The Healing Sands by Nancy Rue and Stephen Afterburn

The Healing Sands by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn is an intriguing novel. I found the progression of characters and their identities hard to follow in the beginning. It took time to learn how the Healing Sands title was appropriate. The underlying message of surrendering our paths and emotions to God was great but it was unclear how to accomplish this. I found the main characters of Dr. Sully Crisp and Ryan very unique and down to earth in each of their own personal struggles with life.

This novel certainly shows the impact anger can have on one's life and the lives of others involved and the importance of getting anger under control. Once I got into the novel and began to understand the roles each character's life played in Ryan's life, I was reading until after midnight as I was anxious to learn the outcome of Ryan's and Sully's lives as well as Ryan's ex and her children. The book clearly showed how counselors might be necessary; yet the importance of selecting a highly qualified counselor as Dr. Sully Crisp, himself a counselor, learned in his own personal life.

This book would be an excellent aid in mending relationships within a family, in making new friends, and in adjusting to their various quirks and in understanding the role these friends can play in one's life. Ryan and Dan's son Jake learned the danger of taking the blame for another's misdeeds. The Reading Group Guide at the book's end would be very helpful in sharing the book with others in a group setting. I'll be passing this book on to others and appreciate the opportunity to review it.