Renovating Becky Miller
by Sharon Hinck
We first met Becky in “The Secret Life of Becky Miller.” If you haven’t read that book, I would highly recommend that you read it first. Yes, this book can stand alone and you get enough information about what occurred in the first book so that you’re not lost, but reading the first book helps you understand Becky Miller more.
As in the first book, each chapter begins with Becky daydreaming that she’s in different movies. I’m not going to give any of them away, but in case you don’t recognize the plot lines, there’s a list of the different movies at the end of the book. But don’t peak! It’s fun trying to guess. The author took great care picking the movies because each one helps the reader understand what’s going on in Becky’s mind and what she’s about to go through.
This book picks up where the first book leaves off. Becky is trying to balance working at the church while being a mother to her kids and wife to her husband, Kevin. All of this is complicated by the physical handicap she’s been dealing with since the first book. Her way of dealing with it is to push forward and try to forget that it even exists. As the book progresses, she finds out that this isn’t the best way to deal with it.
Becky finds herself being totally overwhelmed. On top of it all, Kevin has chosen now to want to buy a new house. It’s almost more than Becky can take until she sees “one last house.” It’s closer to church, it’s bigger, there’s a lot of land with it so it’s like being in the country. It’s Becky’s dream! The next problem is how they’re going to afford it!
Another thing to throw into the mix is Kevin’s mother. She’s living alone and it’s becoming very apparent that she’s not going to be able to much longer. Becky loves Kevin so much and thinks that if she pushes for Kevin’s mom to live with them that she’ll make Kevin happy. She’s trying desperately to make him happy because she feels that they’re growing apart.
REVIEWER’S NOTE: You know listing some of the things that Becky’s going through, it’s no wonder she daydreams so much!
Along with the story line the author brings in faith and how it can get you through everything. She also brings in the topic of Christians and depression through one of Becky’s friends. She gives the reader so much to think about.
I highly recommend this book. You’ll gain a new friend and you’ll think about some important issues.
Reviewed by Lynn Worley
chbookshelf August 3, 2007
Title: RENOVATING BECKY MILLER
Author: Sharon Hinck
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
February 2007
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0130-1
Genre: Inspirational/mom lit
Becky Miller is a busy young mom of three. She works part time at her church as the women’s ministries coordinator, only the job is more full time than part. Her children spend more time with babysitters with her. And her husband is growing frustrated with Becky because she isn’t around as much—and when she is there she’s crabby and tired.
When Kevin’s mother gets sick and needs to give up her home, Kevin invites her to come for a visit, then gives Becky the job of trying to talk his mother into moving in with them on a permanent basis. And when Kevin finds their dream house, iw suddenly launched into trying to balance selling a house, caregiving for a elder, three young children and a job…can she handle it all? Or is something going to give?
RENOVATING BECKY MILLER is a fun read, a sequel to The Secret Life of Becky Miller. Readers will want to read The Secret Life of Becky Miller first as the stories tie together. In fact, I recommend reading them close together, because even though I read the first book, there has been a lot that I forgot and it took me awhile to figure out what was going on because of it.
Becky is very well developed and could be any mom trying to balance children, a husband, a home, and a career. Adding an elder to the mix only makes life crazier, and Becky handed it all very realistically. The plot drew the reader in, and one could envision the chaotic events of showing a house while her daughter drops ice cream on the floor, a recently potty-trained toddler yells for mommy to come wipe him, and the prospective buyers complain about the roof. Readers will definitely identify with Becky and relate to her life—even stay at home mom’s will identify. The book ends in a manner that suggests that there might be a third book in the future, and I certainly hope that there is, although nothing is mentioned on the author’s website. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $12.99. 314 pages.
Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton