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Teresa B. Howell is an Exceptional Children’s Director that has two Master Degrees in education and leadership. She has received numerous awards and accolades in her profession, dedicated to mentoring and teaching students within the school system. Teresa was born and raised in the church. She witnessed the good and the not so good while not only attending, but also serving in various capacities in different church organizations. Teresa decided in July 2015 to put her experiences and observations on paper, and her first novel That Church Life was born. She aspires to be more than just the average Christian Author, which can be noted in her writing style. Teresa’s literary path is inspired by her faith, family, and close friends. She currently lives in Durham, NC with her husband and children.
Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
That Church Life by Teresa B. Howell follows Missy Jones as she seeks comfort from her calling as a pastor to guide her through the obstacles in her life. When her boyfriend is shot in her church, she struggles to understand her confusion and feelings of guilt. Her father and her friends tell her that he’s bad news, but she’s blinded by how much she loves him and how much faith she has in him changing his ways. Things get worse when a woman shows up, claiming to be her mother. When her two best friends suggest a trip to Jamaica, she sees this as her opportunity to get her life on a new path. Hope comes in the form of Beanie, a man who understands the church part of her life. Can she make a new course for her life before her past threatens to ruin it?
That Church Life is surprising, fast paced, and honest. I had a completely different idea of what to expect than how the story ended up being. It begins in the heart of the action as Missy is processing what happened. Everything follows her frame of thought as she goes through shock and confusion. The story felt cinematic in the best way with the quick pace, the action, and the dramatic elements. Teresa B. Howell finds the perfect balance. The shock of the shooting was hectic and crazy, trying to figure out what’s happening and why. Then there’s a soft calm where every detail falls into place. Every dramatic element has a calm payoff. The strongest part of the novel is the heart. The relationship between Missy and her two best friends is strong and honest. They’re three different women, but they come together to make each other stronger, despite the obstacle one of them is dealing with. That Church Life has a lesson underneath of finding guidance and strength through any obstacle, and of friendship. A must-read!
