Allison Bottke

A modern-day-dilemma with a fairy-tale ending. Dee Decker is a middle-aged new Christian, who is separated from her husband, moving up in her "glamorous" fundraising job, and recovering from gastric bypass surgery where she has lost 150 pounds. In this story she is "on her journey to freedom, forgiveness, and reconciliation".

I at first had a hard time liking or clicking with Dee. She is all about her new job and her new clothes and doesn't want anything to do with her husband or grown show more children. But when Dee takes on a huge undertaking for her job, she will meet up with a lady named Lily, who will help her in her spiritual journey. The way the Lord works by bringing Dee's husband into the story was great and the way this book ended was the best! show less

This book provides common sense approaches for dealing with troubled adult children. The situations addressed are realistic and all too common. The direct approach to dealing with those problems follows a path a Christian could feel comfortable following. The book suggests clear plans for dealing with problems while insisting on the responsibility of the helper and the helped to participate in the healing process.

The book has a lot of good information for those struggling with adult children who are acting in destructive ways. However, the author's viewpoint is very black and white. She has little capacity for shades of gray. I also thought she could have toned down the religious bias.

This Christian fiction is a good story with sweet characters who confront some ups and downs of everyday life. As one character states, popular "reality TV shows ... got nothin' on us." Written in third person, every character's thoughts are easily followed.

Although they supposedly have a good marriage with good communication, Michael keeps a secret for twenty-five years from his wife, Susan, and she makes major plans without consulting him. Clearly, something's gotta give, and it sure does. show more Communication is a theme in this book which celebrates "God-cidences" rather than coincidences. If I could change anything, I'd change the ending; it's too predictable, but happy endings are what good chick lit is all about. Discussion questions included. show less