Category: Personal Loss

My Jesus

Author: Anne Wilson

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: October 25, 2022

Rating: 5 out of 5.

An uplifting story about dealing with loss and healing while learning to lean on God during the good and the bad!

Anne Wilson came onto the Christian music scene with a powerful country/bluegrass sound and her song, My Jesus, which exploded up the charts. In her book, My Jesus, Anne gives listeners of her music an inside look at her path to becoming a recording artist. Anne originally had a goal of going to space and becoming an astronaut, but when her brother passed away in a car crash, her plans changed. She and her family were very close and the death of her brother, Jacob, almost crushed them. When they couldn’t find anyone to sing at his memorial, Anne stepped up; even though she had never sung publicly she quickly found she had a talent for it. Finding hope in God was how Anne and her family made it through the hardest time in their lives.

This book was a quick glimpse into the life of an up-and-coming Christian music artist, one that is quickly become one of my favorite artists. I enjoyed seeing how she was shaped by tragedy and found her voice, a gift given to her by her Jesus. Her voice in singing and now in writing is real, authentic and a breath of fresh air. The tragedy she and her family faced is one no one wants to have to encounter but the way they let it move them closer to God and each other is uplifting and so great to read. I recommend this book to those looking for an uplifting read with one of the brightest young stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Let Me Be Like Water

Let me be like waterAuthor: S. K. Perry

Publisher: Melville House

Release Date: August 14, 2018

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A very personal account of coping with personal loss.

After Holly’s boyfriend passed away, she couldn’t stand being in London as every thought reminded her of him. So, she moved away to Brighton to escape.  But even here sitting on a bench listening to the sounds of the sea, she can’t help but think about him.  There she meets Frank, a retired magician that has also experience personal loss.  She begins to meet others as well that have also experienced this.  Holly slowly begins to form a support group without even realizing that it is happening.  Over the next year, she begins to move on and deal with the emptiness that has been left inside her.

This way this book was written made it easy to step into Holly’s shoes and experience the same emotions that she was going through, especially if you have been through it yourself. It feels like a very personal account and almost an invasion of privacy that it is so raw.  Even the guilt that she began to feel as she began to move on was expressed throughout.

The book is told from Holly’s point of view and toggles from her past with her boyfriend to present. It is like going back through Holly’s memory of the good (and bad) times that they had together and how it came to shape who she was.  The remainder of the time was Holly figuring out how to deal with life now that he was gone, both on her own and with her group of friends.

There is quite a bit of strong language in this book and some intimate scenes as well. I would caution readers that have experience personal loss in the past that it may stir up some feelings that may have been put to bed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.