The Grace Effect Review and GIVEAWAY!

{The Grace Effect By: Larry Alex Taunton}

I was so happy when I was chosen to review The Grace Effect by Larry Alex Taunton. It's a powerful story of his family's journey to adopt a little girl named Sasha from the Ukraine. Larry Taunton is a historian and Christian apologist. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of Fixed Point Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the public defense of the Christian faith. He and the organization have been featured on Fox News, BBC, and the Wall Street Journal.

In The Grace Effect, Mr. Taunton gives his encounter of the adoption process in Ukraine as well as a detailed history of the country. I was astonished at some of the facts and processes of the Ukrainian government. The agencies are very corrupt in their ways and difficult to deal with. When I first received this book my immediate reaction was, Wow...this is way over my head. But, as I began to read each page and the story began to unfold, I found myself unable to put the book down. 

The author explains it in a way that helps the reader to understand why the government over there is so corrupt in their practices. As he gives some of the history, he also tell the story of adopting Sasha, a Ukrainian orphan.

Sasha's story is one that will stick with me forever. Mr. Taunton's wife, Lauri, and their three sons went on a mission trip to Ukraine a year before they adopted Sasha. They all fell in love with her immediately and decided to go home and tell Larry about her. They started the adoption process and a year later were able to go over to Ukraine to officially adopt her from there. In that particular country it is a general rule that you must stay in the country for up to 6 weeks during the adoption process. I don't know about you, but I think that is ridiculous. I don't know anyone who has the resources to miss work and pay to live in another country for that amount of time. But, if it's the rule, it's the rule. They loved Sasha so much already that they were willing to jump through fire to have her come home with them.

Along the way they were stopped by every person possible. The country is extremely poor. Not just monetarily, but spiritually as well. They are a godless people and their history will tell you so. I don't want to give away the story, so I will leave it at that. The Taunton's had a very tough time adopting little Sasha, but their story isn't uncommon in Ukrainian adoptions. The officials over there want "bribes" or "gifts" as they call them. You get your hopes up only to be let down hard. Well, obviously I think we all know how this story ended. Sasha got to come home with her new family. She has a new "Papa" and a new "Mama" as she called them to her friends at the orphanage.

I recommend this book to anyone considering adoption, who has adopted, or anyone who has a heart for adoption. I don't think I left anyone out. It is for everyone. I am so inspired to go out right now and adopt a child (if only I had the resources). I am so excited to let you know that you too can receive the gift of this wonderful book for yourself. That's right I am GIVING AWAY a copy of this book to one special reader. All you have to do is:

1. Follow my blog Jensen Family Circus

2. Follow my new blog Diary of a Book Hoarder

3. Leave a comment on Diary of a Book Hoarder saying that you would like to win a copy of the book

(Open to U.S. residents only)

Entries must be received by Sunday, November 20 at noon.

God Bless,

Kristy

*“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”*