Tag: spirituality

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Back for Good – Jay Jacobs

ramblingmads

Sasha Denning doesn’t ask for anything—ever. Feeling unappreciated and stuck in a
crumbling marriage with her husband, Mark, she’s suddenly given a dramatic escape: a near-death experience. Returning to life with a mission to help others, Sasha is thrust into a series of challenges that range from comical to heart-wrenching.

Zinnia, her determined but rule-bound trainee spirit guide, wants to help Sasha mend her life and marriage. But with The Spirit Guidance Rule Book restricting her every move, Zinnia faces her own struggles to prove she’s ready to qualify. When disaster looms, Zinnia must decide what matters most—her mission, her career, or Sasha and Mark’s future.

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Jay Jacobs, a writer and mother of two, was inspired to write after her sister shared the account of a little boy’s near-death experience. Exploring a wealth of similar stories, uncovering a fascinating and life-affirming perspective, this journey ignited her creativity, resulting in an uplifting novel intended to inspire and resonate with readers seeking hope and transformation.

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My thoughts: This was a bit different from my usual fare, narrated by trainee spirit guide Zinnia, who is watching over Sasha, a mother of three who is rather fed up with her husband Mark, who never helps out at home. After a horrible car accident, Sasha has a near death experience, and the spirit of her Gran takes her on a quick tour of her life and some people who need her help.

Recuperating in hospital, Sasha discovers she’s a bit psychic now and keeps reliving her strange experience. Recovering in record time, she’s determined to at least try to help the people she saw in her vision.

But her marriage is still in decline and her refusal to ask for help is stopping her from putting anything right in her own life. How can she help others but not herself? Zinnia is getting frustrated as she’s not supposed to directly intervene but when something threatens to completely destroy Sasha’s marriage, she can’t help herself. But has she made things or worse?

A quirky and at times very funny book about trying to do the right thing, even when it makes you seem crazy and learning that it’s ok to ask for help and not always put everyone else first.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

books, reviews

Book Review: The Church, Who Needs It? We Do! – Yvonne Bennett and The Women of Mummies Republic

ramblingmads

A group of mums in South London living in poverty come together to form a group to help each other.

They talk of their struggles on Universal credit and the ways in which a pioneer Methodist missionary has brought them together. Not all have a faith, but all believe in the power of prayer. Their struggles escalate as the pandemic lockdown comes into play.

They start a blog and use this to express their feelings. This book is their voice.

My thoughts:

This was a really interesting study looking at the role of the Church (encompassing all denominations) in modern life. The women who attend the Wednesday meetings of Mummies Republic are not all regular church goers but that doesn’t matter. The assistance, support and fellowship they receive there transcends those restrictions.

They find comfort and solace in prayer and their community – as well as practical help and advice as they navigate the ludicrous benefits system and then 2020’s first lockdown. Unable to meet in person they connect via WhatsApp and a blog they take turns contributing to.

While religious faith may be on a decline in the UK, the role the Church can play in providing essential services the government and wider society fail to, is often unrecognised and unsung. From credit unions to food banks, mental health support and even holidays, the Church is there to try to uplift and support its parishioners.

The pioneering work of this South London Church is vital to the lives of the Mummies Republic women, empowering them and supporting them during dark and difficult times. Many of them are single parents, some are survivors of domestic abuse, all of them are struggling.

This slim volume assesses the work being done and also gives voice to this community of women, in their own words, revealing their hopes and fears.

Powerful and moving, it should remind us that we can do more to support the people that are often overlooked and neglected. And that the church is often there (as are temples, mosques, synagogues and gurdwaras) to offer solace and practical support without fanfare.

I was kindly sent a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.