Walking on Broken Glass

by Christa Allan

Leah Thornton's life, like her Southern Living home, has great curb appeal. But a paralyzing encounter with a can of frozen apple juice in the supermarket shatters the faCade, forcing her to admit that all is not as it appears. When her best friend gets in Leah's face about her refusal to deal with her life, Leah is forced to make an agonizing decision. Can she sacrifice what she wants to get what she needs? Joy, sadness, and pain converge, testing Leah's commitment to her marriage, her motherhood, and her faith.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Contemporary, Ebooks, Suspense, Drama

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

NEW RELEASE: SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE
OCTOBER 11, 2016

A true Southern woman who knows that any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day,Christa writes stories with heart, humor and hope. Her novels include: Walking on Broken Glass, Threads of Hope, The Edge of Grace, Test of Faith, All They Want for Christmas.

Christa's essays have been published in The Ultimate Teacher, Cup of Comfort, Chicken Soup for the Coffee Lovers Soul and Chicken Soup for the Divorced Soul. Christa is the mother of five, a grandmother of three, and a recently retired teacher of high school English. She and her husband Ken live in New Orleans.

Reviews

[Kaye · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book started out promising, but really went down in flames for me. This next part is a spoiler. Basically, you find out that Leah has been being raped and sexually abused by her husband for much of her marriage, and to be fair, she (through therapy, we find out) allows it to happen because he takes such good control over the rest of her life too, allowing her to get drunk and be helpless. However, to me, sexual abuse is a big issue, and the author takes you through this couple's story, never really addressing the issue adequately. At the end (because divorce isn't what good Christians do), Leah is still willing to "work it out" with Carl, and the sexual abuse is just swished under the rug. I was disgusted. I could see that kind of story arc if the issue was addressed, but even though the theme was so prevalent, at the end, it was treated as a non-issue. Also, the end over all? It was as if the author suddenly died, and the book had to be hustled to a conclusion (which wasn't really conclusive of anything).

[Karen Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally selected a new book to read- Walking On Broken Glass, by Christa Allen. Originally, I added the book to my samples pile in my Kindle because I adored the cover. I didn’t even know what the novel was about. I’m quirky like that sometimes. 

I downloaded the ebook months ago after seeing it offered as an Amazon freebie, even though the subject matter isn’t one that I generally gravitate towards. You see, the crux of this novel is Alcoholism. More specifically, it’s the story of one woman’s recovery from her addiction. Because of that, I expected this novel to be sad, bleak and depressing. I was wrong.

Walking On Broken Glass is an uplifting tale of healing and taking control of one’s life. Of owning your own failures and learning from them. Of forgiveness and the relationships that mold our lives. The novel is compelling, honest and at times even humorous. Allen writes with clarity as she carefully peels away the scabs from the main character, Leah’s life. At the end of the book I sighed and let my mind wander, rehashing the book in my mind. A good book will do that to you; refuse to let you go even after the last page has been read. A five-star read for sure.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I first found this book, I thought it would be great. I thought it might give me some insight into dealing with addicted friends and loved ones. The beginning of the book was somewhat slow. And just to be honest, I know from dealing with friends and family that the first time someone mentions rehab to an addicted individual, that someone does not jump at the chance for rehab. But giving the author creative license, I continued to read. In fact, I enjoyed the story for the most part, until the end. I hated the ending. I was left completely unfulfilled at the ending of the story. Did Leah and Carl manage to save their marriage? Did she manage to have the twins and were they healthy? Did her father and Peter manage to mend their relationship? Did her father stay with the other woman? Did Leah's friend successfully battle cancer and did she ever conceive? Was Leah able to stay sober? Did Carl and his parents work things out? There were far too many questions left unanswered for me, something that the author could have solved by writing an epilogue. What was a great book in the middle was a horrible book at the end.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written novel about the journey from living as an alcoholic to a life of sobriety. In the pages, there is also a great deal about familial dysfunction and relationships. And there are some lovely words of wisdom such as this one: "God revealed truths slowly because we wouldn't be able to bear the weight of them all at once. Thank you God for sparing me the steamroller of guilt." There is also bits of humor in pages such as a comment about needing an oxygen tank to participate in an AA meeting (massive cigarette smoke).

My heart broke with Leah and I feel as if I've been looking over her shoulder on her difficult journey.

While this is the author's debut, it's my second novel of hers to read. It's my favorite of the two. Definitely recommended.

[Suzanne Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a powerful book. I've never drank alcohol or lost a child and yet I saw so much of myself in this character's insecurities and fears. I've battled fear, felt its grip hold me captive, and had to determine to crawl my way out. I know the extreme dedication you have to have remain free. For me, this book is thought provoking. I never thought I'd say that about a fiction story. But it's a testament, really, to the author's abilities. Her use of first person makes it a candid read, like you are flipping the pages of the main character, Leah's, journal. I loved the use of sarcasm. It provided for some funny moments, passages I had to read aloud to others. Some of the minor characters reminded me a lot of people I knew. This is a wonderful book, but not from a page-turning-edge-of-your-seat viewpoint, more from a soul-searching one. Leah's search for God and faith was touching and believable. My only regret was that the ending left way too many sub-plots hanging. It felt a bit like some of those old 1940s black-and-white movies where you come to the end and go, "Is that it?" In my opinion, to complete the circle of healing, the author needed to tie together these minor subplots - Leah's dad's situation, her friend Molly's health, and Leah and Carl's marriage and leave them on a more complete note. This kept me from giving it five stars.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I opened this book to read, “If I had known children break on the inside and the cracks don’t surface until years later, I would have been more careful with my words…” I was instantly captured.

I continued to read, soaking in Christa’s words shared through Leah, stopping to read them aloud to my husband. And then calling my friends to read them aloud again. It was Leah’s journal entries throughout the book that often jarred me out of my comfort zone, calling for my empathy as this character blossomed into more.

It is rare you read a book with a healthy tension of modernity, wit and authenticity. Three ingredients that, for me, make a novel worth reading and revisiting.

In Walking on Broken Glass, Christa Allan weaves a story that not only connects deeply with the reader on an emotional level but on a spiritual level as well.

This is a novel that goes much deeper than your average book. It breaks the mold, pushes some boundaries, sings the song of redemption and begs for a sequel.

Christa Allan is a writer to watch.

If I were you, I’d clear a space on your favorite bookshelf for more of her work. I already have.

[Wonderkell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a great read. It has truly some of the most beautiful lines I've read. It is, however, a very Christian book. I'm not religious, so I have trouble relating with the whole "put your fate in God's hands" thing. But it wasn't too overpowering, at least not until towards the end. I just think it fair that people know thebook is like this up front.
The only other issue I had was that some of the issues brought up in the book, very important ones, were just not dealt with at all. One in particular is pretty much an obvious thing throughout & then basically swept under the carpet & never resolved. And I think it should have been, it was too important not to have been.
Otherwise, I really enjoyed the book & finished wanting to know what happened next.

[Sheri Freeland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure I was going to like this book when I started reading it, but I became curious about alchoholism and rehab told in a Christian fiction format. I thought Ms. Allan did a very good job explaining Leah Thornton's journey of discovering why she had become an alchoholic and how the AA program ministers to those recovering from it. I felt the book ended a bit prematurely with no resolution to the main character's issues but maybe that was her point. Even though I am not an alcoholic I do struggle with co-dependency issues and boundary issues in my marriage, so I found this book entertaining but also helpful in my journey.
I will recommend this author and look forward to reading her next book.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The very readable story of a young alchoholic housewife who is dealing with recovery and a damaged marriage. The main character is very approachable, familiar and as a sense of humor. This topic was interesting to me as I have a family member who is dealing with alchoholism, and found it informative as to the thought processes that someone in this situation must be going through. It is written from a Christian perspective, which I appreciated. But I don't think a reader for whom this is not a priority would find it offputting or heavy handed.

[Bullcbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I as a southern women think that this is a book every women should have to love honor and hand out to every friend and family member who is struggling watching someone they care about struggle with life lessons I am now rereading sections ive bookmarked and plan to start on Christa Allans next book about secrets and love in New Orleans those that know me will know why both these books will be in my top 10 for years to come.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tissues. Lots of tissues.

[Chanda Scobee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a free Audible option that also happened to be on a few of my friends TBRs, so I decided to give it a chance. It’s perhaps most known for the surprising opening scene of the novel, detailing an embarrassing moment for the main character due to her alcoholism. It makes for a memorable moment, which I think would be fun for readers who have a certain type of humor or taste.

The humor in this book, though, took me a while to embrace, as alcoholism has been really detrimental to my family history, and I understood it would connect to the story, but it was hard to ignore the denial and disregard of alcoholism throughout at first. Even at the end of this novel, it was still so evident that so many characters still didn’t fully see the picture and problems Leah was enduring, and that made Leah’s struggle to identify and understand her problems more real in terms of the plot. Leah can’t help herself, and despite the façade everyone around her accepts, she isn’t okay, and she isn’t in control of her drinking. Rehab isn’t easy, but it’s the best decision she can make. Leah’s journey through rehab uncovers much, and it becomes a heart-breaking story sprinkled with humor and good will. Forgiveness, friendship, remorse, regret. This story has topics that nearly everyone can relate to.

I appreciate the journey of this story, and it had moments of enlightenment and healing, but for me, Leah was short of who I wanted her to be. Maybe that’s the point of the story, or maybe a few steps are enough for some stories, but for me, Leah deserved more than the ending she allowed herself. I found myself disappointed overall, and while this presented important issues, I don’t feel as though it presented resolutions or appropriately tacked some of the subjects.

For me, this was more of an enjoyable read that I didn’t actually enjoy. I think for the right person, or perhaps someone who can relate more to Leah, this could be an enjoyable read, but I wouldn’t recommend this right off the bat. However, for someone who can relate to or wants to empathize with these topics, it could be a beneficial read: Alcoholism and Rehab, Infancy Loss, Sexual Abuse, Marital Issues, Depression

[Janet Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a warning with this recommendation. This is an extremely raw look at alcoholism and a dysfunctional marriage--a painful look even. But the novel is also extremely well written and would provide an interesting discussion for a book club.

[Amanda Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obsessed with brand names, social status, and, well, alcohol, Leah Thornton isn't your average Christian-fiction protagonist. She's shelved God as a subject for a later date and is slow to change, quick to fire sarcasm, even after her best friend calls her on her drinking and she checks herself into rehab. Yet her chilly shell protects layers of vulnerability that the author peels away gradually and believably.

I don't usually last all the way through women's fiction, but this is a worthwhile debut for sure. It almost earned four stars from me (a feat in itself for this genre) but not quite. Too many secondary characters (mainly the rehab staff) caused some of them to blur together, though others are quite well developed. Occasional verb tense oddness suggests this book was originally written in present tense then edited to past, but along the way some "being" verbs were overlooked. Also, Ms. Allan tends to write really-really-short and/or dangling scenes. Several times, a scene ends on a firecracker line of dialogue that ignites the conflict ... and then the narrative picks up hours later, with Leah telling someone who wasn't present about the rest of her evening. This may be a personal preference, but I really want to see action as it happens.

That said, in this quietly probing story of one woman's journey into the depths of herself, there's a lot of theme "meat" on which to ruminate. Leah's wounds and losses don't miraculously repair themselves in the final five pages. In fact, her healing has only started as her story ends, but she has found the path to a whole self and to God. I found myself caring about Leah, even about her husband Carl. Controlling and selfish as he is, he still seems potentially redeemable, simply never forced to grow up. I'm curious if Carl and Leah will rebuild their marriage-house on the Rock of Christ, or if Leah will have to find courage to leave.

If you've read enough "finding God means finding a perfect life!" fiction to last two lifetimes, give this book a try. It smashes Christian fiction's plot and character stereotypes, and it introduces an endearing protagonist with a well defined narrative voice.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walking on Broken Glass was incredible. I haven't reviewed such an honest and insightful novel in years. Having worked in several rehabs in the past I can attest to the fact that this author has done her research. She has masterfully captured the heart of someone who has had so much pain in her life that she did whatever was necessary to deaden the pain. Without the Lord, however, that usually ends up manifested in self-destructive behavior, such as addiction. I loved how the author showed clearly how families directly influence behavior. If a parent was withdrawn, people often marry a person who is equally withdrawn or passive. It's not what they want, but it's all they know.

I loved that this book gave Leah a voice and she was able to discover who she was underneath her various roles and her stuffed pain. The reader discovers her heart right along with her. And the responses she feels to those revelations is so genuine. There is no fluffy Christian-sounding denial here. While Jesus heals, this story shows that we must work at recovery (of any sort) and that faith is there to gives us legs to stand on, but we must still take each step. I loved that about this book. I also loved the issues between her and her husband. I've met so many women who have just submitted to "get it over with" and then they wonder why they despise their spouse when the layer of numbing addiction is removed.

This novel impressed me so much that it is making my best of 2010 fiction list. More Christian fiction should be this real. The faith journey was perfectly done and the ending made sense. I'd love to see a sequel to this story, but if there isn't one, I'm still satisfied. I am definitely paying attention when this author has new releases and I'm going to review each title as they come out. Walking on Broken Glass is highly recommended, especially for readers who know people who are struggling with addiction and want to understand them better.

[Dina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up on this book and then went back to it when I wasn't reading anything else. I am glad I finished it, and it did get better towards the end, but then the end was disappointing to me.

First of all, I didn't know when I selected this that it was a Christian-based book. If I had known that, I doubt I would have read it. But interestingly, I didn't think the religious overtones were that strong.

Most of the book suffered from an overuse of metaphors and comparisons that were designed to be humorous. Some of them were funny, but when every other sentence is written for that purpose, the prose can get very tedious for me. Once she gave that a rest, the story became more readable.

Leah's emotion did resonate with me. I was able to feel her pain. But I did not like the ending. After figuring out that her husband and her are not right for each other and aren't going to be able to make their marriage work, she decides to "wait and see" because he loses his job? I just didn't get it. He was a jerk for the entire book. A horny, self-centered, led-around-by-the-nose-by-his-overbearing-parents ass of a husband, but maybe she won't leave him after all? "You waited a month for me, so I'll wait a month for you..." what?? Yeah, he waited a month...whining and pouting and being difficult and lying to his parents the whole time. And she's going to make a life with him and have twins with him after he insinuates that their first child died because of her?!?!

This is me shaking my head.

The good news is, I think I got this book for free. So I don't have to feel like I wasted my money. I'm still glad I finished this book, even though overall I was disappointed with it.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS
Author: Christa Allan
Publisher: Abingdon Press
February 2010
ISBN: 978-1-426-70227-3
Genre: Inspirational/women’s fiction

Leah Thornton’s life got derailed in front of the frozen apple juice in the supermarket. Leaving her groceries, Leah leaves the store only to be confronted by a friend that she is a drunk, her life is out of control, and she needs to get help before its too late. But Leah is coping the best she knows how after the premature death of her daughter.

When Leah admits her friend is right and agrees to go into rehab, will Leah be able to deal with this decision? Will she be able to sacrifice what she wants to get what she needs? Or will she let her marriage and her faith suffer for her decisions?

WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS is the debut novel by talented author Christa Allan. Ms. Allan is a southern woman who can write about a southern woman with the kind of confidence that comes from knowing how they would react. And she has the talent to take the serious and not so pretty side of life and write about it with power, passion, and the ability to bring the reader into the story.

WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS is not a fluff story. This one is full of the nitty-gritty side of life, the not-so-pretty part. Leah is a woman who hasn’t dealt with some bad blows very well but doesn’t know how else to cope. The reader has to admire her courage to even listen to her friend when she is approached. The reader will cheer Leah on through out the pages of this book as Leah is forced to deal with the ugly picture of her life. $13.99. 352 pages.

[Jennifer AlLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leah Thornton drinks to numb herself against a life that's too painful to feel. She doesn't acknowledge how serious her problem is until her best friend has the guts to confront her with it. Leah's husband, Carl, is living in an alternate reality of his own. He thinks she's overreacting when she says she's checking herself into rehab. But Leah's determined to follow through, and Carl reluctantly goes along with it.

If this sound like a heavy, mirthless book, it's not. Yes, it's a serious subject. And as Leah travels closer to sobriety and further from her alcohol induced fog, her emotions become raw and exposed. You're going to feel her pain. But you're also going to enjoy her sassy sense of humor, even as she's struggling with the creation of her new, addiction-free life. You may even laugh out loud.

Walking on Broken Glass is a stunning debut novel you won't want to miss. Author Christa Allan takes an honest look at life in rehab and the aftermath. Kudos to her for showing us not only the challenges of Leah, but of the family surrounding her. There is no easy ending in this story. In fact, it ends with a new question that's left unanswered. This is the only part of the book that bothered me, because I'm the type that likes experience how the story ends. The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized it was probably the most realistic ending. Because life rarely ties up all the questions in a neat little bow. Here's hoping a sequel is in the works so we can journey a bit further with Leah and Carl.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author: Christa Allan
Title: Walking on Broken Glass
Description: Leah deals with her dysfunctional marriage and the loss of her baby by drinking. At the opening of this novel, she decides that she can’t spend the rest of her life drunk, and she makes the decision to check herself into a rehab center. This book centers on Leah’s rehab program and what happens when she returns home.
Review source: Free on kindle
Plot: Nothing is contrived or easy here. Leah’s relationship with her husband is teetering on the brink of divorce. Her rehabilitation isn’t pretty or effortless. This is a Christian novel in that Leah takes finding her higher power seriously, although the author doesn’t make Leah’s embrace of Christianity easy either.
Characters: Leah, her husband, and her best friend are the main characters, and they and the supporting characters are all real people with good and bad qualities who do good things and who also turn around and fail once in a while.
Writing style: Told in brutally honest first person.
Audience: Certainly anyone who is struggling with substance abuse—or with the death of a child or another tragedy—would empathize with Leah. Chick lit readers in general would probably enjoy this well-written book, if they didn’t mind the spiritual content.
Wrap-up: This isn’t the type of book I normally read, but I was engaged from the outset with Leah’s struggle to turn her life around. 3.5/5*

[CatherineMorland · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I'm not sure if I liked this or not. I rated it 4 stars because the writing style is beautiful. The story was edgy, something I feel is lacking in Christian fiction, and it kept my interest (I read it through in a few days).

Here's the reason I'm not sure I liked it:

The main character is married to a sexually abusive husband. Throughout the book, she learns to stand up for herself and find her own identity. She realizes that her husband is abusing her and no means no. She makes the decision to leave him, and I was cheering inside, so exited to see her finding the courage and strength to leave an abusive situation. Then he comes home and does this sob story speech about how he's abusive because of the way his parents treat him, so she's like, "OK, we'll give our marriage another try." If this wasn't on Kindle, I would've thrown the book at the wall. What the heck? Great message to send readers. "If he's abusing you, yes, you should stay with him." I don't know, it really bothered me.

So, yeah. I'm conflicted on this. That said, I think Christa Allan is an amazing writer and I'll be looking to see if she has anything else published.

I also would not recommend this story for readers under the age of 16 due to some mature topics and heavy themes. Alcoholism and sexual abuse are large parts of the story, and it's sometimes explained in detail (not graphic, exactly. But too much information for a younger reader).

[Beth Peninger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time putting down this book when I needed to and a really hard time not thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. This is Allan's first novel but you would never know with how well written it is and how good of a developed story she presents.
Leah is a closet alcoholic. Her husband likes her drunk better than sober and everyone else just accepts her being "tipsy" a lot of the time. Everyone, that is, except her best friend Molly. Molly confronts Leah one day and Leah accepts the challenge of going into rehab. Nobody except for Molly is happy about it. Her husband wants her drunk so he can his way with her in the bedroom (gee, anyone think HE might have some issues?!?) and her Dad just coddles her and tries to convince her she's not an alcoholic. Whatever. Leah stands her ground and enters a 30 day program. The 30 days are spent unraveling the mess of her life to get to the reasons why she drinks. What is she trying to forget and numb? What is she avoiding? Will her marriage survive?
This is a very real portrayal of someone hurting, addicted, and needing help. Christa Allan does a great job of developing the story and characters and of introducing the One who can and will help Leah be sober.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second read by this author. This time a subject totally different but still one that many don't know a lot about. This time a woman who seems to have it all, but she finds that she is having a problem at the super market and then her best friend forces her to deal with a problem with her life, she is an alcoholic. She upsets her husband and entire family when she decides she is going to do something about it. And there are so many things that happen after she does just that....her life is still not going to be the perfect life she envisions she has so much more hurdles to over come...this is one of those life reads that really pull you in and teach you about others....
As found here on Good Reads:
Leah Thornton s life, like her "Southern Living" home, has great curb appeal. But a paralyzing encounter with a can of frozen apple juice in the supermarket shatters the fa ade, forcing her to admit that all is not as it appears. When her best friend gets in Leah s face about her refusal to deal with her life, Leah is forced to make an agonizing decision. Can she sacrifice what she wants to get what she needs? Joy, sadness, and pain converge, testing Leah s commitment to her marriage, her motherhood, and her faith.(less)

[Gayle Beveridge-Marien · Rating 3 out of 5]

I began this book with mixed feelings and questioned during the first chapter, if I would continue with it all, but continue I did and was glad of it.

This is the story of Leah, an alcoholic, and although it focused on her struggle against alcoholism I thought the true theme was her journey to self awareness. I found Leah to be captivating as her story progressed and we shared her thoughts. Her husband Carl, although a victim of his own past, was detestable; I felt real anger towards him. These were three dimensional characters and the author is to be commended on the passion embodied in her writing.

I enjoyed this book and will probably read this author again, given the opportunity, but there are a couple of negatives.

The references to God and Christianity were, for my taste, overdone. One of the other reviewers makes the point that AA is not a religious organisation and should not be portrayed as such. I know nothing of AA but the book did give the impression that it was religious. The book implies that immersing oneself in Christianity is the only road to recovery from alcoholism; I suggest there many other equally valid paths to tread.

The book also ended abruptly, almost as though the final chapters had been ripped from my copy.

[Myra Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christa Allan's story of a woman's journey through alcohol addiction and the healing of a seriously troubled marriage is one that snags you from the first page. Leah Thornton and her husband, Carl, are striving in their own ways to deal with the loss of their infant daughter. Their personal histories only complicate the healing process, and when Leah commits herself to a rehab facility, her eyes are finally opened to truths about herself, her husband, and the parts their respective families have played in contributing to their problems.

While I found the book a true page-turner and loved watching Leah's growth and healing, I have to say the book didn't end quite the way I anticipated. I'm not really sure what I expected--perhaps a stronger admission by Carl of the part he played in Leah's emotional issues--but in its own way, the ending satisfies and shows both Leah and Carl heading toward new beginnings.

Christa Allan is a true storyteller and a gifted writer. The descriptions are vivid, the dialogue realistic, and the characters' emotional journeys riveting. I look forward to more novels from her.

[Christy Trever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walking on Broken Glass by Christa Allan is a stunning debut novel that will leave readers breathless. Leah Thornton conceivably has everything: handsome husband, big house, successful career as a teacher, credit cards without limit, but it has all come at a heavy cost. Standing in the grocery store, looking at the apple juice, she becomes overwhelmed by all of the choices and is forced to acknowledge her growing alcohol addiction. She checks into rehab, despite her husband's angry manipulations, to rediscover who she is and try to find a way to live sober with all of the pain she had been using alcohol to hide. Leah's visit to rehab and struggle with alcoholism is startling and unflinching in its honesty. Allan somehow manages to make this dark and terrible story both funny and hopeful. Readers will ache with Leah's losses and the abuse she faced daily, and as she overcomes, will face their own truths about addiction, abuse, loss, and pain. This is definitely an author I'm adding to my must-read list.

[Tamara Epps · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and found the story and characters engaging, interesting and informative. Perhaps that's not what you expect from most books, but to me it was the perfect mix. I did find that the focus on God was a little heavy at times for my personal preferance, but for the most part it did not interfere with the story, and helped me understand things about the characters and how they relate to one another.

I liked the journal entries throughout the first half of the story which are used to show scenes earlier in Leah's life. However, it was unclear when in her life these scenes happened which caused a little confusion at the beginning; but I feel that for the most part, knowing the timeline wasn't necessary to understand the story.

I would recommend this book to anyone dealing with alcoholism in their life or the life of someone close to them. However, I feel this book can help everyone understand the world a little better.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't a book I normally read. Leah, a suburban teacher, with everything perfect on the surface, struggles with alcoholism. A close friend convinces her to go to rehab. I thought the description of Leah struggling with the root cause of her alcoholism was interesting. I do think though the character was a little too wise at the end of the book. She seemed far too put together, and committed to recovery after her 30 day stint in rehab. But then again, I've never been in rehab, so what do I know.
I thought the conflict between Leah and her husband were pretty interesting. The ending was a bit of a dud and left far too much unresolved. I don't mind books without tidy endings, but you do need to have some sort of resolution.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book because its subject (alcoholism) hits really close to home for me in many ways. I really enjoyed the inside look at being in a 28-day treatment center, though I don't personally know how accurate Allan's descriptions of it were. There were funny parts, serious parts, and sad parts, and overall it was a good book. However, like many others, the ending was so abrupt and felt rushed. I won't spoil it, but I just felt it could have been more fleshed out. I felt kind of cheated and was surprised I was at the end once I reached it. Anyway, I'd recommend the book--solid 4 stars if you are interested in the life of an addict/alcoholic who also happened to be dealing with a lot of deeper issues (parental/family problems, religion, spousal intimacy issues, etc.)

[Jo-anne Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Leah,her battle to overcome the bottle, and find God again is a heartwarming story. With humor and anger, Leah approaches her sobriety. The story will captivate you. It is a first book for the author, Christa Allan, and one that you don't want to miss.
Will Leah triumph over addiction??? Wiss she face the demons that drive her to the bottle? Will she find Leah hidden inside herself?
Will she forgive God and will she find He is forgiving? This is a Christian book that takes you into the heart and mind of an addict. This book, Walking on Broken Glass by Christa Allan is a must read.

[Julie K. Gillies · Rating 5 out of 5]

This absosrbing story introduces us to Leah, a grieving mom, quietly miserable wife, and highly-functioning alcoholic. Leah's best friend pointedly confronts her drinking and ultimately convinces Leah to voluntarily admit herself into a rehab center.

We not only watch, but feel Leah's thought-provoking, compelling journey toward truth and freedom from alcohol. Along the way, Leah discovers the freedom to speak up, set boundaries, and regain not only her life, but her soul.

Christa Allan's colorful writing paints intensely vivid pictures. At times funny and always clever, this beautifully written book is a must-read.