This book was not what I expected it to be and I frequently wondered where it was headed. I expected more of a how-to book, based on the subtitle (grow a wildfire faith that will endure anything) and on what was shared on the back cover. There was some how-to, but precious little of it. At least this is my experience with this book.

What it did have were stories, lots of stories. I like stories as much as the next person but these stories were full of pain, and were heart-wrenching and even horrific in nature. (For example about murder, sexual abuse, domestic violence, horrible illnesses.) They seemed better suited to a police show on TV.

It wasn’t just that I couldn’t relate to those type of stories. There was very little “answers”, like why was God allowing these things to happen. A better subtitle for this book may have been, how to keep your faith when bad things happen to good people.

I did not find the stories uplifting in any manner. To me they were testimonies of “just getting by”. There were no real miracle stories and very little answers to prayer, at least it seemed to me as I was reading it. It also seemed akin to an average person in the trenches barely staying alive. That’s what those stories sounded like to me.

Finally near the end there is a bit of a real how-to. “Will you endure the pain of this broken world, knowing you are just passing through, that you are on the road to a better country–heaven country?…Will you accept the fact that you are a transient in this world and that your real home, your permanent home, is just ahead, perfectly prepare for you?…You can put up with anything along the way—shame, persecution, suffering, sacrifice, —anything—because you know where you are headed.” (pages 200, 201, 210)

This book seems best suited to those who are suffering from something horrific, especially if it was something done to you and not by you, because that is where this author is coming from. If that is you, then this book and this author will be able to provide you with real comfort.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from publisher through the Booklookbloggers.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” ( )

I enjoyed reading Unquenchable. Each page opened my eyes to what I already knew but have been denying. My relationship with God has been suffering for months due to things going on in my life, disappointments, health issues and just plain neglect. I was in tears through most of this book and, believe me when I say, tears can also be a good thing. Throughout the pages Carol shares stories from family, friends, brief acquaintances and her own life experiences that have strengthened her own faith to the point of being a "wildfire" faith. She speaks very candidly and openly about her own struggles with her faith. I was very touched by the story of her son, Jason, who was given a life sentence for murder. And I cried when she told how her husband, Gene, stood before an entire room of inmates and staff at the prison where her son is serving his sentence and talked about their father/son relationship and a faithful God.

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"But we also want you to know we have hope, because the God who was faithful to us before our son's arrest is the same God who is giving us hope for a better future--if not here on earth, then in heaven where all of us who know him personally will walk in freedom."
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At the end of each chapter are activities such as "Come to the Fire", where you answer soul-searching questions concerning your faith, and "Fire-Building Challenge" where you complete activities such as writing honestly about the condition of your heart. Carol manages to stir the embers of your faith into a raging fire through Biblical insight, wisdom and her own personal struggles. Where there are embers you'll see sparks. Those sparks can spread and start new fires and I love Carol's description of this very act.

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"Do you see the power of sparks in the life of faith? We never know what act of obedience, what relationship that crosses our path, or what circumstance might lead to a spark of faith leaping from the life of a believer into the heart of a nonbeliever. But once we grasp the power of sparks, we begin to live in expectancy with eyes wide open, watching for the sparks that God carries into new lives on the wings of his Spirit."
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If you are struggling in your relationship with God, I recommend this book. If your faith has dimmed to embers, I recommend this book. If you need practical advice on how to move forward in your relationship with God after devastating circumstances, I recommend this book. In short, I think everyone can benefit in some way from Carol's heartwarming stories and mind stirring advice. I highly recommend it!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. The opinions expressed are mine alone. If I recommend a book it's simply because I love it. I received no monetary compensation for this review. ( )