Title: On Shifting Sand
Author: Allison Pittman
Pages: 416
Year: 2015
Publisher: Tyndale
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
The story is told from the main female character named Nola who lives in Oklahoma with her husband Russ and two young children. As I began reading I remembered a movie I watched which depicted quite realistically the Dust Bowl conditions of the land many years ago. The Dust Bowl is used as a setting by the author to depict both a physical as well as spiritual realities of what life is like without care, watering, proper stewardship and more. Nola is struggling as a ministers wife feeling like she is always second to the needs of those in the church. After each storm the people of the small town would gather at the church to pray as well as count heads to see if any people were missing.
As time goes on not only does the town population diminish but so does the heart of Nola. When she is at her lowest point she rationalizes her choice to commit a sin which leads her despair all the while it seems her husband never notices. The hurt feelings Nola experiences and loneliness for time with Russ her husband brings to drive a wedge into her marriage and makes her blind to the rationalization she uses when she chooses not to flee from temptation.
Later in the story it was really awesome in the way the author uses descriptions to help readers visualize the depth of need for God in our hearts. There is hope in the novel by the ending and depicts that while marriage is not all roses there is always a choice to draw near to God during the times of thorns, or hardship. Forgiveness can be easily spoken even requested but when Nola really sees with new eyes the depth of her sin, she finally faces the hard task of bearing it all to her husband.
Unlike other novels the authors doesn’t rap the tale up in a pretty bow, but leaves the ending open for reasons which she shares in the author’s notes section. Any person who has been married for a time knows that times of drought come and they are no picnic, nor are they pain free. Yet, there is always a choice before both the husband and the wife to completely honest with the Lord and each other. In the novel we see Nola had to honest about her reoccurring affair and her choice to participate in the sin. Russ has a part of his soul that needs forgiveness and healing too but I will let you discover that as you read this very captivating book.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book from www.bookfun.org The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )

Long before the Dust Bowl hit their small town in Oklahoma, Nola Merrill feels like she's been drying up bit by bit ever since the day her mother died, leaving her to be raised by her stern father. A hasty to marriage to Russ, a young preacher, didn't bring her the escape she desired, and twelve years later, with two children to raise, dissatisfaction with her life takes hold of her once again.

When Jim, a mysterious drifter and a long loss friend of her husband's takes refuge in their home during a dust storm, Nola slowly springs to life under his attention, until a single, reckless encounter causes her to commit the ultimate betrayal to Russ. For months afterwards, guilt and shame consume Nola, until an opportunity arises that will take her family far from the drought and the dust of Oklahoma, but she can never get far enough away to forget the past, and she considers confessing to Russ, but if she does, will his love be strong enough to forgive?

I really enjoyed this story, and the author does a great job of bringing what it must have felt like to live with the drought and the dirt vividly to life, and also what brings Nola to make the decisions that she makes. Although the plot lines are different, this story definitely had a "Grapes of Wrath" feel to it. ( )

Dust, sand, grit everywhere. When there is a door to a different form of life's satisfaction will Nola take it?

Nola has married Russ Merrill to escape the harsh hand of her father. But now she feels trapped and is withering away. When an unexpected guest comes to stay, she blossoms. But will this lead her down a path that she shouldn't go?

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish this book. Allison Pittman did a wonderful job capturing the feel of the Dust Bowl life. I loved the style of writing that she used. Very elegant and easy to read. However, I had a hard time with the story line. There few things in life that I cannot stand more than infidelity. If I had read the book description more closely, I would have realized that this is the basis for this story. And from the very beginning you know what is going to happen, which made me dread picking up the book. It is a good book. Well written and very captivating. However, I was unable to complete it due to my own standards in life.

I received a free copy of On Shifting Sand from Tyndale Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
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This was one of the first books I have ever read about the Oklahoma dust bowl during the 1930's. It was more devastating than I ever thought. It was bad enough to be in a depression but to also have no rain for months on end would have been horrible. I am surprised that anyone would have stayed in those towns. During this time Nola and Russ meet and get married. Russ is a minister of their small church and the run a store which soon makes little money because most people in the town begin to give up and leave. Nola and Russ go through many hardships including one with an old friend named Jim. Can they survive? I think many people will enjoy this but it can be very sad because of the many deprivations they go through. I received this from Tyndale Blog for a fair and honest opinion. ( )