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1st out of 25 books
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12 voters
The Reason
by
William Sirls (Goodreads Author)
When facing the impossible, will you believe?
Storm clouds gather over a small Michigan town. As thunder shakes the sky, the lights inside St. Thomas Church flicker . . . and then go out.
All is black until a thick bolt of lightning slices the sky, striking the church's large wooden cross--leaving it ablaze and splintered in two.
When the storm ends--the search for answers be...more
Storm clouds gather over a small Michigan town. As thunder shakes the sky, the lights inside St. Thomas Church flicker . . . and then go out.
All is black until a thick bolt of lightning slices the sky, striking the church's large wooden cross--leaving it ablaze and splintered in two.
When the storm ends--the search for answers be...more
Paperback, 405 pages
Published
September 4th 2012
by Thomas Nelson Publishers
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I am soooo excited! I received this book in the mail today as the result of a giveaway I entered on goodreads first read. I just joined and I already won something so I am going to get reading. OMG, I am so loving this book. I am literally shaking as I read. I love it when a book that is christian based even though it is fiction can be scripturally on point if you will. I have read some reviews alluding to The Shack and although I enjoyed The Shack, I really did...uhhhh, there is something about...more
I'm so excited to have won this book - it sounds wonderful - thank you!!!
This is one of those books that you don't want to end. I've re-read the last 6 chapters 3 times and cried each time. This is a great book!!!
2 likes · like · see review
I received this in the mail today having won it in a Goodreads giveaway. It had a beautiful note enclosed from the author and the book was also personally signed. I am very excited to begin reading The Reason and a review will follow.
***Spitirual tale with a supernatural twist from debut author***
The Reason, a story of supernatural suspense with a spiritual twist by debut author William Sirls, asks readers to set reason aside and “only believe” when belief in anything seems impossible. It’s a courageous story of hope from viewpoints of a terminally ill child, a single mother without hope and the surrogate family they live with, a blind pastor, wife and mute son. Then there’s the addicted friend, the month’s long comatose pa...more
The Reason, a story of supernatural suspense with a spiritual twist by debut author William Sirls, asks readers to set reason aside and “only believe” when belief in anything seems impossible. It’s a courageous story of hope from viewpoints of a terminally ill child, a single mother without hope and the surrogate family they live with, a blind pastor, wife and mute son. Then there’s the addicted friend, the month’s long comatose pa...more
What a remarkable story! Hard to believe it was the author's first.
Neither a splintered cross, an abused and alcoholic woman, a comatose patient, an embittered doctor, a blind pastor nor a cancer-ridden little boy are beyond the power of God to restore and heal. A seemingly random lightning strike brings them all together, and then each one is touched by a mysterious construction worker named Kenneth, who challenges everyone he meets to "only believe."
See genuine Christian fellowship in action...more
Neither a splintered cross, an abused and alcoholic woman, a comatose patient, an embittered doctor, a blind pastor nor a cancer-ridden little boy are beyond the power of God to restore and heal. A seemingly random lightning strike brings them all together, and then each one is touched by a mysterious construction worker named Kenneth, who challenges everyone he meets to "only believe."
See genuine Christian fellowship in action...more
Lightning strikes the cross outside a small church in Michigan and the pastor, wondering how the congregation will afford to mend it, hears the words, “Only believe.”
Belief is powerful theme in William Sirls’ novel The Reason—belief, the possibility of miracles, and the certainty that God always has a reason for what happens in this world. Doctors and nurses in the hospital, pastor and wounded child, single mom, friends who drink too much, and many more townspeople will be drawn together in a ci...more
Belief is powerful theme in William Sirls’ novel The Reason—belief, the possibility of miracles, and the certainty that God always has a reason for what happens in this world. Doctors and nurses in the hospital, pastor and wounded child, single mom, friends who drink too much, and many more townspeople will be drawn together in a ci...more
I came across this book in a 'Nook Daily Find' e-mail. This was my first time reading a Christian fiction book, and this is my first review ever. So bear with me. (I will not put in a summary. Isn't there already a summary on the book page?)
A few things to note.
Characters: I thought this was one aspect that was extremely well-done. I believe every reader can identify with at least one of the characters. We all face pain, sin, feelings of unworthiness, and unbelief. I myself have constantly asked...more
A few things to note.
Characters: I thought this was one aspect that was extremely well-done. I believe every reader can identify with at least one of the characters. We all face pain, sin, feelings of unworthiness, and unbelief. I myself have constantly asked...more
At St. Thomas Church, the cross on the front lawn is a beacon of hope; that is, until a lightning strike leaves it in splinters. Many of the people around the church are as broken as the cross: Carla, who can't forgive or forget the secrets of her childhood; Brooke, who faced life alone as a single mother until meeting the minister and his family; and Zach, the doctor who cannot forgive himself for a past failure. But when a mysterious stranger arrives on the scene to repair the cross, they find...more
When facing the impossible, will you believe?
Storm clouds gather over a small Michigan town. As thunder shakes the sky, the lights inside St. Thomas Church flicker . . . and then go out.
All is black until a thick bolt of lightning slices the sky, striking the church’s large wooden cross—leaving it ablaze and splintered in two.
When the storm ends—the search for answers begins.
James Lindy, the church’s blind minister, wonders how his small congregation can repair the cross and keep their faith in...more
Storm clouds gather over a small Michigan town. As thunder shakes the sky, the lights inside St. Thomas Church flicker . . . and then go out.
All is black until a thick bolt of lightning slices the sky, striking the church’s large wooden cross—leaving it ablaze and splintered in two.
When the storm ends—the search for answers begins.
James Lindy, the church’s blind minister, wonders how his small congregation can repair the cross and keep their faith in...more
I received a copy of THE REASON by William Sirls from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze. I normally whip right through books, but this one took me a while to read. It wasn’t bad, but I had trouble getting into the voice. I couldn’t put my finger on anything in particular; it was just a personal preference.
I did enjoy the characters. I found them realistic and the dialogue reminded me of talk I hear every day. The descriptions were excellent. I could picture everything as if I was there. The use of l...more
I did enjoy the characters. I found them realistic and the dialogue reminded me of talk I hear every day. The descriptions were excellent. I could picture everything as if I was there. The use of l...more
A storm decimates a large cross outside a local church. A young oncologist works with a beloved patient who doesn't respond to treatment, and his young mother fights to have faith in what she can't see. Meanwhile, the so-called construction worker who miraculously restored the cross has a hand in many unexplainable events throughout town. Could there be more to him than meets the eye? If so, does that mean that there is a Creator behind this life we try to control?
Sirls writes an exciting and su...more
Sirls writes an exciting and su...more
Bringing God's word to life in today's world is a basic tenet of contemporary fiction and most readers come away with a warm, fuzzy feeling after reading such titles. We feel comfortable with the life and faith changes made by the characters and are assured that God has good things in store for their future. Novels like William Sirls' The Reason moves beyond those comfortable boundaries into a modern setting which is visited by a presence that surely is directly from God. When miraculous events...more
A mysterious stranger comes to town, and keeps telling people to “only believe.” It quickly becomes apparent that he’s responsible for a number of healings and miracles that happen in the town, including restoration of a cross that’s been nearly destroyed by lightning.
I really enjoyed The Reason. It is a book full of miracles, with very likable yet authentic characters. The main characters are Alex, a little boy who has cancer, and Brooke, his single mother who wrestles with why God would allow...more
I really enjoyed The Reason. It is a book full of miracles, with very likable yet authentic characters. The main characters are Alex, a little boy who has cancer, and Brooke, his single mother who wrestles with why God would allow...more
A nearly seven foot man, who cannot speak, a blind pastor, a single mother with a little boy, and on the fringe of it all a drunk fallen woman who is just trying to keep her life together. This is the Lindy household, all managed and cared for by Shirley Lindy, the pastor's wife. What brought such an odd group together? Their love for each other, and the love of the pastor and his wife. Brooke and her little boy Alex live with Pastor Lindy and his wife Shirley and their very large son Charlie. T...more
I often begin a review with "This is a story about", list the main character and describe the story from that character's viewpoint. That approach doesn't work with The Reason, by William Sirls. There is no main character. Instead, there are many lovable, memorable characters.
The story is centered around Alex, a five-year old who is diagnosed with leukemia early in the book. He and his mother Brooke, a single mother who was never married, live with Jim and Shirley Lindy. Jim, who has been blind...more
The story is centered around Alex, a five-year old who is diagnosed with leukemia early in the book. He and his mother Brooke, a single mother who was never married, live with Jim and Shirley Lindy. Jim, who has been blind...more
The book for review is “The Reason” by William Sirls
This is a hard book to review for me. I don’t care what genre or age group the novel is for it needs a hook on the first page. By the end of chapter three I still had not found it. I had no reason to keep on reading it if it was not for the requirement that was placed on me.
The characters gosh there are so many of them it clutters the book. The story line while is good and has potential is never fully developed. Maybe that was the intend. The t...more
This is a hard book to review for me. I don’t care what genre or age group the novel is for it needs a hook on the first page. By the end of chapter three I still had not found it. I had no reason to keep on reading it if it was not for the requirement that was placed on me.
The characters gosh there are so many of them it clutters the book. The story line while is good and has potential is never fully developed. Maybe that was the intend. The t...more
First of all, I will let you know that my review of the novel The Reason is definitely influenced by the place I am in at this time of my life. I have just finished spending two weeks in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital with my mother. The things we as a family witness and experienced during that time and after have caused us to be more aware of the miracles around us than we were before that.
Having said that, I really enjoyed The Reason, and would recommend it to everyone. There was one p...more
Having said that, I really enjoyed The Reason, and would recommend it to everyone. There was one p...more
Ok, so.... stunning cover.
I can't really think of any other stalling points so let's just get down to this.
I didn't like it. At all.
I found it really far fetched and unbelievable, and I get that that was the point. Only believe. But still. I just really didn't care for the whole idea that this Jesus-man was walking around on earth when, in reality, we know He's not coming back before the last day. And I get that it's fiction, as a fiction novelist I can fully appreciate that. But I still didn'...more
I can't really think of any other stalling points so let's just get down to this.
I didn't like it. At all.
I found it really far fetched and unbelievable, and I get that that was the point. Only believe. But still. I just really didn't care for the whole idea that this Jesus-man was walking around on earth when, in reality, we know He's not coming back before the last day. And I get that it's fiction, as a fiction novelist I can fully appreciate that. But I still didn'...more
Brooke Thomas is cleaning her small church with her son, Alex, when the lights go out in an electrical storm, and the huge wooden cross outside the building is destroyed by lightening. She lives with the Lindy family: Pastor Jim, the blind pastor, his wife Shirley, and Charlie, their seven-foot, 355-pound son who hadn’t spoken a single word in his life.
Carla Miller is Brooke’s best friend, and has her own problems. A mysterious stranger appears in a bar, shows Carla an apple, tells her she has...more
Carla Miller is Brooke’s best friend, and has her own problems. A mysterious stranger appears in a bar, shows Carla an apple, tells her she has...more
The members of one church find out what it truly means to be at the center of a most unforgettable day.
When the cross is destroyed that has become a comfort to many a weary soul and a symbol of faith for the St Thomas church on one strange and stormy night the pastor and parisoners wonder how it will be fixed without adequate funds and manpower.
Brooke, mother to a young vivacious red haired boy Alex, comes to realize the biggest challenges are those that sometimes lie unfulfilled. Alex's timid a...more
When the cross is destroyed that has become a comfort to many a weary soul and a symbol of faith for the St Thomas church on one strange and stormy night the pastor and parisoners wonder how it will be fixed without adequate funds and manpower.
Brooke, mother to a young vivacious red haired boy Alex, comes to realize the biggest challenges are those that sometimes lie unfulfilled. Alex's timid a...more
This is a special book. Truth be told, I edited it, so I feel a unique kinship with the story and the author. This is not a literary read, but a popular one, accessible to all. I love that aspect of it; I can see myself handing it to a broad spectrum of friends and family and them all enjoying it.
THE REASON reminded me of THE SHACK, in its ability to bring a new spin to old, old subjects of faith and life and struggle and redemption...and yet this novel stays true to good theology. I loved the t...more
THE REASON reminded me of THE SHACK, in its ability to bring a new spin to old, old subjects of faith and life and struggle and redemption...and yet this novel stays true to good theology. I loved the t...more
The Reason
William Sirls
In a small town in Michigan a storm is brewing. As the storm builds the lights inside St. Thomas church go out, then the night sky is brightened by a lone lightning strike that splits the wooden cross outside of the church. Since it is a small congregation the blind minister wonders how they will repair the damage that was wrought. When Macey Lewis, an oncologist at the local hospital, finds out about the dilemma she gathers a group of strangers together to repair what was...more
William Sirls
In a small town in Michigan a storm is brewing. As the storm builds the lights inside St. Thomas church go out, then the night sky is brightened by a lone lightning strike that splits the wooden cross outside of the church. Since it is a small congregation the blind minister wonders how they will repair the damage that was wrought. When Macey Lewis, an oncologist at the local hospital, finds out about the dilemma she gathers a group of strangers together to repair what was...more
This is a story with a history. William Sirls began writing this book several years ago, but rewrote it after spending time in prison for wire fraud and money laundering. He intended to self-publish through WestBow Press, but God had other ideas. WestBow Press is the self-publishing arm of Thomas Nelson and, due to the amazing reader response it received, the division passed the book to its partner. The rest, as they say, is history.
I’m brave enough to admit that I didn’t want to like this book....more
I’m brave enough to admit that I didn’t want to like this book....more
William Sirls in his new book, “The Reason” published by Thomas Nelson takes us to into the lives of the residents of a small town in Michigan.
From the back cover: When facing the impossible, will you believe?
Storm clouds gather over a small Michigan town. As thunder shakes the sky, the lights inside St. Thomas Church flicker . . . and then go out.
All is black until a thick bolt of lightning slices the sky, striking the church’s large wooden cross—leaving it ablaze and splintered in two.
When the...more
From the back cover: When facing the impossible, will you believe?
Storm clouds gather over a small Michigan town. As thunder shakes the sky, the lights inside St. Thomas Church flicker . . . and then go out.
All is black until a thick bolt of lightning slices the sky, striking the church’s large wooden cross—leaving it ablaze and splintered in two.
When the...more
During a horrible storm, lightning strikes the huge wooden cross outside of St. Thomas' Church - Pastor Jim Lindy and his almost nonexistent congregation do not have the funds to replace it. When little five year old Alex Thomas and his mother Brooke, who live with Pastor Lindy, his wife Shirley and grown son Charlie, mention it at the hospital where he's having tests done, Dr. Macey Lewis rounds up a few people to lend a hand. They include her co-worker Dr. Zach Norman, NP Kaitlyn Harby , and c...more
Well, written. Very well written. The people in the story, very interesting. You get drawn into their own personal stories. As usual for me, when there a lot of different people with their own stories being introduced, it takes me a little while to keep them all straight, but it was fairly easy to catch up and was well worth it. I give it 5 stars *****. Some may say that it was predictable in some ways, but while that may be true I still totally enjoyed it. Totally enjoyed the friendship between...more
I received "The Reason" through the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway. I was very excited and pleasantly surprised to find my copy signed by the author, William Sirls, and a thoughtful note tucked inside. Thank you!!
The characters in the book are brought together by a storm and a cross.
The events that follow, from the repair of the cross, to the choices each one makes to Only Believe and to feel the love and healing power of God brought me closer to God as well.
I refrain from talking about each cha...more
The characters in the book are brought together by a storm and a cross.
The events that follow, from the repair of the cross, to the choices each one makes to Only Believe and to feel the love and healing power of God brought me closer to God as well.
I refrain from talking about each cha...more
"The Reason" is a book that I won through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway. And, I am so very glad that I was chosen to receive this book. It is marvelous and inspiring.
From the very first page I was hooked. It is a book that I will surely reread again and again; clearly one of my favorites by far. The final pages had me in tears and it was hard to see the print on the page. This is a very awe inspiring book giving us life's lesson in faith, patience, forgiveness and the ability to JUST BELIEV...more
From the very first page I was hooked. It is a book that I will surely reread again and again; clearly one of my favorites by far. The final pages had me in tears and it was hard to see the print on the page. This is a very awe inspiring book giving us life's lesson in faith, patience, forgiveness and the ability to JUST BELIEV...more
In the beginning of the book, I was having trouble keeping track of who was who. Was Macey the doctor and Kaitlyn the nurse? Which one dated Dr. Zach? Once I got the characters down, it was smooth sailing.
This book is a must read! It made me laugh, get angry, become frustrated and heartbroken. Keep the tissues around; this book will make you cry. These characters become a little family through the instances in the story and the book makes you feel like you are a part of that family as well. Thi...more
This book is a must read! It made me laugh, get angry, become frustrated and heartbroken. Keep the tissues around; this book will make you cry. These characters become a little family through the instances in the story and the book makes you feel like you are a part of that family as well. Thi...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who is Kenneth? | 2 | 6 | Feb 16, 2013 09:38am |
Over the course of his life, William Sirls has experienced both great highs and tremendous lows--some born of chance, some born of choice. Once a senior vice president at a major investment firm, he was incarcerated in 2007 for wire fraud and money laundering, where he learned a great deal more than he ever bargained for. Life lessons involving faith, grace, patience, and forgiveness are evident i...more
More about William Sirls...
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