Reinventing Rachel

By Alison Strobel

Chapter 1

Rachel Westing pulled into the parking lot of Beach Cities Church and finished the last sip of Ethiopian Harrar she’d been nursing. The exotic coffee had required a half hour detour up the coast, but she’d needed a break from the seminary application she had been working on that morning before frustration made her head explode. The traffic on Beach Boulevard had given her plenty of time to think, but she was no clearer on the essay she still needed to write. Rare coffee usually sparked her creativity, but as she left the cool cocoon of her car for the SoCal May heat, she resigned herself to the fact that she was no closer to starting her paper than she’d been over an hour ago.

The worship team was polishing their set in the sanctuary when Rachel arrived. Despite feeling like a raincloud of consternation followed her, she sang along with the leader as he came to the chorus. The love of God is greater far, Than tongue or pen can ever tell… Upon hearing the words, warmth spread through her, and the cloud began to dissipate. The concept of God’s love would never cease to amaze her.

Rachel exchanged waves with fellow volunteers as they caught each other’s eyes, basking in the familiarity and security she always felt when she entered the building. After setting her Bible in her usual spot, she headed back out to the foyer where the associate pastor’s wife was preparing the refreshments table with coffee and cookies.”

What readers are saying about Reinventing Rachel:

For every reader who has doubted God through troubled times, this book is for you.

~ Rene Gutteridge, author of Listen and Never the Bride

I lent this book to a friend—and she called it a life-altering story. Way to go, Alison!

~ Melody Carlson, author of The Four Lindas and 86 Bloomberg Place

What the book is about:

God let Rachel Westing down. For twenty-six years she’s done everything by the book; she figures He should have her back. But then she learns her fiancé is cheating on her. Her parents are getting a divorce. And her Christian mentor has a pill addiction. Where is God in all this? Nowhere, as far as Rachel can see. Wounded, bitter, and with a shattered faith, she quits her job and goes across the country to live with Daphne—her childhood best friend whose soul Rachel once thought she was meant to save.

Confident, successful, fun-loving Daphne sets about helping Rachel reinvent herself, and for a while it’s exciting. But when another tragedy shakes Rachel to the core, what little bit of self-possession she has left begins to unravel. A true-to-life story that will draw you in and keep you biting your nails until the end.

Drop by http://www.alisonstrobel.com/ for more about Alison and her books!–Lyn