to relate to a wide audience has made her a popular radio and television guest and an in-demand speaker and teacher for writer's conferences across the country. She has been a regular keynoter for The Young Writer's Institute and Virtuous Reality Ministries, and now anchors Zondervan's Beauty of Believing Tour for FaithGirlz, which draws thousands of tween girls and their moms. Nancy is also the founder of the "Writing for Children and Youth Conference" in Glen Eyrie, Colorado. Her latest titles include The Reluctant Prophet for adult readers (David C. Cook) Limos, Lattes, and My Life On the Fringe (Zondervan) for teens, and That Is SO Me (Zondervan), a year-long devotional for tweens. A student of the Academy for Spiritual Formation, sponsored by the Upper Room, Nancy continues her own spiritual journey even as she writes and speaks for mothers, daughters, and would-be writers about theirs. For more information, visit her website at www.nancyrue.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read - Christian Fiction on a New Level, January 22, 2008

By 

Leslie Luypen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Healing Stones (Sullivan Crisp Series #1) (Paperback)

I completely enjoyed reading this novel. I love to read Christian fiction, however lately some of what I read is a little predictable and shallow. When I starting reading Healing Stones, I was thrilled to see that it was so well written. I have listened to New Life Live (Steve Arterburn's radio show)for years and am interested in human behavior and recovery and therefore was intrigued that it was about a Christian psychologist. I found the book to be more complex and thought provoking than other Christian fiction, encouraging me to take lessons from it and apply them to my own life. Thank you for this book. I am excited to hear that more will be coming. I can hardly wait to see how Sullivan Crisp helps people in the next novel!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Adulterous Woman in the 21st Century, February 11, 2008

By 

Christina Lockstein "Christy's Book Blog" (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Healing Stones (Sullivan Crisp Series #1) (Paperback)

Healing Stones by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn is the story of Demitria Costanas who gets caught on film committing adultery and has to try to put her family back together. She turns to Sullivan Crisp, a Christian therapist who is struggling with his own demons. Demi's story parallels that from John 8:3-11 of the adulterous woman. After conducting a months long affair with a fellow professor from a Christian college, Demi is caught on camera and forced to resign her position at the school. Her husband also mysteriously receives a set of the photos and kicks her out of the house and the lives of their two children. The authors tackle a difficult conundrum: how to make an adulterous woman sympathetic without soft pedaling her sin. Demi goes through several stages in her grief at the loss of her lover, job, and family. At first, she hates herself so much that she allows everyone, including her teenaged son, to abuse her. But as Demi comes to understand why she cheated on her husband, she realizes that she wants her family back and is willing to fight to do so. There are subplots involving liberalism on the college campus, as well as Sullivan's past. Sullivan is an intriguing character who uses game shows to help his patients make breakthroughs in their therapy. The authors deal with tough issues about sin and forgiveness and what it really means to be a Christian. The story is powerful, and Demi's husband's last words to her brought tears to my eyes.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great New Series....., January 16, 2008

By 

d burns "www.bookjunkieconfessions.blogspot.com" (Charleston SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Healing Stones (Sullivan Crisp Series #1) (Paperback)

Healing Stones is a new series that looks very promising. The book tells a story of adultry and the consequences, but it tells the story by going back and forth between the adultress woman and her counselor, Sullivan Crisp. It's a very honest look at infidelity and the painful aftermath.

An excellent novel, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.