Thursday, February 21, 2019

Celebrate Lit Presents: Leaving Darkness by Greg Schaffer

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Godly Book Reviews, February 16
Bukwurmzzz, February 18
Power of Words, February 19 (Spotlight)
Maureen’s Musings, February 21
Bibliophile Reviews, February 23
Janices book reviews, February 24
Carpe Diem, February 25
Texas Book-aholic, February 26
Just the Write Escape, February 28
Bigreadersite, March 1
Artistic Nobody, March 1 (Spotlight)

About the Book

leaving darkness coverTitle: Leaving Darkness
Author: Greg Schaffer
Genre: Christian Fiction
Release date: October 31, 2018
Long-haul truck driver Lowell Ferguson is on the brink of suicide. He is haunted by the guilt of a horrible secret from his senior year of high school. Therapy and antidepressants aren’t able to lift him out of depression. At twenty-eight years old, he believes his life has dissolved into a meaningless annoyance. Only the strong bond with his lone friend—a Chihuahua named Rufus—keeps him from choosing death. But when Lowell learns Rufus may have cancer, he fears there will be no reason left to live if his beloved dog dies.
While awaiting the diagnosis, he comes across a flier for a Christian support group promising hope and freedom. A skeptic and an apatheist, he nonetheless reluctantly decides to join the group. Through this joining, he finds what he has been yearning for—a path toward leaving the darkness of depression. This first step provides Lowell the courage to do what he must to escape his guilt and finally confront his past.
Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

greg schafferGreg Schaffer participated in a small Christian-based group ministry in 2011 and became a facilitator with the ministry to help others find their direction toward a purposeful life. His firsthand experiences of lives transformed through such healing groups led him to write Leaving Darkness, hoping the tale of transformation through God’s grace may encourage those lost in their own darkness to reach out for help. The author of two previous novels, Greg lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and three rescue dogs.

Guest Post from Greg

As first a group participant and then a volunteer for Restore Small Groups for many years, I’ve seen firsthand the healing power of small group ministries. Many want to change but don’t know how. Leaving Darkness tells the fictional story of one lost in depression to the point of contemplating suicide who happens upon such a Christian-based ministry. Although he is reluctant at first, he gives the process a chance, and through it leaves his darkness, finds his faith, and becomes the person God meant for him to be. I was called to write this story in hope that someone with similar struggles may read Leaving Darkness and realize that there is a way out of the darkness when everything else has failed.

Giveaway

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link the below to enter.

 
My Review
 
 
 
A book that shows a focus on depression and guilt, and a longing for a past that never was.
We are shown two individuals that grew up together, an accident that changes one and the other goes on with his life like it never happened.
Choice, whether direct or indirect and the affect they have on us, and we see how each handle this with surprising results.
I could see God’s hand in here and how he is accepted and forgiveness, from those injured to oneself, the hardest of all.
I found this one a compelling page turner and was finished in no time, and I loved little Rufus!

I received this book through Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.

8 comments:

  1. I am looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the chance to win.
    faithdcreech at gmail dot com

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  2. Thank you for the review - I thoroughly enjoyed creating and writing about Rufus! :) - Greg

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  3. This sounds like a thought-provoking and worthwhile story.

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  4. I appreciate you taking the time to give us a great book description and giveaway as well. Thank you so much!

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  5. What a wonderful book review! I can’t wait to read this book.

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  6. Great Review 👍 Thanks for Sharing this book and the Giveaway with us on your Blog 😍❤😍

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  7. It sounds like this book covers a very important topic.

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