Review: Divine Appointments

Divine Appointments by Charlene Ann Baumbich

Publication Date: November 2010
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Genre: Christian Fiction
ISBN-13: 9781602859036
ISBN: 1602859035

(Received for review from Waterbrook Multnomah)

Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Borders, Christianbook.com, IndieBound

If you live in Morehead, KY or the surrounding area:

Purchase from our local independent bookseller: CoffeeTree Books
Borrow from our local library: The Rowan County Public Library

Charlene Baumbich on the Web: Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter

Excerpt from Divine Appointments
Synopsis (Book Blurb):

With the big 5-0 fast approaching, Josie Brooks begins to question her structured picture-perfect (mid) life.

Josie Brooks, at the age of forty-seven, thought she was leading an enviable single life. A successful consultant, she calls her own shots, goes where the money is, and never needs to compromise. But her precisely managed world begins to falter during a Chicago contract when an economic downturn, a bleeding-heart boss, and the loyalty and kindness between endangered employees ding her coat of armor.

Throw in hot flashes, a dose of loneliness, a peculiar longing for intimacy, an unquenchable thirst - not to mention a mysterious snowglobe with a serene landscape, complete with a flowing river and lush greenery that seems to beckon her in - and Josie's buttoned-up life is on the verge of coming completely undone. Maybe her solitary existence isn't as fulfilling as she has convinced herself to believe.

It will take a few new friends, a mystical encounter and an unexpected journey to set Josie on her own path to "right-sizing" and making the life changes that really matter. Filled with laugh-out-loud moments and a gentle dash of inspiration, Divine Appointments is another heartwarming charmer from a master storyteller.

Thoughts:

Charlene Baumbich is a well known author and speaker, giving her readers books that are heartwarming, humorous, and that have a great message. Divine Appointments is just such a book. Baumbich uses her unique point of view, melding both a Christian viewpoint and a little magic to create a great story that readers will love.

Josie's life is just the way she wants it. She has a great job, she's happy in her single life and it doesn't seem as if it could get much better. But things are about to change. Josie is turning the big 5-0! The life that she thought was so fulfilling is suddenly lacking. Josie needs a change in several areas of her life. But is that possible at her age? Can she re-invent herself? And find out how to make the changes that really matter in her life? With a new crop of friends and very special snowglobe, Josie starts on a journey to rediscover herself, to remake herself to find what's missing...

This is such a great book. Baumbich gives the reader not only a heartwarming tale about a woman who finds everything she's looking for, even though she didn't know she was searching for it, but also a book with strong characters and a great message. Josie is such a refreshing character. She's very relatable and readers will love her sense of humor and her great outlook on life. How many women have stood where Josie stood, not knowing what was next and just stood there. Josie took that first step and changed her life. I loved that great spirit she had about her. She was just a great character.

Baumbich was able to give the reader a real sense of who Josie was and what she wanted out of life. She was able to convey that Josie had sort of hood-winked herself into believing that her life was perfect, when she was missing some very important pieces. Josie's journey really resonated with me. It seemed as if she learned so much about herself from the beginning of the book to the end. The author's character development was just wonderful. I felt like I knew this character, like she was a neighbor or a woman I'd met at church or something.

Baumbich's style has a lot of simplicity that just carries the book in a very relaxed way. It gives the story a lot of clarity and helps the reader really get to the point of what's going on. They aren't left wondering half way through the book, how they got to that point. Every event in a story has a purpose. It doesn't seem to be filled with fluff or stuff that doesn't really advance the plot. This book is very inspiring. I felt like it really opened my eyes to what my life could be like if I took that first step...

I would recommend this one to readers who enjoy a book with a great story and a deeper meaning. Christian Fiction lovers will really enjoy this one as will women who love strong character driven books.

Divine Appointments is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!