Reviewing THE BAKER'S WIFE

The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy
I was particularly drawn to choose this book for review because I am a "pastor's wife" and this story promised to reveal some of the struggles within the ministry that most people do not know about. The consequences of sin, pre-judgements, forgiveness, life.  The "baker's wife" is a former pastor's wife.  By that, I mean, her husband was a pastor and was asked to leave the ministry.
   The story goes on to show the difference between "pastor prayers" and personal prayers spoken with 'love and intimacy' between a husband and wife.  As I got further into the story, I was drawn to the scripture found in Proverbs 18:17 that 'sets a matter straight' ... it is necessary in reading as well as in life, that we hear a matter through, that we get all the facts from both sides, before we make a judgement.  If not, if you only read a portion, you may be misled and misdirected.  Subjects such as abortion, infidelity, murder, depression, insanity, fanaticism are all involved in the story, but not 'the' story.  
   Time and time again during the reading, I came to 'wrong conclusions' and was reminded that in life, that could also happen, if judgements are made too quickly.  I was making 'bookmarks' to recall specifically things that were said, and comparing them to what was now happening in the story. When good things happen to bad people or bad things happen to good people, do we question God?  Are we easily or too quickly ready to call someone a hypocrite?  
   The reader will also be amazed at the methods used to bake the special breads and rolls. The author does a fine job of describing a friendly neighborhood bakery that you would be drawn to. She makes the reader aware of the consequences of our sin and our judgements. She makes the statement "sometimes mercy is the best weapon against evil" and  I am left with the thought that God does bring everything together in His time when we let Him. 
   My biggest concern with this book is that people may think "all" ministers/wives/families and other individuals in the Christian Faith, believe and are like the individuals pictured in this story. While some perhaps are, I felt a seperation should have been made. I was concerned mostly with the description of the "baker's wife" as she attempts to locate the missing person in the story; [the most disturbing was when she took a prescription pill prescribed for the missing person to 'draw her closer' which I believe is a dangerous thing to promote] for that reason, I would hesitate to recommend this book.  
   

I received this eBook free from BookSneeze for review.