He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not Review

Faith Words

ISBN 10: 1599957132

Release Date: April 30, 2008

Christian Memoir

www.trishryanonline.com

Reviewer: Deb Fowler

Trish was a royal flop in the romance department. She lined them up like ducks in a row and there was always some circumstance or incident that shot them right out from under her. Every Mr. Right turned out to be Mr. Wrong, especially the abusive clod she married. He was a two time loser who could have used a few anger management classes, but she just didn't see it coming. In her newly released book, He Loves Me, He Loves Me NOT: A Memoir of Finding Faith, Hope, and Happily Ever After, Trish Ryan sheepishly states that she was "too embarrassed to admit that I still couldn't get a relationship to work.

"There was Tim, there was Mark, there was Chip, there was Josh and there was even Drew, who after a date or two entertained her with thoughts of his bisexual urges. Trish gave herself crash courses in practically everything from astrology to feng shui in order to attract a mate. Nothing seemed to help. Her prospects for marriage and a family appeared to be dismal at best until she started to think about something that was said to her about taking Jesus a bit more seriously. She purged her life of all idolatrous books and items she owned and started to take note of her life, especially her relationship with Jesus (or lack of it).

She began to attend the Vineyard church. With a whirlwind of men, jobs and homes behind her, perhaps she would find a place to safely land. Her social life began to pick up. Trish suddenly found a new sense of belonging and took a five-month "crash course in the Word of God." A friend handed her a Bible stating that "this is the self-help book you've been looking for." Would Trish Ryan find what she had been looking for all along? Would she find herself? Would she find herself a Mr. Right?

I really enjoyed reading Trish Ryan's memoir. Many Christian memoirs I've read come off quite preachy from the first sentence and I'm reluctant even to get to page two, let alone the ending. I like that Trish candidly admitted her fallibility, didn't dwell on it and went on to relate how she had changed. Her relationship with Jesus didn't develop overnight and from the look of it, it will be a lifetime commitment and joy to her. I don't really care for the one-size-fits-all Christian memoir, but this one is somehow different. It's a keeper. This book would be an excellent choice for the budding or self-doubting Christian.