Tuesday, August 9, 2022

THE EXTRAORDINARY DEATHS OF MRS. KIP by Sara Brunsvold, Reviewed by Trixi and Rebecca

TRIXI'S REVIEW:
We should never underestimate the life-changing gift of friendship. ~Mrs. Kip

I don't even know where to start with this review. I first had opportunity to read this for Revell and I jumped at the chance because of the unique title. I wanted to know what it meant by “extraordinary deaths” and how that title came to play in the story. You see, I love unusual titles. Those that stand apart from the crowd and make a reader want to pick it up to find out what's inside. Some I've read are duds, but some like this one, are absolute gems that are dug from the ordinary.

Well I can tell you, this is no ordinary story! No run of the mill women's fiction, no bland words to slough through, no pages to turn simply for the pleasure of turning them. The story wrapped itself around me like a warm blanket in the winter and soothed me like a hot cup of tea while reading it. Sara Brunsvold writes like a seasoned author even though this is her debut novel. One I think everyone in the world needs to read. Don't let the unusual title deter you from picking this up...because I think once you read that first sentence or that first paragraph, you'll be hooked!

Mrs. Kip is a hoot! She has enough vim and vigor to warm the hardest of hearts. And a deep love for her fellow human being because of her vast love for her Lord. She lives out her faith in her loving ways, her tender and compassionate heart, and her gentle persuasive nature. There's so much more than meets the eye with this lady! She's lived an extraordinary life that was forged in the ashes of loss and heartache. And she is dying with dignity, never taking credit for anything that happened, only pointing fingers at her Lord and giving Him credit for all that she's been through.


I want it to be known that I did my utmost to leave in my wake the love Jesus first gave me. ~Mrs. Kip

She takes Aidyn under her wings and shows her what it means to feel, to stretch your beliefs and truly live your life to the fullest! Aidyn learns so much in this story. I loved watching her change and grow not only as a reporter, but also as her faith take wings. In the end, Mrs. Kip passes the baton for her to carry on. The ending had me reading the last chapter with tears pooling in my eyes. I could barely make out the words because of the strong emotions they brought out. A friendship forged in the ashes of life, a beautiful connection made by happenstance and the hand of God leading.

Sometimes we do things in life without knowing what ripples flow from it long afterwards. ~ Aidyn

An absolutely stunning debut novel that shows when we truly live and love like Jesus did, God will give us an extraordinary life, one that can take us deeper, give us joy in our soul, and change the way we think or feel. Put this one on your must-read list because it's life-changing!
*I received a complimentary copy from Revell publishers and was not obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions expressed here are my own. *

 
REBECCA'S REVIEW:

"Thank you, Mrs. Kip. Thank you for helping me find a life that matters."

How was it that a nondescript terminally ill woman could bestow such a rich legacy of life upon one who still had so many days left on her calendar? Aidyn Kelly wasn't sure that she could answer that question, until she could.

Saddled with what appeared to be a punitive assignment for the Kansas City Star, (something about a reprimand, her job might be on the line . . . those sorts of things) Aidyn dreaded writing an obituary about someone who was still alive; albeit just barely. What was her editor thinking? Apparently that was exactly what Woods was doing, for Aidyn was about to meet someone who lived more in dying than most people dreamed about living in several lifetimes. Clara Lu Rooker Kip had a story to tell, if only Aidyn would ask the right questions. . . it all boiled over with those extraordinary deaths.

Never could I have imagined the kind of story that resided within the pages of this book; it's indescribable; really and quite convicting; actually. "It all began because Mrs. Kip, intimately familiar with pain, once stopped amid her daily rush to comfort a grieving mother and unwittingly found herself in the center of world history."

"I always let the Lord guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:8

Highly recommended! 4.5 stars *I received a copy of this book from Baker Publishing through Interviews and Reviews. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. 

SEE PAULA'S REVIEW
 
 
BackCover Blurb:
Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she's been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an obituary for an unremarkable woman who's just entered hospice care.

But there's more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she's not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. And if it's a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that's just what Mrs. Kip will give her--but she's going to have to work for it.

Debut author Sara Brunsvold delights with this emotional multigenerational story that shows that the very best life is made up of thousands of little deaths to self. You'll want to be just like Mrs. Kip when you grow up!
 
Revell Publishing, July 5, 2022
Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook:
Buy THE EXTRAORDINARY DEATHS OF MRS. KIP at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House 
 
 


1 comment:

  1. I think you two convinced me to jump over and buy this book!

    ReplyDelete

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