Blog Tour: Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson with Tricia Goyer

Overwhelmed by wave after wave of emotional trauma, Kristen Anderson no longer wanted to live. One January night, determined to end her pain once and for all, the seventeen-year-old lay across train tracks not far from her home and waited to die.

Instead of peace, she found herself immersed in a whole new nightmare.

Before the engineer could bring the train to a stop, thirty-three freight cars passed over her at fifty-five miles per hour. After the train stopped and Kristen realized she was still alive, she looked around- and saw her legs ten feet away.

Surviving her suicide attempt but losing her legs launched Kristen into an even deeoer battle with depression and suicidal thoughts as well as unrelenting physical pain- all from the seat of a wheelchair.

But in the midst of her darkest days, Kristen discovered the way to real life and a purpose for living.

Life, In Spite of Me recounts in riveting detail the trauma of her suicide attempt, the miracle of her survival, and the life-tansforming power of hope in Christ.

Kristen should never have lived to tell her story. That much is evident from what the paramedic who was at the scene told her and what a train engineer explaining the physics of a train described.

But Kristen has done more than just live. She has fought, excelled, learned, inspired and reached out to others in similar situations- all with the help of God. I am reminded of one of my favorite sayings when I think of all Kristen has accomplished so far.

"You alone can do it, but you can't do it alone"

Kristen's story is an inspirational message of hope to those who suffer from depression and thoughts of suicide. There are people who love you and want to help. You don't have to travel the road alone. 3.5/5 stars

Suicide Warning Signs: (from Kristen's book)

• appearing depressed or sad most of the time
• having no hope for the future
• feeling hopeless, helpless, worthless, or trapped in a situation, and having excessive guilt or shame
• talking or writing about death or suicide
• withdrawing from family or friends
• acting recklessly or impulsively
• a change in personality, sleeping or eating habits
• decreased interest in most activities
• dramatic mood changes
• giving away prized possessions
• writing a will
• poor performance at work or in school
• strong anger or rage
• abuse of drugs or alcohol
• self-harm
• self hate

View the video of Kristen Jane Anderson on Life Today. Or, download the first chapter of her book here.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Blog Tour: Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann

An Inseparable Bond.

An Insatiable Force.

Battling his own personal demons, Police Chief Jonah Westfall has experienced the dark side of life and is committed to eradicating it. When a pair of raccoons are found mutilated in Redford, Colorado, Jonah investigates the gruesome act, seeking to unmask the perpetrator before the crime escalates and destroys the tranquility of his small mountain town. Jonah fights for answers- and his fragile sobriety- amid a rising drug threat and never-ending conflict with Tia Manning, a formidable childhood friend with whom he has more than a passing history.

But he can't penetrate every wound or secret- especially one fueled by love and guilt teetering on madness.

Jonah Westfall's pull to Tia is painful. He has loved this woman he can't have for many lonely years. He can't make himself move on- he really doesn't want to. Tia's loneliness is evident from the very beginning. Shunned from her family and townsfolk, it takes a leap of faith to form a friendship with Piper- the new girl in town with family problems of her own.

Tia's penance of running into Chief Westfall in the small town they both share is one her wounded heart must bear. They share a painful past with no hope for a future. Despair drains her. Enter Piper. Perky and enthusiastic she settles into her new life, makes friends and fills Tia's need for companionship. For Tia, life is working but it is not fulfilling nor is it her life- the one she would have chosen for herself- instead it's the life that was chosen for her.

Indivisible is a novel about relationships and ties that bind one person to another. From the back cover, the mystery that was written of is very secondary to the book and too hidden in its pages. I was hoping for more of a mystery then I got but I finished the book not disappointed from the lack of a more thrilling tale, but with the satisfaction of a well woven story or love, friendship, and taking risks to achieve what you really want.

Kristen's characters are familiar which is why I enjoy her writing. Piper feels like my best friend. What she says and does are familiar to me. I understand Tia's ache for Jonah and Jonah's loneliness, pain, and struggle to overcome his addiction.

I enjoyed Ms. Heitzmann's Diamond of the Rockies series more, but this novel stands on its own and is a well written addition to her bibliography. Download Chapter 1 for free by clicking here.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.