Adventure Between the Pages: Colliding with Destiny: Finding Hope in the Legacy of Ruth by Sarah Jakes

Buy it HereAge Appropriate For: 16 and up for some subject matterBest for Ages: 16 and up
Description: The story of Ruth is a journey of transformation. By allowing God to transform her circumstances, Ruth went from a widow who would be excluded from society to a wife with a secure and protected future, a future that ultimately paved the way for the birth of King David! Her story is full of collision--loss, heartache, poverty, even shame--but she never let her past define her. Instead, the most painful time of her life became her most pivotal, propelling her to a destiny she never imagined. Perhaps you have a past you're struggling to overcome. If disappointments, whether a result of your own choices or the actions of others, have kept you from being your true self, this book is for you. Follow Ruth's life and discover the hope available to each of us. Your yesterday does not have to dictate your tomorrow. Despite your past pain, you, too, can find redemption and restoration.
This is my first book by Jakes, and I really am impressed. She has found a great balance in sharing about her broken past, without going into so much detail that the message of her book was lost in the gritty details. I applaud her honesty and her message.
Ruth has always been a favorite character of mine in the bible, second only to Joseph of the Old Testament.  I was very excited to see Jakes’ take on this story of love, forgiveness and second chances.  Though not exactly what I expected, I felt she did a good job.
Each chapter begins with some verses from the book of Ruth. Jakes than draws from her life and crafts a lesson from each chapter. The format, although not what I expected, was nice and made for easy reading. Some of the lessons that she drew from the verses were a bit of a stretch – such as, Jakes says that when Boaz first noticed her, it was because she conducted herself confidently. However, most of the book is very biblically sound.
This book, while good, was not a real challenge for me. It seemed to contain the same information I had read elsewhere and did not add to my understanding of life or the Bible. I also felt the writing was a bit weak. It wasn’t terrible, it just wasn’t as strong as I like in my non-fiction.
I recommend this book for those who love Ruth, honest non-fiction, and non-fiction that is easy to read.
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I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.