Author: Jennifer Sienes
Genre: Christian Contemporary
Release Date: April 28, 2020
Corey Schaffer, pastor’s wife and mother of two teens, has spent her entire marriage subconsciously repenting for one reckless night the week before her wedding.
Upon discovery of Corey’s indiscretion, her 17-year-old daughter, Taylor, is in a car accident resulting in a weeklong coma, traumatic brain injury and memory loss. Corey is riddled with guilt and would like nothing better than to confess all to her husband, Paul. But how can she when his pastoral position is at risk, thanks to their son’s thoughtless act of rebellion the year before—an act Paul has yet to forgive?
Instead, Corey loses herself in the day-to-day work of Taylor’s rehabilitation and prays God will give her the courage to face the past. But when a disgruntled church member sees an opportunity for revenge, Corey must find the faith and strength to put her family first, even if it means walking away.
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Illusions is a page turner book from beginning to end. I finished the book in about 5hrs, it is truly that good!!
Corey Schaffer is a Pastor's wife and has something that has been eating away at her since she married. She is just about ready to confess to her husband of many years and her 17yr old is in an accident that puts her in a coma. She is also dealing with her rebellious son who is putting his Dad's job as a Pastor in jeopardy. A "revengeful" Church Member almost really breaks Corey. Corey decides she will stand up and be the bigger person through all this and puts her family first through this all. Will the Family, especially Corey, come through this time in their life a stronger family? Grab a copy of this book and find out!
I really enjoyed this book. It really spoke to me that even through times when we want to run and hide, God will uplift us and encourage us to do the right thing. This book is about Forgiveness and giving grace where it is needed.
Illusions is Book #2 in the Apple Hill Series by Jennifer Sienes. I am really enjoying this series and look forward to more books in this series! GREAT BOOK!
More from Jennifer
Since I was twelve years old, I’ve been writing stories. I even wrote fan-fiction before it was a thing—a Happy Days episode, which I’m sure dates me. I took every creative writing class I could, starting in high school, and even declared journalism as my college major until I realized I like fiction a whole lot more than truth because I can create the characters any way I like.However, my first attempts at writing emotionally charged novels fell flat; I hadn’t lived enough to truly understand what deep emotion felt like. Then life happened—a series of tragedies that made me feel I was more on par with Job than with Jesus. Someone wise told me that all writers must find the core of why they write—that deep part of us that God instilled in our hearts. What is it we, as writers, want to communicate to our readers? What I came away with was that we all need hope, especially in our darkest days.
Illusions was born out of a near-fatal car accident my daughter was in only weeks after her eighteenth birthday. It was walking through that accident with her that started the what if questions years later. What if an accident is the result of a mother/daughter argument? What if that argument was caused by something the mother did in her past—a deep, dark secret that even she cannot face? And what if that mother is held to a higher standard than most others? Say the wife of a pastor? And what if that pastor already has a black mark against him because of an act their other child (a boy) previously committed?
Would the congregation turn against him? We all know people in church who seek any opportunity to throw a wrench into things—that live with a big ol’ log in their eye, blinding them from the concept of grace.
To add to the tension (because, what’s the point of a story without it?), what if the accident caused a traumatic brain injury and the daughter remembers nothing? It may not be on par with Sophie’s Choice, but now a mother is torn between wanting her daughter to be whole again and hoping the deep, dark secret remains lost somewhere in the recesses of her mind.
Admittedly, the two children of Corey and Paul Schaffer (the main characters) are based loosely on my own children, Nicole and Christopher. It is so much easier to write what I can easily envision in my mind. And many of the challenges Taylor (the accident victim) faces were actually those my own daughter experienced. But that’s where truth and fiction part ways. So, Illusions started with inspiration, but God took it to whole new level. It’s one of the ways He uses the challenges I’ve faced in life to connect with readers and hopefully give them His inspiration and encouragement.
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Emily Yager, May 15
Texas Book-aholic, May 16
deb’s Book Review, May 17
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 18
Inklings and notions, May 19
reviewingbooksplusmore, May 19
For Him and My Family, May 20
Older & Smarter?, May 23
CarpeDiem, May 23
Moments, May 24
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 25
Pause for Tales, May 26
To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon & a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
3 comments:
I liked the review. Sounds like a good book.
Thanks much for sharing your book and a giveaway. Sounds great!
This sounds like a great read.
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