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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Part Novel, Part Bible Study, June 29, 2010
This review is from: Never Without Hope (Paperback)
"Never without Hope" was the first book I've read in the edgy, Christian, romance genre. I was not disappointed. In the first half of the book I got lost in a juicy story and the lives of the three, somehow all likeable, main characters - Hope, her husband James, and lover Tony. The illicit romance culminates with a heart-pounding and frighteningly realistic confrontation. An especially disturbing aspect was the complete disregard for physical and emotional well-being of their child, in that moment. After this incredible scene, the book shifts. There continues to be many story lines, e.g., the interaction between Hope and the vengeful wife (awesome!). But additionally there are many scriptural references and messages of encouragement, not only to Hope but to a reader in her predicament as well. Since I was reading the book mainly for enjoyment, and not counsel, these at times took me out of the story. I could see however their value for a self or group bible study (there are even pages of discussion questions for those wanting to use the book as a study guide).
Michelle Sutton did an amazing job of getting inside the heads of three people and their roles in this extramarital affair in an engaging story of why good people do bad things. I read this book in three after-work evenings straight and look forward to reading more by this author, including the sequel.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Keeper for my Therapist Library, June 7, 2010
Under normal circumstances, I don't buy books about a woman cheating on her husband. I've rejected well-known authors simply because I didn't want to "go there" in a book. But I'm glad I did!
I was sucked in immediately. I thought of all the people I have counseled and am currently counseling who have been led into adultery. How the other man/woman suddenly becomes a fixation...like an addiction. The heady sensation of losing yourself to something you know is wrong, but which feels so good (at least in the moment).
Michelle went the extra mile and demonstrated how sex is an emotional connection to someone else. It would have been easy to leave that part out (and no doubt easier to get this puppy published), but I'm so glad she didn't. I've counseled so many women whose guilt overwhelms them....because even though they know what they did was wrong, they still have an emotional connection to the person they cheated on their spouse with. Yes, even love them.
I also appreciated Michelle showing how a man's problem with erectile dysfunction can lead to significant problems in marriage when pride is allowed to run rampant. I just sighed when I read the parts with Hope's husband because it was so true to real life. Men don't want to admit they "have a problem," and many are willing to let their wives' sexual needs go unmet rather than seek medical attention for such a taboo subject.
Really, this is an incredible book that I'd recommend to any woman (Christian or not) in my practice who has had an adulterous encounter or is considering one. I think Michelle's book lays it out in pretty stark terms what can happen to a marriage, even one with Christ in it. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series already.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Have you ever prayed for a fictional character?, March 2, 2011
This review is from: Never Without Hope (Paperback)
Okay, I admit it. At one point in this book, I actually caught myself saying a quick prayer for this family and then realized how ridiculous that was; these are fictional people, I reminded myself. But that sort of reaction tells you how wrapped up a reader can get into this story. Beyond that, this is a very fast read with wonderful hooks at the end of many chapters, making it hard to put down. The daring premise of illustrating how a Christian woman might get caught up in an affair and how she could find spiritual healing after was well done. A warning: the first half of this book has so much sexual content that one might begin to wonder if there really will be a Christian element at all; there is. In fact, one of the surprising style points in Sutton's writing is her ability to blend subtley into all of her characters while maintaining a pulse-pounding pace of action.
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