I do not read very many nonfiction books, as I’m sure, if you follow my blog and book reviews, you already know. However, the book I’m going to review today is the one nonfiction book I have been waiting for. You see, Joan Patterson is a member of the same local Christian writers’ group that I’m a member of, and I have helped critique chapters of A Matter of Faith. I have also seen Faith and watched her in action.

Enough with the introduction, let’s get down to the book review:

A Matter of Faith by Joan Patterson is Joan’s first book, and it’s an easy read. I read it rather quickly, then passed it on to two friends to read, and they both read through it very quickly, so that it is in my possession once again. The three of us, in total, finished reading this book in less than two weeks!

Anyway, A Matter of Faith is a wonderful book. It is the true story of how Joan’s life drastically changed when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and found herself in need of a wheelchair. In addition to shaking her self-confidence, her faith in her loving, caring God was also shaken. After all, she was an educator, wife, and mother. Would she still be able to fulfill these roles?

That’s where her service dog, Faith, came in. This book, A Matter of Faith, is a wonderfully delightful story about how Joan and Faith built a strong bond, and how much Joan came to depend on Faith. Faith, an intelligent, specially trained Labrador Retriever became Joan’s constant sidekick. In A Matter of Faith, each chapter focuses on a different aspect of Joan getting to know and learn how to work with this dog. The chapters continue to tell of their life together, once Joan had gone through an initial training period with Faith.

If you don’t know anything about dogs that are trained to be service dogs and the things they are capable of, you will be amazed at the things you read in this book. As you read about Faith and the relationship between Joan and Faith, you will come to love this intelligent, skilled dog.

In addition to telling the story of her life with Faith, Joan ends most chapters with a paragraph about a lesson she learned, through her relationship with Faith, that also taught her something about how that very lesson can be applied to our relationship with God. Therefore, even though, this book isn’t written as a devotional book, you could use it as one, as you consider the lessons Joan points out as she points you to the Father.

For anyone who loves dogs, you’ll love this book. Also, anyone who loves great nonfiction stories about the life and struggles of someone and how they deal with those struggles, you’ll love this book.

I highly recommend this book, and I hope Joan will continue to write more books for us to enjoy.

I give A Matter of Faith by Joan Patterson a 5 star rating.