To
Know You
by
Shannon Ethridge & Kathryn Mackel
ISBN:
978-1401688660
$11.95 (paperback)
About
the book:
Julia
Whittaker's rocky past yielded 2 daughters, both given up for adoption as
infants. Now she must find them to try to save her son.
Julia
& Matt Whittaker's son has beaten the odds for 13 years only to have the
odds – and his liver – crash precipitously. The only hope for his survival is a
“living liver” transplant, but the transplant list is long and Dillon’s time is
short. His 2 older ½ sisters, born eighteen months apart to 2 different
fathers, offer his only hope for survival.
But
can Julia ask a young woman – someone she surrendered to strangers long ago and
has never spoken with – to make such a sacrifice to save a brother she's never
known? Can she muster the courage to journey back into a shame-filled season of
her life, face her choices and their consequences and find any hope of healing?
And
what if she discovers in her own daughters' lives that a history of foolish
choices threatens to repeat itself?
Julia
knows she's probably embarking on a fool's errand – searching for the daughters
she abandoned only now that she needs something from them. But love compels
Julia to take this journey. Can grace and forgiveness compel her daughters to
join her?
In
To Know You, Shannon Ethridge and Kathryn Mackel explore how the past creates
the present.... and how even the most shattered lives can be redeemed.
My
thoughts:
This
story is very interesting and had me on the edge of my pillow most of last
Saturday night and into Sunday morning. There are some very deep subjects
covered in Julia's story and it was very emotional and thought provoking all
the way through. I think part of what caught my attention with the story is
that it is somewhat similar to my story – (only I was the kid given up) so I
was able to understand much of what the girls would be feeling and even though
the story had more to do with Julia's emotions and what she was going through
as well as understanding forgiveness and Christ's sacrifice for us it was very
easy to connect with all the characters.
The
salvation message is strong throughout this book and it was easy to see the
different levels that each of the female characters were in with their walk
with Christ. Julia became a Christian after a struggle as a young woman and
then giving up her girls. Much of her heartache was from choices that she made
(premarital sex and abandonment from men as well as having to give up each of
her girls through adoption). Destiny the older daughter is into the alcohol,
drug and sex scene and even though she was raised in a Christian home she chose
to turn her back on God and take the hard road. After her boyfriend becomes a
Christian she kicks him out and that is when Julia turned up to meet her and
ask her all-important question “Will you donate a liver to my son – your
brother?” Destiny of course refuses – but then Julia asks her if she'd like to
meet her sister and make her decision after some thought. Destiny agrees. Then
there is Chloe – the youngest sister. Chloe is the very sheltered daughter
& heiress of very wealthy parents and the wife of an equally wealthy
husband. Everyone believes that they need to make all her decisions, plan her
life and she has grown up believing that she is incapable of making those
decisions. At the time that Julia & Destiny appear on the scene she is
mulling over asking if she can follow her hearts desire and enter the
engineering field instead of the medical field which is what her husband had
decided she should do.
This
is a wonderful book – not just for the strong scriptural and faith background
that is all throughout the book. It was also nice seeing strong male role
models in Julia's husband and even though Destiny's boyfriend is a brand new
Christian he seemed to be going into a family leadership direction. He was
caring, prayed for Destiny and supported her but also gave her her distance and
allowed the situation and the Holy Spirit to soften her heart.
This
would make a great Christmas gift if you know someone who likes thought
provoking books and perhaps some of a Christian background (even if they aren't
Christians)... It's deep but would be a great way to “witness” and share the
message of Christ's redeeming grace and forgiveness for all of us no matter
what we've done. It would be suitable to read with an older daughter perhaps in
11th or 12th grade through college and would open some
paths for discussion. You could use the discussion questions in the back of the
book – if you are thinking younger girls (perhaps 9th/10th
grade) I would read the book first and consider your daughter's maturity level.
Shannon Ethridge is celebrating the release of To Know You (co-written by Kathryn Mackel), by giving away a $100 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs and a personal coaching session, as well as throwing a Facebook Author Chat Party!
One winner will receive:
- A $100 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs
- To Know You by Shannon Ethridge
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 19th. Winner will be announced at the "To Know You" Facebook Author Chat Party on the 19th. Connect with Shannon and friends for an encouraging evening of fun chat, book club discussion, giveaways, and a chance to win a PERSONAL COACHING SESSION WITH SHANNON!
So grab your copy of To Know You and join Shannon on the evening of November 19th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)
Disclaimer:
I was offered a copy of the book to read and review in exchange for my honest
opinion. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged
hands. Thanks for reading GivingNSharing!
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