Reviewer: Connie Payne
Title: A Family Forever
Author: Brenda Coulter
Publisher: Steeple Hill
ISBN: 0-3738-1256-6
Release Date: March 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Contemporary Inspirational Romance - Love Inspired
Year/Setting: Present Day - Dublin, OH
Overall rating: 4.75
Sexual content rating: None
Brenda's Website:
www.brendacoulter.com
Shelby Franklin’s life seems to be one disaster after another. The latest is her fiancé being killed in an accident, just weeks before their wedding. On top of that, she finds out she’s pregnant. She doesn’t know what she’s going to do and she feels as if this is her punishment for not waiting until her wedding night to consummate her relationship.
Her problems didn’t just start there, but with a turbulent childhood. One that’s affected how she deals or doesn’t deal with others, with men. One that makes her wonder about God, why He doesn’t seem to be there for her. So it’s with reluctance that she accepts her fiancé’s brother’s proposal. A proposal she has great misgivings about. Marriage. Nothing lasts forever after all.
Tucker Sharpe carries a load of guilt with him. As self-appointed protector of his adopted brother David, he blames himself for David’s death. He blames himself for Shelby’s pregnancy since he didn’t speak up when they got engaged and voice his concerns. Concerns that his brother wasn’t ready for marriage, wasn’t ready for the responsibility.
While Tucker is more than willing to give his marriage to Shelby a fighting chance, she resists him at almost every turn. And finally, just when she thinks everything will be all right, tragedy strikes, reaffirming her thoughts that God has abandoned her and is punishing her.
Now it seems almost impossible that the two of them will find their way back to each other and God.
I was actually surprised at how emotionally vested I became as I turned each page. My heartstrings were pulled more than once as I empathized and sympathized with Shelby and her inner confusion and hurt. I felt sorry for Tucker as he struggled to reach Shelby.
Many of us have felt like Shelby at one time or another. Alone and abandoned by God. Left out as others seem to achieve and we’re left behind to seemingly struggle and scrape through life. Brenda’s inspirational story reminded me that what we think is best isn’t always His best; our timetable isn’t always His timetable. He’s always there, it’s us who walks away from Him.
Brenda says it took three rejected manuscripts before she figured out what she did right the first time (Finding Hope) and did it again. In my opinion, Brenda surpassed herself with A Family Forever. She seems to have her finger on the pulse of the inner spiritual turmoil we all go through but never speak about and with soothing words eases the ache.
Kudos to Steeple Hill for recognizing the warmth, compassion, and heart that Brenda wrote A Family Forever with and sharing it with the readers.
Connie
Question or comment regarding the review or the book? Click here and let Connie know.
Top
Reviews
Featured Reviews
Archived Reviews