"A Slow Burn", by Mary DeMuth

This book is the second in the "Defiance Texas Triology" by Mary DeMuth.  Though it stands alone, it left me wanting to read the first and third books in the series.

Mary's storytelling is incredible!  When I first starting reading this book, I thought "this isn't my style - I'm going to have a hard time with this one", but next thing I knew, I was so caught up in the story that I was already to chapter 4.

The town of Defiance, TX, has just experienced the tragedy of a young girl gone missing.  Her mother is a drug/alcohol addict who is barely making ends meet.  When the news comes that the girl, Daisy, has been found dead, her mother, Emory, quickly succomes to the voices in her head that are out to destroy her.  Hixon, a black man raised in the white world, has been given an assignment from God to woo and marry Emory, in spite of the walls she has put around her heart.

This is a story of pain and forgiveness, mercy and heartache.  Each reader can identify with one of the characters in some way or another.  Each character seems to be a part of your life.


Disclaimer: I don't agree with all of the doctrine/theology that is found throughout the pages of this book, but taking into account that it is a work of fiction, and that God can manifest Himself to different people in different ways, I was able to look past my doctrinal/theological differences and let myself enjoy being sucked into the story.


This book is available October 2009 at your favorite bookseller from Zondervan Publishing.  Thanks to Zondervan for providing me with a free copy to review!

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