Review/Giveaway: Dreams That Won't Let Go

A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

Title: Dreams That Won't Let Go
Author: Stacy Hawkins Adams
Genre: Christian fiction
How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.
Entry deadline: February 25, 2010
Restrictions: Open internationally!

That's right, enter right here for this giveaway. This is my review copy, so it has been gently read.

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Dreams That Won't Let Go, written by Stacy Hawkins Adams, is the third book in the Jubilant Soul series. This 240-page paperback, published by Revell, has a list price of $12.99.

Here's the publisher's synopsis of the book:

Can family ties bind deep-seated wounds?

Indigo Burns is excited. Her wedding preparations to the man of her dreams are under way, her photography career is a success, and her family seems to be doing better than ever--all except her brother Reuben, who nobody has seen in years. But that's about to change.

When Reuben decides to move back home to Jubilant, Texas, he hopes to find healing with his sisters. But Indigo isn't so sure their relationship can be mended. And when younger sister Yasmin makes a life-altering choice, it seems like only a miracle can put the Burns family back together.

Will they ever be able love unconditionally and release each other to live their dreams?

And here's some information on the author:

Stacy Hawkins Adams is a writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the author of several novels, including the Essence bestseller The Someday List and Worth a Thousand Words. All of Stacy's novels have been bestsellers in Black Expressions Book Club.

You can find more about the author on her website: http://www.stacyhawkinsadams.com/.

While there are other books in this series, I haven't read them, and I found this book to stand on its own very well. I loved the large extended family interaction in the story - lots of camaraderie, food, and ultimately, honesty.

And God's intervening power, grace, and forgiveness is also present throughout the book. The author paints an incredible picture of people - the church family and extended family - being God's hands in healing the painful family issues in the book.

Of all the characters, Reuben's wife, Peyton, is my favorite. Her spunk, tenacity, and support of her husband, in conjunction with her disability, make her my hero!

I admit that the suspense leading up to Reuben's reasons for "running" away from home and disappearing for years had me expecting something a little more dramatic - I found the revelation to be rather anti-climatic. Perhaps if someone had been through a similar situation, they might not find it so. And I will say the adventures of the youngest sister, Yasmin, made up for this. I'd love to read more about her in the future.

Thanks to Baker Publishing Group for the review copy of this book.