Gypsy for God

by Yvonne M. Morgan

In "Gypsy for God," author Yvonne M Morgan takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and purpose. Kathleen, a middle-aged woman, finds herself at a crossroads after losing her job. Fueled by fear and doubt, she sets out to find meaning in her life. Through a new career as a travel agent, Kathleen begins to flourish, but her fears still hold her back from truly living. It isn't until an unexpected encounter that God begins to reveal His plans for her. As she travels to new countries, Kathleen discovers the true purpose for her life. "Gypsy for God" offers a message of hope for readers of all ages and backgrounds, reminding us that it's never too late to find our calling. Don't miss this heartwarming and inspiring tale of faith, courage, and purpose. Experience the transformative power of God in "Gypsy for God" and discover your own unexpected purpose for life.

Genres: Christian Fiction

332 pages, Paperback

Published June 11, 2023

About the author

✍️ Yvonne M. Morgan is an award-winning Christian author, blogger, and storyteller with a passion for inspiring faith and compassion through her writing. She is the author of heartfelt children’s books, including Mary the Missionary: A Kenyan Adventure, as well as Christian devotionals and inspirational works for adults. Drawing from her experiences in global mission work, Yvonne weaves stories that encourage readers—both young and old—to live with purpose, kindness, and a heart for serving others. When she’s not writing, Yvonne advocates for orphans and vulnerable children through Orphan Relief Effort, sharing God’s love across cultures and generations. Find out more about me and my books at https://yvonne-morgan.com

Reviews

[Danelle✍🏽 Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathleen Johnson feels like a failure. Her time as a successful career woman has come to an abrupt end and so has the comfortable life she was accustomed to. Lost and filled with anxious thoughts about her future, Kathleen becomes depressed and is ready to give up on life. But unbeknownst to her, God has already started making plans ensuring that she fulfills her true purpose in life. But the extremely controlling Kathleen has problems with letting others take charge and struggles with handing her life's reins over to God. Later, events in Kathleen's life force her to come face to face with her shortcomings and she must decide whether she is willing to allow God to guide and aid her in facing her fears and self-doubt or instead remain stubborn and lost.

Gypsy for God is a heartwarming and unforgettable novel about what it means to put your trust in God entirely; to let go of fears and anxieties and just let Him lead the way. Kathleen was wonderful as the scared and unsure heroine and Yvonne's ability to create lovable characters soon became apparent after a few chapters as each of the characters developed. Kathleen and Sam's relationship was beautiful, highlighting the ups and downs of marriage and the love and understanding that goes with it. The pace kept me glued to the pages and curious as to where their next adventure might take them! Gypsy for God will change your life and how you see the world forever. I recommend this moving novel to those determined to make a difference and those who want to but don't know where to start.

[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Gypsy for God” is a heartwarming story that captures the essence of personal growth, faith, and purpose.

Kathleen’s journey after retirement unfolds, revealing her transformation as she embraces change and trusts God’s guidance. Her unique experiences make her relatable, and the universal theme of navigating change resonates.

Though my circumstances were very different, this story made me reminiscent of when my role of raising my children switched to becoming an empty nester, mother-in-law, and grandmother. Change is a transformative time in anyone’s life, and Kathleen’s changes and growth are incredibly stimulating.

This is an inspirational book for anyone facing, experiencing, or desiring change in their lives. It reminds us of the profound rewards that come from embracing change with faith in God’s direction.

First Line: This was the worst Friday of my career.
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction
Author: Yvonne M. Morgan
Page Count: 332

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.

[Wendy Andrus]

This story resonates with me, since I am in a similar stage in my life. I homeschooled my children for a quarter of a century; my youngest graduated in June, 2022. Then I was full time care giver to my mother, until she passed away in March, 2023. Now I am trying to find out what God wants me to do, how He wants me to serve Him, how to have a source of income.

If you find yourself in a similar phase, I recommend this source of encouragement. If you enjoy books about traveling, and mission work, add this one to your TBR list.

[Narita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathleen Johnson was comfortable with her years of being an accountant. Her life and routine were predictable and satisfying. At 65 she planned to retire. As with all of us, life can throw unpredictable and surprising curves. Through no fault of her own she loses her job at the age of fifty.
Gone is the life she has known for so many years, her purpose and her identity. Now what? Nothing comes into our life that God has not approved and always for His purpose and our good. New opportunities await but we have trouble seeing them because we keep looking back and not forward. The Lord was putting into motion for her to serve Him in a totally new way she would have never dreamed of and definitely out of her comfort zone. She becomes a travel agent, and she begins traveling with her husband. This may not sound earth shattering but considering her anxiety of traveling it is a big step. She trusts the Lord with every new adventure and the fears that accompany it, and He gives her the courage and strength with each step.
Blessings abound. Her marriage is strengthened; she experiences cultures and people she had only read about but most of all God guides her into areas of service for Him she could have never dreamed of.
Kathleens emotional struggles were so realistic. I saw many of her questions and doubts were the same ones I had in life altering moments. I found it inspiring that no matter how confusing or intense her feelings she turned it all over to God, trusting Him for the answers.
I liked how real Kathleen’s relationship with her husband was. There were disagreements, moments of hurt, but they did not get stuck at those points. Their love, commitment and forgiveness carried them through.
I too have anxiety about traveling especially to other countries, so I could totally relate. Therefore, I enjoyed hearing her descriptions of all the cultures, people, food and surprises she experienced. A wonderful story!

[Linda M. Rhinehart Neas]

Ivonne Morgan has crafted an inspiring tale of how a woman blessed with the ability to recreate herself after retirement finds, through a series of epiphanies, the work she has always felt she was born to do.

Gypsy for God is a work of love and faith. This books looks at the dichotomy between privilege, poverty, disease and the horrors of human trafficking.

Kathleen, the protagonist of the book, not only has to come to grips with her own self-doubts and biases, but she also has to deal with a husband who has trouble seeing through her eyes. However, through deep faith and support, she realizes the path she is to follow as she travels the world, visiting various countries that often take her out of her comfort zone, which in turn opens her eyes and heart to the work she is called to do.

Gypsy for God is about asking ourselves those difficult questions and then listening with an open mind and heart to the answers.

I recommend this book, especially for women who are retiring or struggling to find their place in this world. Gypsy for God will assist in illuminating whatever path the reader is walking.

[Patti Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gypsy for God by Yvonne M Morgan is contemporary Christian fiction. Imagine you are middle-aged and you lose your job. Kathleen finds herself in exactly that situation. With the encouragement of her husband, she begins an incredible journey that takes her around the world and provides the opportunity to be an amazing “Gypsy for God.”

As someone who prefers not to deal with change, Kathleen finds herself shoved mightily out of her comfort zone by God. I loved learning about Kathleen and her journey as a travel agent as she works for God.

Encountering children worldwide, she struggles to find the path God wants her to take. Truly, the author did an excellent job weaving together a book that drew me in and kept me reading. I must say one of my favorite parts of this book involves giraffes. But you will have to read the book for yourself to find out why.

So, if you enjoy Contemporary Christian fiction, check out Gypsy for God by Yvonne M Morgan for yourself. This book truly will draw you in and keep you reading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked reading “Gypsy for God” by Yvonne Morgan. This book is fiction but I really thought while reading it was an actual real account. While reading this book I was thinking I want to visit these places described in the story. This is a tale of trusting God to bring His plans together to make your life what He wants. There is a sad event in the story that I don’t like to read about but I know it does happen and I have to learn to deal with this event in books and life. I really would love to read another book about these characters. I do have to be honest and say at first I wasn’t all that impressed with Kathleen’s husband, I thought he was a selfish man. But I have to say my opinion changed by the time I was finished with the book. I recommend this book if you want a book that shows faith and not a lot of preaching but does share some Biblical principles and is a love story with the traditional romance that is is all of books.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

[Rovie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I raced through the pages

Yvonne M. Morgan's Gypsy for God moved me deeply. The story follows Kathleen Johnson’s journey, a gifted accountant facing a sudden job loss. This ushers in a mid-life crisis. She has had her life grounded, and suddenly everything changes (that was an excellent premise for me) and a resonant one. The author handles her emotions — sense of security and fears about the future. What does it take to start over? The story follows her as she takes on work as a travel agent, confronting her insecurities while traveling with her husband, meeting people in diverse circumstances, and gradually finding that her faith is both tested and strengthened. Morgan’s writing is fluid, and she handles themes of faith, love, and purpose with cleverness, showing readers what it means to have faith, to dare, and to love. What stood out to me was the realism in Kathleen’s struggles and the hope that shines through her gradual transformation. One of the literary fictions that kept me racing through the pages.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Retirement is a challenge. How does one find purpose and feel useful to the Lord when professional work has ceased? Morgan has crafted a novel that reads like a real memoir describing the journey of finding a way to discover new meaning in life after retirement.

The first part of the book is sort of a travelogue as we see how Kathleen utilize her new career as travel agent to see the world. The descriptions of her adventures are great. Readers will feel like they are along in the adventure. But as often happens, visiting poor countries as (relatively) rich Americans began to weigh on her. Seeing so many in need awakened within her a desire to help them. A ministry is born. Excitement and problems follow.

This is a good novel for readers who want to be challenged with a meaningful role after retirement. You'll visit some amazing places and learn much about God's work in the world. This is a touching novel of helping those in need, whether it be those across the world or next door.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Diane Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who's makes the decisions here?

I love the cover. It couldn't be more appropriate, for in this read, there are many road choices. Discovering the purpose for your life is not always easy. We plot and plan our way before we learn to submit to God's will and often waste precious time. The author uses Proverbs 16:9 "A man's heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps. KAthleen, the main character, learns to exercise Proverbs 3:5-6 and look beyond herself to the needs around her, especially those of foreign orphans and hungry children. She follows Jesus and he not only uses her, but gives her the long awaited desires of her heart. I loved traveling around the world in this novel. Great read.

[Juanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gypsy For God

I have just finished reading the book, “Gypsy For God” by Yvonne M. Morgan, in exchange for a honest and truthful review.

“Gypsy For God” was not the usual book I would pick up and read, although its description caught my eye. The main character is a woman around my age.

I found the writing of the text to be a smooth flow leading me to keep progressing through each chapter. The detail of all the foreign places was amazing and enjoying. Some descriptions of poverty among the many foreign lands caused me to reflect on all that I have now. I am living in luxury (I am of low-income) compared to the people described.
From the first page on you can really see the characters growing and changing. There is a part where it takes an unexpected twist that I was not foreseeing. Throughout the story there is praying, Scripture, and relationships with God. When the end did come, I was not ready for it. I was expecting the story to continue on a little longer.

All in all I found this to be a good read. Definitely inspirational for examining the poverty around the world.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathleen finds herself at loose ends when she closes the book on her accounting career. She isn’t quite sure what to do with herself, and she wonders if she has a purpose anymore. She considers a couple of things and decides she might make a good travel agent. She does. And that new career leads her on a journey she never expected.

I could absolutely relate to Kathleen! I’m also a middle-aged woman. I haven’t held the same job for decades like she had (recently made a career pivot, in fact!), but I can relate to the idea of feeling like you’ve had the rug pulled out from under you when you lose something that’s that much a part of you.

The story focuses on Kathleen’s struggle to find her purpose, find meaning in her life. I think a lot of us base our identity, our sense of value, on the jobs we hold. As she takes on her new role as a travel agent, Kathleen visits places she might recommend for her clients. She wants to know that she’s sending them to good places. She has to overcome a lot of anxieties and fears to travel internationally, but she does, one little bit at a time.

When she encounters a poverty-stricken child, her eyes are opened. Could this travel be part of a bigger plan that God has for her? What can she do to make a difference in the life of this child and others similarly situated?

And thus began Kathleen’s journey to establish a ministry she called Gypsies for God – connecting needs with people and resources to meet them, sending people around the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I liked the way the set-up unfolded. Getting a project of this magnitude rolling doesn’t happen overnight. Kathleen planned and prayed, consulted with others for their input, and logged more than a few miles traveling to explain her vision. The process was depicted realistically, and the frustration Kathleen felt when she wasn’t sure if it would work out is something I think all of us can understand. Was she making the right choice? Is this really what God was calling her to do? I’ve certainly asked questions like that.

I also found the portrayal of Kathleen walking out in faith something that resonated with me. She wasn’t someone who is just on fire for the Lord, who seems to take every step in absolute confidence in His plan. She waffled, she hesitated, she doubted. Hello, I’m Kathleen. I have waffled, hesitated, and doubted when it feels like God has a new direction for me. (I’ve also thrown myself headlong into situations I really hope are God’s direction for me and sometimes they aren’t, but that’s another story.)

This book is about change, about shifting gears when the familiar disappears. Kathleen showed herself willing to step outside of the familiar and follow where she felt God leading her, and it changed her life in ways she never could have imagined. What a beautiful reminder that God will faithfully lead us if we will just trust and go.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from WOW! Women on Writing. All opinions are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads more like a memoir and perhaps would be better as one, except by all accounts, it’s fictional, supported by some of the author’s experiences.

Kathleen loses her job in her early 50s and questions what to do with her life. She starts working as a travel agent which requires her to travel to different local and overseas destinations. On her travels she is drawn to the plight of children who may be homeless, suffering in poverty or caught in the web of sex-trafficking. She feels the Lord calling her to do something to help.

The story has some strong messages: life purpose, facing fears, becoming parents in middle age, demonstrating God’s love, caring for the broken-hearted and more. But all these themes can be well structured in a memoir style book which can engage readers to actively participate through Q&A, points to ponder, etc at the end of chapters.

The chapters where Kathleen and her husband, Sam, travelled read like a travel log and I found I was skipping over much of this because it didn’t really add to the story. In addition, much of the dialogue was superfluous in these chapters.

Then there was the process for getting involved in helping disadvantaged children, which again read like something you’d cover off in a memoir/non-fiction book.

Books like Eat, Pray, Love and Wild come to mind which had similar feel about them and I just think the content and the way it’s presented would have been better following that path. Unfortunately, it’s fictional and not all lived by the author. One of the key aspects the author struggled with was show not tell. Most of the story was told to us and as I mentioned the dialogue which there is a lot of in many cases just doesn’t really add to the story.

It's a pity because if it had been true to life and written as a memoir, then I expect it could have appealed to many more readers.

[Kendra Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Fiction is a favorite genre of mine. I also enjoy books that are about LIFE growth. Gypsy for God by Yvonne M. Morgan is the latest book in this genre that I have read.

Kathleen is going through a lot as she just lost her job. She is a Middle Aged Woman who has been focused on her job for so long, that she isn't sure what to do next. Kathleen's new career as a Travel Agent allows her to Travel. Her travels allow God to direct her steps and direction in life. Will Kathleen find her place in the world during her Mid Life Crisis? Will her faith grow stronger through this situation?

WOW, this book totally reads like a True to Life story. I really LOVED how encouraging this book is for Women. Losing a Job that one has had for many years is devasting. I LOVE that Kathleen picked herself up and found a job that was fulfilling and she had the opportunity to Travel because of her new career. My favorite part of the book was that Kathleen put her trust in God to guide and direct her through the crisis and she came out a stronger woman through this! I would HIGHLY recommend this book for any woman going through a time of trying to find her Purpose in Life! VERY Encouraging Book! WONDERFUL BOOK!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gypsy for God is my first experience to Yvonne M Morgan books. It will not be the last. I thought this was a fabulous read. I found it to be eye opening and thought provoking. It was full of faith and inspiration. I enjoyed taking this journey with the main character Kathleen and seeing where her adventure takes her next – physically and spiritually.

I am giving Gypsy for God five plus stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading books from the genre of clean contemporary fiction. After reading it, I plan on looking for previous books by Yvonne M. Morgan. I believe that this one is not to be missed and is definitely worth reading.

I received a paperback copy of Yvonne M Morgan’s Gypsy for God from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Emma Filbrun]

This book sounded really good when I read the description. I found myself a little disappointed in it, though. The main storyline was really good, and quite encouraging and inspiring, as Kathleen tried to find purpose in her life after retirement. She and her husband both changed and became more caring, empathetic people through the course of the story, and found ways to make a difference in people’s lives. However, there were large sections of the book that simply read like a travelogue, with long, detailed descriptions of places that the couple visited. Those sections dragged the story down for me. I don’t mind description like that in a nonfiction book, but in a novel, it felt like it was unnecessary.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful journey that takes Kathleen to places she never thought she would go. It was very easy to relate to her because she is around my age. Losing her job was like losing her identity. She had wrapped herself in her job which made her feel needed and appreciated.
Now she must start over and trust God to guide her. I loved her traveling to different countries and how God revealed what her next step would be. It was a blessing to see her grow and embrace her new live. I loved the book and found it very encouraging.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Candy Smith]

This story was an interesting read with relatable characters and realistic situations. As someone whose dealt with trying to find your purpose especially when life throws you curve balls,this book really hot home and brought hope.