Over Coffee: We Shared Our Secrets

Warmth, tenderness, understanding, compassion, hope, forgiveness and healing unfold in every chapter. If you live with regret for choosing an abortion, please read this book. If you know someone else who chose an abortion and you want to understand their pain, this is a must read.

Over Coffee deals with the issue of post-abortion stress in an accessible and positive way, which is desperately needed. It draws the reader into a circle of friends, making each person's story real, and allowing the reader to sympathize with what led up to the choices each character makes. The books also includes the story of someone who wants to comfort post-abortive women but must come to grips with the sin in her own life, as must we all (let she who is without sin cast the first stone). Most importantly, it points readers to the fact that each one of us is in need of forgiveness and healing, which is available through Christ. Over Coffee addresses a sensitive subject with grace, gentle humor, and the truth spoken in love.

Over Coffee We Shared Our Secrets, by Julie Surface Johnson, 2008 Winepress Publishing, 2008, 224 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-1579219734, $12.95 When her last "chick flew the coop," Julie opened a coffee shop in Oregon. Regulars soon asked her for motherly advice. Liz served her counsel like her coffee: "strong, like a French Roast, somewhere in the middle, like a good Colombian, or mild as Costa Rican." Mother of two grown daughters, Liz recognized pain in some expressions when children were nearby. Her best friend Annie told her post-abortive women view children as painful reminders. It wasn't until Annie joined H.E.A.R.T, an abortion support group that she learned how to be forgiven and set free from anniversary dates and tormenting sounds. In this nonfiction book, join Liz and six women on their personal journeys of repentance, healing and forgiveness. You'll get to know Liz, who struggles with a bitter secret, Mariah, an abuse victim, and Emma, influenced by her peer group. You'll also meet Susan, a mom with broken dreams, pregnancy center director, Annie, and Carly, who believed Planned Parenthood's lies. Johnson's honest, sensitive writing style reveals the personal heartache of abortion. I recommend it without reservation for schools, churches, and home libraries.

Julie, Thank you so much for tackling this topic, with such gentleness and honesty. So many woman I know have battled this choice that we have and many have made. So many hurt and don't know how to heal. So Thank you for this amazing piece of work and heart. I definately look forward to seeing more of your books. You have been given a gift from God and I thank you for using it.

Grab your coffee, add some hazelnut and light a candle because you are in for a journey of healing and forgiveness shared with friends you've just met. Thank you Julie for dealing with such a delicate, unspoken topic with insightful truths and attainable hope. God has designed us to grieve over past mistakes but not remain stuck there rendering us useless in His plan and purpose for our lives. So have a great read then "Arise and Go" and be about the Father's business of bringing hope and healing to others!!! Sue Bradley Chattanooga, TN