Review (Christian Fiction): Desert Gift (Side Roads, Book 2) by Sally John

Desert Gift (Side Roads, Book 2)

by Sally John

Copyright 2011

Tyndale House Publishers

400 pages

ISBN: 978-1-4143-2786-0

Fiction/General

From the publisher:

What does a nationally known marriage expert do when her own marriage falls apart? Just as Jillian Galloway sets out for a publicity tour to promote her new book, her husband drops a bombshell: He wants a divorce. Jill flees to her parents’ home in the California desert, wondering whether everything she’s built her career on—indeed, everything she’s built her life around—is a sham. Navigating this “side road” of life is an uphill climb that leads to new understandings about herself, her marriage, and her relationship with the One who created marriage.

My Review:

I enjoy a lot of fiction and while my favorites are romances I do enjoy the stories that take place after the happily ever after as well. With last year's release, Ransomed Dreams, Sally John earned her place on my must read authors list. The continuation of her Side Roads series features yet another couple whose marriage is in crisis. While not as dramatic as the Montgomery's story, Jillian and Jackson Galloway's marriage is falling to pieces too. Jillian, a renowned marriage expert doesn't see the bombshell that her husband drops coming in the least. Just when she's about to head out on tour, her world, her career and her marriage are at stake.

Jill is a terrific character, while she appears confident and poised she's almost reached her breaking point with the news that her husband wants a divorce and her son has surprised her with an engagement announcement. To get away and give Jackson the space he wants she visits her family in the California desert. Jill's desert visit was my favorite part of this book. Her reconciliation with her family, the appearance of an old flame and some new and unexpected friends definitely make things interesting.

I did have an issue with how Jill dealt with the death of of someone she had grown to care for and the lack of actual communication between Jack and Jill but other than that I found this to be a realistic and believable book. The author doesn't shy away from issues such as jealousy, communication and trust, things that everyone faces at one point or another in their lives. I think this a book any couple could read together and potentially learn from.

To learn more about the author visit:

Her WEBSITE

My review of Ransomed Dreams (Side Roads, Book 1)

* I received my complimentary ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for posting my honest review.*