it’s NOT about ME

A Second Glances Novel (#1)

by Michelle Sutton Annie is beautiful and the dream daughter. Her life is full of love and laughter until she’s nearly killed in a random act of evil. As two young men vie for her love, she must decide what to do with them, her own yearnings, and Jesus.

As I read this book, I connected with Annie in ways I never considered possible. I’m fifty years old and this book is written for mature teens and young adults. What could it hold for a woman my age? I was a teenager who thought she knew Jesus only to discover I didn’t – I knew about Him. I struggled with the same passionate issues Annie does – the kind of push-me pull-you attraction that takes over your life; mind, body, and soul.

It’s easy to grow older and forget the constant tension younger women battle – the one we assume nice Christian girls don’t fight every day they wake up. Surely, if they have Jesus, they won’t give in. Surely.

Really? Can we as the mature adults who love them assume this? If we do aren’t we leaving them stranded on the front lines of the battle alone?

Author Michelle Sutton writes with courage not often found in the Christian fiction market. Her characters say and do things real kids experience. Church kids. Kids who love Jesus with all their hearts. Kids seeking to know Jesus. Kids who just want to love and be loved. The kids you and I love.

Sutton doesn’t make the struggle easy because it’s not. Remember wanting to be kissed, touched, and ultimately loved? To belong to the right guy who was certain you were the woman for him? The desire that was more like a drive…the passion that consumed your thoughts and the thoughts that nearly drove you to distraction?

The daughters, granddaughters, nieces, and daughter of friends in our lives are feeling those same ancient longings.  This author writes about them without leaving the reader guilt-ridden and without hope. Instead she makes the way clear although never easy.

I applaud Michelle Sutton’s writing talent and her bold declarations of faith. I took to heart her reminder that young women are fighting for their purity every day and some are losing the war waged on them by the media and nonchalant Christians who want to hide from the reality that intimacy is something to be guarded and kept precious…but that’s it’s also one of the hardest promises to keep.

Michelle speaks the truth in love and grace. Her writing is both tasteful and heart-wrenchingly honest.

I want the girls I love to read this book and realize they can be pressured by good boys driven by their own internal urgings. I want those same girls to take another look at their own acts of enticement. And finally, I want those young women to know that hearts surrendered to Jesus are stronger –and so are the bodies connected to them. It’s not so much about more rules to keep kids safe from early sexual encounters as it is about showing them to the One who will empower them to make right decisions.

Michelle Sutton leaves readers impacted. While others call her edgy I found myself cheering her on as my favorite new reality author. She writes about faith, love, and life like it is. I found the story fresh and lacking the usual Christian clichés. My heart gives her an enthusiastic standing ovation for tackling these issues in such a fearless way. I trust this author with the hearts of the young women I love.

This is a power-filled story and I am looking forward to it’s Not About Him the next book in her A Second Glances series. .

 

 

 

 

Michelle is member of ACFW, Volunteer Officer on the ACFW Operating Board, Editor-in-chief for Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Sheaf House Marketing Director, edgy fiction writer, book reviewer, avid blogger/alliance member, CWOW blog mistress, mother of two teenagers, wife, pet owner, social worker by trade, and follower of Jesus Christ. Michelle and her husband of eighteen years live with their two boys in Arizona.

Michelle Sutton (pen name)
The Edgy Inspirational Author
ACFW Volunteer Officer voloff@acfw.com  
http://edgychristianfictionlovers.ning.com
http://www.michellesutton.net
http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com 
http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com