ABOUT THE BOOKWherever Cassandra Martin goes, her secrets go with her. And hiding her past is beginning to take a toll.
Cassie lives in a small white parsonage in the village of Maple Grove. For 15 years, the beautiful and talented artist has appeared to be the perfect wife for Rev. John Martin, the new pastor at Maple Avenue Community Church.
The couple has moved frequently, and Pastor John is too busy with other people’s problems to notice Cassie’s distress. She has no close friends to confide in, fearing her secrets could jeopardize her husband’s position.
That’s until Maple Grove coffee shop owner Katherine “Katie” Montague embraces Cassie as if she were the daughter she never had. Sensing her pastor’s wife is haunted by something tragic, the caring widow begins praying for her. Will Cassie trust Katie with the pain of her past or will she let the secrets destroy her?
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Secrets of the Pastor’s Wife features discussion questions for women’s book clubs, church small groups, and recovery ministries. Entertaining and inspiring fiction, this compelling storyline will encourage emotional healing, forgiveness, and restored faith.
MY THOUGHTS.....
Secrets of the Pastor's Wife by Christina Ryan Claypool
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
"Everyone has a few skeletons, and there are things best left between an individual and God."
This is the reply that a young minister gives his fiancee when she tries to tell him about her personal history before they met. And later, when his now wife finally shares her past, Pastor John Martin admits to himself that 'most people had things in their past that caused them shame, even though few would admit it.'
Author Christina Ryan Claypoole has written a sweet, heartwarming story that centers around Cassandra "Cassie" Martin and her new best friend Katherine 'Katie' Montague. Cassie moves with her minister husband to Maple Grove and finds herself trying to portray the perfect pastor's wife but feeling very unworthy and sometimes unsuccessful. It is when Katie Montague takes her under her wing that Cassie undertands the toll of keeping secrets. She finds herself confiding in Katie about a past relationship that she has never talked about and the circumstances surrounding it that still cause her great pain. Cassie has never been able to tell anyone about these events until now and she feels like a weight has been lifted. With their mutual friendship Cassie learns to forgive and Katie finds someone to help fill the empty spaces created by her beloved husband's death.
I truly enjoyed learning about Maple Grove and its inhabitants. I felt like I was seeing the various places mentioned in the story and I could even relate some of them with places in my hometown. Secrets of a Pastor's Wife will send some readers down memory lane while introducing other readers to the joys and the trials of small town living but every reader will be glad that they were there!
Christina Ryan Clqypool has shown that all of us have memories that aren't pleasant and experiences that are painful to share. She assures us that our Heavenly Father isn't surprised by anything; nothing is too big for Him to forgive; and self-forgiveness is a key to emotional and spiritual healing. Secrets of a Pastor's Wife is wonderful Christian fiction and I am hoping that there will be another chance to visit Maple Grove.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and I have voluntarily
chosen to share my thoughts and opinions in this review.
ABOUT THE AUTHORChristina Ryan Claypool is an award-wining journalist, seasoned speaker, and inspirational author. She writes and speaks on a wide variety of topics both in secular and Christian circles. Her passion is to see others achieve their destiny, especially those who have been wounded by the heartbreak of abuse, addiction, suicide, mental illness, and the effects of aging.
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