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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What Kinds of Dreams Are Key?

by Chautona Havig · 5 Comments

Just what is "The Key to Dreaming Again" and what kinds of dreams are key in the life of a Christian? Rick Unruh explores these in his new book! via @chautonahavig

The plane took off for Springfield at 8:00 sharp. Seated behind two families with babies and toddlers, the screeching began before we’d made it off the tarmac. I’ve got nine kids.  I get it.

Still, with that kind of noise, I couldn’t write.  I was also headed to my mom’s house for an indeterminate length of time. How busy I’d be… I didn’t know.

What else was there to do but try to get ahead on future book reviews.  My paperback was in my checked luggage, so I went for the next ebook on the list. Self-Surrender: The Key to Dreaming Again.

Self-help and Christian living books are some of my favorites, so I expected to enjoy at least some aspect of it. So, with a can of Coke in one hand and my laptop turned into a tablet in the other, I began.

At about twenty percent into the book, two things happened.  First, the author wound up in Springfield himself.  Second, I found out this wasn’t a “self-help/Christian living” book after all.  By the end of the book, I just hoped I’d have an idea of what it was about. I wanted to know:

The Key to Dreaming Again Review

Note: links are affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

What Kinds of Dreams Are Key?

One thing The Key to Dreaming Again does and does well is that it points the reader to the only One who can make our dreams what they should be and then make them come true. A verse that fits well is Psalm 37:4.

Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Readers looking for a “how-to” guide to evaluating one’s dreams and aligning them with the Word will be disappointed. This isn’t that book. I’m not sure why the book is listed as “Nonfiction Inspirational.”  It’s a memoir.

Sure, Rick Unruh has a point to his memories and the stories he tells, but from page one through to the last, it’s a story—of his life, those he loves, and the lessons he and they learned from the Lord as they navigated it all.

While well-written and interesting on the one hand, I wouldn’t have purchased it had it been put in the memoir category, and had I not been given a free ARC to review, I would have requested a refund. It’s just not what the title and the category portray it to be.

I am assuming that my ARC was an uncorrected proof. There were a (very) few typos that I assume will be corrected in the final printing.

Recommended for people who enjoy memoirs and stories of what the Lord does in His peoples’ lives. Trigger warning: there’s a lot of death in this book—including child loss.

And what kind of dreams are key?  Those that the Lord holds the key to, of course.

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Comments

  1. Melissa Wenger says

    September 26, 2019 at 3:55 am

    Sounds like a book I should read!

    Reply
  2. Amelia says

    September 24, 2019 at 4:37 pm

    Thank you for the review!

    Reply
  3. Rita Wray says

    September 24, 2019 at 1:09 pm

    Sounds like a good book.

    Reply
  4. Debbie P says

    September 24, 2019 at 1:00 pm

    This book sounds like a fascinating read.

    Reply
  5. Linda Palmer says

    September 24, 2019 at 8:43 am

    This story sounds very good. I thought I’d heard of this author’s name since I live in KS.

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 448: A Chat with Nancy Naigle
byChautona Havig

 I fell in love with Nancy’s writing with The Shell Collector. Imagine my joy when I discovered she has a SEQUEL! Eeep! Listen in and discover which characters you’ll find in To Light the Way Forward and what’s coming next for one of America’s favorite authors!

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

It’s been three years since Nancy and I had a chance to talk, and in that time, she’s been BUSY.  So in addition to falling in love with her character, Tug, and wanting to give him his own story, she’s written a small-town duet (and maybe we talked her into a third?) as well as a romcom duo!  Think we can talk her into a third of that series as well?  Because… SPOILER ALERT… we’re getting a third Shell Collector Series book, too! EEEP!

To Light the Way Forward by Nancy Naigle

A novel of overcoming deep loss, taking risks, and learning that life—and love—often surprises you when you least expect it, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Shell Collector. “Bringing to life characters you can’t help but fall in love with, Nancy Naigle goes straight to the heart with this story of tragedy turned to triumph. A poignant reminder to never give up hope.”—Sheila Roberts, author of The Best Life Book Club Feeling adrift after the loss of her husband, Rosemary sets out to visit an old friend on Whelk’s Island, undeterred by the threat of a hurricane. Before the storm hits, she finds herself at Tug’s Diner where she quickly connects with the owner, Tug. But the storm destroys the diner, compounding Tug’s grief from losing his love the previous year. The longer Rosemary stays, the more she sees Tug’s deep sadness and resolves to help him. Together with Tug and friends Amanda and Paul, they all pitch in to help the close-knit community recover and rebuild. As Amanda and Paul reconnect after losing touch during the storm, their plans to take things slow seem increasingly impractical. While Rosemary and Tug help the young couple navigate their relationship, they also find themselves building a friendship that begins to restore them both. But can that friendship convince them that love is possible for anyone who’s willing to take a risk—even those who never hoped they’d find it again?

Learn more about Nancy on her WEBSITEand follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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Episode 448: A Chat with Nancy Naigle
Episode 448: A Chat with Nancy Naigle
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