Stacelyn thought her life was complete the day she married Dr. Derrick Garrison. The fairytale life she envisioned quickly vanishes, however, when Derrick's late nights and unexplained absences cause her to question his motives for marrying her. As secrets from the past and emotional wounds are revealed, Stacelyn discovers the hard way that it takes more than love to build a marriage.Alone and bitter after Derrick's sudden departure, Stacelyn is forced to face hard truths about the man she married. In the process, she discovers her own unresolved issues. Will the revelations drive her to her knees, or send her seeking comfort from the enemy?Wanda B. Campbell is a graduate of Western Career College in San Leandro, California. She has spent the past twenty years serving the public through the public healthcare system in Alameda County. As an ordained elder, she conducted couples ministry for more than ten years along with her husband, and is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in biblical studies.
Wanda B. Campbell is an extraordinary and talented writer who brings creativity, a new sense of hope, and restoration through the healing power of God to the Kingdom, by way of Christian fiction. She uses real life everyday issues to exhort, motivate, and give comfort.
Wanda B. Campbell believes there is nothing too hard for God and through His love and power, He can heal you in EVERY area you hurt. Wanda believes with God's help our darkest time can become our brightest moments. Her primary mission is to encourage everyone to experience the unfailing love of Christ. Wanda is not limited by race, age, sex, denomination or organization; believing the liberation that comes from Christ is free to all.
An avid reader since childhood, Wanda responded to the voices in her head and self-published her debut novel, First Sunday in October, January 2007. The novel gained national recognition and established her literary career.
Wanda B. Campbell's literary achievements include: Mommy's Present, a short story appearing in the anthology The Midnight Clear, November 2006, First Sunday in October, January 2007, Crusin for Christ I Short Story Contest winner with Illusions, which landed a multi-book deal with Urban Christian. Illusions, the novel, February 2009,Right Package, Wrong Baggage, August 2010, and Silver Lining, August 2011. Her fourth novel, Unresolved Issues, is scheduled for release August 2012.
Wanda is a two-time winner of the Urban Reviews Top Shelf Book Award, two-time winner of Coffee Time Romance’s Critical Review Award, and a three-time Black Expressions Book Club Bestselling Author. She has appeared on the BCNN1/BCBC National Bestselling List multiple times and was nominated at the 2011 African American Literary Awards Show in the Christian Fiction category.
In January 2010, Wanda launched Micah 6:8 Books, LLC (www.micah68books.com), a small publishing house dedicated to promoting words that edify the Kingdom. The company's first anthology, Home Again: Stories of Restored Relationships released November 2010 as was also nominated at the 2011 African American Literary Awards Show.
Wanda is a graduate of Castlemont High School , in Oakland , CA (Go Knights!) and Western Career College . In addition to building a career in healthcare, she completed Christian Ministry studies at the Leadership Institute at Allen Temple and is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies.
Wanda is a mother of three and currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband of twenty-two years and two sons and enjoys spending time with her grandson. Her hobbies include writing and reading, traveling, and collecting magnets from around the world. Wanda is the self-proclaimed biggest Oakland A's fan.
If you ask me what author writes stories of redemption and reconciliation I would undoubtedly say Wanda Campbell. She has taken on issues such as absentee parents, old hurts, abuse, death, alcoholism, bigger than life secrets and a pastor addicted to pornography. Many human conditions separate us from God, but it’s His love that comes right in and bathes us in grace. How is it that a fairytale can begin as one and move forward in the same way, but somehow become weaved with issues? Stacelyn and Derrick Garrison met in college through friends, they believed they were made for one another and both had a relationship with God. But life’s challenges and their busyness pushed God further and further down the list. In relationships we have to learn to wait for one another, a lesson Staci and Derrick quickly find important. Derrick’s insecurities, secrets and emotional instability cause him to walk away from the women he loves and a marriage just 18 months to a year old. Staci loves her husband and wants nothing more than to understand what is going on with him, but instead of sharing Derrick retreats into himself, and makes the worse decision of his life and his past and the root of his issues meet head on. Staci continues to try and support her husband but once he moves out all of her insecurities unfold and she begins to spend her time with Malcolm to mend an aching hurt and bruised ego. But as we all know if you are going to pray don’t worry, Staci would have done well if she had paid into that advice. She prayed and worried and then she just worried and pushed God right out the picture, when she needed Him the most. Instead of waiting for Derrick she moved without him, instead of heading to Gods voice she pushes it away. Until finally she has no choice but to listen, God finally has her attention. I enjoy how Campbell introduces her readers to flawed characters in need of God’s grace. The redemption happens so naturally all the reader can do is sit back and enjoy the transformation. Whenever I finish reading a Campbell novel I am drenched in Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him”. Renew your spirit with Unresolved Issues we all have them.
A complimentary PDF of this book was provided by the author for the purpose of this review
Staci Garrison comes from a wealthy family and her husband, Derrick Garrison, DDS, is doing well in his profession. She isn't lacking money or material possessions, but having these things isn't enough to help her failing marriage. Can her relationship with Derrick be restored?
When God speaks, it can be for spiritual growth or protection or even for someone else's benefit. He speaks through His Word (The Bible). He speaks through dreams. He speaks through people. He speaks directly (I believe His voice is audible for some Christians, but mostly it's a still small voice inside of us). Staci could identify the voice of God, so my question is, "Why did she always ignore Him?" My answer: Not only was she hurting, but she developed a spiteful attitude. This Christian woman knew when Malcom Leblanc opened his mouth, Satan was speaking, but she kept in contact with the man because she was angry with her husband? Because she needed companionship? She had family and friends she could talk to. Her bad choice affected her and the people she claimed to love. She wouldn't have gone through such a traumatic experience if she wouldn't have ignored God's voice over and over and over again. Sorry, but I had difficulty feeling for her at that point, but I was very concerned about Derrick.
Staci: I was on her side at first, because I could understand her pain. After a while, though, all I could do was shake my head with disappointment. It was made clear that her husband was struggling with insecurities, but there were times when she acted like a spoiled brat.
Derrick: I wondered if the circumstances surrounding his conception was the reason for his insecurities, instead of the reason given.
Feelings of rejection, hurtful words spoken, misunderstandings, miscommunication or no communication at all, temptation to stray - the author tackles these issues with an honest Christian prospective and a bit of humor. Redemption is an obvious theme, but "hearing God's voice and listening when the heavenly Father speaks" is what I kept thinking about when I was finished reading.
With less than a year of marriage, Stacelyn assumed she and her husband, Dr. Derrick Garrison would still be experiencing the euphoria of honeymoon bliss especially since both of them were Christians and had garnered success in their individual careers. However, the state of their marriage could not be any farther from that illusion of marital bliss. Instead her husband seems to have lost interest in her except for key times of the month.
Like any good Christian wife, Stacelyn prays and sets out to fight for her marriage. Yet the answers to her prayers appear to be coming too late and she falls into bitterness and into the arms of another man, who's willing to show her the attention she craves. Meanwhile, Derrick moves farther away from the Lord as he wrestles with unresolved issues from his past.
Ms Campbell's takes readers along a spell bounding tale of love littered with unresolved issues such as low self-esteem, insecurity, mental illness, and the impact of single parenting. At times I found myself rooting for the characters at others I wanted to chastise them. Although the key characters are Christian, the author does not try to present a fairy tale story but she shows how believers do not always heed to the voice of God. This book captured my attention from beginning to end and I devoured it in less than a day. While this is my first time reading any of Ms Campbell's work, it will not be my last.
Disclosure: I was provided a complimentary copy of Unresolved Issues as part of Tywebbin Virtual Book Tour. Views and opinions expressed are my own.
Stacelyn Garrison believes she has everything, a wonderful home and loving husband. When Stacelyn husband starts acting strange and abruptly leaves, Stacelyn is left to face a harsh reality. Did Stacelyn really know the man she married? Stacelyn soon realizes that confusion has entered her marriage and she may need to look in the mirror and acknowledge her part.
Derrick Garrison is a well-known dentist and husband. Derrick has past issues that have are starting to resurface and are becoming harder to ignore. Derrick is aware that communication is not one of his strong points especially when it comes to his wife. When Derrick abruptly leaves his home to work on himself he never expected someone to be waiting to take his place.
Unresolved Issues is about communication, forgiveness and understanding. A marriage is a full time job that requires each person to communicate and trust the other. The author does a wonderful job at expressing the emotions each character was feeling. It was hard to take sides because I could relate to both of these characters and the issues they were dealing with. This was an entertaining book with a powerful message. I recommend Unresolved Issues to married and engaged couples as well as those in a committed relationship.
This book was provided by the author for review purposes.
What a great fast pace ...nail biting read. Read this in one day, couldn't put it down. The book is filled with action, Love of The Lord, Family and Friends. I wanted to move in and become one of them. The main people in the book are Staci and Derrick Garrison, who have been together for 8 years and married for one. Staci had been warned by her family and if she had been listening by God, not to marry Derrick yet. Derrick had been born to a wonderful woman Coraline, an unmarried woman, and a Surgeon who had nothing to do with him. Thus he had a lot of unresolved issues. There marriage has not been very happy, and Staci should have listened! When Derrick moves out she is devastated, and find comfort in a "friendship" with Malcolm. Now comes the part that should never have happened. They start to make their own decisions without prayer, and leaning on the Lord. You will wonder if Staci will ever have the children she wants, if she will get back with Derrick, or will Malcolm win her over. Don't miss this great read, and good points to live a Godly life!
I received this book from the Author Wanda B Campbell, and Tywebbin Virtual Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
This was a great book and I truly loved it. I was unable to put it down. Derrick's rejection from his father and not having a father in his life had a great impact on his marriage. Instead of being open and communicating with his wife, he shut her out. I loved how in this book, it shows us that even though something' or someone may be for us, it is important to be patient and wait on Him, and allow all things to happen in His timing. Moving too fast, causes problems to arise. By Stacelyn not waiting, caused her to endure hard ache and pain & also jealousy of her brother's and cousin's marriage. I loved the ending and how things worked out.
I love this story. I love that it's set in the Bay Area where I grew up and currently live. I love how it shows that even Christian's have troubles in their marriages and need help as well as support from those who know and love them to repair the problems. I love how Mrs. Campbell showed that you can't trust just anybody to confide in, especially when you're hurting. The devil will find a way to disguise his tricks by making you feel good in a wrong situation. But if you stop and listen to the right, voice, you'll find your back to where you belong.
My first introduction to this author and to Urban Christian books. I loved the twists in this novel and the surprise ending. The love, passion, and patience shown between the two main characters as they grow together is beautiful.
What I lives about this book is that it talks about temptation and the testing of your faith. It also brings to the forefront the realness of a relationship when it is tested. I appreciate the author capturing what it means to listen to the voice of God. Really great read!!!!
I loved Unresolved Issues. Wanda B. Campbell definitely knows how to weave a storyline together. Each piece of the story was well-developed and connected. It was amazing to "watch" how everything unfolded and concluded.
Urban Christian Fiction at it's best!!! I enjoyed reading the ups and down and this book. Stacelyn and Derrick's relationship went through many test & differences. Their love for each other and GOD changed their lives for the better.
A great read. Even though it may seem to some to be a little extreme it really captured true feelings of separation and relationships. It was very good.
What can I say? I really love Mrs. Campbell's books. She is becoming a favorite of mine. It's becoming increasingly difficult to remember I have a life outside of her books, which is problem because I am a college student with responsibilities.