About the book:Onstage, the singing duo of Gabe and Mitzi Steiner captured America's heart for more than two decades. Offstage, their own hearts have throbbed as one for sixty years. Only now, Gabe has retreated into the tangles of Alzheimer's, leaving Mitzi to ponder her future alone.
On the other side of Tulsa, everyone believes Brooke Woodson has found the perfect man--a handsome lawyer with sights on becoming Tulsa's next District Attorney. If only Brooke felt more sure. If only her fiancé could control his anger. If only love didn't come with so many scars.
When an accident lands Brooke in the hospital where Mitzi volunteers, the two women quickly develop an unlikely friendship birthed by providence and bathed in grace. And with Mitzi's help, kindness, and insight, Brooke learns how to pick up the broken pieces of her life.
My review:
I had no idea what this book was about when I picked it up, but I was pulled into the story through the opening scene, and once I got started I wanted to keep reading through to the end. Having worked with many women involved in domestic violence over the years, I can attest to how believably written the characters were in this novel. A lot of the details reminded me of former situations I'd seen with DV victims. Add to that the precious story line about the husband with Alzheimer's and it became a beautiful love story on one end, and a redemption story on the other.
Mitzi was a precious friend and mentor as she stuck by Brooke and provided just enough support to inspire her to get out of the dangerous situation. It didn't surprise me that people didn't believe her at first, because abusive men work hard on convincing outsiders that they would never hurt the person they loved. The fact that Lance's father abused his mother and the father abused him as well is all too common of a theme in DV cases. I used to tell young girls that I worked with never to marry a man who hates his mother. That's the perfect recipe for abuse right there. And unless the man gets therapy, it's just a matter of time before the ugliness is unleashed. And God bless Drew who saw the beauty in Brooke and believed in her spirit. He was a true hero indeed.
I really enjoyed this book and can see it being used as a tool to help people understand the cycle of violence and how victims see things in a distorted way until they get help. Broken Wings is a great story and very well written. I found it realistically inspiring and not depressing despite the subject matter. I highly recommend it.
Broken Wings was published by Faith Words and released in June 2011.
2 comments:
I've got a copy of this book! Haven't read it yet! Putting it on my list after your review! Thanks!
Thank you, Michelle. I really appreciate your thoughts on Brooke and Lance's part of the story. When treading unfamiliar waters, you hope you get it right. And Mitzi - she was such a dear - I want to be like her when I grow up. Thank you so much for the review. Hugs, Michelle!
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