A Life Worth Living

by T.K. Chapin

Michael Jacobson runs a highly successful and still growing marketing agency in Detroit. His hours are long, his days are packed, and his personal life is non-existent. When his sister Kelly shows up on his doorstep one day requesting that he flies out to Spokane, Washington to watch over her son Samuel and their mother Lucille for a month, he almost says no until he finds out his mom has cancer. Michael's relationship with his mother is complicated, but he loves her. He can't help but agree to the trip in the hopes of making amends with his mother and being there for his sister in a time of need. When working remotely and caretaking for his mom and nephew become too much for one man, Michael makes the call into the hiring agency. Little did he know whom that phone call would soon bring into his life... Michael will soon have to face a choice that will change everything he thought to be true. Amanda Murphy is a single Christian mother who has made bad decisions a time or three in her life. Single and with a two-year-old child now, she longs for better days. A way out of her overbearing sister Tanya's house seems impossible to her at the moment, so does a life she could ever be proud of calling her own. Clinging to her hope in Christ through prayer, Amanda's tears are about to get answered in a way she never saw coming... In a world dominated by worry and controlled by fear, Christians are called to live by faith. It's in living by faith and not by sight, that Christians are enabled to live a life worth living. Circumstances change, but the truth and love of God will not and cannot change. From the USA Today Bestselling Author T.K. Chapin comes an inspiring romance about love, family, forgiveness, and faith. Uplifting and encouraging, this wholesome novel is one that will keep you turning the pages late into the evening and leave you with a feeling that God's love and control are ever-present in the world today and evermore. Grab this Second Chance Small Town Christian Romance today!

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2022

About the author

T.K. CHAPIN writes Christian Romance books designed to inspire and tug on your heart strings. He believes that telling stories of faith, love and family help build the faith of Christians and help non-believers see how God can work in the life of believers. He gives all credit for his writing and storytelling ability to God. The majority of the novels take place in and around Spokane Washington, his hometown. Chapin makes his home in the Pacific Northwest and has the pleasure of raising his daughter with his beautiful wife Crystal. To find out more about T.K. Chapin or his books, visit his website at www.tkchapin.com

Reviews

[Stox4story · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just how much suffering can one person take before doubting God? Michael has suffered loss after loss…. not money, that can be earned again, but death is final.

Michael’s past isn’t easy either. His enjoyed his mother’s attention when vacationing as a child, but she wasn’t a good mother. She was abusive to the father, physical and emotional, and young Michael witnessed it all.

When his dad died, he had it even harder. As young 16 year old he had to quit high school to support his mother. She had taken to the bottle.

So, as you can see he’s had a hard life but the suffering doesn’t stop there. No, he has a lot more grief to live though, none of which he could have prevented.

Oh yes, Michael still believed in God, he just didn’t like him anymore. He suffered too much to believe in a loving God. But he finds himself in a position of being needed …. needed by his mother who was ill but selfish and self-righteous. And he was needed by his six year old nephew who had just lost his mother, Michael’s sister. As the book says: “Michael knew what it felt like to be abandoned and to have nobody”. He knew the heartache of loss and didn’t want them to experience that. But was he ready … to forgive, to let go and move on?

It’s not an easy journey for him or for those in his care. There will be ups and downs, new people will enter Michael’s life. Yes, it’s an emotional journey but one worth taking.

👁^👁 QUOTES and OBSERVATIONS:

➦ Michael took way too much blame for things that was out of his control. What happened to the guy that beat him, almost ki11ed him? Anything?

➦ AMANDA SAID: “The way I see it that is pain is a part of life. It’s up to us to let that pain draw us closer to God or further from Him.”

✔︎ My ANSWER: that may be true but it’s not something you say to someone who just suffered tragic loss. At the Fall, we gave the reigns to the enemy who brings about as much pain and suffering possible to get us to blame God.
God’s ways are not ours…. He knows how to outwit the enemy. He used the enemy’s weakness against him, knowing the enemy’s pride wouldn’t allow him to fathom that God Himself would go to and through the torture of the cross. What the enemy thought was victory and salvation from his future destination of Hell, was his eternal destruction. That cross actually cemented in the enemy’s future.
God’s ways are not our ways…. He knew at the Fall exactly what it would take to allow us, His creation, to come back to Him. And He willingly made that sacrifice. He doesn’t cause our pain but He knows how to use it for our benefit.

➦Amanda, who always tells Michael to have faith, seems to lack it herself when things get rough. When she needed to be supportive, she failed. What she claims is truth is only her opinion, big difference. She is pushy and controlling, probably out of self preservation, but she needed an attitude adjustment when she left for California.

➦ LUCILLE ASKED: “When will my payment be over, Michael? When will I be done paying for my sins of the past?”

✔︎ My ANSWER: maybe when you confess to him your wrongs? Maybe ask him for forgiveness and try to explain your behavior …. your outbursts started way before the dad died. And your stubborn self-righteousness remained.
Abuse comes in many forms…. physical, verbal, emotional. Lucille was an abusive mother. Later, she betrayed Michael when he needed her most. I have a hard time with people who call bad choices, mistakes. A choice is NOT a mistake. She needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror and hope it doesn’t crack into pieces.

➦ And Tony????? He wants his son now? He abandoned him when he was a baby and never looked back. How do you explain to a six year old you love him when you are a total stranger? How was Tony allotted custody?

I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving my personal thoughts and opinions.

[Debbie Chatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspirational but heartbreaking story of the pain of life and learning to trust God. The protagonist Michael faces loss after loss that causes him to get angry with God. Then he meets Amanda who challenges him to trust God. As the reader we walk with Michael as he struggles through this very real reality of life: pain, loss and grief and tries to understand where is God in all of it. I felt for Michael right away, a boy who had to grow up too soon and a man who walked a road of loss. I was both encouraged and challenged through Michaels story.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book that you don't want to miss. It's an inspirational read that deals with real life problems and how God can heal your heart and with His help you can learn to live again. This book is so much more than a sweet romance, it's an inspirational read that will stay in your mind long after you turn the last page.
I received a complimentary copy and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book you read about loss of a loved one, loosing someone very special to you, and loosing faith. When Amanda comes to work for Michael both of there lives will change forever. You will feel God working throughout this wonderful inspirational story. I had the honor to review this book for the author for a honest review. I would give this book a higher rating than a five star review if I could. TK Chapin is truly a wonderful inspirational author.

[Traceylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael come back to help his Mom with her cabins he hadn't seen in years. He met Amanda there who was helping. He started also to raise his nephew. He had a real problem with his trust in the Lord because it seemed like the Lord he felt took away the ones he loved. He grew angry with God. Amanda thought him what it meant to have faith in the lord. It was a great book by a great writer I follow and am lucky he let's me read his books. Not read one bad one.

[Bonny Rambarran · Rating 5 out of 5]

He’s got it all — or so he thinks!
He has an amazing business — and but he leaves because his mother has cancer. And realizes that he needs to be there for her. Life was not been easy for him when his father died and so he knows he has go. This book — really makes a person think about what is important. God’s grace — BUT ONLY IF WE ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT IT. 200% loved this book!!!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

when we don’t understand, God does

Every time I begin to read a Chapin book, I know there will be a powerful message and things to challenge me. This one was no different. We don’t understand why God allows awful things to happen. Sometimes we even become angry with Him. I love the example that Michael was shown when he was angry with God. I want to be like Amanda and be Jesus to people around me. Very well done!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

True test

Michael is in for the ride of his life, he's dealing with the loss of his son and wife, he is dealing with his business, he has an estrand relationship with his mom who has cancer and his sister who is looking for someone to watch her son while she is away and help their mom. Add to the mix a lady helping out with a kid of her own and a faith that is strong. Can she teach him what he needs?

[Pastor McKeiver · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give it10 stars, I would. This very emotional love story was well written. The characters carefully developed and the plot, heart stirring. I read it in one day. I'll start the next in the series tomorrow for fear of staying up to late reading. I've never fear a T.K. Chapin book first has disappointed me. God really uses this talented artist to share His love for us.

[Lissa Paxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started out a bit depressing but don’t quit reading it. This book brought out so many important points that wouldn’t make as much sense if you didn’t have all the information.

I started to feel excited as the book came together. A wonderful book and I’d encourage everyone to read it!

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to read. Harder to live!

This is true faith, feeding orphans, honoring parents, caring for the broken and downtrodden. The easy way is most often not the right way, but great rewards come to those who wait upon the Lord.

[Gwen Hight · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Life Worth Living

This is a wonderful faith based book about a man angry at God and resentful of his mother but He found God and his heart is filled and his faith grew and he found love

[Judith Seale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very uplifting story

Wow T. K., you hit this book out of the park. I have been struggling with being out of our house since the hurricane hit it in August of 2021. This story has helped me to really rely on God. This is a very inspiring and heartwarming story. Very well done.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dealing with painful feelings and issues, this author brings the hero through as he realizes he is trying to live in his own strength. Will he succeed in finding true faith? A tearful but wonderful book.

[Lota Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent as Always!

A powerful story of damaged lives blessed with God’s amazingly healing
touch…as a bruised couple is led together in Faith!

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story has really captured how life can really unfold. How bad things happen to good people. And how God can bring it all together and make something wonderful happen. This is not just a romance between two people. It is about God's love and how He can heal hearts, change a person's priorities and give unconditional forgiveness. This is truly one of my favorite books by Mr. Chapin; well written, wonderful, realistic characters, inspirational story, this book has it all and as always, it is free of any inappropriate language or content. This author never disappoints!

I requested this audio book from the author and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.