Review & GIVEAWAY: The Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy

Summary: Sheila Franklin has lived three separate lives. Now a conservative pastor’s wife in Chicago, she is skilled at hiding secrets–a talent birthed during childhood romps through the music-filled streets of New Orleans. But when the son she bore at the age of eighteen comes back looking for answers and desperate for help, her greatest secret–and greatest regret–is revealed.

Eager to right past wrongs, Sheila’s heart floods with memories of lyrical jazz music and a worn-out Bible. But when her husband learns of her shady history, Sheila is suddenly faced with an impossible decision: embrace the dream–and son–she abandoned against her will or give in to the demands of her safe but stifled life. As she struggles to reclaim both her son and her identity, Sheila soon realizes that God’s grace spans both seas and secrets and that He is all she really needs.

My Thoughts: This is a really good, rich story. Watching Sheila struggle with accepting God’s grace and forgiveness is so real and so true. So close to what so many people seeking God go through. The bulk of the book tells Sheila’s story, as she is telling it to Samuel, but her true understanding of God’s loving and grace doesn’t occur until her ordeal in Thailand. Written quite well, this book allows the reader to feel Sheila’s struggles, pain, and even guilt as the story progresses.

We see Samuel’s perspective occasionally, too, and I think that helps to enrich the story. We get perspective and story of the mother, and occasional peeks into the mind of the abandoned son. What astounds me is how quickly he’s able to forgive his mother and learn to love her. God’s grace and presence in his life are evident from the start.

My Rating: 4 stars

Source: Received as part of a blog tour promotion on Litfuse Publicity Group.

Read It: You can get your own copy of The Rhythm of Secrets HERE. (Yes, this is an Amazon Affiliate link, but not for me. Purchase through this link would benefit Litfuse.)

About the Author: Baylor graduate, taught community college humanities until God called her to span seas and secrets in her novels, An Irishwoman’s Tale and What the Bayou Saw. She has two grown children and a dog named Laura. She and her husband can be seen jog-walking the streets of Normal, Illinois, an amazing place to live for a woman born in a car. For more information, visit Patti’s website at www.pattilacy.com, her blog at www.pattilacy.com/blog, and her Facebook daily Artbites. Patti’s longer bio here.

Tour Info: For the main page for this blog tour, including links to more reviews of this book on other blogs, visit Litfuse’s post.

Challenges: Counts for 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011.

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Patti Lacy is celebrating the release of her latest book with a NOOK Giveaway, blog tour and Book Club Party!

Follow the blog tour and read the reviews!

Patti and her publisher, Kregel Publications, are giving away a NOOK prize package worth over $150 to one lucky winner!!!!

Enter the Nook eReader Giveaway and you could win:

• A brand new Nook eReader with Wi-Fi
• $25 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble

To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form/s, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest. Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on February 16th at Patti’s Rhythm of Secrets Facebook Party.

She’ll be hosting a book club discussion of The Rhythm of Secrets and giving away other fun prizes! (signed copies of her books and gift certificates to Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, & iTunes!). Don’t miss the fun at Patti’s FB Author Page on February 16th at 5pm PST ( 6 pm MST, 7 pm CST, & 8 pm EST)!

FTC Disclosure: All items reviewed were either obtained by me for my own enjoyment or sent (from the author, publisher, publicist, via tour sites, etc.) in exchange for an honest review. I receive no monetary compensation for my posts. All opinions expressed are my own.

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