Jennifer Slattery's Intertwined ~ Reviewed

Intertwined
Jennifer Slattery
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: New Hope Publishers (October 5, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1596694432

Description:

Abandoned by her husband for another woman, Tammy Kuhn, an organ procurement coordinator often finds herself in tense and bitter moments. After an altercation with a doctor, she is fighting to keep her job and her sanity when one late night she encounters her old flame Nick. She walks right into his moment of facing an unthinkable tragedy. Because they both have learned to find eternal purposes in every event and encounter, it doesn't take long to discover that their lives are intertwined but the ICU is no place for romance....or is it? Could this be where life begins again? 

Intertwined, part of New Hope Publisher's contemporary fiction line, is a great reminder of how God can turn our greatest tragedies and failures into beautiful acts of love and grace. Readers will fall in love with the realistic characters and enjoy the combination of depth, heart-felt emotion and humor that makes Jennifer's novels so appealing. Readers will be inspired to find God in every moment and encounter in their own lives!

This book is a great resource for a book club, discussion group in women’s Bible studies, or as a ministry resource to spark conversation about practical ministry needs.

Review: 

Jennifer Slattery writes about difficult subjects. Most of them are topics that aren't faced often in mainstream polite church societies. But if we are honest with ourselves we all know someone near and dear who's been impacted by divorce, addiction, mental illness and even homelessness. Two Christian women I know have gotten divorced or are in the midst of one in this past year alone. They each have families and friends who are devastated for them. One of them has three grown children who are gutted by the fracture of their family. Each of these women is struggling for different and compelling reasons. The choices and sins of others can send waves into our lives that spill out into the lives of those we interact with and our responses can become ugly sin more often than godly communication. 

Slattery writes about these difficult issues and brings the reader to uncomfortable places. She does her research and homework and has tackled another controversial and difficult topic, organ donation in Intertwined. Clearly, this is not a light read nor is it your traditional light and fluffy romance.   

Honestly, I struggled with her main character, Tammy. As the story developed Tammy became more palatable to me, but her bitterness was off-putting. I also had issues with her extended support system that was  made up of meddlers and manipulators. Nick had some really challenging issues and relationships as well. As I said this novel is not light and fluffy. But the value in a dose of reality can be life-changing for those who need to hear that reality.