Can she love the child who broke up her marriage?Nearly four years ago, Erin Belden’s happy life became a shattered mess. After her husband admitted to an affair and that a child had been conceived, he left her and their young daughter for his new family. Now, she’s finally ready to put the pieces of her life together. She’s set to launch her own business and even thinks her heart might be open … might be open to romance—should the right man come along.
But just when everything seems to be lining up, she receives a devastating call: her ex-husband and his wife have been killed in a car accident, and Erin is listed in their will as their daughter’s legal guardian.
How can she be a mother to the child—let alone love the child—who broke up her marriage? Does she have the courage to start over yet again and turn this mess into a mosaic of beauty?
A single mother’s journey from bitterness to forgiveness.
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A Beautiful Mess is the 4th book in The Mosaic Collection. If you’ve not read the others, no worries. Each book is a completely standalone novel written by different Christian authors to make up this unique collection of novels.
To be honest, A Beautiful Mess was unlike any Christian novel I’ve read in the past. What set it apart to me? Christian novels are more often than not VERY squeaky clean… A Beautiful Mess was not. Don’t get me wrong, it’s pretty clean as far as romances go but it doesn’t shy away from real life either. There is no language actually written in the story, but there are several instances when it mentions characters using such language. Likewise, there are no graphic sex scenes… but the topic is certainly not glossed over. After all, this IS a story about a child who was conceived from an affair. It’s real, it’s messy, and it’s quite frank in it’s talk about the subject. It certainly puts more focus on the subject than you typically find in a Christian novel, but I felt like that added to the realness in the story… that’s just life, and life isn’t always squeaky clean. For this reason, I feel there are some Christian readers who are not going to enjoy the story, but I would encourage you to look past that discomfort because this truly is a fantastic story about forgiveness and the power of God to change our hearts and our lives.
As I read this book, I was drawn to the character of Erin. As a mother to an autistic child, I saw many descriptions that made me wonder if she was on the spectrum. But then I also saw some of myself as a socially anxious and rather awkward person too. It was never really addressed as to why Erin was the way she is, but it truly doesn’t matter either way. I enjoyed getting to know her in all her quirks. She is just one of the well-written characters we came to know throughout this story…and not all of them were nearly as likable. Her ex-husband was in fact not very likable at all… nor was he supposed to be. One thing I did really love was that we got to get to know him through his journal entries and while he still wasn’t a saint, it showed again just how God can change even the most unlikable.
This was the first book I had read my Brenda S Anderson, but I so enjoyed the realness of this story so I will definitely be checking out more in the future. This is another great addition to The Mosaic Collection and one I would certainly recommend.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.
Truly …. A Beautiful Mess
Poignant. Relatable. And Very Emotional
Whoa…. what a beautiful mess this book is! And I say that in a positive way. It’s hard to write this review without spilling out the storyline. It’s just all so interconnected. I need to say that my feelings and emotions were VERY bias at the start. And also at the finish. I was so angry with the ex-husband and his mistress-wife that I saw no path to redemption, let alone forgiveness. Honestly, that in itself is proof that G_d does work in our everyday lives.
You know a story is good when it riles up emotions so much that you want to hand out your own version of justice to the characters. This book did just that.
OBSERVATIONS:
… Loved Jon. Despised Corey. Lilith was scum. Erin was way too naive.
…. Totally could relate to Erin’s bitterness, could understand the inner fight and turmoil.
… Wondered how her jerk of a husband could do what he did. His choices were revealing. He had TWO children…. he chose one
… I always find the name Lilith interesting when used in Christian fiction, especially in regards to what many feel is revealed in the Old Testament and/or Jewish medieval tradition and folklore. Hmmmm, I never do like the ‘Lilith’ characters.
… Can’t help but wonder about the love-child. What will her feelings be toward her biological mother when she’s an adult? How about her dad? Scars have a way of showing when thought to be healed. Denial, just like that river in Egypt, has a source and many tributaries.
… My heart went out to Mik. Her life, also, was turned upside down. She too will have scars, more than she does already. What she read in that journal won’t be forgotten
… Love how this author tackles those painful, hard, real life issues. We need more of that in inspirational storylines. Too many turn a blind eye to reality and let those simple ‘I’m Sorries’ solve the problems.
… Sometimes death is too good for someone. Sometimes they need to live a loooong life to see the consequences of their choices. King David was a man after G_d’s own heart… but he lived to see first hand the consequences of his bad choices.
…There is a lot of misplaced guilt between these pages. Just like real life, the emotional drama takes over and blame is (1) passed along….and (2) taken where it doesn’t belong.
… Didn’t understand how Erin had always been the ‘babysitter’. Was she that much of a glutton for punishment? You’ll see what I’m talking about when reading the story.
…Erin is correct, HIS restrictions are there for a reason. As this book shows, ignoring them causes damage to many, even collateral damage to the innocent.
A Beautiful Mess is a very realistic, touching story of a single mom (of a teenage daughter – YIKES!) that makes a journey from bitterness to forgiveness under very difficult circumstances.
The characters are very realistic and at times I felt that I was reading about my own life. It was very touching to read about her journey towards forgiveness. Throughout the story I wondered if Erin would be able to forgive so easily if her ex-husband and his new wife had lived. When I read Corey’s (her ex) last journal entry I knew … it was all about forgiveness.
I couldn’t put this story down. I absolutely loved it and even though it touched on my own life, I am so glad I read it! I highly recommend!!
What would you do? Your husband gets another woman pregnant, divorces you and marries her. To add insult to injury, they have named you to raise that child when they are killed in an accident. Erin is blindsided by their last request. How could she ever love this child? She has her own daughter to raise and a new business to get off the ground. Throw in being blindsided by an old friend with romantic feelings and you have a great story! A very enjoyable read with relatable characters. A good one to curl up with on a cold winter night.
A book that was hard to put down. The characters are real, watching them change is very lifelike. The Christian message is so very clear and watching people’s lives change because of the message is well portrayed.
A Beautiful Mess is an easy-to-read, flowing, compelling story confirming the power of forgiveness and faith. The believable characters display a plethora of emotions—anger, frustration, resentment, doubt, and love! Difficult, painful issues are described and managed in a perceptive, sensitive way. Erin’s journey reminds us that even though we don’t always see or understand it, God works all things for our good and His glory.
I was given an advance copy of this book, but all thoughts and comments are my own.
A Beautiful Mess by Brenda Anderson is a powerful contemporary novel that focuses on love and forgiveness. It is part of the Mosaic Collection but can be read as a stand-alone.
Brenda Anderson has created a marvellous mix of characters once again. They are realistically flawed, battling with issues that the reader can empathise with.
Forgiveness is a major theme. We all need to dispense and receive forgiveness. It is something that we all struggle with. When people wrong us we need to look to the example of Jesus. “Jesus loved him [Judas] regardless of that betrayal.” Betrayal hurts. We cannot stop it happening but we can choose our responses. “I’ve decided I can’t wallow in it. I can’t be bitter.”
Parenting is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Balancing a teen and a toddler can be stressful. Brenda Anderson has produced a realistic portrayal of the pressures mums are under.
When life is hard, it is vital to fix our eyes on Jesus. When our focus is on our problems, life overwhelms us. When our focus is on Jesus, our perspective alters and we receive a peace that passes understanding. “I’ll pray… because God sees from a different perspective.” God sees the bigger picture. He knows our end from our beginning.
Within the story, art is important. The reader is reminded that God is the Master Painter, painting our lives and revealing the beauty that may be hidden deep within.
As life intervenes, sometimes we lose sight of God. He longs and waits for us to return to Him. “He finally stopped running from God.” The reader is reminded of the father in the prodigal son, when we move towards God, God picks up His robes and runs towards us, and there is a glorious party in heaven as we return to the fold.
A Beautiful Mess has the difficult subjects of multiple miscarriage and betrayal of marriage vows. Brenda Anderson sensitively and realistically portrays the hurt. Life is not always kind but God is always faithful.
A Beautiful Mess is a powerful, realistic read about the love and faithfulness of God to repair and restore the pieces of our broken lives. I loved it. I always adore all of Brenda Anderson’s novels.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
This book was amazing! So true to real life circumstances. Erin finally saw Cora not just as a child needing a family, but loving her as her own. Powerful and masterfully written. The mess was the life that was her life, and oh how it turned out! Forgiveness and love in a painting beautifully depicted. I could not put it down!
Thank you in advance to JustRead Publicity Tours, Vivant Press, and Brenda Anderson for the advanced review copy to read. I received the book to review without any monetary payment. A positive review was not required and all words/thoughts are my own.
Four years earlier Erin Belden suffered the end of her marriage when her husband had an affair. That wasn’t the worst part – the worst part was Corey (Corbin) fathering a child by the woman.
Current Day – thinking she can go on with her life with her soon to be moody teenage daughter Michaela, an accident derails Erin’s life dramatically. The accident slightly injures Michaela, but claims the lives of Corey and his wife Lilith.
As a result, Erin is now the custodian of the child that devastated her marriage – her daughter’s half-sister – three (3) year old Clara. While Erin has been Clara’s babysitter, there is a difference between watching a child and raising that child as her own, even loving the child as a mother should. That is part of Erin’s problem – she can’t bring herself to love the child as her own.
Erin is excited that Lilith’s parents want to be part of Clara’s life and think the child would be better suited with them. But, a mutual friend of hers and Corey’s – Jon – knows that isn’t what the couple wanted. Jon decides to find out why Lilith and Corey didn’t want their daughter to be with her parents. And, Jon is hiding his own secret about Erin as well.
As Erin weaves through the process of everyday mothering her own moody daughter, caring for Clara, the roadblocks of starting her own business, and going through her ex-husband’s journal – Erin finds a sense of forgiveness for Corey as well realizing she does love the child than ended her marriage.
She even finds that forgiveness leads to love.
Anderson doesn’t shy away from the tough subjects – infidelity, death, forgiveness, grief. Everything is here in one tidy package. And, it is presented in a realistic, albeit messy manner. After all, life is messy. This is one of those stories that makes us all sit back and ask ourselves “what would we do”, “how would we do it”. There is no real profanity, and what hints at it is “censored” out, making it a clean read for the most part. There is very little sex talk in it, so those looking for a clean read will find it in this story.
The story provokes emotions that are all over the place – anger, bitterness, jealousy, frustration, sadness, love. Case in point – I found myself mad at Erin, feeling sorry for her, mad at Michaela, feeling sorry for Michaela. I detested Corey as well as Lilith.
The true innocent in all of this was poor Clara who had no idea what was going on. And, despite Erin’s initial icy tone towards the child, Clara was still loving towards this woman and accepting of her in her life. That was the hardest part, even for me.
It was difficult to see how Erin couldn’t easily tap into or express her emotions. Some of that was glanced over, but never fully explained, at least for me.
At times reading Corey’s journal was insightful which answered the “how could this happen” question. But, it was also frustrating to see it happen as well.
The writer was also careful with the religious aspect of it, as well as realistic. Sometimes we believe, but not strong enough to carry us over the hump or through the darkness.
Still, As Anderson reminds us, it is God’s will that is done – not ours. And, it is done in his time.
I found this a quick and easy read with short chapters and really couldn’t seem to put it down. I was finished before I even realized it.
This is a beautifully written book that will grab you on the first page. The author tackles real life problems and doesn’t sugar coat them, and shows how when we turn them over to God anything is possible. This is a powerful story about forgiveness and letting go of the hurt and anger. This book is a roller-coaster ride of emotions,you will laugh, cry and feel every emotion in between.
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Erin and her best friends Corey and Jon are inseparable, loyalty to each other, caring.
then Erin and Corey have wedding and become a normal couple, with a daughter Michaela. until Corey and some troubles..will change their life.
the characters are very well built, realistic story. the readers can feel the thoughts and feelings of the characters. good book, Anderson can touch your heart!
I recommend it!
This is an inspiring book showing God’s love and forgiveness to those ho repent and how God can change lives for the better once they have asked for His forgiveness. A quite sad book due to the hurt of a lot of people from Corey’s betrayal of Erin, but then it brings out hope and love from those picking up the broken pieces of life. A must read book.
I have loved all the books that Brenda has written. She takes things happening to people now and creates believable stories that everyone can relate to. Then she mixes what one might consider events that could never happen. Then she adds God to it. You want to read it to see what God will do in the lives of these people.
I did receive a complimentary copy of this book for a honest review
This book drew me in from the very beginning. I laughed, cried, mourned, and cheered throughout the story for the different characters. Brenda Anderson has given us a truly beautiful story of how God can take the broken pieces of humans life mistakes and sins and create a truly wonderful mosaic. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that is struggling through broken relays and trying to trust God to turn it into good. I did receive a complimentary copy of this book, but have freely shared my own thoughts and opinions.
A Beautiful Mess was even more amazing than I thought it would be.
I was drawn in with the first couple sentences and as I got to know the characters I became entangled within the artful web of the story. Anderson is an amazingly talented writer will a wonderful ability to create memorable characters and unforgettable stories that captivate every reader. A Beautiful Mess is a story about forgiveness and trusting the Lord through the pain. The story is heartbreaking at some points but the everlasting hope found in the Lord is shown clearly as the story closes. I loved everything in this story and it caused me to consider things more.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.
A good book that will give someone a book to take on vacation, worth reading!
3 1/2 Stars
I was intrigued by the premise of this book. How can a woman love a child that resulted from something that tore her marriage apart? I liked that real emotions played out with Erin as she struggled to keep her life from spinning out of control when her ex-husband dies. They were all the emotions one would expect her to go through—including so many conflicting ones. I felt sorry for her. Even though I know it fit the story line, I struggled with the idea that Erin was the child’s babysitter long before the accident. Her statements that she could never love the child seemed unreasonable in the wake of her going above and beyond to babysit that child. Erin does finally resolved her feelings for the child and her ex-husband so the story came to a satisfying conclusion. Full review is at my website: lorainenunley(dot)com
I received this book complimentary as a participant in the JustReads reviewer tour. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions I have expressed here are my own.