Book Review & Giveaway ~ Still Life in Shadows by Alice J. Wisler @AliceWisler




Alice J. Wisler
Fiction/General

Back of the book:

To be accepted, to find home, to belong.

Fifteen years ago Gideon Miller ran away from an Amish life that seemed perfect. But it held a childhood secret he could not leave behind.

Gideon, now an auto mechanic in Twin Branches, North Carolina, helps Amish youth relocate to modern society, earning him the nickname the “Getaway Savior.” When Kiki, an autistic teen enters his shop wanting a job, Gideon struggles to accept her although he’s infatuated with her sister Mari. Furthermore, a surprise visit from his younger brother Moriah forces Gideon to realize that his need for God’s forgiveness is far greater than he anticipated.



About the author:

Born and raised in Japan, I love sushi! I also enjoyed walks to the stationer's store to purchase notebooks, scented erasers and pencils when I was in elementary school. With each purchase, I was sure I was going to write a bestseller!

Now I write, blog, and enjoy crafting fun characters in Durham, NC. All of my novels are set in some part of my state. Rain Song (Christy Finalist 2009) takes place in the little town of Mount Olive, home to Mount Olive Pickles and strong family ties. How Sweet It Is, also a Christy Finalist in 2010, takes places in the Smoky Mountains. 


Hatteras Girl made her debut October 2010. Of course, it is set in the lovely Outer Banks. A Wedding Invitation has flashbacks of settings in a refugee camp in the Philippines and also has scenes in Winston-Salem, NC. It arrived in October 2011. For me, this novel represents the need we all have to belong and be accepted; just like my Amerasian character feels. Still Life in Shadows, my fifth novel, and takes place in a small mountain town I created called Twin Branches. This is also a story of belonging as Gideon Miller helps dissatisfied Amish youth relocate and find their places in modern society.

In addition to speaking at conferences and retreats across the country, I teach online grief-writing classes---Writing the Heartache---and design and sell remembrance cards. Since my four-year-old son Daniel's death in 1997, I've written articles on coping with grief. Many of these can be read at the Open to Hope website at www.opentohope.com. Be sure to visit my website at www.alicewisler.com and my blog: www.alicewisler.blogspot.com also on Facebook and Twitter @AliceWisler.

My thoughts:

After watching the TV series, Amish: Out of Order, Alice Wisler was compelled to write this riveting story about Gideon Miller. Gideon came from an Amish family with an abusive father.

At the age of fifteen he makes his escape. Gideon finds his way to Twin Branches where he is taken under the wing of Ormond Russell. The story begins fifteen years later, where Gideon is now in charge of the auto repair shop that Ormond owns.

In the opening pages of the novel we meet Kiki, an autistic teenager trying her best to fit in with her peers. Kiki lives with her sister Mari because their mother can no longer care for Kiki. Kiki and Mari’s lives intertwine with Gideon’s after Kiki “accidentally” tears up a recently completed project of Gideon’s.

From the outset it just seems like all the problems in their lives are just too much to believe. But, isn’t that how real life is? Don’t we all harbor some form of resentment and disappointment? For most of us life hasn’t turned out the way we had planned. Ms. Wisler has lived through some very tough times in her life and the depth of emotion that those times brought forth show in her writing. She is very talented at shining the love of God in the most desperate and impossible situations.

“Still Life in Shadows” will take you on a journey that you won’t soon forget. It is about so much more than ex-Amish, autism or even hoarding…it’s about redemption and forgiveness and the healing that is brought about by it.

Giveaway:

One reader will win a Copy of Still Life in Shadows by Alice J. Wisler. Open to US & CA 18+. Giveaway will end on 10/01/2012 at 12:01 am EST. Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to be entered!


“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it
on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally
and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance
With the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway


14 comments:

  1. I would like to win this for my friend Stephanie! We love to share books and I already bought it for myself, so I'd love to share with her. Or my church library (my dh is the pastor). I love to give books to them to read.

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  2. I would like to win this for myself and then pass it on to a good friend
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  3. I would love to win this book.I have been wanting to read it.Thanks

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  4. sounds like a great book.....I lived at Holden Beach NC for 15 years and will have to check out her books about the lovely NC!!!
    Rhonda

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  5. I would love to win this book. It has been on my wish list since it came out. When I'm done reading it, I will let my sister-in-law read it.

    Karen

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  6. I would love to win this book. I love reading everything I can about the Amish.
    Juanita Cook
    seraphinangel7@aol.com

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  7. Sounds like an intriguing book. Please enter my name

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  8. I would love to win this for several reasons:
    1) I love Alice J. Wisler
    2) I love her boxer, Levi!
    3) I have been fascinated with the Amish community since I was a young girl
    Thanks for the opportunity!

    Andrea
    andrealschultz at gmail dot com
    http://www.mythirtyone.com/andreaschultz

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  9. I would love to win this book giveaway because since I was young I have been fascinated with the Amish, as well as those who choose leave their communities. Am always interested in discovering a new author, especially one who is writing about a corner of the world I called my own for a while (NC).

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  10. sounds like a fantastic book to read, thanks

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  11. i would win this for myself

    cb_shorty2003@yahoo.com

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  12. Please Enter Me In Your Book Giveaway.
    It Would Be Great To Win A Copy Of
    Still Life in Shadows by Alice J. Wisler.
    In Response To Your Question Of Who would you like to win this for?
    I Would Like To Win This For Myself Because It Looks Like
    It Might Be Very Interesting To Read.
    Thank You For Having This Giveaway!!!!!

    ReplyDelete

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