The Hardest Peace: Expecting Grace in the Midst of Life's Hard by Kara Tippetts REVIEW and GIVE-A-WAY

Last week I finished a book that was...well...

Breathtaking and life-giving.

Seriously an incredible book. 

It's not one that's going to leave you laughing or one that's light-hearted entertainment.

It's a tough one.

But...

an ABSOLUTE treasure of a book. 

A must read. 

Many may have read or heard about the young woman that has made the decision to end her life on a specific day coming up soon rather than face her last days going through THE HARD PLACES of cancer. Many may have also heard or read Kara's response to that on the radio or in social media in recent days.  Kara has made a different choice: to walk in dignity and hope in Christ NO MATTER how hard the journey. This is book is written by the same Kara and it's one that will change your life if you let it. 

Her story is definitely about being in the HARD place.  The hardest place.  Yet, she writes with such life giving hope and inspiration.  It's been quite awhile since I've chosen to participate in product or book reviews and I'm so very glad that I chose this one as the "jump back in." 

I'm not going to lie:  it wasn't easy to read. It was raw and real. So very honest and vulnerable. I found myself heartbroken for a family I do not know, but yet so very thankful for a family that is facing such hard situations with such hope in Christ.  I know without a doubt that this woman and her family are living examples of "well done good and faithful servant." 

Aside from the fact that this book is written by a beautiful mother facing final stages of cancer that has ruthlessly ravaged her body and spread and chronicles different times throughout this journey, it's about FAR more than just the cancer journey.  It's about the true peace that comes from a life in Christ---the peace that comes even when you're kicking and screaming for a different outcome or in a very fearful, uncertain place.  It's a book that can change EACH and EVERY one of us, despite what "our" hard place may be.  It's a book that can change your parenting, your role as a spouse, and most importantly can draw you CLOSER to Christ.  

When you write from those raw and vulnerable places as she has BEAUTIFULLY done, you draw others in to looking for that same peace.  As the title suggests:  THE HARDEST PEACE---grace in the midst of life's hard.

The book may leave you with many moments of tears and rawness, but it will also fill you with a hope that can't be described.  I started jotting down page numbers of mentionable quotes that I found great lessons in and I soon found my page full of notes.  Though I initially read for the purpose of review and to "find out more" about this beautiful women currently on christian radio programs and sprinkled throughout social media, I now find myself ready to go back and read again with wanting to grasp deeper and deeper the many truths about facing life and it's hard places.  This book is FILLED with them. 

One reader of my blog will be chosen at random to receive a copy of this book.  To enter, just simply comment on THIS blog post  (or the facebook link)  that you would like to be entered.  Just PLEASE be sure to leave an email so that I may contact you for shipping information should you be chosen as the winner.  Winner will be chosen on 10/21/2014 and entries will be counted until noon CST that day.  

Below you will find information from the publisher about the book and the "fine print" details of the rules and required disclosures/notices.  

Kara’s Blog: mundanefaithfulness.com

Follow her on Instagram: http://instagram.com/tippetts

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mother_to_many

About the book:

Kara Tippetts knows the ordinary days of mothering four kids, the joy of watching her children grow…and the devastating reality of stage-IV cancer. 

In The Hardest Peace, Kara invites readers to see the grace of the everyday in all seasons of life and to live well even when the living is hard. This book is an invitation to join her in moving away from fear and control and toward peace and grace. Just as the thousands of people who read her blog know, Tippetts explores the hardest questions of life with rare beauty and honesty. Most of all, she draws them back to the God who is present, in the ordinary and the suffering, and shapes every life into the best story of all.

About Kara:

Kara Tippetts and her husband, Jason, have four children and are planting a church in Colorado Springs, CO. Cancer is only part of Kara’s story. Her real fight is to truly live while facing a crushing reality. She blogs faithfully at mundanefaithfulness.com.

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many  thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”