Healing Stones

this was an excellent book. It makes a person think and feel good.

OK, so I'm a Christian who teaches psychology. But even if I wasn't, I would love this book! The story line is great...intriguing, mysterious, sad and yet, reflects true life. Sullivan Crisp is a psychologist of the best kind. He is wise yet struggles with his own mistakes. His wit is an adorable bonus. I won't tell the story line as the blurb above explains it well. If you like contemporary Christian fiction, go for this... you will be glad you did!

Healing Stones by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn is the story of Demitria Costanas who gets caught on film committing adultery and has to try to put her family back together. She turns to Sullivan Crisp, a Christian therapist who is struggling with his own demons. Demi's story parallels that from John 8:3-11 of the adulterous woman. After conducting a months long affair with a fellow professor from a Christian college, Demi is caught on camera and forced to resign her position at the school. Her husband also mysteriously receives a set of the photos and kicks her out of the house and the lives of their two children. The authors tackle a difficult conundrum: how to make an adulterous woman sympathetic without soft pedaling her sin. Demi goes through several stages in her grief at the loss of her lover, job, and family. At first, she hates herself so much that she allows everyone, including her teenaged son, to abuse her. But as Demi comes to understand why she cheated on her husband, she realizes that she wants her family back and is willing to fight to do so. There are subplots involving liberalism on the college campus, as well as Sullivan's past. Sullivan is an intriguing character who uses game shows to help his patients make breakthroughs in their therapy. The authors deal with tough issues about sin and forgiveness and what it really means to be a Christian. The story is powerful, and Demi's husband's last words to her brought tears to my eyes.

I completely enjoyed reading this novel. I love to read Christian fiction, however lately some of what I read is a little predictable and shallow. When I starting reading Healing Stones, I was thrilled to see that it was so well written. I have listened to New Life Live (Steve Arterburn's radio show)for years and am interested in human behavior and recovery and therefore was intrigued that it was about a Christian psychologist. I found the book to be more complex and thought provoking than other Christian fiction, encouraging me to take lessons from it and apply them to my own life. Thank you for this book. I am excited to hear that more will be coming. I can hardly wait to see how Sullivan Crisp helps people in the next novel!

I just finished reading Healing Stones, the first of what is going to be a wonderful series. It grabs you on page #1 and holds on until the end. It's a wonderful story of how life's trials, temptations and weaknsses can cause us to be separated from God. And, at the same time, reminds us of God's forgiveness, compassion and healing, available to all who seek it. Healing Stones will cause you to examine your own heart and question your attitude of forgiveness. I would recommend it to everyone, and I am purchasing several more for my friends - what a gift Healing Stones is, to believers and to seekers! Thank you Nancy & Stephen!

Healing Stones is a new series that looks very promising. The book tells a story of adultry and the consequences, but it tells the story by going back and forth between the adultress woman and her counselor, Sullivan Crisp. It's a very honest look at infidelity and the painful aftermath. An excellent novel, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.