No Weapon Formed

Boaz Brown #2

by Michelle Stimpson

In this sequel to Michelle Stimpson’s beloved debut novel, Boaz Brown, LaShondra and her Boaz, Stelson, are living the ideal American lifestyle, except for the subtle and not-so-subtle ways society keeps reminding them that they aren’t the norm. She’s African-American, he’s Caucasian, and their oldest child is already tackling the question of identity. It’s bad enough when outsiders show their ignorance or disdain. But when the issues come from family, LaShondra finds herself wondering if Stelson can truly comprehend the challenges looming on the horizon. When a church picnic leads to a head-on clash between LaShondra’s fears and Stelson’s optimism, the truth prevails. But that’s just the beginning. LaShondra learns that the drama during the family outing was only a set-up for an even more rigorous spiritual battle to save her family. After turning her back to the pressures at work and yielding to Stelson’s leadership, LaShondra finds herself interceding for a husband she hardly even recognizes anymore. Is this the beginning of the end for the couple that truly endeavored to honor God’s ways, or will this season fortify their marriage for His glory?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Interracial Romance, African American, Relationships, Romance

424 pages, Paperback

First published May 20, 2014

About the author

Hello, Goodreads community! I'm Michelle Stimpson, and storytelling is my heartbeat. I've found my calling in penning heartwarming women's fiction that offers a seat at the table of family, humor, and hope. As an author, my greatest joy comes from crafting narratives that resonate with anyone seeking to find laughter and light in the pages of a good book. My tagline, 'Read. Love. Repeat.', is a promise of the emotional journey I aim to provide—engaging stories you’ll love and yearn to revisit.

Happy Reading

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Reviews

[Mahoghani 23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love her writing style. She's becoming one of my favorite authors. Sheldon & LaShondra are back, now with kids. What is the proper way to raise bi-racial children? Seems to be the best way to raise a child period. There's so much going on that its amazing that LaShondra went to her Heavenly Father for answers. They say love conquers all but God always has the answer!

[Chicki Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good sequel to Boaz Brown. It showed the trials that the couple faced and how they worked to overcome them with God' help. I really enjoyed the story!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

Another great read for Christian readers. This book will make you think and pull out your bible. Looking forward to reading more of her books.

[T.A. Beasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The constant reminder that LaShondra and Stelson are different keeps haunting them in the second installment of the Boaz Brown series, No Weapon Formed by Michelle Stimpson. The couple has been able to deal with outsiders questioning their interracial marriage but when a family member start it causes a whole new issue.

LaShondra decides to give in to her husband’s leadership by leaving her job to stay at home with the children. It was a struggle for LaShondra and she is determined to make it work for the sake of her family. When Stelson starts acting strange and becomes disrespectful, LaShondra has to step in while wondering where her husband has gone.

Stelson is dealing with the stresses at work and being the only provider in his home even though he wanted it this way. He puts the family on a strict budget to make sure they survive. When Stelson starts having bad headaches that can’t be explained he realizes something is wrong. LaShondra convinces him to go to the doctor because the headaches have changed the man she fell in love with. Stelson finds shocking news after several attempts at a diagnosis.

No Weapon Formed is about the spiritual and physical struggles a married couple goes through. It seems the enemy was attacking this couple with everything it had, which made me feel LaShondra’s frustration as well as Stelson’s pain. No Weapon Formed provides several messages for everyone to learn from not including outsiders in your marriage, keeping God first and consistent prayer as well as communication, etc. This book had well-developed characters with a meaningful storyline and I cannot wait to read book three in this series. I recommend No Weapon Formed to others.

This book was provided by the author for review purposes only.

Teresa Beasley
A&RBC Reviews
4 Stars=Great Page Turner

[Sidne · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Review: No Weapons Formed is Book 2 of the Boaz Brown Family. The setting is in the state of Texas. I found Book 2 to be a good read for a solo novel as I have not read book one.
What piqued my interest was the life of an Interracial Christian African American women (married to an Caucasian man) with children and the natural incidents and issues from within the marriage, the family and the community reaction.
Characters: My favorite character was secondary character, Peaches, I liked her honesty with the protagonist, LaShonda.
I really can't define a least favorite character. The father may be chosen by some readers as the least favorite character but I understood his concern even though i didn't agree with his presentation.
The husband, Stelson, I could not figure out if he actually was aware of his father in law racial point of view and thought it was best that he not allow his carnal nature to engulf his mind or he honestly had no idea that racial tension still exist. His character displayed the strength of a christian man yet, still having faults. All characters felt believable. The author story line presented an outlook on the Vital importance in FAITH, being prayed up and daily communication with GOD. The elements that makes up the Christian weapons. The author provides the readers with an outlook on life without your Christian weapons in full effect, and how it leads to the adversary awaiting to devour all unprotected Christians. It was refreshing to read a novel that did not denigrate Christians. Kudos!! My reading pace was moderate to slow to moderate again. I did skim through a few lines which I felt was over detailed. This was a good read and I enjoyed it. The novel cover rating is a 5/5, its title and story line match is 5/5 and the book sits on my shelf as a DARN GOOD READ with a 3.5/5 review rating.

[Anino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I once heard someone emphatically say that "marriage is ministry!" After reading this book, I can definitely say that the aspect of marriage being a ministry (of intimacy, faith, & devotion) is clearly illustrated for the reader.


The MC's (Shondra & Stelson)found in this book are two of the most well-written IRR characters to date, and the pathway that they have to travel from their courtship to their wedding day, is nothing compared to what's up the path for them, 10 years later, in this book.



Ms. Stimpson did an awesome job detailing the turbulent winding road that both Shondra & Stelson have to travel on their road to solidarity.

All in all, not only were the characters well defined, but the inspirational messages were on-time and right on the money.



If you haven't read , do yourself a favor and read it first. That way, you'll have a better appreciation for the struggle that the MC's have in this awesome read.

Giving this one: 4 awesome stars...

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I turned the first page in this second book in Boaz Brown Series I was hooked, I couldn’t give up until the end, and then I wanted more. Now you do not have to have read the first book to read this one, but highly recommend that you do.
There are parts of this book that you really need to have the tissues handy, as I had tears running down my eyes while trying to read. This will hit you in your heart in so many places, dealing with family emergencies, and an illness that doesn’t exist?
I loved this family and their friends, all there to show their love to one another, and grab and love the children too. Of course, how could anyone resist these two little cuties? They are all there for one another, and the compassion and love of God is so evident.
I learned some interesting things that I was not aware of while reading this book, and I pray that some of them are not true. Guess I want to keep my rose colored glasses on in regards to living in the USA. I also loved how God leads the way and how great and good is the power of prayer.
I highly recommend this fast read, you won’t regret it.

I received this book through Write Now Literary Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Adrienne Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a very, very long time since a book grabbed me from the first word and held on tight until the final period. I read No Weapon Formed in a matter of hours. I became fully engrossed in the story and fully invested in the characters and their lives. This is book two of a series, but one does not have to have read book one in order to enjoy this novel. No Weapon Formed was a smooth, easy read full of life lessons and spiritual food. An enjoyable read no matter where you are in your Christian walk. I honestly could kick myself for waiting so long to read one of Ms. Stimpson's books. I am a new fan.

5 Stars

I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Adrienne Thompson
Author of Your Love Is King

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It still has some thought provoking moments and enough things happening to keep you reading. I really like this author and how she is so real. The thoughts were real and thoughts a lot of women feel about their husbands when it comes to the kids. I am so glad that she put so many good verses in this book. It made me think about the relationship I have with the Lord and the excuses I have used to why I didn't spend the time with Him like I should have. The ending she wrote could go either way. It could be the end of the Boaz Brown series or it could continue on.

[Chiquedee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was looking foward to the continuation of Shonda and Stelson's story. The stoty comes off like Stelson doesn't help his wife with house life which after reading book 1 came across as inconsistent with his character. The change in him is very 180 because of his illness and Shonda has to be not only supportive but loving. I felt for her not knowing what was going on with her husband and the way he was treating his family. But her decisiveness to stay steadfast was a reminder to me as a Christian to hold onto God despite the challenges.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Weapon Formed

This was a continued story of Boaz Brown. I loved the continuing saga of a Christian romance on an interracial marriage and the challenges they faced regarding the rearing of their 2 children. Very good story. I also diagnosed Stelson's illness before it was revealed. Lashondra and Stelson had a true love for one another. The devil continued to try and tear them apart. God prevails.

[Sharon Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book!

I read this book just when I needed it most. I love the way the author includes scriptures in her books. This family had their share of problems with God's help it all worked out for their good!

[Sherry Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book on how faith can get you through the worst of times!

I love the fact that, in the end, all characters learned something. Also, it was nice to see a woman who actually let's the man be the head.

[Carolynnette Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!

[Adelaide · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!

Interesting sequel to "Boaz Brown"! I particularly liked the teachings about how to react when in doubt. Pray and then pray some more. Enlightenment!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I think the scriptures that were used was a great part of the book. I would recommend this to others.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read!! Shondra & Stelson face some trials and tribulations after 9 years of marriage. Will they hold on to their faith or be defeated?

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boy am I glad this one was available from the Kindle Lending Library rather than buying it. Although I wanted to continue the story with the characters introduced to us in Boaz Brown, I didn't feel it was nearly as powerful as the first. Now, instead of gaining new perspectives, I was faced with the old hackneyed stereotypes religious fiction I like to call "christianese." I guess No Weapon Formed is as much the story of Job as Boaz Brown was the story of Ruth, but if you read my review of that one, you'll know I found those comparisons weak at best.

LaShonda and Stelson are now married with two kids and faced with the forces that pull a young family apart: lack of time, money stress, etc. Added to that are the constant stresses of being an interracial couple. The difficulties pile on: a lost job, living on less income, lack of intimacy, even a lost child and threatened health in the mix. They each try to solve the problems on their own, with no success. The book emphasizes prayer, perhaps overemphasizing it and turning it into something they MUST do to convince and cajole God into helping them. It's as if they have to do it right or God won't act. I dislike--greatly--when a the blessing of being able to talk with God as a child to a father is turned into an act of good works. Where is grace in the midst of all this law?

I was moved by the scene where their son tries to bleach the skin of his darker sister, fearing that she will be subjected to more racism because of the darker shade of her skin. The decisions the couple made about how and when to tell their children about the difficulties of race in our world today were interesting, but fewer and farther between because of all the mystery surrounding Stelson's sudden illness. I also laughed heartily when the women at the Bible study had to be shown why the folksy wisdom they believed was in the Bible was not actually Scripture. Yes, we could all benefit from those reminders now and again. So there were good moments, but I sure didn't enjoy it as much.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won't He do it!

Loved this! This is an awesome example of how God works in our lives. It shows that LaShonda"s and Stelson"s union was ordained by God. It took a decade to heal old wounds, strengthen a marriage, restore a spiritual relationship and save a life that nobody would know was in danger. It shows that if we just remember who be long to, be still and wait on the Lord, He'll reveal His plan and work it out.

[Mary Calton Gerard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encouraging and stimulating ✍🏾

I'm trying to determine which of the books in this series was better. The writing was phenomenal in both books. This book had me reading my Bible app on the laptop. For everyone, this is an informative work dealing with marriage, pray always, and other pertinent issues ten years after publication. I enjoy reading the author's works!

[Natasha Frazier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it!

First, I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to know how Lashondra handled balancing her work and home life -sounds like me! Second, I had to see what happened with Seth. Then I had to find out what was going on with Stepson. I wanted more, but overall I enjoyed it.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. Overall LaShondra and Stelson irritated me as a couple at times. I preferred the first book.

2. My biggest problem was Stelson’s naïveté regarding race and balancing this issue with his faith. In today’s world it is important to teach biracial children the reality of racism. LaShondra’s father was generally correct on his stance pertaining to race, but his approach was flawed. Especially since his grandson was only four. Although Seth appeared as if he could “pass”, it would be critical to teach him how to use his whiteness to combat injustices for others and understand the struggles his sister and other blacks would endure.

3. To me the author contrived a story line regarding Seth having white skin and straight hair indicating that he could “pass”. That would have been more realistic if LaShondra was half white. In real life passing offspring generally occurs when the biracial parent is at minimum a mulatto, and increases with a quadroon or an octoroon.

4. I enjoyed The inclusion of Peaches in the novel. I prefer Peaches as a character more than LaShondra.

[Ida Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just as good as the first.

It brought up some unique issues that mixed couples deal with.

Particularly race.
How do you have a conversation about race with the children hating one race over the other.

Very good book.

[Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Weapon Formed (Boaz Brown Book 2)

The continuous story of LaShondra and Stelson. It's nine years later, they have two children, a doy name Seth and a girl name Zoe. The Brown family face a sickness, a lost child and the finding of God again. Great story.

[Nancy DeValve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good. Often stories like this major on arguments and misunderstandings and I just think, "Oh, get over it already." But it has some good points. Near the end she got a bit close to promoting a conspiracy theory and also a little anti-medical science. But overall a good story.

[Mattie Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book

I really enjoyed the book . I liked the way the way that LaShondra started to reconnect with God. The scripture series excellent.

[Isabel Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great sequel to Boaz Brown. Thank you for reminding us to stay grounded in The Word and our faith in HIM no matter what trials we are faced with.

[Lakeisha Rauls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

I loved this series! I am looking forward to reading more from this author! The book really made me reflect on my prayer life and my relationship with God.

[Maggie Hulin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

This book was as good as part one. Love her inspirational books. Can't wait to read more. Get it you won't regret it

[teresa landrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

AYE! I read this book a long time ago, but I still remember clearly. For some books, I have to go back and read the introduction to remind myself of the story, but this one... no ma'am. Michelle Stimpson has become one of my top five characters...especially when I feel myself drifting spiritually. She always brings me back to wanting to get my fire back going with my personal relationship with the father. What I love about her is, her stories make me look at my own situations. I have not been a biracial relationship such as the one in this book, but I have been in many situations where I have had to rely solely on God, the steps I took to get there, and the fact that I always came out on top with God.... yep... Michelle Stimpson does that for me and I truly thank God for you!