This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Walking on Broken Glass
Abingdon Press (February 2010)
by
Christa Allan

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Christa Allan, a true Southern woman who knows any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day, weaves stories of unscripted grace with threads of hope, humor, and heart.

The mother of five and grandmother of three, Christa teaches high school English. She and her husband, Ken live in Abita Springs, Louisiana where they play golf, dodge hurricanes, and anticipate retirement.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Leah Thornton’s life, like her Southern Living home, has great curb appeal. But already sloshed from one-too-many drinks at a faculty party, Leah cruises the supermarket aisles in search of something tasty to enhance her Starbucks—Kahlua and a paralyzing encounter with a can of frozen apple juice shatters the facade, forcing her to admit that all is not as it appears.

When her best friend Molly gets in Leah’s face about her refusal to deal with her life, Leah is forced to make a decision. Can this brand-conscious socialite walk away from the country club into 28 days of rehab? Leah is sitting in the office of the local rehab center facing an admissions counselor who fails to understand the most basic things, like the fact that apple juice is not a suitable cocktail mixer.

Rehab is no picnic, and being forced to experience and deal with the reality of her life isn’t Leah’s idea of fun. Can she leave what she has now to gain back what she needs? Joy, sadness, pain and a new strength converge, testing her marriage, her friendships and her faith.

But through the battle she finds a reservoir of courage she never knew she had, and the loving arms of a God she never quite believed existed.

If you would like to read the first chapter of  Walking on Broken Glass, go HERE.

Learn more about Christa and her books on her Website.

MY REVIEW:

When I first opened Walking on Broken Glass and saw its theme, I did not think I would care for it. I guess I expected to be bombarded with psycho babble or something. Fortunately, that presupposition turned out to be far from what I found.

Walking on Broken Glass is a compelling inside look at the life of an alcoholic and her experiences during her time in a rehab center and after her release. The reader sees first hand the effects of alcoholism on Leah as well as on her family and friends. Throughout Leah’s painful journey, she finally begins to gain some understanding of herself and the influences in her life that drove her to alcoholism. And as she begins to understand herself, she also begins to understand her husband and family and the things that made them who they were.

Walking on Broken Glass is truly an inspirational story that takes Leah from the depths of despair to renewed hope for her life and marriage. I particularly liked the way the author developed Leah’s slow but natural progression toward faith.