Happy Wednesday, My Lovelies! How is your week going so far? Mine has been wonderful, and today I'm attending my art class, and tomorrow I will finish my Lenten class at church. It has been about compassion, and it has been life changing. One thing I've learned in class is that it's okay to have compassion for yourself. In this life, we will have trials and heartbreak. For my What I'm Reading post this week, I'm featuring And She Got Up: Shattered by Loss, Restored by Jesus by Courtney Pray Duke. It has been a lovely companion to my compassion Bible study at church.
About And She Got Up: Shattered by Loss, Restored by Jesus
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 3, 2026)
• Paperback: 224 pages
Faced with an unimaginable loss, Courtney Pray Duke invites you to discover that when life knocks you down, Jesus is nearer than ever, reaching out to help you get back up and stand strong.
Have you found yourself wondering, Will I ever be able to make sense of the disappointments and disasters I’ve endured? Can I trust God with my pain? Will my life ever be restored? Perhaps you’ve done everything you can to rebuild the ruins of your life, but true restoration still seems so far off, if not impossible. And She Got Up is a firsthand account of being knocked down by tragedy and loss while relying on the power and presence of Jesus to rise and heal.
After being widowed at twenty-nine, Courtney Pray Duke found herself lying next to her husband’s grave feeling like she couldn’t go on. But she had three young kids who needed her and a faithful God who she knew could do anything.
Told in four sections—The Breaking, The Making, The Rising, and The Sending—Courtney walks readers through her decades long journey from devastation to the abundant life God had in store for her.
And She Got Up will help readers
- find hope in their greatest devastation through an honest and vulnerable account of Courtney’s personal journey, coupled with the reality and the truth of who God is and what He is able to do.
- move forward amid pain that can be paralyzing, helping them to believe God for their own miracle, no matter how hopeless their circumstance may seem.
- gain confidence that God is available and able to help anyone get back up and live an abundant life of hope, purpose, and peace.
God sees you now, right where you are. His heart is for you. It’s time to rise, to heal, to find purpose and joy again.
About the author
Courtney Pray Duke is an author and speaker who tragically lost her husband in a cycling accident in 2012. Left with three young children and a broken heart, Courtney now lives to tell about the goodness and faithfulness of God to the brokenhearted, and is passionate about helping women encounter the hope and victory of Jesus. She is married to Jon and is a mother to her four children, elementary to college aged. They are planted in Passion City Church and reside in Atlanta, Georgia. And She Got Up is Courtney’s first book.
My Impressions
The first thing I have to say about this book is that I cannot imagine the grief Courtney experienced as a young mother and widow before the age of thirty. My heart was breaking while reading about her husband Andrew's accident and death. Yet, she was very blessed to have her faith to rely on and people interceding for her.
The second thing I want to share is that I love Courtney's voice. She is a very good writer, and her reflections often include excerpts from her journal. She also shares how scripture helped her navigate her grief, and she explains in detail how specific verses spoke to her in different situations. These shares are perhaps my favorite parts of the book.
When I first picked-up this book, I thought that it would be a wonderful selection for anyone grieving. And it is. BUT it is also a lovely (and true) story about a young mother and her faith, determination, and grit to dare believe that there is more to this life, more to this world. I think anyone would enjoy reading Courtney's story wherever they are in their faith walk.
This is Courtney's debut book, and I'm hoping she writes more books in the future. I think this one will sell well.
DISCLOSURE:
I received a paperback copy of And She Got Up from TLC Book Tours via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank-you!
TLC review tour schedule:
Wednesday, March 18th: @suzylew_bookreview
Monday, March 23rd: @dana.loves.books
Tuesday, March 24th: @ink_drinker64
Wednesday, March 25th: The Bookish Dilettante
Thursday, March 26th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Monday, March 30th: @deannaturnsthepage
Wednesday, April 1st: @pickagoodbook
Thursday, April 2nd: @the.joy.within.every.
Friday, April 3rd: @lovemybooks2020
Friday, April 3rd: @spaceonthebookcase
Monday, April 6th: @oilycaffeinatedmama
Tuesday, April 7th: @danamarielovestoread
Wednesday, April 8th: @beckys_bookshelves
Until next time...
Happy reading!
Ricki Jill
Loss is the hardest part of living. Her book and experience sounds really interesting and hopeful. Thanks for sharing. Have a good week. Happy Easter a little early. Hugs. Kris
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a powerful read. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed Easter my friend.