Wednesday, February 13, 2008

CFBA Blog Tour--Healing Stones

The first of CFBA's blog tours this week: Healing Stones, by Nancy Rue and Steve Arterburn.

I am about 2/3 way through reading this book and am really enjoying it. If you haven't read anything by Nancy Rue, you're missing out. She's written numerous adult novels as well as lots of books for kids, including the popular Lilly and Sophie series. Last year at ICRS my book signing at the Zondervan booth followed Nancy's signing for some of her kid books. You should have seen the line of girls who wanted to meet her. I didn't know that many kids came to ICRS with their parents, but apparently they do.

Listen, I write suspense, but Nancy's adult novels scare the heck outta me. The previous one I read by her was Tristan's Gap. These novels are so deep, and the subject matter is real life and raw in emotion. I read these stories and think, "There by the grace of God go I." Nancy isn't afraid to tackle difficult subjects. In Tristan's Gap it's the disappearance of a teenage girl from a strong Christian family. In Healing Stones, as you'll see below, it's about the fall of a Christian woman into adultery, and how it destroys her family.

For this new "Sullivan Crisp" series, Nancy has teamed up with Stephen Arterburn, founder and chairman of New Life ministries.

About Healing Stones:

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.


1 comment:

Pam Halter said...

I haven't read Healing Stones yet, but I have it and am saving it to read on the plane ride to Mt. Hermon.

Nancy is one of my best friends and I was thrilled to have had a sneak peek into this book last year. Let me tell you how much fun our group had during our weekend retreat last year, handing each other stones when someone did or said something that "deserved" it. HA! Yeah, it got real silly at times.

This year, we used the stones and special markers to write an encouraging message to each other.

You are right ~ Nancy isn't afraid to tackle tough subjects. She's real. Honest. Loving. I'm so thankful God brought her into my life.