Just Right

by Barbara Bice

Barbara Bice has a story that needs to be told. On top of that, she has an amazing gift in telling it. Just Right is a realistic and inspirational book about one of the great battles in our country and in most of our families . . . drug addiction. In Just Right, Barbara will walk you through her husband Ed's descent into addiction and her battle to save him, her marriage, and her family. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will learn. You will learn about addiction, how to confront it, and how, by the grace of God, to overcome it. Truly, it is a story that needs to be told and a story you need to read. I have seen firsthand how this story has changed lives. You or your loved one may be the next. When you come to the end of this book, you too will say, "It is JUST RIGHT!" Buddy Bell Senior Minister Landmark Church Montgomery, AL After many years of tears, turmoil, and tattered dreams caused by drug addiction, Ed and Barbara's prison turned to passion, their conflicts turned to commitment, and Barbara's unforgiveness turned to forgiveness. Just Right is a true testimony of faith and hope. Though the road from addiction to redemption was paved with much loss and heartache, God has truly taken what Satan meant for evil and used it to His glory. The words jumped off the page when Barbara said, "I wouldn't take 'nothin' for my journey now." Oh, to have her faith! Al Millergren, Ph.D. Marriage and Family Studies Children and Family Minister Montgomery, Alabama

Genres: Memoir

172 pages, Paperback

First published August 22, 2013

About the author

Barbara Bice is the author of "Just Right (The Road From Addiction to Redemption)." She is a testimonial speaker who has spoken at women's conferences, recovery groups, and other forums relative to her book, recovery issues, and how addiction affects the family. In 2013 and 2015, Barbara participated as a class speaker and the Pepperdine Lectureship in Malibu, California relative to recovery. She and her husband played a major role in establishing the recovery class at their church in 1999; and, in 2004, they opened "The Shed," a recovery home for men who are seeking recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. Barbara is a retired paralegal, having worked for 35 years for the same attorney. She is a self-taught artist and an avid golfer. Barbara and her husband have been married for forty-four years. They have three sons, three daughters-in-law (like daughters to them), and four grandchildren.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what it is like to get clean. You have to find something to fill the hole you have after you cut the drugs out. When you are an addict, it becomes your entire life. Every thought that goes through you mind revolves around your next fix. After prolonged use, you cannot function without. Statistics show that most successfully recovered addicts turned to religion. It makes sense. There is no better supprt group than that of a church congregation. You will need a support group. You need to believe that there is a higher purpose to life than what you are currently experiencing. You must also want to put the drugs down. 

This is the story of a married couple, Barbara and Ed. Ed has a cocaine addiction. This book shows you addiction from the side of a family member watching their loved one not only destroy their life, but also the lifes of everyone around them. She tells the story of how they had to hit rock bottom and crawl back out. 

Reading this was emotional to me. I know I put my family through some horrible things. The hardest part of my recovery was being able to look at my self in the mirror and forgive myself. Can I say for 100% sure that I will not relapse? No I can't, I still fight everyday with it. 

This was a great reminder of what it was like to live like I did. I recommend this anyone who is an addict, or as a loved one struggling with addiction.

First reads

[Jennifer Disario · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring story that will give hope to many that are going through this situation themselves. As a recovering addict myself, child of one and also the spouse of one it hit home for me. Barbara Bice's story is one that you can hear at an AA/NA meeting anywhere but often as a family member of an alcoholic you feel alone with nowhere to turn. This reminds you that you aren't alone, there is hope and above all there is God with whom you can survive most all trials and tribulations. I felt some degree of relief knowing that I am not the only one that has made the same choices, mistakes and had the same confrontations. Also a kinship to the author for having so many things in common as a wife, daughter and mother of three boys who have lived through a descent into addiction and the war to make it through and knit a new and better life from the pieces left behind. I am so thankful that I received this book through the Goodreads first reads program in exchange for review as I sorely needed a reminder to have faith.

[Barbara Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a beautiful, helpful read for anyone, whether you are an addict, someone who loves an addict, or someone who's never dealt with the problem. It's honest, simple to read, and doesn't gloss over the truth of a difficult journey in this life. Whether or not you are a Christian, you will be encouraged and strengthened. Knowing Barbara Bice and her husband makes me appreciate the truth and love contained in the pages of, "Just Right."

[Judy Herzanek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provides A Way to Cope with Life’s Struggles:
Just Right: The Road from Addiction to Redemption
~By Barbara Bice

“Just Right” is an excellent example of what a spouse and family deals with as they find themselves thrown in the midst of the dark, lonely world of a loved-one’s addiction. What Barbara and her family experience parallels most every topic we cover in “Why Don't They Just Quit? What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery.

The author expresses her thoughts in such a simple, articulate and beautiful way, that so often made me think to myself “what a great way to say that!”
~Review by Judy Herzanek, Changing Lives Foundation

I prayed, I cried, and I prayed some more.
“Please God, don’t let him be doing it again.”

Just Right engaged me from the start. Written with love and straightforward brutal honesty, it is one woman’s story that needed to be told. It is a story that provides hope and a way to cope with life’s struggles.

Barbara describes intervention as: “the deepest form of heartfelt pleading that a person can possibly do.” Although most of “Just Right” deals with very serious and emotional material, Barbara does find a way to present bits of humor such as her account of her husband Ed’s intervention. Ed recalls, “When I woke up and saw all of those people standing around me, I thought I had blacked out and woke up at a family reunion.”

She has the rare gift of clearly explaining how true recovery works, as the blending of hard work, faith and working a 12-step program. We feel her pain, frustration and heartache as takes us on her journey. Through it all, she learns to trust God to provide her with strength to continue her own life, regardless of the decisions of her addicted husband.

Most of all, I love Barbara’s simple and effective way of explaining Recovery as the combination of faith, Twelve-Steps and hard work: “From that day forward, Ed never used drugs again. It was not easy, but he became serious about his recovery. He finally got “in recovery” and not just “around recovery.” He got a sponsor, he started working the Twelve Steps, and on a daily basis began turning his life and will over to the care of God.”

“From that day forward, Ed never used drugs again. It was not easy, but he became serious about his recovery. He finally got “in recovery” and not just “around recovery.”

Standing out from most other addiction/recovery books are the great little questions and thoughts to ponder at the end of each chapter. Each section poses a way to relate the author’s struggles to the reader’s life as Barbara so skillfully suggests spiritual truths for the reader to ponder.

This book is sprinkled throughout, with insightful “symbolic gems” and true-life God-ordained “coincidences” that speak to the spiritual reality of a loving Creator that cares for us all. Through it all—this family’s loss of money, home and more, we learn how a person can be content, regardless of the circumstances, In other words, they can learn to be “just right.”


~by Judy Herzanek, Co-author:Why Don't They Just Quit? What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery.

[rhona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

Thank you so much for sharing. A must read for people suffering from the actions of those who are addicted. It offers hope to them and also to the addicted. It is Just Right!

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been in a relationship with an addict, Barbara's story hit home. Though the writing itself isn't particularly beautiful, the story is worth a read. However, if reading about God and faith rubs you the wrong way, I don't recommend adding it to your collection.

I received my copy through a First Reads giveaway.

[Faith Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring story of courage and of faith and one of very few "and they lived happily ever after" when dealing with addiction. A wonderful story for anyone but a must read if you are living in the middle of a nightmare like this. Barbara shares her story but also shares her heart and shares hope!

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good inspiring book full of hope for anyone that is dealing with or has dealt with addiction in their family.