Alice
Fergusom had a very rough youth. She has had a promiscuous life. And
she has finally made a success of herself, establishing an online
Hollywood insider tabloid. She has a one night stand with a sports
doctor from Nashville and gets pregnant. She decides not to abort the
baby (for reasons revealed in the novel) but her health deteriorates.
Burton, the sports doctor father of the child, offers to have her
come live with him. So she takes a leave from her high-pressure world
to live with a man she barely knows. She gets to know the
African-American pastor next door and loves the cooking of his wife.
After months of enjoying their friendship, she finally agrees to
attend a church service.
This
is somewhat a typical story line – promiscuous girl is given the
opportunity to meet Jesus. An interesting aspect of the novel is
sports. Burton is the doctor for the Titans and the next door pastor
played in the NFL. We also learn a bit about the tabloid world and
the lengths some go to get dirt.
I
found that a few aspects of the novel were troublesome. The back
story is told through flashbacks. Having read books on novel
construction, I know that flashbacks are difficult to do correctly
and are somewhat to be avoided if possible. Cecil's book is full of
flashbacks. When Alice is sitting on the back pew in church, we spend
pages and pages going back. Sometimes it is years and sometimes it is
only a few months. I think it detracts from the novel.
The
other aspect I found troublesome is the openness of Alice's
promiscuous life. While there were no graphic descriptions of her
sexual escapades, there was a scene that I think was too much. Alice
and her partner, Amos, are celebrating the dirt they have exposed on
various Hollywood stars. It was just an ugly scene I think was
unnecessary.
Also,
Burton is a Christian, I think, when he has that one night stand
while at the conference in Los Angeles. As I recall, there was no
remorse on his part for that action noted in the novel. While he is a
good figure in wanting to marry Alice and raise their child, it still
troubles me some that the issue was not dealt with.
There
are several good things about the novel. It is a graphic picture of
how Jesus can save a life. It deals well with race relations and how
God worked through the lives of the pastor and his wife to draw Alice
to Jesus. And Burton is another hero, loving this woman he met so
briefly, yet fell in love with.
So,
there are good things and troublesome things within this novel. There
is an extended discussion guide at the end of the novel as well as
suggestions for reading groups to enhance their experience with this
novel.
Carrie
Gerlach Cecil creates literary, television, film and online content
to transform people's hearts and minds. She has written a previous
novel, Emily's Reasons Why Not, and a children's book with her
daughter as co-author. She is also the founder and president of a
media strategy firm. She is an in demand speech writer, executive and
corporate image coach. Carrie and her husband, former Pro Bowl
Safety, former Tennessee Titans Defensive Coordinator and current St.
Louis Rams Defensive Back's coach, were college sweethearts and spend
much of their time working with several charities. They split their
time between California, St, Louis and Tennessee. They have an eight
year old daughter. Find out more at http://www.carriegerlachcecil.com
Howard
Books, 288 pages. Visit the publisher's product page to read the
first chapter.
I
received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for
the purpose of this review. The opinions expressed are my own.
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