This past Tuesday, as the UPS man was walking up the sidewalk leading to our townhouse, I was wondering what he could possibly be delivering to us. I was trying to think back so I could remember if I ordered something. A tight budget hasn't allowed me much room for nonessential purchases. I couldn't think of what it could be. Once Kevin told me who it was from though, I immediately knew. UPS had just dropped off my latest Blogging for Books selection. I quickly opened up the box and pulled out the book, "Forever Faithful" a trilogy by Karen Kingsbury. I couldn't wait to get started and later that evening, I did just that.
In Waiting for Morning, we are introduced to the Ryan family. Tom, a doctor, had married his childhood friend Hannah, and together they had two daughters, Alicia and Jenny. When we meet the family, Hannah is at home waiting for her family to return from their annual weekend camping trip prior to the school year beginning. As Hannah is waiting her mind starts wandering to reasons as to why her family is late. A feeling, that she cannot shake, comes over her and the worry/anxiety continues. Later on two police officers arrive at the door of her family home. Immediately Hannah knew this couldn't be right, they had to be at the wrong home. NOTHING like this could happen to her family. Sadly it is true. Her husband and eldest daughter died in a horrific car accident. Their youngest daughter survived. Waiting for Morning takes us through Hannah's journey of grief, resentment, anger, and the desire to see Brian Wesley, the man who killed her family, be placed in jail. What about Jenny though? She's withdrawing and dealing with all this as well. Only, her mother doesn't notice. Hannah hires a lawyer, Matt Bronzman, that is skilled at handling drunk driving cases and she also becomes involved with MADD at his prompting. It is through MADD that Hannah meets a friend named Carol. Carol walks Hannah through all this but there is one thing she isn't telling her friend. One thing she cannot tell Hannah. Not yet. Will Hannah ever be able to forgive? Will she continue to resent God and doubt his existence? Will she return to Him? What about Jenny? Will she get the help she so desperately needs? Will Hannah and Jenny be able to move forward with their lives?
My thoughts: The message behind this story is one that I think many people can relate to. Not so much that we've lost loved ones to drunk driving but more so the heartbreak and questioning that is happening. Even the doubt. Could I remain strong in my faith if something like this were to happen? Could I continue on and forgive? I might be like Hannah and grow distant and be upset with God about these happenings. I believe that for all who are struggling the bible verse Karen Kingsbury has atop chapter one, might be related to by many: I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed. (Lam 1:20a) I know I've felt that way before. Maybe it's time for me to pay Lamentations a visit.
A Moment of Weakness, introduces us to Tanner, Jade, and their families. They are childhood friends and Tanner knows Jade is the one for him. Even at age 12, he knows this to be true. Tanner's mom, Doris, she doesn't like Jade or Jade's parents. She will not tell anyone why though. Doris knows that Jade's Mom is having an affair with another man and that she will be leaving her husband and daughter. Doris also knows that her son is meant for someone better than Jade Connor, after all she will end up like her Mother or a drunk like her Father. A little ways into the story we find out that Jade and her Dad are moving to Washington. Jade is convinced that her Mom will meet up with them there. She doesn't know that her Mom has left them as her Dad only told her that Mom had to leave for a while but would meet up with them later. Tanner tells Jade before she leaves, that he will marry her one day! Fast forward 11 years, Tanner's Dad has passed away and his Mother (Doris) is now living in the Northwest! Tanner is in Washington state for a summer internship and Doris is just praying that Jade no longer lives there. Needless to say Jade does still live there and happens to meet Tanner again. A summer love happens, dreams for the future are discussed, a line is crossed, distance happens due to a mission trip, and suddenly they are apart. Believing lies, Jade goes to the man her Dad thinks she should be married to. A quick marriage and she disappears from Tanner's life for another ten years. So much has happened. Jade is going through a divorce and her soon to be ex wants full custody of their son because his wife is a religious fanatic and, in his mind, hurting their son. Jade doesn't know what to do, so she does the only thing she can think of, she calls Tanner's law firm. Next thing you know Tanner and Matt (Bronzman) are flying up to meet with Jade so they can handle this case. Will Tanner and Jade reconnect? Will Jade get her son back? Will the truth about Ty come out? What will happen with Doris, will her secrets ever be revealed?
My thoughts: I'll be honest, parts of this story were predictable. But that didn't matter to me. This was a story of love, loss, hurt, shame, and reconnection. The verse that plays over and over in this story is Jeremiah 29: 11-12, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." Such a true verse. God does know the plans he has for us. He knows what our future holds and how much time on this earth we have until we are reunited with him again. If it is His will to help us, it will happen. We must first come to Him though.
Halfway to Forever brings back the characters we have grown to love: Matt, Hannah, Jenny, Tanner, Jade, and Ty. (Tom and Alicia are also mentioned.) Matt and Hannah have since married and Jenny is getting ready for college. Jenny is smiling again but Hannah knows there is still something missing for her daughter. There have been talks between Matt and Hannah about adding to their family through adoption, will this work for their family? Meanwhile, Jade and Tanner have now married and are busy raising Ty while praying for another pregnancy so they can add to their family. They struggle with getting pregnant, have a miscarriage, but continue to pray with each other and the Bronzman's. Jade isn't feeling well, there are frequent headaches, nausea, and tiredness, what is going on? Everyone urges her to go to the Doctor. She finally goes and gets great news, she's pregnant! An answered prayer. Around that time the Bronzman's receive good news also and are excited. Great things are finally starting to happen for both families, or are they? A pregnancy, a soon to be adopted child, great jobs, happy families, it's all so great but then it happens. Jade has a seizure. The adoption falls through. Tanner works more to not deal with Jade's condition. Everyone is emotionally hurt. What will happen? What will God do in their lives? Will they remain faithful to Him? Will the Bronzman's add to their family? What will happen to Jade's unborn baby? What about her health? What about her marriage to Tanner?
My thoughts: I was a wreck reading this book. I cannot lie. I loved the story and it tugged at my heartstrings. Be still and know that I am God, was the verse that kept playing on repeat throughout. Was it predictable? Yes and no, I mean obviously there are parts where you'll read it and say "I knew that would happen" but then there are those other moments where it takes you by surprise a little bit. Things happen in our lives, and while they are not always good, they happen and it is how we respond to those events that will speak as to who we are and what we believe. This book also furthers my desire to have a friendship like the Bronzmans and Eastmanns have. To have that other family that you can share these life events with and know that they will be there to pray with you. To have that type of friendship is something I can only dream of but I look forward to God putting people like that into my life.
I truly hope that you will check this book trilogy out. It is worth reading. The stories are good. You will need tissues. There are things that you can take away from this fiction series. Give it some thought. I'll gladly share my copy with my local friends if you want to read it.
Disclosure: I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group as part of their Blogging for Books review program. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts listed above are my own.
