About the Book

Name of book: Beauty from Ashes
Author: Alana Terry
Genre: Christian Women’s Lit
Release Date: July, 2017

A baby was never part of Tiff’s plans. Especially not a sick baby in a NICU, struggling for life on a ventilator. As days in the hospital turn to weeks, Tiff grows more and more convinced that God is punishing her for turning her back on him so many years ago. Or is it possible he’s working in the midst of her daughter’s bleak prognosis to draw Tiff back to himself once more? The Orchard Grove Christian Women’s Fiction books are standalone literary novels about real-life believers facing real-life struggles. You won’t meet perfect saints whose lives are faultless models of the Christian faith. Instead, you’ll meet a perfect God whose plans of redemption are far more glorious than what the mortal mind could ever imagine.

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About the Author

Alana is a pastor’s wife, homeschooling mom, self-diagnosed chicken lady, and Christian suspense author. Her novels have won awards from Women of Faith, Book Club Network, Grace Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more. Alana’s passion for social justice, human rights, and religious freedom shines through her writing, and her books are known for raising tough questions without preaching. She and her family live in rural Alaska where the northern lights in the winter and midnight sun in the summer make hauling water, surviving the annual mosquito apocalypse, and cleaning goat stalls in negative forty degrees worth every second.

My Review:

This is the first book that I have read by Alana Terry. I didn’t realize how many books this author has out there.

Having a child with special needs and being a foster mom for many years this tugged at my heart as I could feel the emotional distress of Tiff. I’m surrounded by many moms who have the heartache of hearing the physical, mental, and the loss of a child they have to deal with. Some of them question God and wonder if they have done something wrong. In a way this story felt very raw to my heart. I also rejoice that an author can write about the depth of the situations that many families have to deal with having a child with special needs. Alana Terry expresses those heartfelt emotions so maybe others around you will think twice about what you may be enduring. Pray for you or offer a word of encouragement, or some type of help.

This was a wonderful read. It’s told from a first person perspective from Tiff. All the characters are well developed.

The story is very detailed and takes a while building up the story. The emotions and theme are very heartfelt as Tiff is her own worst enemy recalling her past and her mistakes. She became pregnant before her and Jake got married. She feels like she is being punished for her sins.

The author covers many topics from relationships with her husband to his difficult mother, then the relationship that Tiff has with God and the people in the church. She deals with the topic of a relationship of a mother and child. Tiff doesn’t quite know how to be a mother herself yet, you see that beautiful maternal bond weaved in there. This takes a gifted author to blend so many hard topics together that makes it work in a novel.

I’m not one to give away spoilers but, I do recommend this book. You don’t have to have a child with special needs to appreciate this story. Nor is this an easy book to read without a box of tissues. The story has a strong message that I took away from it. One is that we need to remember to pray for those who are going through hard times with their marriage; those who are dealing with a sick child, and to encourage them and uplift them not bring them down. God is the one that can make beauty out of ashes if we allow Him to do so. You see God's love throughout the story. Beautifully written from the heart of a mother who lost a child herself.

I received a free copy of this product from Celebrate Lit Bloggers in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this information accordance with the FTC Regulations.

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