A MAZE OF GRACE- Giveaway
From the Publisher: In her first book, Trish Ryan chronicled the ways in which finding faith lead her to the happily-ever-after ending that had eluded her for so long. Only it wasn’t an ending. It was a beginning.
In A MAZE OF GRACE, Ryan picks up where she left off, sharing the early years of her marriage, and the challenges that both shaped and startled her: temptations regarding fidelity, the anxiety of shifting body image, the awkward nature of following Jesus in a decidedly secular family and city, and struggles (depression, trying to conceive) that made her wonder if God had lost her file.
With appealing candor, Ryan sweeps the reader into her life and ponders questions and issues that we all face, dropping nuggets of wisdom along the way that are sure to inspire, encourage and help readers from all walks of life.
About the Author: Trish Ryan lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Visit her online at trishryanonline.blogspot.com and trishryanonline.com.
*Please scroll down to the bottom of this post for the Reading Group Guide.*
The Giveaway:
Thanks to Valerie and Hachette
I have 3 copies to give away.
Here are the Rules:
-No P.O. Boxes, please.
-Giveaway copies will be sent directly from Hachette
-Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule,
which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests,
you will receive only one copy of the title
(or one set in the case of grouped giveaways) in the mail.
A Maze of Grace: A Memoir of Second Chances
By Trish Ryan
Reading Group Guide
1.) In A Maze of Grace, Trish discusses how her “Happily Ever After” played out differently than she expected, sometimes in good, bad, or surprising ways. Are you living your “Happily Ever After”? What does it look like for you?
2.) In the introduction, Trish says that one of the best parts of her faith is that it allows do-overs. What is your experience with second chances?
3.) Trish was excited to share the mundane aspects of marriage with her new husband: clogged sinks & burnt meatloaf. What do (or did) you envision marriage to be like?
4.) “GIRL—you’ve got to give that man some SEX!” was the best advice Trish and Steve received in their newlywed year. What’s your reaction to this advice?
5.) A situation with an attractive female coworker at Steve’s work caused Trish concern. Do you agree with her caution?
6.) Trish describes a point in her marriage where it felt as if she and Steve had become “more like casual roommates than lovers.” Have you felt this way in a relationship? Is it inevitable, or something to push back against?
7.) Trish’s friends Helena and Jasper shared how their marriage was damaged by an affair. After months of prayer and healing, they made it through to a wonderful restoration of their family. Have you ever been betrayed? Do you believe restoration is possible?
8.) Trish’s inability to get pregnant raised questions about whether God really listened or cared about her. Have you had a situation where you felt hopeless and abandoned by God? How did you handle it? What gave you hope?
9.) In moments of frustration and doubt in life, do you look for answers in a specific place, as Trish looked for them in books? What do you find?
10.) Trish describes ‘Acedia’ as the evil spirit akin to depression that assaulted her during dark times in her life. Have you experienced similar dark times? How did you handle them?
11.) Trish is surprised to find herself agreeing with Lori Gottlieb’s rally cry that women stop being so picky and “Marry That Man”…But with a caveat. What are your criteria for choosing a mate? How realistic are they? Does faith play a role?
12.) As Trish faced hard realities amidst her ‘Happily Ever After’, she saw ‘glimpses of
grace’. Do you get glimpses of grace in your life? She says that even in hard times, God’s voice can be heard, and hope can be found. Do you agree? Why or why not?
13.) In the beginning of her book Trish asks to be encouraged by her story. What were your thoughts as you finished the book?
14.) At the end of her book, Trish shares four words she heard at a friend’s wedding: Prayer Works. Love wins. What strikes you about this perspective
I think it's good for each of us to take time now and then to look back at the path we've been on. It's amazing to see where God had his hand on my life when I thought I was all alone. I love that the author talks about do-overs…my favorite button on the computer!
Vanessa
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Thanks for this giveaway!
Well, my favorite wisdom quote is :
You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.
– Naguib Mahfouz
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Life is a constant changing of circumstances, none of us know will happen ahead of time. Thus, this book sounds interesting.
My piece of wisdom I heard from a marriage video:
It's easy to fall in love, but it takes work to stay in love.
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I became a GFC follower.
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A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. To me, this piece of wisdom goes against always wanting more and makes us appreciate or be thankful for what we have.
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Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
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People in glass houses should not throw stones.
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I follow on GFC – Maureen
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I subscribed to Mom's Audience.
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http://libslibrary.blogspot.com/2010/10/maze-of-grace-giveaway.html See above for 'Maze of Grace' giveaway
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Thank you
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I liked this blog on FB. My FB name is Carol Naomi Wong.
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A bit of wisdom would be to: Think before you speak.
Thanks for entering me into this giveaway!
unforgetable_dreamer_always (at) hotmail.com
Ma
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Don't sweat the small stuff.
My bit of wisdom is live love and laugh often.
stanleybilly(at)bellsouth(dot)net
My bit of wisdom for today is cherish your children when they are young because they become teenagers in the blink of an eye!
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My piece of wisdom comes from Maya Angelou
"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
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Bridges freeze before roads.
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life is a wild ride so hang on my insperational quate for life [email protected]
Honor your parents. They deserve it. We can learn so much from our parents and grandparents if we only listen to them. [email protected]
You can't change the past, only the present so live in the present!
I tell my children treat people as you would want to be treated
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would love to read this book.it sounds real good.i love to read so i go through lots of books.