Beyond Orange County: A Housewives Guide to Faith & Happiness
By: Lydia McLaughlin
194 Pages
Summary:
Despite being asked to remain on “Real Housewives of Orange County,” mother of two, Lydia, made the controversial decision to walk away from the popular franchise to pursue her passions—her faith and her family. Lydia will share the inside scoop from the television series. But more importantly, she will inspire you to examine your own life and inspire you to boldly live out the calling God has given you.
--- Publisher's Description
I have to be honest: prior to reading this book, I had no clue who Lydia McLaughlin was. I had never watched The Real Housewives of Orange County, so there was no frame of reference to go on. What I did know was that all the shows in this franchise are drama filled, and pressure cooker environments. So, I was curious to see how Mrs. Laughlin balanced her faith with the show. I figured there was a lot to be learned.
If you're looking for any gossip on the show, her fellow cast mates, or behind-the-scenes insights, you will not find them within these pages. While I respect this approach, I would have liked to get a more detailed look at how she struggled with her faith, where, and how it was tested. I think we all could have learned many things from how she was able to handled the temptations, or stresses, she came in contact with.
Having said that, you do see a woman grow into her faith. She includes Scriptures in just about every single paragraph in the book. The focus is mostly put on God, not her. She does share lessons she's learned. Her goal is to uplift you and your walk with Christ.
This book would be a great Bible Study read. Every chapter has a list of discussion question to be had with just the reader, or a group of them. I really think this is a great small group book study, more than a memoir.
