Title: There is a River
Author: Patricia Sweet
Major Themes: Jesus People, Kidnapping, Marriage, Ministry
Synopsis: Everything seems to be falling apart around Carly as her husband appears to be having an affair and her sons go missing; is there any way to find the love she used to have in the church she and her husband planted 20 years ago?
Several months ago, Patricia Sweet reached out to my daughter, asking if she would be willing to read and review There is a River. My daughter didn’t feel like she had time for it, but after reading the book description I decided to look at it.
Publisher’s description:
Carly Green once knew more love than she’d dreamed possible in the church she and her husband planted, but she’s grown so far apart from the brethren she can no longer call them friends. Her life has gone in a different direction. The glory days of the Jesus movement are long gone and so is Carly’s sense of belonging.
Suspecting her pastor husband of having an affair she’s ready to leave him and the church. But when her sons go missing one after the other she returns to the congregation only to be called out in public for failing as a mother.
Her family in shatters and the faith of many at stake, Carly must find her way back to the place of forgiveness and strength, the foot of the cross.
My thoughts:
When I first started reading There is a River, I was not that interested in it. It just didn’t seem like my style, and felt like many others I have read. It started with a woman wondering if her husband was cheating on her, and feeling like she was alone while everyone else was enjoying fellowship and worshipping God together. Matters kept getting worse and worse, as she made a mistake when someone from her past paid her attention, and then her sons went missing. At first, I thought one person was causing the trouble, and was angry with that person—and then identified the person who was really causing the trouble. As one thing after another happened, with the potential to cause permanent damage to people and relationships, I got more and more upset with that person and found myself reading fast to get to the end of it to find out if the truth would prevail—or lies.
Grudges held and nourished for over 20 years, conspiracy theories, Jesus People after 20 plus years…there is a lot in this story! And, what happens to women whose husbands are in ministry but who neglect their wives? Is there any way back when that threatens to wreck a family? What can parents do to rescue their children who have been driven away by neglect, lies, and manipulation by outside forces? Though this is not a deep study, it is thought-provoking. I found myself quite invested in the lives of Carly and her family, and didn’t want to put the book down when I needed to.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
WARNING: I should have highlighted a lot of things, but didn’t think I would be reviewing this book here. There was minimal language (heck, darn). Several times, a person refers to premarital sex, which happened once, before the story, and to abortion. Someone is kidnapped and nearly killed. A man hugs women who are not his wife several times.
Age levels:
Reading Independently—Adults
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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