The Secret Life of Becky Miller
by Sharon Hinck
There’s a snippet of a review about this book contained on the first page that says “By the end of the book, you’ll feel like Becky Miller is your best friend.” As I was reading this book, I found myself wanting to tell my husband what was going on next with my friend Becky! This book really does draw you in and you will feel like you know this amazing woman named Becky. As you reach the final pages you’ll be upset because in a way you’re saying good-bye to a friend and you don’t know if you’ll ever “see” her again.
The author has created such an interesting character. At the beginning of every chapter you’re introduced to Becky’s vivid imagination. You get to live her daydreams with her and they give you a hint of what she’s about to face on the following pages. You are quickly introduced to her husband Kevin, and her three children Dylan, Kelsey and Micah. She also has a very close knit, very diverse group of friends who meet for Bible study every Thursday night. She knows that she can always turn to them for advice and prayer.
Becky has the “imaginative” side that is brought out in her daydreams, but she also has a very deep religious side. She spends all her time trying to “do something big for God.” Throughout the book her idea of what that means is challenged down to its very core. She learns that what she thinks “doing something big for God” means, and what God thinks it means are two totally different things. Becky tries to fit the challenges that are thrown her way into a box of what she thinks God is trying to teach her. She finally has to admit that there are times when
she just doesn’t know “why.”
There were times when I knew what was going to happen, but there were other times when the author threw in some real curves. There were times when I wanted to run over to Becky’s house to give her a shoulder to cry on, and there were other times I wanted to shake her and get her to quit trying to analyze everything, to just shut up and listen! Read this book and I guarantee that you’ll think Becky is your friend, too!
Reviewed by Lynn Worley
chbookshelf September 16, 2006
The Secret Life of Becky Miller, by Sharon Hinck
Bethany House, $12.99
Review by Claudia Mair Burney
Becky Miller wanted to do BIG THINGS for God. In her dreams she did, but she found real life frought with difficulties. Being wife, mother, part-time college student, and woman’s ministry coordinator extraordinaire proved to be more complicated than the perils she conquered in her imagination.
When her husband loses his job and Becky isn’t offered the paying gig she was made for at her church, life spirals out of control. An injury makes matters worse, and teaches Becky the painful lesson of truly waiting on God. It’s a good thing Becky has good friends and faith. She found surrendering her Supermom powers harder than she could ever dream.
Sharon Hinck’s first novel sparkles. The characters felt real enough to touch. Each Walter Mittyesque daydream added a light touch to some hard issues Hinck touched on. The book is courageous, and chock full of wisdom, laugh out loud fun, and faith. A fantastic job from a writer to watch.
Reviewed by Claudia Mair Burney
chbookshelf October 4, 2006
Becky Miller is a young mother of three, a college student, and wanting to do big things for God. She started a women’s ministry at her church from scratch and now is excited to learn that the church is finally considering making it a paid position.
When Becky’s husband’s job is eliminated, things start going downhill. Her computer crashes, causing her to lose information for a report, her son puts the backup disc into the toaster, so Becky has to start from scratch. And then the church stabs her in the back by refusing to even consider her for the ministry she created. Will Becky be able to support her husband, raise her kids, go to school, and find a niche to serve God?
THE SECRET LIFE OF BECKY MILLER is a fantastic debut novel by talented author, Sharon Hinck. I could totally relate to Becky, and I felt the pain she did when the church wouldn’t consider her. I laughed, I cried, I couldn’t put the book down.
The faith message is expertly woven in and the characters are real. The only thing I really didn’t like about the book were the flights of fancy into the imaginary that Becky took at the beginning of each chapter. I highly recommend THE SECRET LIFE OF BECKY MILLER. Pick it up today at your favorite Christian bookstore. $12.99. 300 pages.
Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton