Helpful Score: 2
This book carries a powerful message of grace and forgiveness. I disagree with the reviewer who found it disturbing that the pastor's situation was portrayed as God's will. Who are we to say what was or wasn't God's will for this man? That such a personal calling. It's when you live God's Word at that exact moment in life when every human impulse tells you to do the exact opposite that God can use that to reach a soul. That was the case in this book. This family paid the ultimate price but I know another man who paid the ultimate price for the redemption of others. If you've been wronged by others, you will gain a good spiritual perspective from this example.
Helpful Score: 2
The author, sometimes to a fault, paints an incredibly rosy picture of her slain parents. This is more of a memoir of this horrific, traumatic experience for her. However, sometimes she's so mushy about her parents that it takes away from the story. I wish she would refer to her parents with their names, Robert and Ramona, versus Daddy and Momma. She also uses so many similies and metaphors that it is distracting. But it is worth a read and truly is a tremendous story of forgiveness.
Additionally, this is a story that you have to remind yourself really happened. It's amazing the cruelty that exists in this world. The worst monsters in literature are usually non-fiction.
Additionally, this is a story that you have to remind yourself really happened. It's amazing the cruelty that exists in this world. The worst monsters in literature are usually non-fiction.
Helpful Score: 2
This was a book about horrific events that happened to a family but in my opinion the book was 39 pages too long. The last 17 pages of the original book were a sermon and totally turned me off. I understand and appreciate that the author's faith and the faith of her parents is what helped her cope with the things she endured but it was too over the top preachy for me. The added chapter is 22 pages to tell her experience of being on the Dr Phil show. It could have been shortened significantly and I would still have gotten the message of how she felt about being on the show. I did not need several paragraphs about why her and her husband did not fly together on the same flight. A couple of sentences would have been sufficient.
I waited on the wish list a very long time to get this book and was left somewhat disappointed in the actual telling of the author's life story.
I waited on the wish list a very long time to get this book and was left somewhat disappointed in the actual telling of the author's life story.
Helpful Score: 1
I actually do not know where to start on a review for this book. This is a true story unfortunately.
It takes place in North Carolina where i have just moved to and it makes me feel unsafe that this could of gone on so long in this beautiful state.
It was an awsome read..very sad.. very sickening..but awsome. Well written..i was never bored.
The author tells a story of a vicious and evil man who lived across the street from her family. Her parents who were loving and forgiving and her life with her brother, raised while under seige from this monster who sat in pew #7 of her fathers church, a church he did not really belong to but wanted to control.
It tells the story of forgiveness way beyond many of our capasities and love in the highest degree.
A read not to be missed, not preachy at all for those of you who may bypass this because of that. If you read just one true read this year make it this one, you won't be sorry.
It takes place in North Carolina where i have just moved to and it makes me feel unsafe that this could of gone on so long in this beautiful state.
It was an awsome read..very sad.. very sickening..but awsome. Well written..i was never bored.
The author tells a story of a vicious and evil man who lived across the street from her family. Her parents who were loving and forgiving and her life with her brother, raised while under seige from this monster who sat in pew #7 of her fathers church, a church he did not really belong to but wanted to control.
It tells the story of forgiveness way beyond many of our capasities and love in the highest degree.
A read not to be missed, not preachy at all for those of you who may bypass this because of that. If you read just one true read this year make it this one, you won't be sorry.
Helpful Score: 1
I was drawn to read this book because of the title and the fact that it was a true story. However, while it was very disturbing to read about the horrible violence this family endured over too many years; it was also entrancing to read about the faith they llived by. The Nichols family lived the biblical life of forgiveness, faith, and loving thy neighbor (literally!).
Exceptional book. The people I need to forgive in my life are saints compared to the ones Rebecca forgave. If we all would learn the lessons from this book the world would be a better place.
The forgiveness extended was exemplary, however, the course of events was very disturbing. Why didn't the church (and the townspeople) band together against Watts? Were they that intimidated? Why were to police and investigators so inept at dealing with the situation? Watts was obviously a prime suspect yet for the longest time he was not approached and rigorously questioned. Worst of all, Rebecca's father's (the pastor) first responsibility was to his family. He should have used his head along with his heart and, for the safety of his family, left the area if the church and town couldn't or wouldn't do anything to protect them. The Lord could have directed him to another church where he could love the people and have a fruitful ministry as he had in Sellersville. How his wife and he ended up should be confirmation enough that his judgment was faulty. So, it was troubling to read the book with the situation presented as if that was the Lord's plan for them.
WOW!! Evil to the soul. This is a story that kept me glued, but it really took a long time to read because of the intensity of the reality behind it. Knowing that this is a true story and that the man was so.... Anyway, Rebecca's ability to forgive gave me a new insight on how to go about a few situations in my life now. Such a beautifully written story of such evil, definitely God's handiwork.
Such a sad story but even worse because it really happened. Sometimes God uses such terrible situations for His glory. Well worth the rea.
In the 1960's Robert Nichols moved his family to Sellerstown NC to serve as pastor at a local church. Their life there was fine for a time and then a powerful member of the community (not even a member of the church) began to harass, threaten, and initiate violent attacks on Nichols and his family.
This is a true story by one of the now-grown children. The story in and of itself is sad and horrific. The writing is poor. The description of the events that the family endured over 7 years went on and on and other parts of the story were totally unnecessary. It angered me that Robert and his wife would allow their children to stay in a place where threats and fear and dynamite bombs and other atrocities became their way of life. ... No one in the church or in the town did anything to stop this man. It is a story of forgiveness which is always a good thing but I think after one or two bombings the family should have been out of there!
This is a true story by one of the now-grown children. The story in and of itself is sad and horrific. The writing is poor. The description of the events that the family endured over 7 years went on and on and other parts of the story were totally unnecessary. It angered me that Robert and his wife would allow their children to stay in a place where threats and fear and dynamite bombs and other atrocities became their way of life. ... No one in the church or in the town did anything to stop this man. It is a story of forgiveness which is always a good thing but I think after one or two bombings the family should have been out of there!
Having seen Becky's interview with Dr. Phil, the book was a lot of repeat. This is one of the most tragic stories I've ever heard of and yet totally redeeming. I can't even imagine the horror and terror this family experienced and still they stayed true to their faith and forgave the "bad guys". It was so awful that I'm amazed that any of them are sane.
If you want to read a difficult, but true, story of faith, give this one a shot!
If you want to read a difficult, but true, story of faith, give this one a shot!
