Healing Stones

I had read some Christian teen fiction by Nancy Rue a few years back (Nama High series, if you're interested), and was drawn to Healing Stones as an adult book by the same author in collaboration with Christian psychologist Stephen Arterburn. Since the last series that I read by a favorite Christian author in collaboration with a Christian psychologist was so wonderful (Redemption by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley), I naturally wanted to read this one. Another big appeal to me was that the second book of this series, Healing Waters, won the 2009 Women of Faith fiction novel of the year award; consequently, I want to read it, but refuse to read the second one before the first.

Back to the subject--Healing Stones. What an awesome book! I cannot say enough good about it. Demitria is a theology professor at a small Christian college. She is married to Rick, a fireman, and has two teenage children, Christopher and Jayne. A drastic mistake on Demitria's part costs her both her job and her family, and she spends most of the remainder of the book trying to make these two things right. However, this is a multi-layered novel. It seems that more than meets the eye is going on with the college administration, the board, and the financial backers of the school than just Demetria's mistake. Rick is still suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome after being a hero at the Word Trade Center in 9/11, and his problems in his job and marriage are continuing all these years later. Demitria's Christian counselor, Sullivan Crisp, also has his own baggage, and his guidance of Demitria also mirrors his own journey toward healing and accepting God's forgiveness.

This is one of the best Christian fiction books that I have read in a very long time. Not only does Demitria have a journey to take to accept God's forgiveness, but also do Rick, Sullivan, and many other of the book's characters. This book is truly like peeling an onion, layer after layer after layer. I can't wait to read Healing Waters!!