Fresh out of college, Alexandra Conklin said I do to a handsome young minister. They filed for divorce less than a year later, proceedings they halted when Alex learned she was pregnant. Twenty years later, Hunter’s ministry is thriving while Alex struggles to put a happy face on her husband’s daily neglect. What choice does she have? None until those forgotten divorce papers surface—valid, filed, and legal.
A man on a mission
Throughout the twenty years of his ministry, Hunter Conklin has given everything—his time, his attention, his passion—to the pursuit of what God called him to do, leaving nothing but the leftovers for the most important people in his life. When his wife moves out, he’s forced to examine his life. What he finds is a home where he’s more visitor than occupant, children who rarely see him outside the church, and a wife who smiles to hide her loneliness. Is this what God had in mind for him…for his family?
Pastors are people too
With a youthful misunderstanding hanging over their heads and pressure from their congregation mounting, Alex and Hunter scramble to find a balance between her expectations and his priorities before everything they’ve worked for crumbles to dust at their feet.
Small-town Oklahoma and the friendships they produce are embedded in Sharon Srock’s heart. After spending her first fifteen years on the move, living in fourteen homes and attending thirteen schools, she landed in a tiny central Oklahoma community and made it her own. As someone who’s been blessed to be a part of the same hometown church for more than five decades, Sharon writes stories of hope built from her own unique perspective—stories that demonstrate a sisterhood formed not by blood but by heart, where ordinary women are able to do extraordinary things thanks to the friends who surround them and the faith that pulls them through. Sharon still lives in the middle of nowhere, Oklahoma, with her husband and three very large dogs. When she isn’t writing, she loves to read, cook, and travel. One of these days, she’s going to figure out how to do all three at the same time.
Alex is the final book in the Sisters by Design series. It tells the story of a pastors wife, Alex, who struggles from neglect by her husband who believes prioritizing his pastor duties is God's calling. This story shares with us the heartache (tissues required) and reminds us of the constant work we need to pour into our marriages to make it work. Also a reminder that before being a pastor, you are a human first. They, too, suffer the same struggles as we all do.
Sharon Srock has a beautiful ability to write heart warming stories about struggles we all face and can overcome with God's grace and teaching... Oh and the love and prayers of friends!
Alex is probably my favorite of the Ladies of Garfield series. Maybe it’s because she’s a pastor wife. Maybe it’s because I have a heart for women who feel ignored. Maybe it’s because she is cute, tiny yet feisty. I don’t know but I loved this story. I couldn’t put it down. Each book in this series is short enough if you want to stay awake late into the night to read through the whole thing, yet full of biblical truths that will make you think about things long after you put it down. Highly recommend. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author but was under no obligation to write a review, positive or negative. All opinions are solely my own.
Hunter is a busy Pastor who thinks his time is not his to give. Believing he must meet the needs of everyone in his church, but not realizing that his wife and family need his time and attention as well. Will he realize it before it’s too late? Alex is a Pastor’s wife who has spend years feeling second place in her husbands life. When she finds out that they are accidentally divorced, will she choose to follow a different path or give her husband another chance after years of broken promises? A wonderful book that really shows that Pastor’s and their families are human too and have problems just like everyone else.
Here ends another series from a really good Christian author. Thanks for the ride, Sharon. I am looking forward to more of your adventures. While I actually got this and the other series for my wife (we share the Amazon/Kindle account), I found myself drawn to her writing. After the first women's conference (see SYD), talk of a men's conference, and a pastor and his wife technically divorced which leads to the entire book here, and I'll let you download and read it, but it was quite a story.
Sharon Srock has done a terrific job with a sensitive subject. Hunter is a busy, busy pastor of a church of 500 members. His wife Alex is also a pastor of women in the same church. In almost 23 years of marriage they rarely see each other as Hunter is so immersed in his ministry for God. A secret discovered by their college age twin boys threatens to tear them apart. Is divorce in the works for this couple? How a minister balances his ministry and his family is the big question? Novelist Srock does an excellent job with this big question.
This was excellent reading! I never thought about behind the scenes with ministers before and this sheds a whole new light on them and their difficulties. Immediately made me ponder my own pastor and his family. Certainly a wake up call to be more compassionate and prayerful! No one could ever be disappointed by Sharon’s stories. Great writing and invaluable thought in all her books! Enjoy the ride!
Alex is in a hard place because of Hunter's overall attention in his Preacher job. Their twin sons are in college and Alex feels a four week separation should bring a positive change to their lives. Read this book to see how it all comes out. Well worth the time.
Just about any serious problem women face is covered in the characters lives. And they are seen through a Christian viewpoint and have real solutions. You feel great empathy for and wish you had such a band of sisters. After years of taking neglect and second cuddle, Alex realizes she can't live th he way any more.
I enjoyed this emotional story about a pastor and his wife and the turmoil in their hearts as they need to make their marriage over into something that they both can enjoy, with God’s help and a little help from their friends. Can they do it? Very good story!
I have never been in a pastor’s family, so I can’t imagine the challenges they go through. Marriage in general requires give and take from husband and wife. God gives us the strength to love no matter what. I’m going to miss the ladies of Garfield.
It is a fine line when one is called to be a minister, serving and guiding a congregation and not seeing the needs of family when he is needed. The story was well done,and the narration was good. Given audio for my voluntary review
Alex is the sixth book in the Sisters By Design series. This series brought together six women who found love, acceptance, help, forgiveness and understanding in their friendships. I believe that many women today would love to be apart of a group such as this. Our world today has too much judgement and not enough friendship. This series has been one where I have found laughter, tears, comfort, and understanding. I have also been moved by their faith and love toward each other. I will be sad to leave this series but know that soon I will read them one after the other and find even more comfort. Alex and Hunter, her husband, have been married and in ministry for over 20 years. With two grown sons and their church family, one would think that they are happy and content. However, looks can be deceiving. When long forgotten divorce papers surface and are all filed and legal, will this give Alex the out she wants or needs? Will Hunter re-exam his life and find some areas lacking? Will their congregation understand that even pastors and their families are human and have bumps in the road? Too many times people forget that Pastors are human and that they also face family problems, marriage problems, and everyday life problems. This book helps to show that once your priorities get mixed up, sometimes you need to step back and refocus. I highly recommend this whole series. I received a copy from the author. I was not required to write a review.
I’ve loved this series from beginning to the end! This was such a great and wonderful book. I loved reading Alex’s story! You don’t have to be a pastor’s wife to feel like your husband has forgotten who you are and forgotten his responsibility as father and husband. I love the friendship these ladies have build through each one of their stories. Their bond is so strong and they’ve been through so much together. Alex’s story is heart wrenching and you’re right there with her crying, laughing, crying some more, angry and so on. Through it all your cheering her on and encouraging her to hang in there.
Alex by Sharon Srock Sisters by Design Series Book Six Alexandra “Alex” Conklin gets the shock of her life when on their Tuesday night family dinner their twin sons, Benjamin and Sean, lay out some papers that tell a hidden story from Alex and Hunter's past. And then, she sees how it can change her future.
Pastor Hunter Conklin always thought he was following God's desires in his ministry as Grace Community grew. He was kept busy with almost five hundred parishioners to watch over. The last thing he needed was his wife to become difficult.
As this couple needs to find their priorities and get them straight...knowing what God's will truly is in their life...time is ticking by. Alex can't turn to her friends, who are more like sisters, but God provides Dave and Lisa Sisko to stand in the gap. Another wonderful story...that may cause the tears to flow beyond the pages of the book. Loved this series and the characters in it. https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com...
Alex and her husband Hunter has a lot to work out. They found out they are divorced by accident. After finding out, Alex moves out for they can work through all their issues before re-marrying.
Hunter is a pastor and very busy. When discussing with a friend about spending time with Alex he says “ Time has never been mine to give.” Will he be able to change and make more time for Alex.
Even though this is Alex and Hunter’s story we get to catch up with rest of the gang she hangs out with. It is always great to read about characters from the other books.
The characters are so real, I could feel their emotions. If you haven’t read any of series I would recommend reading them all. Doesn’t have to be read in order necessarily.
I received an advanced copy of the book from the author. This book review is my own opinion.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Alex and Hunter are married young. They each have different perspectives on what marriage is like. It started off rocky to where they thought and even filed for divorce, but decided they could make it work out. Alex became pregnant with twins and life got busy. She was busy taking care of two babies and Hunter was busy with The ministry. They find not much left in their marriage, but still love each other. They find out that they are actually divorced, but know that is not what God ordained in marriage. Can they figure things out and make their marriage work? Do they want to? Read the book to find out! Great read! Love how Sharon wrote this book. This is my honest opinion and I was given this book for my honest review.
Sharon Srock’s book Alex: Alex and Hunter are amazing people. When there sons come to dinner and show them paperwork they received everything changes for the family. Alex and the ladies from Soeurs are truly wonderful inspirational women. They are always there for each other. Hunter is a workaholic and his family feels neglected by him. Waiting to see what happens with Alex and Hunter will have you on the edge of your seat. I had the honor to review this book for the author for a honest review. You will feel God working throughout this wonderful story. I would give this book a higher rating than a five star review if I could.
Alex is the sixth installment from Sharon Srock’s series Sisters By Design. Miss Srock has written yet another story that involves true to life character with true to life events. I loved Alex and Hunter from the start. My heart ached with them as their world is turned upside down. It was great to learn about the power of forgiveness, second chances, how to move on from the past, and how to keep faith. This is one of those books that will inspire readers. I give 5 plus stars. I received this book from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Alexandra Conklin is a great pastor's wife who is used to her husband being late for dinner and putting their congregation ahead of his family. You may want to kick Reverend Hunter Conklin who thinks his church cannot survive without his constant attention. Hunter loves his wife but doesn't have time left for her. I admired Alex and Hunter for working to change things in their marriage........but wait! Are they married or divorced? You will enjoy book 6 in the Sisters By Design series by Sharon Srock. Ms. Srock writes about tough real life situations. I received a complimentary e-book from the author. This is my honest opinion.
Are pastors too busy to fully be the support that their family needs? I LOVE the candid view of what can easily happen to a marriage of those in ministry. Trying to juggle family life along with the needs of a growing church make it extremely hard to draw a boundary line. This looks at the issue from a Biblical base. It's a part of a series where loyal Christian friends have stood together as each encounters a life changing event. They are friends and will make every effort to support each other. Each book is well written and easily held my attention.
Oh goodness! I never thought I’d cry so much reading a story! Sharon has done it again! Knocking Alex’s story right outta the park! Our sweet Alex whom we come to love so much in this set. Her own story, one that I never would have guessed. But oh my, how heartfelt with all the feels in this read! Learning that a Pastors wife is human just like us and can hurt just like we do, gives me a whole new outlook on the Pastors wives I know. Very emotional I’ve come to love our Alex even more!
This had to be a hard book to write and the author did a beautiful job of it. Who writes about pastors having marriage issues? I felt she captured the essence of marriage issues within a home where someone in the marriage is totally clueless as well as the neglect of the church. There was a lot more depth that could have been taken, but the right balance was there. Excellent read and finish of a series.
What a beautiful story about second chances with the help of God's love and forgiveness. This book is unique because it deals with a pastor couple and how they regained their marriage. This book is recommended for those who love Christian romance. how they regained their marriage.
Alex and Hunter have been married almost 22 years when their some decide to.go to the courthouse to get a copy of their parents marriage license. Surprises are in store. With a short separation and a lot of work and help of friends, they rejoin each other,.happier now that they are working together more and spending more time together.