This novel has caused me to experience so many emotions as I walked through the journey of Katrina. Alana is an excellent writer who has mastered the art using descriptions to draw you into the characters and setting. I also experienced another side to her writing since it's my first Orchard Grove book. Well done. Standing ovation.

I think every pastor and pastor’s wife should read Breath of Heaven! I felt so badly for Katrina as she struggled with adjusting to her new role as a pastor’s wife at Orchard Grove, while at the same time, getting used to being a new wife AND grieving her miscarriage! Both my mother and my mother in law were pastor’s wives and I know my mil, in particular, dealt with many of the same things! I cheered for her when she found her voice, both musically and personally!

True story

In this book you learn about the struggles a new pastor and his wife go through. Orchard Grove is a hard church to please with the gossip and complaining. Alana Terry will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. This book is truly inspirational and you will feel God working throughout this book. I had the honor to review this book for the author for a honest review.

My husband and I have been in the ministry over 30 years, 25 of which has been pastoring a church. Breath of Heaven is a breath of fresh air! No, our church does not resemble Orchard Grove, but so much of what Kat felt resonates with me. I, too, had to search for my voice and I did it through singing lessons. Alana Terry has a way of bringing out the raw soul of an issue as she grapples with the tough situations of life. She does not sugar-coat, but she does show how God can take the tough and …turn it into growth.

I will be honest--it took me quite a while to get into this book. I tried so many times and just wasn't connecting with it. I thought that it would be a good book for a pastor's wife, but I just wasn't able to relate. I don't remember what exactly changed my mind, but something clicked inside my head and I started to really enjoy it. My heart went out to the character of the pastor's wife. We place unrealistic expectations on each other--especially those who are in leadership roles. This book r…eminded me again and again of the need to give grace to each other as well as to truly listen to each other. I loved that this book was filled with characters that we can all relate to because we either see someone we know in them or we see ourselves in them. It was very relatable.

Breath of Heaven is an accurate portrayal of the struggles, hopes, fears, and potential shipwreck of faith and marriage that plague first-time pastors and their wives. Reading the book felt like an emotional biography of my experience many years ago, kind of like déjà vu. Because of the distance of time and difference in details, reading about Kat’s experience helped me to reconsider possible motives and perspectives of the established members of a little country church and community that did …so much damage to my faith and marriage decades ago. Reading the book was both painful and healing. I’m glad Alana Terry writes in such a way that readers can explore touchy subjects by “trying on” different perspectives via the characters. When I read Breath of Heaven, I was reminded how important it is not to make assumptions about people I meet, but instead, really listen to them and try to see situations from more than my own personal angle. Entertainment with worthwhile take-away value—Breath of Heaven is definitely worth reading.

Katrina didn’t realize how hard it would be to be a pastor’s wife. Used to the demands of her violin practice and competitions, she’s more comfortable in her own world with her music. Yet, after something devastating happens, she doesn’t feel she can turn to her music. That, on top of the impossible to please church elders/leaders who always seem to be gleefully looking for something her husband or her do wrong, makes for a lonely existence. Her husband, Greg, is no help, volunteering her f…or many various projects and needs in the church, including agreeing to some free lessons for her. This story is my favorite of this series. It pulls you in easily and Katrina is a likeable character. The descriptions of her and her music are amazing and the emotions she goes through make you wish you could listen to someone like that. Lovely story all around. Being a pastor’s wife can’t be easy and I appreciate the author bringing another thought provoking topic to the table.

Another great book to enjoy. This book is about the trials in a marriage as a pastor's wife, Katherine struggles with the demands. Very well written and honest , i love how the characters grow and develop. Would recommend the series.

Ephesians 5:1-2 states, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” These two verses illustrate one of the main themes I believe Alana Terry wants her readers to glean from this very well-written novel. The main character of Breath of Heaven is Katrina. Katrina is a very young, newly married woman. Her husband, Greg, is the pastor of a little church in Orchard Grove, Washington. …I’m going to be honest, I struggled hard with the congregation at Orchard Grove Bible Church. They are selfish, self-focused, underhanded with their comments, and SO gossipy. They frustrated me at almost every turn. I’m an introvert through and through, so the idea of people being up in other peoples’ private business is abhorrent to me. I was right there with Katrina every time she complained (in her head) about the congregants and their very annoying ways. About 3/4 into the book, however, I started to dislike the thoughts I was having about these busybody characters. My thoughts were not imitating Christ, and I didn’t like it. Instead, I began to consider how Jesus would have treated those people. I know for a fact that He would have shown them love because it says so right in Ephesians 5:1-2. He would not have been judgmental. He would not have had rude thoughts about them. And, He would not have wanted to make excuses to get away from them. Jesus would have just shown them His love, His kindness, His mercy, and His grace. Ephesians 5:1 tells me to imitate God, not tear people down, which means I need to show people love, kindness, mercy, and grace — even people who seem undeserving.Reading this novel convicted me of my tendency to judge. I judge people and it’s a really nasty habit. Like Katrina, I realize that I am no better than anyone else. I sin, too. There is a moment in the novel where Katrina states, “The problem with sins was they were like dirty dishes. No matter how many you confessed, there were still more to be forgiven for the next day.” The real problem is that we go about our day doing things we do not realize are sins. I get frustrated when I am driving because someone cuts me off and I have to slam on my brakes hoping I don’t hit the guy. I judge the person to be a jerk. BAM! I just sinned. I feel justified to call the driver who cut me off a jerk, but that is my sin of judgement smacking me right in the face. Katrina is totally correct — confessing our sins to Jesus often feels like an endless list that never goes away no matter how hard we try. Thank goodness Jesus “gave Himself up for us” so we have a way to a cleaner heart and a clear path to God.I felt Alana Terry did an excellent job of illustrating how naive we can be when we first get married. When we are six we see marriage through rose-colored glasses and stick to this rosy picture as we get older even though evidence points otherwise. Then we are shocked when our rose-colored glasses are removed. We’re blown away by how hard marriage is — at least I was. What Katrina goes through during the first few months of her new marriage was a struggle to read because it reminded me of my first two years of marriage. They were exceptionally tough years, and my husband and I had a few really dark days — days we weren’t sure we were going to make it through. I absolutely loved when Katrina realizes that her husband is not responsible for “completing her.” It took me two solid years to learn this lesson. The only One who completes me is God, likewise for Katrina in this story. Once I learned this lesson, my marriage became a gift from God rather than the burden I had allowed it to become.Alana Terry is a fabulous storyteller. Her writing is stellar, her characters — especially Katrina — are so well written and realistic, and her story line is captivating. I really could not put this book down. This was the first book that I’ve read by Alana Terry, but it definitely won’t be my last. I am so glad I got the opportunity to read Breath of Heaven. It was a blessing to me for several reasons, but mostly because this book held a mirror up and I realized I have a lot of work I need to undertake — with God’s help, of course. If you are looking for a great novel to escape into, I highly recommend Breath of Heaven.I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author via Celebrate Lit. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.