A Reason To Stay by Kellie Coates Gilbert

Sometimes the thing that keeps us from making the wrong choice is the one thing we can't control

As an investigative reporter and the host of her own TV talk show, Faith Marin works to expose the truth for her viewers. But in her personal life, she's anchored her world with firm boundaries in order to hide a family history she'd like to forget. By contrast, her husband Geary's life is an open book. An easygoing pro bass fisherman, Geary is the ultimate family man--and his overbearing relatives don't know the meaning of boundaries.

Faith and Geary haven't been married long when their differences start to derail their tender relationship. Surely love shouldn't be this hard. While Faith considers whether divorce is the only answer to
their issues, tragedy strikes. With her life in the balance, she finds that the one she has been shutting out may be the very one she cannot bear to  lose.

Kellie Coates Gilbert takes you on an emotional roller coaster as she weaves together unexpected trial, self-discovery, and forgiveness in this profoundly honest portrait of the tensions that can break a marriage--and the  ultimate healing power of love.

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About the Author:

Kellie Coates Gilbert is a former legal investigator and trial paralegal, and the author of A Woman of Fortune and Where Rivers Part. Gilbert crafts her emotionally charged stories about women in life-changing circumstances in Dallas, Texas, where she lives with her husband.

Learn more at www.kelliecoatesgilbert.com.

I received this book from Revell Blogger program in exchange for my honest opinion.

My Thoughts:

Hmmm... Where to begin...

When I received this book I guess I had something totally different in mind. It was really nothing like I expected, and yet, it was very good and I didn't really want to put it down. Although, I read many different genre, I am mostly a mystery reader, suspense, and a little bit of romance, not too mushy, of course. I especially enjoy story lines that portray real relationships. Well, this book fits in the "real relationship" category, I guess. 

It starts off with Faith, at television show host/ news anchor, being called to do a piece on the senator. Just as she arrives and gets set up, tragedy strikes. From there most of the book is written in retrospect. Basically, Faith is remembering how she arrived to this point in her life. Her marriage is quite rocky at the moment; she is very successful at her career, but success has also come with a price. 

The story retrospectively unfolds her life, her rising in the ranks to morning show host of Faith on Air, as well as, how she met and finally married Geary (and his over bearing family). And trust me, it truly felt as if she was married to his family. 

Here are some things that caught my attention:

The simple truth that opposites attract. When you read this book, it is both sobering and humorous. Faith comes from a broken home, a background she would love to forget, and at best, has stuffed it in the past. Geary comes from a loving family, too loving it seems at times. He is bound to his family with an unbreakable bond. Faith is somewhat uptight, classy, goal- prioritizing gal. Geary is a laid back, pro-bass fisherman, who holds possessions lightly, but values time, family, and faith - not necessarily in that order. 

Things are not always what they seem. At first they hit it off well, she overlooking his faimly's strange ways; he is overlooking her career oriented goals and dreams. Until... the honeymoon is over. Then alas... reality sets in, as well as, many disagreements and struggles, magnified by outside people who seem to know no boundaries.

There is always hope. Once tragedy hits home, they each have to look at things differently, because life will never be the same. The question is, can they heal and save their marriage and family, or will they become just another statistic?

Kellie took me on a journey, not just into Faith's life, but my own also. She gives some serious food for thought. While there is much lightheartedness to break up the tension, there is also some very emotional issues going on behind the scenes. Many not-so-different from what I have experienced myself. Maybe that, in itself, kept me reading. But there is also the fact, that Kellie is a very good author. This by the way, is the first opportunity I have had to read one of her books. But it certainly won't be the last. 

Both Faith and Geary have ideas, dreams, and goals they need to work through and re-prioritize. In some ways, I felt like Faith seemed to be portrayed in a somewhat negative light, always being picky about things, going against the grain, a bit selfish, goal oriented, etc... (maybe it just hit too close to home - smiley); and Geary, came across portrayed more of a hero (the family man, taking things lightly - when at times, he could have been more considerate). Personally, I related to them as two different people, from different backgrounds, coming together, both with ideals for marriage, hopes and dreams for their lives, only to discover - this was way different than they expected, unfamiliar territory. Each needed to hold loosely, give a little, forgive, love, and communicate better. They needed to find ways to accept each other, support each others dreams, and yet make new dreams together. Difficult - yes, impossible - no!  So run out and get yourself a copy, because this book is worth the read!

Thank you Revell for blessing me with this book!

Have you every struggled with differences in your marriage, because of family background, habits, or other issues? 

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