Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: One Prayer Away
Author: Kendra Norman-Bellamy
Publisher: Moody Publishers
ISBN: 0-8024-6886-1
Release Date: 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Contemporary Inspirational Romance
Year/Setting: Current/Texas
Overall Rating: 5.0
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language (Profanity) Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: None
Kendra's Website: www.knb-publications.com
Virtue Andrews ran from her husband seven years ago but he has come back into her life quite unexpectedly. To Virtue, however, that doesn’t matter. After all she has dealt with the effects in her life that came from their marriage. The effects of alcoholism, betrayal, fear, trust, pain and so much more. Or at least, she thought she had.
Her best friend, therapist, and surrogate mother, Beverly, pointed out that just maybe that wasn’t totally the case. Yes, Virtue had dealt with the effects but had she dealt with her feelings. What exactly did she feel for Mitchell? Had she truly experienced closure with their relationship? Was it possible that God was allowing this for just such a reason? Virtue couldn’t imagine that. Her life was finally where she wanted it. She was the leader of the dance ministry at her church, she had established her home (on her own, mind you) and she had found peace in Christ. Why would God want to change any of that?
Mitchell Andrews, on the other hand, was dealing with his own "effects" after seeing Virtue in the restaurant that day. The last seven years have brought incredible life changes to him and now he has to finish facing his past. He has also re-established himself. He has made a friend closer than a brother in Chris; he has a job with Chris that he loves and he too has found peace in Christ. He has a close relationship with his pastor and ties to his church but obviously God isn’t finished with him.
Mitchell believes it is time to take the last step. He has asked the Lord’s forgiveness but it is time to ask Virtue’s. Now that he has found her, he isn’t quite sure how to go about it but knows that the Lord has a plan. The big question is does the Lord’s plan mesh with the plans of Mitchell? Or Virtue??
Kendra Norman-Bellamy does a fantastic job of displaying the irony of the Lord. God can use many ways to "get our attention" and He does a great job reaching Virtue and Mitchell. His biggest methods are the secondary characters wandering through One Prayer Away. There is Pastor Inman at Mitchell’s church who is a big supporter of his congregant along with Beverly who loves Virtue like a mother but can be incredibly honest and ask all the "right" questions. There is Minister Fynn at Virtue’s church who helps Virtue see (keep in mind I won’t tell you how J) that she is strong in her own right. There is Lisa who, while a difficult woman and Mitchell’s friend’s fiancée, puts Mitchell in a position where he finally can grasp some of what he has done in the past.
This is a charming story of overcoming your past and truly moving forward. Closure can be a life changing event as evidenced by these two characters.
Lori
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