This is a quick, easy and enjoyable read. I knew nothing about Ryan before reading this book except he sang the song Eye Of The Storm. When I came across this book on NetGalley, I figured I'd give it a try. I enjoyed this look into Ryan's life and how God has continued to walk with him every step of the way. Fun read!

I found Eye of the Storm by Ryan Stevenson to be raw and vulnerable. This author shares some really hard things with the reader and I found that to be quite the blessing to be let into so many aching places. He shares delays, twists, turns, and compound situations galore. As a person that is not in the medical field, I found some of the information/reading to be quite appalling and hard to read. God bless those in the medical field, as He has made them for that purpose and work. May they receive His strength daily to carry on.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


***Posted on Amazon, CBD, B&N

Truly an inspiring story from a man who has been through so much. With grit, tenacity, persistence, humbleness, discipline, and most of all with the Lord's help, Ryan Stevenson was able to realize the dream the Lord had given him when he was young. This story shows that when the Lord gives us a dream, He gives it for a reason. Not only am I inspired by this song, but I am now inspired by the story that is behind it. Having met him briefly, he is humble and an amazing testimony for the Lord!

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Harvest House. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I have taken a break from reviewing nonfiction since I am reading less and I have less reading time.

I may give a review of this book when life is a little calmer.

This book was amazing. A great look into all of the ups and downs that Ryan went through to get to where is is now. Very inspiring and moving. Once you start to read this you won't want to put it down, it is that good.

This book is the memoir of Christian singer/songwriter Ryan Stevenson. Stevenson grew up in a small rural town in central Oregon, and had a pretty typical lower-middle class upbringing, filled with the normal ups and downs of life. As a teenager, he became a Christian, largely through attending a Christian music festival that included a life-changing concert by the group DC Talk.

After attending a small Christian college in Portland, he began to explore his love for music, finding some success in local venues with a small group he had formed with a few college buddies. Unfortunately, circumstances prevented him from further pursuing his music, so he eventually took a job as a paramedic in Boise, Idaho. He worked as a paramedic for several years, and this experience would later have a profound impact on his songwriting. While still doing local music gigs in between his duties as a parademic, one of his songs "Speak Life" came to the attention of Christian superstar TobyMac, who recorded it and made it a No. 1 single. Through this opportunity, Stevenson was eventually signed to a recording contract by Gotee Records, owned by TobyMac. Later, Stevenson had his own No. 1 single entitled, "Eye of the Storm," which stayed at No. 1 for 15 weeks.

Stevenson is very self-effacing and honest about himself, his talents and his background. His message in this book is to encourage other believers to not give up on their dreams, and to realize that God can and does use very ordinary people and their individual life experiences to make them into a vessel for the Lord to use to help and bless others.

I really enjoyed reading Ryan's story. It was inspirational and uplifting. Even through all of the struggles that he went through, his story is a great reminder to trust in God.

Anyone listening to Stevenson’s signature song in the eye of the storm cannot fail to be moved. The lyrics sing to everyone personally even those who have had a blessed life. I had also heard Stevenson say that the song was his life story. So, when I discovered Stevenson had written his memoir I just had to read it. I’ll let the readers decide if it’s the case. Stevenson decides to tell his story as it is and that’s exactly what he does. There are no plot devices and frankly it doesn’t need any. his life story is awesome. Besides isn’t it refreshing to read a true story devoid of artifice. Boy what a tale! The tears rolled down my face as I read this poignant tale of true grit, determination, honesty as Stevenson reminisces on his life and its impact on him. I could not put the book down and had to read it in one sitting. One could not help but root for Stevenson wanting him to be on top. One could say that Stevenson’s parents were imbued with the pioneering spirit of our American forefathers albeit 20th century style. A grassroots family living by their toil, sound Biblical principles and mettle. Describing the ups and downs of his life, the discriminations he faced in childhood, his family warts & all, his ingenuousness, the caprice of Christian fans – Stevenson does not hold back. Even biographers may baulk at such candidness. Most folks will empathize with Stevenson, admiring his courage and boldness in baring his soul. There will be those who have been through the same fire in their lives. After all it’s a narrative of everyday life in the US for the vast majority. But this book is not merely a memoir, it’s a testimony. Stevenson is bragging on the God he worships and adores, from whom he derives his strength to get through another day. One can’t fail to notice as one is caught up in his storms. One barely has time to gasp for breath when the next storm hits. This is real life in technicolor, true reality TV. It’s made more real at the end when Stevenson shares photos of his extraordinary family and friends. Suddenly Stevenson’s signature song takes on whole different meaning – its length, its depth, its breadth and its height hits one between the eyes. Thank you Ryan for sharing your amazingly inspiring tale, it’s an honor that I truly appreciate. Your memoir is an encouragement to Christians and non-Christians alike. It will resonate in our hearts and minds for a very long time, a breath of fresh air.

I read this book at the right time. This song was introduced to me after my sister died by a friend. It was great to read how this song came about for Ryan Stevenson. Mr. Steven wrote an honest autobiographical book and how the God who is the eye of the storm transformed his live. I will never look at him or any other artist the same way. People may only see his success but this book reminded me as a reader that everyone has a story. I appreciated realness about the struggles in his life and how his songs came to be. My favorite part was seeing how God was orchestrated his path.

* One things I was unsure of was the diagnosis of his mother. He said she had breast cancer and then bone cancer. Did she have 2 primary cancers? Or did the breast cancer spread to the bones making it still breast cancer not bone cancer?

I received this book from NetGalley and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Singer and songwriter Ryan Stevenson shares the story behind his hit song "Eye of the Storm." Years of struggling in his personal life and his musical life led to doubt and depression. Stevenson had to learn to fully rely on God, to allow Him to be in charge of his dreams and ambitions, but it wasn't a quick realization, a "flash of inspiration" that fixed everything at once. It took time and some very dark moments, which Ryan lays bare for us in this book.

It's never easy to read about the difficulties of someone else's life, and Stevenson had a lot of them. From watching his mom die of cancer, to his wife having a miscarriage of twins, and to Stevenson's own bad choices that nearly ruined his life. Through all of this, Stevenson had a love for Jesus, though I'm not clear on where his faith really stood. Still, there's inspiration to be found in the pages of this book.

I appreciate the humble and vulnerable way that Stevenson wrote about his history. He found some success throughout his life, but suffered many setbacks. And he never holds back from taking the blame for his own mistakes. His wrong choices, mingled with things that were out of his control, caused some of the problems he had. Yet, along with the understanding that he should, and could, trust God in everything, he also came to learn that his mistakes did not have to define him. That, as long as he allowed it to happen, God could wipe them away and he could move on from who he used to be.

Though I have not had nearly the hardships in my life that he had, I gleaned plenty of insight from Stevenson's story. In particular, it was a reminder when I really needed it to continue to do plug away at my writing, which feels stalled at the time of my writing this review. But rather than waiting for a big, obvious lit-up path (which I didn't even consciously realize I was doing until now), I should be faithful to the work as I know to do it. God may or may not open doors for me, but waiting around for something to happen feels more like giving up than trusting God to use my abilities as he sees fit.

One thing I want to mention for anyone who may read this book--I think it's important to be clear that not everyone hears that "still small voice" quite so clearly as Stevenson did so many times in his life. If we assume that God will lead us in this way, and we never feel an obvious nudging of the spirit, we may feel like God has abandoned us in the way Stevenson felt at times during his life. Even if we never experience a monologue from God, a whisper in the wind, we can still follow God faithfully, and he can use us in ways we'd never expect. I don't want to discount Stevenson's account of how God spoke to him, but it is not the only way, and for those of us who do not have those experiences, we should not feel less important to the kingdom. With that in mind, I do recommend this book for Christians who could use some inspiration in trusting God in the storms, or for those who enjoy Ryan Stevenson's music.

"Eye of the Storm" is a really well written book about Ryan Stevenson's testimony on how our Savior Jesus Christ saved him. Not only do we get to see his journey with Christ, we see all the up's and down's that Ryan and his family have faced.

Honestly, I enjoyed this book to such an extent that I could put it down. I am thankful for the vulnerability shared, the stories, and the hope of Jesus Christ that is found throughout this book!

I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I was given an ARC ebook of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I loved this book. I’ve loved Ryan’s music for a long time and couldn’t wait to read about his life story.

This book takes you through his life and his journey to where he is now. He is so real and honest, which made it feel like I was sitting down with him and he was telling this all to me. It’s encouraging how honest he is about his struggles and how he overcame them.

The only bad thing I have to say, is that I was sometimes confused about the timeline when things were happening.

Overall, I highly suggest anyone who likes how music to read this book. Or even if you’ve never heard his music, read it. It’s so encouraging and real that anyone could love it.

This was about singer-songwriter Ryan Stevenson and his path to success in the music industry. Stevenson goes into detail about his upbringing and personal struggles in his faith and how it shaped who he is today.

This was an enlightening and eye-opening book. I loved learning about the road to success that Ryan Stevenson has traveled and how he has handled the struggles he went through. This book was helpful for me because I found it relatable as I've also had moments of uncertainty when it comes to my faith. I strongly recommend anyone looking for a quick, inspirational read to pick this up when it's released.

This book is an inspirational tale of persaverence when life does not go your way and why having faith in god will guide you through it all.

I thought this book was great! Ryan Stevenson is an amazing artist and reading this helped the reader understand where he was in life when he wrote his song that is the same as the title of the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir by Ryan Stevenson. This is the story of Ryan’s humble beginnings and his hopes and dreams of becoming a Christian singer.

I never tire of reading about God’s faithfulness and dependability in the midst of our personal difficulties and times of wrestling with Him. Ryan’s story was no exception. He offered up heaping spoonfuls of God’s personal faithfulness to him even when he questioned God. Ryan was forthcoming and honest about his doubts, fears, and insecurities. It’s in hindsight we see more clearly how God brings us through our struggles and despair.

The writing is stellar, clear, and to the point. The individual stories/chapters are affecting. I can certainly relate to struggling with doubts as I follow God. It’s sometimes hard to see Him when we don’t know where we’re going and what plans He has in mind for us. It’s when our great lack and God’s great faithfulness to us (and our God given desires/dreams) collide, and we trust him ever so haltingly, that miracles and heart transformations are wrought.

I have been on a journey seeking God more deeply. Learning to hear His still small voice has been a priority. Listening. Being still. Practicing His presence. God has been reminding me that He stations me places (I don’t have to labor excessively to get there, climbing mountains that are in my way, though it does require work and faith and trust on my part. God can move the mountains that are in my way. I can’t make things happen on my own. I have to surrender to His plan and His plan is both good and for my good). When He stations me, all that I must do is man my station. This quote from the book is exactly what I’m learning in my life:

“Sometimes all I’ve needed to do was show up, trust as best as I could, and keep an ear tuned to that still, small voice inside me—a voice that speaks loud and clear even as it speaks without words. I’ve learned to pay attention to the nudges of the Spirit that can help keep me on track.”

And...

“Perhaps the most important truth I have learned is that God can be trusted—because He is good.”

Minor warning - Ryan was an EMT paramedic before he began seriously recording music. He shares a few graphic stories about emergencies calls he responded to. If that bothers you, you may want to just skip over those parts.

There is much to enjoy about God’s faithfulness in these pages. I’m certain you will find it so.

I received and ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

Before reading "Eye of the Storm' I hadn't listened to a lot of Ryan Stevenson's music, but certainly knew the big song that the book was named for. Having studied radio, worked in Christian radio, and as a collector of albums - I have a great interest in the story of the artist as well as the story behind the song. This book was a winner on both accounts. As an alumnus of Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA -- where DC Talk met and formed -- I couldn't help thinking that 'had it not been for...'... this story might have been totally different. Without giving any spoilers away, Toby Mac of DC Talk was a great influence on Ryan and part of his success story. I was also very encouraged by seeing how God was always at work in bringing Ryan to fulfillment of the passions of his heart - and how he used others, even people very unlike Ryan, to make it happen. Again, no spoilers here but there are some real God-moments in the story. Ryan's story allows us to also meet his wife and mother and is one that I'm glad he told in greater detail here than we'd be able to get through an interview or listening to one of his records. The key take-away if to remember that whatever your storm may be, God is in the eye of it, and He is always working things for your good.

I appreciate Harvest House Publishers and Netgalley for making an advance copy of the book available before it's July 7, 2020 release - in exchange for feedback.

.I am glad to read this book right away. I loved how he talked about his younger years, his battles and how he overcame everything and became a Christian singer. I liked the fact he talked about his song at the end. I am glad i got to review this from Netgalley

If there was no bad luck, Ryan Stevenson would not have any. And if there was no grace of God, we would not be reading this book. This is by far one of the best testimonies I have ever read, and I will remember it and share it with others. Ryan Stevenson was not handed anything on a silver platter, he had many things go wrong and many circumstances letting him down that were outside of his control. He did get depressed and desparate, and mad at God, and hit low points, but yet in the middle of it all that still quiet voice was calling him, and he was obedient enough to follow it.

The first half of the book is so intense with struggles that I thought, OK, the second one will be all peaches and cream, that a miracle will happen and a door is going to open wide, and he will be delivered like a Cinderella from her bad step mother. But no. This story is not about miracles and wonder, but about tenacity and grit. The author had to fight through prejudices and glass walls, his own insecurities and depression.

The best thing about the book is that it is not preachy and super spiritual. There is no pulpit, no pretending. It is about raw faith, real life, real God, and real personal relationship between Him and a man.

Eye of the Storm by Christian musician Ryan Stevenson is a wandering memoir that takes the reader through Stevenson's life as an awkward kid from a poor family, an apparently rebellious teenager, a fierce paramedic and finally a doubt-riddled, up and coming - and ultimately hugely successful - musician. It is at times engaging, and at times mundane, so a lot like how most of us would tell the story of who we were, who we are now and how we got there.

One of the things that drew me to the book was the expectation that Stevenson's story would have a strong Christian perspective. As a believer, I enjoy seeing how others live out their faith on a daily basis. It inspires me, it encourage me, and it offers hope that, I too, can handle hard things with grace and faith. That expectation was not met in Eye of the Storm. In fact, other than a few oblique references to faith, a couple of "emergency" prayers and a clumsy section filled with too-dense Scripture in the middle of the book, Eye of the Storm could have been written by any nonbeliever. To me, that was disappointing and oddly incongruent.

If you're a fan of Stevenson and his music, this book might be a great read. It offers insight into his career and the life that informs much of his music. He willingly shares his battles with anxiety, depression and insecurity, as well as the complicated relationships we all seem to have with those we love. But, if you're looking for more inspiration that insight, or wanting a powerful personal testimony, you won't find it here.

This review is based on an advance copy reading.

Ryan’s title shows he is a worthy author as he is a songwriter and singer. The honesty of his struggles will touch the lives of many.