Joni & Ken: An Untold Love Story

Provided to me as a complimentary copy by Booksneeze, Joni & Ken is the story of a marriage that has stood the test of time, paralysis, cancer, and chronic pain.  It is the story of two devoted Christ-followers who have counted it a privilege to suffer and through their sufferings to know Christ better.  The "untold" part of the story is Ken's perspective -- his emotional pain, depression, and renewed dedication to Joni.  For Joni fans, this book is long anticipated and eagerly received.  It lays bare the thready, snarly underside of a masterpiece of a marriage.  No marriage is perfect, and Joni & Ken are willing for the world to see that theirs has survived nearly insurmountable odds only by the grace of God.

As one who has devoured every one of Joni's books (some multiple times), I couldn't wait to read this latest revelation of Joni's life. I found Joni & Ken a bit more difficult to adjust to since this book is written in the third person, a change from Joni's previous works.  I understand the reason for it, especially since Ken's perspective is a key aspect of the book.  Larry Libby did a great job preserving Joni's writing personality and using her unique expressions as he wrote; however, the new approach did throw me a bit.  Otherwise, the book met all of my expectations.  Joni & Ken point to Christ in all their challenges and victories, spurring the reader on to a greater love and appreciation for our Savior!  What higher accolade could there be?

In Broken Places: A Book Review

Provided to me as a complimentary copy by Tyndale, In Broken Places is the narrative of Shelby, a 35-year-old adult survivor of child abuse.  Although it's a novel, In Broken Places reads like an autobiography (I still have a hard time convincing myself it isn't, so connected did I become to the main character). Perhaps that's because the author herself is a child abuse survivor.  Through an unusual turn-of-events, Shelby becomes the legal guardian of her 4-year-old half-sister.  The new parental role, a major job/location change, and an unexpected romance all combine to force Shelby to deal squarely with the unresolved heart issues left by her abusive father.

At first, the confusing back-and-forth between Shelby's adult life and her childhood flashbacks left me feeling like I had to run to catch up with a book that started out rocketing full speed ahead. But by the time I was about a third of the way through the book, I was completely hooked. The voice of Shelby in this book was so real, so witty, and so honest that I wanted her as my new best friend in the worst way!  I appreciate how the author handled the weighty subject of child abuse with grace, honesty, and even humor.  If you read this book (and I highly recommend it to any reader), you will be enlightened by its insight and completely beguiled by its central character.