Review: Shadowed Sweetness
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 1, 2010
Shadowed SweetnessIn All ThingsCopyright  2010 by Shawna K. WilliamsISBN 10: 1-936000-98-9ISBN 13: 978-1-936000-98-2It's a worm...no it's a pet. Jakob's daughter Rachel's compassion for all creatures frames this lovingly crafted sequel to Shawna K. Williams's debut novel No Other. Ten years' worth of all their dreams coming true teeters too far on the up side, and like the playground toy, eventually the weighted side comes crashing down.From the publisher:Meredith Louis's Hollywood career is at a point of transition. No longer under Majestic Studios control, Meri is free to broaden her appeal as an actress and finally earn the recognition she desires. Meri and Jakob return to their hometown for the holidays where Meri hopes to reconcile with her parents after a decade of silence. But after a disastrous encounter, Meri is plunged into turmoil as old fears resurface in unexpected ways. Jakob, already dealing with unresolved family issues of his own, is further burdened by his inability to help his wife. Can he learn to step aside and trust God's plan. Will Meri recognize what she already has?In All Things is a story of faith and restoration, cemented in the belief, "...that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."ebook release Nov.1st, 2010. Desert Breeze PublishingMy review:Williams's achingly sweet characters from No Other return, a few years down the road, seasoned with too much success and the contempt of familiarity. Lack of communication, the old fears of unworthiness on both sides and misplaced trust crept into a once unshakeable relationship that defied the odds of society and convention, and even faith. But faith had been the bedrock of their marriage. Was it, too, set aside once Jakob and Meri's dreams were realized?Any career set in public spotlights is bound to change a person, and Meri Wilheimer, aka Louis, is no exception. One must trust Hollywood movie professionals when you're an actress, not one's spouse. Meri has gotten out of the habit of trusting the person who promised to make her dreams come true. Jakob tried hard to compete in his own field of architecture with his wife's cinema success and never quite felt as though he measured up. A trip home also sends them back in time to face their fears and the truths they thought they no longer needed.Williams's beautiful pacing and language and unabashed reality set up another faith-filled journey of facing one's fears and forgiveness. The drama of 1950s Hollywood, the tenderness of family, and the enjoyment of life's simple pleasures combine to grip the reader from the start with a genuine, unique reading experience. No matter how much we love our families, no matter our financial success, we're still the sum of the experiences that mold us. Williams reminds us that there is no other better substitute for faith in God, whom we can most assuredly trust with and in all things.