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Faith
Monet and Marcus Caldwell are living their version of the American Dream. Both are gainfully employed, Marcus as a detective for Chicago's Finest, and Monet as a nurse in the neonatal unit of an inner city hospital. They are faithful members of Reverend Ruth Wilcox's church, The Temple. The only thing missing from their life is a child. Doctors have been unable to explain the reason for Monet's inability to conceive, which she calls the Sarah Syndrome.
Then the unthinkable occurs. Monet is brutally assaulted. Months later, she learns the news she has been longing to hear her entire married she's having a baby. Monet is thrilled, but Marcus is appalled by the news, and orders his wife to terminate the pregnancy. Monet refuses, and a cold war of monumental proportions breaks out in the Caldwell household.
In the face of great adversity, will Monet's faith persevere?
Then the unthinkable occurs. Monet is brutally assaulted. Months later, she learns the news she has been longing to hear her entire married she's having a baby. Monet is thrilled, but Marcus is appalled by the news, and orders his wife to terminate the pregnancy. Monet refuses, and a cold war of monumental proportions breaks out in the Caldwell household.
In the face of great adversity, will Monet's faith persevere?
300 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2010
5 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Larks
16 books24 followersI am the author of 5 books, the titles include A Myriad of Emotions, Crisis Mode, Mirrored Images, Who's Your Daddy, and contributing author to Blended Families, and The Midnight Clear. My latest title is Keeping Misery Company, and I have a new book coming out on July 29th, 2008 called The Legacies."
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 17, 2010
FAITH was an uplifting read, filled with realistic Christian characters who struggle with truly trusting God in the midst of the trials that come their way (Rape, pregnancy, revenge). Although the focus was on Monet and her husband Marcus' conflict/trial, I would have liked to have read about Monet lifting up her friend Liz's spirits in the midst of her trial. It was a bit one-sided, though I understand that Liz was standing by her best friend, merely reciprocrating what she had done for Liz in the past.
July 1, 2021
this is one of the worst Christian books I have read so far. It was too predictable for me. I will not read this author again
December 22, 2019
This book was so well written! It’s a definite page turner. The main character lost hope and always remained true to her beliefs.
October 22, 2010
Monet and Marcus Caldwell are a loving couple living the life. She loves her career as a neonatal nurse and he lives for the thrill of being a detective for the Chicago Police Department. They are members of a tight-knit church community and serve God daily in all that they do. They own their home and have wonderful relationships with family and friends. The only regret this happy couple has is that for reasons unknown, in twenty years of marriage, they have been unable to conceive a child.
Throughout the years, the strain of being unable to bring a child into their happy relationship threatens to test their marriage and their faith. However, Monet and Marcus hold on to their relationship with Jesus when times get overwhelming. With God's help, this couple has sustained their love in the midst of disappointments that have destroyed weaker marriages.
Suddenly their happy life, and marriage, takes a turn for the worst after Monet is brutally raped and beaten one night after a shift at her hospital. If that isn't enough, she discovers that she is finally pregnant. Monet, who has waited for so long to have a baby is thrilled, convinced that the child is her husband's. Her husband is devastated because he believes the child is her attacker's, in spite of Monet's unwavering faith. He orders her to terminate the pregnancy, in spite of their Christian values. Monet refuses. Suddenly, the couple is facing the biggest test of faith of their lives because their happy marriage is on the verge of collapsing.
I enjoyed this novel immensely. I appreciated the way the author managed to depict a topic that is a struggle for many Christians: maintaining faith during trials. Marcus becomes angry, prideful, resentful, among other things during the challenging times he is forced to face. The story reminds readers that so many of us are ready to throw in the towel when God allows something to go wrong, even though God never promised to keep us from pain or trials--just to help us through them. Monet's character sends out a message that is essential to many believer's continued walk in the faith: that we must continue to hold on to Christ when we face trials because He will never leave us or forsake us. The wonderful dialogue sent out this essential Christian truth without being "preachy" and the scenes were fast-paced. The author did a great job creating characters that were at different levels of Christian faith and using the event to showcase how different people would react to a tragedy.
I enjoyed this novel. However, I must say--and forgive me for doing so--that there was one negative aspect. The plot did remind me a lot of a novel named Joy by Victoria C. Murray. I am not saying that Michelle Larks copied the novel by Ms. Murray but there was a similarity in the way that both main female characters experience a rape and get pregnant only to have to face their husbands' issues with the pregnancy. Don't get me wrong, once the reader gets past the similarity in the plot between the two novels, it will be easy to see that the characters in this novel are quite different and the theme is presented in a very unique way.
Great novel.
Throughout the years, the strain of being unable to bring a child into their happy relationship threatens to test their marriage and their faith. However, Monet and Marcus hold on to their relationship with Jesus when times get overwhelming. With God's help, this couple has sustained their love in the midst of disappointments that have destroyed weaker marriages.
Suddenly their happy life, and marriage, takes a turn for the worst after Monet is brutally raped and beaten one night after a shift at her hospital. If that isn't enough, she discovers that she is finally pregnant. Monet, who has waited for so long to have a baby is thrilled, convinced that the child is her husband's. Her husband is devastated because he believes the child is her attacker's, in spite of Monet's unwavering faith. He orders her to terminate the pregnancy, in spite of their Christian values. Monet refuses. Suddenly, the couple is facing the biggest test of faith of their lives because their happy marriage is on the verge of collapsing.
I enjoyed this novel immensely. I appreciated the way the author managed to depict a topic that is a struggle for many Christians: maintaining faith during trials. Marcus becomes angry, prideful, resentful, among other things during the challenging times he is forced to face. The story reminds readers that so many of us are ready to throw in the towel when God allows something to go wrong, even though God never promised to keep us from pain or trials--just to help us through them. Monet's character sends out a message that is essential to many believer's continued walk in the faith: that we must continue to hold on to Christ when we face trials because He will never leave us or forsake us. The wonderful dialogue sent out this essential Christian truth without being "preachy" and the scenes were fast-paced. The author did a great job creating characters that were at different levels of Christian faith and using the event to showcase how different people would react to a tragedy.
I enjoyed this novel. However, I must say--and forgive me for doing so--that there was one negative aspect. The plot did remind me a lot of a novel named Joy by Victoria C. Murray. I am not saying that Michelle Larks copied the novel by Ms. Murray but there was a similarity in the way that both main female characters experience a rape and get pregnant only to have to face their husbands' issues with the pregnancy. Don't get me wrong, once the reader gets past the similarity in the plot between the two novels, it will be easy to see that the characters in this novel are quite different and the theme is presented in a very unique way.
Great novel.
August 20, 2011
I don't read much Christian fiction because I think it can be cheesy, but I enjoyed this book. The characters and their struggles felt very real to me instead of all "everything is part of God's plan so nothing bothers me." The ending is predictable, but there were enough surprises throughout the story to keep me interested. I recommend this for anyone who wants to get a feel for the Christian fiction genre without going through too much preaching.
August 16, 2010
I'm a fan of Ms. Larks and I have read and enjoyed all her other books but I had trouble getting into this one and could not finish. I found the subject matter very intrugiuning, but I just couldn't get past some of the religious elements that I didn't agree with. I enjoy most Christin Fiction but at times ( like in this one) the "message" became too heavy for me.
January 20, 2013
This book was really good. When Monet was raped, her husband seemed to back away from her and have a problem with it. It seemed he felt like she shouldn't have the baby because he thought she may have been pregnant by the guy who raped her. She decides to keep the baby, not knowing if she is pregnant by the man who raped her or her husband. Really good read. Read: 2010
April 27, 2014
This was an interesting and very touching novel. It was great from beginning to end. I felt sorry for what happened to Monet and it hurt that Marcus was not by her side but she never lost her Faith..... She put all her trust in God and he stood by her. Great ending glad Marcus finally prayed and asked for forgiveness. ......
August 18, 2012
I thought the book was a very good read. A book must keep my attention in order for me to continue to read. Monet's faith was a strong part of her fight to keep the child that her husband, Marcus, wanted her to terminate. In my opinion, seeing Monet's strength shows how a strong woman should be.
October 17, 2012
For me this was a very intense and excellent read. I love my Urban Christian books. I especially love the characters and how they talk to God during the most diffcult stages in there life. There were a lot of very powerful messages through these pages!
November 3, 2015
Never underestimate the power of prayer. Great read. Marcus had me scared, thinking he had no faith but, like we all know sometimes God has to break us down before he can bring us up. I admire Monet. Her faith is to be commended!
May 28, 2010
Excellent! Great inspiring story of true faith. Faith that is uncompromising.Loved it!!
March 30, 2011
good book
August 26, 2012
This is a great book....will make you cry what she had to go through but I would recommend this book!!!!
May 22, 2013
A very touching story. I could totally relate to Monica & this book inspired me to name my daughter Faith Imani. Definitely a must read!!
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April 10, 2014This book is awesome. I would like a continuation of this book. I really really enjoyed the writing, and details in this author's book. More about Marus,Monet and baby faith. Thanks so much!
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April 8, 2016i love this book it is awesome
August 22, 2016
Pretty good. I'm sure a lot of my friends would enjoy this book!
August 30, 2013
Awesome read!!
April 24, 2017
How do you hang on to the promises of God when everything you see is in opposition to what He has told you? How do you hang on to the love, trust and faith when you've just been hit with the hardest thing you can ever imagine? That's the struggle of Shelby and Marcus have when the enemy comes into their idyllic life like a roaring lion. He has devoured Marcus's trust and faith with just one horrific event. Unable to protect his wife, Marcus feels like both he and God have let her down. On the other side of the fence, in spite if this tragedy, Shelby digs in with all she has to trust and believe in God and in Marcus even though the situation looks bleak and defeated.
With much prayer, a friend who is a prayer warrior, her pastor and much more prayer and scripture standing and trusting, Shelby lives her life truly having faith and taking God at His words no matter what the circumstances. Shelby makes the decision to trust the word that God gave her even though it looked like it would never happen. (She called it the Sarah Syndrome). Time does not change God, but time can change us. Favor will take you, but faith will keep you....
With much prayer, a friend who is a prayer warrior, her pastor and much more prayer and scripture standing and trusting, Shelby lives her life truly having faith and taking God at His words no matter what the circumstances. Shelby makes the decision to trust the word that God gave her even though it looked like it would never happen. (She called it the Sarah Syndrome). Time does not change God, but time can change us. Favor will take you, but faith will keep you....
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February 4, 2019Awesome BOOK!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews