A Walk In The Valley: Christian Encouragement For Your Journey Through Infertility, by Julie Arduini, Heidi Glick, Elizabeth Maddrey, Kym McNabney, Paula Mowery, and Donna Winters

Synopsis: Everyone's journey through infertility is different. Even women who have the same physical problems will have different courses of treatment, different responses, and different emotional ups and downs as they walk this path. But we also have so much in common: the hurt, anger, frustration, pain, sorrow, hope and joy that we have experienced along the way.
We are women who have experienced infertility. Some of us have gone on to conceive, others have adopted, and others remain childless. All of us have found peace in the loving arms of our Father God at the end of our journey. We want to share our experiences and thoughts with you. It is our hope and prayer that you'll be encouraged.

This devotional workbook starts with how each woman discovered her infertility, then explores the diagnostic testing pursued, how they processed the official diagnosis, what decisions had to be explored regarding treatment, their experiences during infertility treatment (including pregnancy, miscarriage, and childbirth), and finishes with their experiences in remaining childless, adoption, foster care, child sponsorship, and the emotional healing regardless of the outcome of their infertility journey.

Each devotional has a Scripture focus and questions for thought and discussion.

Thoughts: I have never dealt with infertility personally, but reading these stories and devotionals from ladies who HAVE been on the journey gave me a great deal of insight into their situations.

Each of the ladies lead you through their personal journey, being totally honest about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Each of them has had a uniquely personal journey, so it's not as though you are reading six accounts of the same thing. If you are going through infertility, or know someone who is, you can find the segments which apply to your/their situation and read those, or you can read the whole book to find out what others go through as well.

The most important aspect of this book for me is that it lets women know they are never alone, and that they are never "less" as a woman for coping with infertility.

**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**

My rating: Five stars

COTT's December Clash Victory Goes To...

KINSALE KISSES

Congratulations, Elizabeth Maddrey! Kinsale Kisses received enough votes to claim the win! 

This clash received more votes than any other clash in COTT history. So we offer a big thank-you and a standing ovation to each of our contestants: Rachel A James with The Forgotten Princess of Elmetia, Heather Gray with Queen;, Julie Arduini with Entrusted;, Caryl McAdoo with A Little Lower Than The Angels, and Janet Sketchley with Secrets & Lies. We're honored to have had you with us!

And now, let's hear about our winning title!

About the Book

She wants stability. He wants spontaneity. What they need is each other.

Colin O’Bryan cashed out of the software company he founded and started a new life in Ireland. Content to wander from town to town as a traveling musician, he had no goals beyond healing from the betrayals that led to his career change, and finding his next gig.

After the death of her parents, Rachel Sullivan hoped her aunt’s B&B on the Southern coast of Ireland would be a place for her to settle and start a new life. Though she can’t deny the sparks in Colin’s touch, his lack of concern for hearth and home leave her torn. Can this free-spirited minstrel win her heart or will Rachel choose roots and stability over love?

This gentle inspirational romance will take you on a journey to Cork County, Ireland and give you a glimpse of Kinsale, Charles Fort, Blarney Castle, and Cobh as Rachel and Colin undergo their own journey of self-discovery as they learn that God's plans are bigger than their own and that waiting on Him is worth the insecurity it brings.

Author’s Note

Ireland has always been a place I dreamed about. My husband and I were able to travel there in 2003 and again in 2005. We’re counting the days until we’re able to go back. This novella (short, around 150 pages, or 30,000 words) started as a short break from some of the heavier aspects of writing the Remnants series (Faith Departed, Hope Deferred, and Love Defined) and it turned into something I’m particularly proud of. Rachel and Colin were a delight to get to know — I hope you’ll take the time to spend some time with them, traveling around Ireland and falling in love.

Purchase now and step onto Irish soil in minutes: Amazon

About the Author:

Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who loves a good happily ever after.

Elizabeth Maddrey began writing stories as soon as she could form the letters properly and has never looked back. Though her practical nature and love of computers, math, and organization steered her into computer science at Wheaton College, she always had one or more stories in progress to occupy her free time. This continued through a Master’s program in Software Engineering, several years in the computer industry, teaching programming at the college level, and a Ph.D. in Computer Technology in Education. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books and has mastered the art of reading while undertaking just about any other activity.

She lives in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. with her husband and their two incredibly active little boys.

Visit her Website

A Few Voter Comments 

• Elizabeth Maddrey is now on my top 3 favorite author list. I have read each and every one of her books, and they are beautifully written.  Gtrat Christian fiction! Can't wait for a new release by Elizabeth Maddrey.
• Elizabeth Maddrey writes with rich characters and refreshing honesty. I'm looking forwarded to her next work.
• one I've read already, one - besides Kinsale Kisses by ELIZABETH MADDREY - remains on my TBR pile / list!  I'm all about all things Irish, so of course I've to vote for the Irish story in the lot, don'tcha know!!

***

That wraps up our final clash of 2014. Thank you for playing with us and for supporting our authors. God bless all the writers represented in this Clash. Thank you for serving Him with your pen!

Love Defined (Remnants #3) by Elizabeth Maddrey

Synopsis: Dreams Change. Plans Fail.

July (pronounced "Julie") and Gareth have reached the end of their infertility treatment options. With conflicting feelings on adoption, they struggle to discover common ground in their marriage.

Meanwhile, July's twin sister, June, and her husband, Toby, are navigating the uncertainties of adoption and the challenges of new parenthood.

How much stretching can their relationships endure before they snap?

Thoughts: This book is the perfect ending for story of June and Toby, and July and Gareth. It isn't a "happily ever after" fairy tale ending, but it was honest and realistic. Both couples were able to create a family, even if the experience wasn't quite what they had been hoping it would be. The relationship between the sisters was strained at times, but by the end of the book, they had found their way back to the closeness of twins. Gareth and July still have many of the same issues from the previous book, most especially the lack of open communication. Most of their friends and family members from the last two books are present, dealing with their own emotions regarding the couples' journey toward parenthood. I would love to read another story about the two families, set five or ten years in the future, to see how things have gone. :)

I was provided a free copy of this book to read and review, but all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

My rating: Five stars

Hope Deferred, by Elizabeth Maddrey

Synopsis: Christian fiction for women.

Can pursuit of a blessing become a curse?

June and July and their husbands have spent the last year trying to start a family and now they're desperate for answers. As one couple works with specialists to see how medicine can help them conceive, the other must fight to save their marriage.

Will their deferred hope leave them heart sick, or start them on the path to the fulfillment of their dreams?

Thoughts:  Even though I didn't read the first book of this series, I was able to jump right in and keep up with the story. I've never dealt with infertility, but I have a feeling this book portrays it in a very real way. The emotions of all four main characters were so raw and so powerful...I laughed and cried right along with them several times. Each twin takes a different journey toward parenthood, but the two couples are always there to support one another, no matter what. I definitely want to read the final installment of this series!

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free copy of this book to read and review, but all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.