Beacon of Hope: A Guide to Internal Truth is a lovely book that will offer hope, strength and inspiration to anyone seeking a deeper spiritual understanding. Written by Marcia J. Lawton, a pioneer in the field of substance addiction, the book combines her own personal struggles to overcome alcoholism and practical advice for the body, mind and spirit.

Filled with life lessons Dr. Lawton gleaned through her own experience, as well as those of many of the clients she worked with, Beacon of Hope is a warm and passionately written book that gives special insights into how we can overcome the blocks that keep us from living a full and happy life. The book also features wonderful chapter-ending "Spiritual Beacons," tidbits of wisdom we can easily remember, as well as a summary of these tidbits at the end of the book. One thing Dr. Lawton knows is that repetition is the mother of understanding, and she does a great job of gently driving her point home to the reader.

What disappointed me about this book is the steep price tag -- $17.95 -- especially for a book that rounds out at only 125 pages. I also felt that there was nothing really new in what Dr. Lawton was saying – in fact, hundreds of self-help books have said it all before, and many with a lot more style and pizazz. This book is a wonderful read, but has these two shortcomings. Still, when it comes to truly understanding the issues facing people in substance abuse recovery, this book is a gem.