Life in Defiance by Mary DeMuth

Mary DeMuth finishes her Defiance Texas Triology with this book. She again explores physical and emotional family abuse. It ends with redemption and justice. Topics like this are hard for me to read, because it's so foreign in my life. But I must say I have a better understanding of some of the thought processes of those in abusive situations.

This book involved me more than the first two, I don't exactly know why, but I think it was that evil finally faced right. The way Mary wrote a turn of phrase or combination of words, delighted my "love of words." She also startled me with the main character talking to me/the reader at times. Gosh, that was a little unnerving, but definitely served her purpose.

Mary DeMuth is a great writer using difficult circumstances to educate, entertain and enlighten.

I received this book from The Blog Tour Spot free for the review. Check out what other reviewers said here. Check here for the Amazon listing.

Learn more about Mary and her ministries in writing and speaking.

Thin Places

Mary DeMuth does it again! In this memoir Mary shares the haunting story of her childhood and it's effects in her life. I must admit it was hard for me to read some parts as my heart cried out for the injustice she experienced. But as the book moves forward, she shares how the Lord helped her cope.

I know this book will help others connect by her openness and vulnerability of story. Thin Places occur in her life when heaven draws near and meets her on earth, as if only a thin veil separates the two.

She writes of truth, lies, brutality, forgiveness, rejection, and coming to understand God's supreme sacrifice given for her. Her poems ring with passion, her words give voice to raw emotions, so much so that I even experienced dreams with my heart so torn.

Then she lifts up her soul to praise the Lord for what He's done so far.

Two quotes:

"Much of what God does in my life is healing the past in order to embrace the future. He heals my fear of enemies so I will embrace my family. He heals my fear of men so I can embrace my husband. He heals my running so I can stop and notice the beauty of today."

"Why do I go through all this recollection? So God can renew me so I can help others find healing."

There you go. That's why this book is so important.

I received this book from Blog Spot Tour for the review. Check out other reviews here. You can find her book on Amazon.

Mary can be found on her web and blog site.

Author and speaker Mary DeMuth helps people turn their trials to triumph. Her books include Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God; Building the Christian Family You Never Had; Watching the Tree Limbs; Wishing on Dandelions; Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture and the first two books in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy: Daisy Chain and A Slow Burn. National media regularly seek Mary’s candid ability to connect with their listeners. Her radio appearances include FamilyLife Today, Moody Midday Connection, Point of View and U.S.A. Radio Network and is frequently featured on Chuck Colson’s BreakPoint. She has published articles in In Touch, HomeLife, Writer’s Digest and The Writer. Mary lives with her husband Patrick and their three children in Texas.

A Slow Burn by Mary Demuth

A Slow Burn is the second in DeMuth's fiction Defiance Texas Trilogy. Mary digs out the dirt in lives broken without love and forgiveness. Her characters will make you cry and scream at the injustice in the world, and make you sing when they find their way. They will stay with you long after finishing the book.

Excerpts:

"So when Hap says I'm good for nothing but sex and cleaning the house, I have two choices. I can either internalize his words as the gospel truth, or I can remember that to God I'm precious."

"Leaves blustered while his feet plodded steadily along, his breath white in the winter day. Truth was he was blustered too. When it came to Missy, he was a dried out leaf, scattering, skittering here and there, unanchored to limb, to trunk, to roots. She was the tree, he knew. And her fingers let him loose to crunch under boot, to fly on the wind, to decompose in the dirt. God must've been in the wind, hearing Hixon's plea...."

"It's not really life that does the doing, Em. It's when my heart is settled inside me, all quiet like. Then I'm happy.

I take something to help me along."

A Slow Burn is crafted to give the reader insight into abused hearts who need God's love. It's message will help those in need. I recommend the series and I can't wait for the next one.

Get a glimpse of this powerful story in this trailer of the book.

Mary helps Christian parents break fresh spiritual ground, especially those with destructive family patterns. Her message guides parents who don’t want to duplicate the home where they were raised or didn’t have positive parenting role models.



An accomplished writer, Mary’s parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture, Building the Christian Family You Never Had, and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God. Her real-to-life novels inspire people to turn trials into triumphs: Watching the Tree Limbs (2007 Christy Award finalist, ACFW Book of the Year 2nd Place) and Wishing on Dandelions (2007 Retailer’s Choice Award finalist).


Mary speaks at women’s retreats and parenting seminars, addressing audiences in both Europe and the United States. She also has articles published in Marriage Partnership, In Touch, and HomeLife.


Mary and her husband Patrick live in Texas with their three children. Check out Mary's website.

I received this book as a participant in the Blog Book Tour. Check out what other readers think about this book.


This one is good, folks.