Life in Defiance: A Poignant Story of Human Frailty and God's Grace 3

By Mary E. DeMuth

Book Overview

From "stunningly talented storyteller and wordsmith" Mary DeMuth comes the powerful conclusion to the Defiance, Texas trilogy (Susan Meissner).

In a town she personifies, Ouisie Pepper wrestles with her own defiance. Desperate to become the wife and mother her husband, Hap, demands, she clings to a simple book about womanhood--striving, failing, and trying again. But beneath her pursuit of self-improvement lies a terrible secret: she knows who killed Daisy Chance.

As her children inch closer to the truth and Hap's rages grow more violent, Ouisie faces an impossible choice. Will she finally break her silence to protect her family? Or will fear keep her bound, even as the cost of secrecy threatens to destroy them all?

With its gripping tension and deeply moving themes, Life in Defiance is a haunting yet hopeful story about the power of truth, the price of silence, and the courage it takes to break free.

"Life in Defiance will stir up emotions of anger, and forgiveness. It will disturb you. It will enthrall you. It will draw you out and pull you in. And it will fill you with hope. Beautifully written, it's another proof that Mary DeMuth is one of our finest novelists." --James L. Rubart, author of Rooms

Enter the world of Defiance, Texas, where secrets fester, redemption waits, and every choice carries the weight of eternity. Other books include Daisy Chain and A Slow Burn.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310278384
• ISBN13: 9780310278382
• Release Date: May 2010
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.0" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 18 years and up

Customer Reviews

Begging for More!

Mary DeMuth is not just writer...she's an artist who uses the heart of God as a canvas and her gift of words as the paintbrush. I'm not sure there is a more gifted writer in the Christian Fiction genre. (I read A LOT of books...more than 100 per year...so I can say that.) After reading the first two books in the Texas Trilogy, "Daisy Chain" and "A Slow Burn", I wasn't sure that Mary could pull the last one off. I mean, when you've poured out your heart and soul out in two amazing books...one has to think there's an end to the outpouring of giftedness. I've seen it happen too many times to authors. Not so with Mary. "Life in Defiance" turned out to be the most powerful, beautiful, amazing, incredible book in the Trilogy. All I can say is "WOW!" Mary's choice of words consume you. She draws your heart into the story, the characters, and the message with such awe striking finesse that life is just more beautiful hearing it described by Mary. As I read through the struggles of the various characters of Defiance, Texas...I found that there is probably a little of each in all of us. And the author removes the veil and reveals sin in such an incredible way that it will cause you to examine your own faith and draw near to the throne of God. Reading Mary's books are like reading a book that Picasso might have written had he been a writer! Mary's words make you look at the world in a whole different light...with beauty in each and every part...she gives you a glimpse of what it's like to look through the eyes of God. We can all hope and pray that God will continue to fill Mary's heart with His...so that she might write in a way that touches our hearts and draws us nearer to Him. Mary, we're begging for more! (P.S. to the reader: This book is well enough to read on its own...however, don't cheat yourself...buy the first two books...trust me, you don't want to miss a thing!) *I was provided this book for free by Zondervan for review.

Life in Defiance

A good author writes a good, enjoyable book. A great author grabs your heart and does not let go until the last page is turned. Mary DeMuth is a great author. Life in Defiance brought out a range of emotions in me: I was angry at times, had deep compassion during other times, and grieved at the loss of innocence. This book will disturb you, it will shake you to your core, but it also offers redemption and forgiveness. Life is like a tapestry, when you look on one side the picture is beautiful, but underneath there are knots and jumbled threads. Defiance Texas Trilogy is all about life underneath the tapestry. We put forth the beautiful side in front of others, but God sees what is underneath. God says, "Come I love you just the way you are, no matter what you have done. No matter how many knots there are in your life." Then when the healing begins God makes the tapestry beautiful on both sides. I will be honest Life in Defiance is not a happy book, but it is real redemption for real life people. Many who live in difficult homes or live a life of secrets may this book offer you hope and freedom. The Defiance Texas Trilogy is listed on my top must reads for Summer 2010!

From One Pastor's Wife to Another...

I read Mary DeMuth's final book, Life in Defiance, in the Defiance Texas Trilogy in under 24 hours. It is a murder mystery, and about 10 times throughout the series, I was sure of "who done it". The story line was very compelling, causing me to really immerse myself into the environment of Defiance. Set against the backdrop of Defiance, Texas, book three reflects a choice we all face: reveal our secrets or bury them forever ... and live with the consequences. . What I really liked about this final book was that the struggles Ouisie Pepper dealt with are ones we all face. I identified with this Pastor's wife on many levels. I am also a Pastor's wife. My husband doesn't beat me up, (he beats me at Rock Band, but that's about it) but thinking I need to "maintain an image for the good of all" is something I deal with all the time. I am constantly reminding myself to be myself and not worry about what people think about my words and choices. I love that Mary knows how to piece a story together, weaving mystery and intrigue with deep life lessons that challenge my soul. It's a great read, and I highly recommend the series to anyone who loves a great story and has the courage to face the secrets buried in their own life.

Powerful Characters

Life in Defiance finishes the Defiance trilogy, which includes Daisy Chain and A Slow Burn, in Mary DeMuth's distinctive voice. With redemption for some, continued blindness for others, and justice for Daisy, the story satisfies. Every woman who has cowered before a man's anger will identify with Ouisie Pepper. Christians who have let pastors dominate their decisions may have second thoughts as they spend time with Hap Pepper. Women who need to face hard truths will find company and comfort. Mary sees people clearly. She writes powerful characters, real mixes of insight and blindness. Like real life, some come to their senses, some are brought to justice, and some just move on to their next victim. If you haven't read the first two, buy all three. You'll taste the Texas dust, suffer with Ouisie's wounds, and rejoice in realistic hope. I received a free review copy of Thin Places from Zondervan. Nevertheless, I do not write positive reviews unless I believe in the what I am endorsing. 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."

A satisfying conclusion to a suspenseful trilogy

It is hard to know what to write in a review of the much-anticipated third book in a trilogy suspense series without spoiling the ending. As with both of the other books in this series, "Life in Defiance" is wonderfully crafted and beautifully written. Truly it's a work of beautiful art. Mary DeMuth's writing certainly does not disappoint. Once again we can taste the dust, feel the bruises on a chilly winter day, and strongly sympathize with our narrator. I strongly identified with Ouisie for her desire to please others, with her never-ending quest for perfecting herself, and with her reluctance to lead a women's Bible study. It often seemed to me that other book reviewers seemed to throw the word redemption around like confetti when writing about the first two books. I am very happy to say that I found it in this novel, at last. There is a turning point scene at Lake Pisgah marking the beginning of the end of the novel for me, and it made me cry it was so beautiful. As I read this novel, I kept picturing a scene from Mary's book trailer for her book Thin Places: A Memoir, of her walking on a Texas road. With Mary's writing, it's all about the journey, not the destination. For those who are anxious to find out who killed Daisy, I know your impatience. I felt the anxious waiting myself! But don't skip the descriptions. Don't forsake the journey for the destination. Just a note about the mystery at hand. I am happy to report that the mystery is solved well, and it was not who I suspected it was. This makes me happy, because there's nothing worse than an implausible ending to a mystery. Stump me without a red herring or a deus ex machina and I'm a happy reader. Mary is known both for her moving fiction and her nonfiction parenting books. She's one of those rare authors who can write both and write them well.