Book Review: Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix



I recently finished reading Of Stillness and Storm by Michèle Phoenix. It is a gripping story about a family who leaves everything normal behind to answer the call of being missionaries. The stress and tension slowly eats away at who Lauren is, while her husband, Sam, remains unwavering in his commitment to the Nepali people. She's lost the comforts of home, but seeing her son as a shell of himself is her greatest regret. 

To add to the suspense, a long lost friend comes back into her life. I kept wanting to turn the page to see what would happen next. Aidan's no-nonsense approach to life was refreshing and relatable.
The beginning was a little slow for me, but as I kept reading, Michelle Phoenix did a masterful job with the dialogue. It was heart-wrenching at times and profoundly insightful at just the right moments.  I also loved that Lauren and Sam weren't afraid of having the hard conversations...the nitty gritty of what was really bothering both of them. They both responded in different ways, but it was interesting to see how each conversation ebbed and flowed between them.

I wish Sam hadn't been so blinded by his ambitions that he failed to see how badly his wife and son were hurting. I didn't expect it to end the way it did.

I would recommend this book to anyone, even if you are not a missionary. It's not super religious, rather it offers a human perspective on life and how people choose to live out their faith. It is a beautiful book about love and loss. It's also a reminder that everyone needs friends. You can't go through life's valleys without someone to lean on.

** This book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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