Evangelical Christian writing duo Rue and Arterburn collaborate again in this follow-up to Healing Stones
, the first of many (one hopes) Sullivan Crisp novels. Therapist Crisp re-emerges in this second outing after a stint of therapy he himself undergoes as he grapples with his faith following his wife's suicide and their baby girl's death. Enter the less-than-doted-on obstetrics nurse Lucia Coffey, who is battling her weight, her drug abuser husband and her famous televangelist, miracle-healing sister, Sophia. When Sophia's private plane bursts into flames and her face is burned beyond recognition, Lucia, with all her acumen and saucy wit, takes on the task of tending to her injured sister. What happens during the healing process is both tender and tragic, and psychologist Crisp is dead center in the middle of all the action. This well-written tale will move and engage readers in its volatile mix of questionable religious healing claims and the real deal—inner restoration of the soul. (Dec.)
