Description
As the lackluster youngest daughter of a U.S. Senator, Roxie DePrive spends her life thirsting for one thing: to be loved unconditionally.
So, when her first boyfriend turns into her first marriage, Roxie’s life undergoes a drastic change. And when that first marriage doesn’t work out, she marries again.
And again.
Until Roxie marries five times.
The first marriage is puppy love, then dangerous love, convenient love, wishful love, and one that might possibly be the real deal.
And yet, none of the men she marries can quench the thirst she feels in her heart. It’s only when she meets a man who knows her entire life and all her mistakes that Roxie learns the power of something else—the deep and abiding peace of Living Water.
A modern retelling of the Woman at the Well in the New Testament, Living Water shows us that no matter our past, it’s God’s love that truly quenches the thirst of our souls.
Details
- Rating: ☆☆☆☆
- Title: Living Water
- Author: Allison Wells
- Genre: Christian, Women’s Fiction
- Length: 296 pages
- Publisher: Monster Ivy Press
- Release Date: May 4, 2021
My Thoughts
At a young age Roxie marries against her parents’ wishes. The feelings of being noticed and seemingly valued by a boy win her over. But there are dire consequences. The first being that her parents feel so strongly regarding the fact that she not marry, that they basically disown her for going against their wishes. Unfortunately, in time even her sister judges her and stops communicating.
And thus her life starts down the slippery slide. And at times that slide is very very lonely.
Eventually she marries four more times. Each man seems fine to her in the beginning, but each marriage ends in failure.
Wells does a marvelous job of taking a plot that doesn’t leave much to the imagination, and injecting the emotions and characters that are needed to make it a great book.
My Concerns
While it is compared to a modern retelling of the Woman at the Well in the New Testament, I prefer to think of it as simply Christian Fiction. Perhaps after more thought I will see the comparison, but right now I struggle with it.
But that’s a very small concern. In fact, that might be the little nudge you need to pick the book up. Just to see if you agree with the comparison.
*As I was working on my post I came across Marie Pinkham’s review of Living Water. With her permission I’m quoting part of it here. I’ve chosen to leave my Concern listed, just in case my confusion and Marie’s insight help you as well.
I loved this story based on the woman who met Jesus at the well. I think a lot of us, not having all the facts, may have misjudged her. So it is with Roxie, the young woman we meet in this book. Longing to be loved for who she is, Rosie meets and marries five different men. The end of each marriage just adds to Roxie’s view that there must be something wrong with her. And the lies and judgement of those in her world just keep piling on. But each relationship teaches her a little more about herself and the world, and she grows a little more. It takes meeting a wise man to help her see that she is loved beyond measure by the One who really counts.
Final Thoughts
This is a wonderful story, with lessons and thoughts that continue to be understood and recognized the more I think about it. The writing is exceptionally well done and though the story seems very straightforward, Wells manages to make it very interesting, emotional, and thought-provoking.
My thanks to Monster Ivy Press for a copy of this book and the ability to post a review without any stipulations.
Rating
About the Author
Allison Wells is an avid reader, writer, and author. She graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Communications and she spent several years as a newspaper reporter who quickly grew tired of always writing bad news. She began writing novels with happy endings. Bell of the Night is her newest release and the one she is most proud of. She lives in the foothills of South Carolina with her husband and four children. Allison’s motto is “Life is short, eat the Oreos.”
