My book club read Finding Me by Kathryn Cushman in April. This women’s fiction has been on my shelf for a very long time. I’m so glad I was finally able to read this novel of personal discovery. Recommended.
What would you do if you learned your life was a lie? All her life, Kelli Huddleston has been told the story of a fire–a fire that killed her mother and two siblings when she was an infant. After her father’s death though, she uncovers evidence of a different story, including clippings about a boat accident that killed a young father and his infant daughter. And Kelli quietly realizes the story of her life has been a fiction. How far would you go to discover the truth?
Armed with only a few pictures of what she thinks might be her family, Kelli crosses the country to Tennessee, determined to uncover the truth about what happened over twenty years ago in a small southern town. When the trip threatens to open doors to the past better left shut, and her plans for the future are jeopardized, Kelli is faced with an agonizing choice that will change her life forever.
Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. She is the acclaimed author of ten novels, including her recent release The Plans We Made. Kathryn and her family make their home in Santa Barbara, California.
My Impressions:
What would you do if you discovered you weren’t who you thought you were? Sounds impossible right? In Finding Me by Kathryn Cushman, main character Kelly discovers that her father lied to her her entire life. She has a family she thought had died years before when she was an infant. Inspired by two real life stories, Cushman explores the importance of identity and the repercussions when that is turned on its head. There are a number of issues explored in this contemporary women’s fiction — seeking truth regardless of fears/doubts/loss, the importance of finding personal faith, and the dangers of fitting/changing God’s word to suit our circumstances. My book club had a wonderful discussion of this book. We had several favorite characters, as well as some who annoyed us. 😉 Kelly was a relatable character whose emotions rang true. Plus we all had a rest of the story wish for the novel. Finding Me was a thought-provoking read which earned a unanimous thumbs-up!
Recommended.
Audience: Adults.
(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
My book club chose Finding Me by Kathryn Cushman for this month’s selection. It’s an oldie that has been on my shelf for a long time — I’m really looking forward to reading it. Have you read it? We’d love to know what you thought.
Here’s the first line:
David Waters slid into his usual corner booth, promising himself once again that today would be the last time.
What would you do if you learned your life was a lie? All her life, Kelli Huddleston has been told the story of a fire–a fire that killed her mother and two siblings when she was an infant. After her father’s death though, she uncovers evidence of a different story, including clippings about a boat accident that killed a young father and his infant daughter. And Kelli quietly realizes the story of her life has been a fiction. How far would you go to discover the truth?
Armed with only a few pictures of what she thinks might be her family, Kelli crosses the country to Tennessee, determined to uncover the truth about what happened over twenty years ago in a small southern town. When the trip threatens to open doors to the past better left shut, and her plans for the future are jeopardized, Kelli is faced with an agonizing choice that will change her life forever.
Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. She is the acclaimed author of ten novels, including her recent release The Plans We Made. Kathryn and her family make their home in Santa Barbara, California.
This month’s book club selection might be a surprise, but there’s no trick or prank involved. 😉 We are reading/discussing FindingMe by Kathryn Cushman. It’s been on my TBR shelf for quite a while, and I’m excited to finally read it! Find out all about it below.
What would you do if you learned your life was a lie? All her life, Kelli Huddleston has been told the story of a fire–a fire that killed her mother and two siblings when she was an infant. After her father’s death though, she uncovers evidence of a different story, including clippings about a boat accident that killed a young father and his infant daughter. And Kelli quietly realizes the story of her life has been a fiction.
How far would you go to discover the truth? Armed with only a few pictures of what she thinks might be her family, Kelli crosses the country to Tennessee, determined to uncover the truth about what happened over twenty years ago in a small southern town. When the trip threatens to open doors to the past better left shut, and her plans for the future are jeopardized, Kelli is faced with an agonizing choice that will change her life forever.
Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. She is the acclaimed author of ten novels. Kathryn and her family make their home in Santa Barbara, California.
In an effort to bring my towering TBR shelves into some kind of manageable order, I am utilizing Libby (my library’s app) to access audio versions of books I already own. Many of these books have been on the shelf an embarrassing length of time, so listening to them on my daily walks eases my shame. 😉 Leaving Yesterday by Kathryn Cushman is one I finished recently. A thoughtful and sometimes hard to read book, it made me examine my own trust in God. See all the details below.
Alisa Stewart feels like she’s lost two sons: her youngest to a terrible tragedy and her eldest, Kurt, to a life ruined by addiction. But now Kurt has checked himself into rehab and found a healing faith that seems real. It’s like he’s been raised from the dead. Then a detective arrives at Alisa’s door asking questions about a murder — the death of a drug dealer before Kurt entered rehab. Alisa fears losing her son again, and when she finds evidence linking him to the killing, she destroys it. Her boy is different now. He’s changed and deserves a second chance. But when another man is charged with the crime, Alisa finds herself facing an impossible choice: be silent and keep her son or give up everything for the truth.
Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. She is the acclaimed author of ten novels. Kathryn and her family make their home in Santa Barbara, California.
My Impressions:
The tragic murder of a son sets events for Alisa Stewart and her family. Leaving Yesterday explores the aftermath of such an event. A marriage that is fractured, another son who spirals into drug abuse, and a mistrust of God’s ability to do the right thing all play a role in the actions of main character Alisa. I have to say that this book was hard for me to read. No, it wasn’t graphic in any way, but it was very real. I could see how the bad choices Alisa made would impact the outcome of her story and could do nothing to stop her! It certainly made me think. Alisa believes in God with her whole heart, but when it comes right down to it, she feels that she knows best how to handle the tough situations her family face. Boy, can I relate! Maybe that was why it was so hard to read. It laid bare my tendency to manage the world around me to reflect how I want things to be. Like Alisa, it never works out well! Cushman did a good job of showing how one deceit leads to another, and the barriers that our actions can put up in our relationship with God. The audiobook was well-done and kept me engaged. With its many spiritual themes, Leaving Yesterday would make a great choice for a book club.
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(I downloaded the audiobook from Libby. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
This week I again go off topic for Top 10 Tuesday. The group is talking cover re-designs, but I have been super busy the past weeks, so I am featuring pretty covers living on my TBR shelves. Although an easy topic, it was tough to choose. My list is very random, but don’t you just love these covers!
Josie Brooks, at the age of 47, thought she was leading an enviable single life. A successful consultant, she calls her own shots, goes where the money is, and never needs to compromise. But her precisely managed world begins to falter during a Chicago contract when an economic downturn, a bleeding heart boss, and the loyalty and kindness between endangered employees ding her coat of armor. Throw in hot flashes, a dose of loneliness, a peculiar longing for intimacy, an unquenchable thirst—not to mention a mysterious snowglobe with a serene landscape, complete with a flowing river and lush greenery that seems to be beckoning her in—and Josie’s buttoned-up life is on the verge of coming completely undone. Maybe her solitary existence isn’t as fulfilling as she has convinced herself to believe. It will take a few new friends, a mystical encounter, and an unexpected journey to set Josie on her own path to “right-sizing” and making the life changes that really matter. Filled with laugh-out loud moments and a gentle dash of inspiration, Divine Appointments is another heartwarming charmer from a master storyteller.
Fading Starlight by Kathryn Cushman
A Tale of Unexpected Friendship and Old Hollywood Glamour
Lauren Summers is hiding. Her fashion house internship should have launched her career, but a red carpet accident has left her blackballed. The only job she finds is unpaid, but comes with free lodging–a run-down cottage in the shadow of a cliff-side mansion. Unsure of what comes next, she’s surprised to be contacted by a reporter researching a reclusive former Hollywood ingénue who lives in the nearby mansion.
Kendall Joiner wants Lauren’s help uncovering the old woman’s secrets. In return, she’ll prove the red carpet accident was a publicity stunt so Lauren can regain her former job. With all her dreams in front of her, Lauren’s tempted by the offer, but as she and the old woman get to know each other, Lauren realizes nothing is quite as it seems.
Heart Echoes by Sally John
In the aftermath of a massive Los Angeles earthquake, the perfect existence Teal Morgan-Adams has built begins to crumble. Teal’s daughter, Maiya, is determined to learn the identity of her biological father, despite the loving devotion of her stepdad, River Adams. But that’s a secret Teal hoped would remain buried forever. She has never shared the truth with anyone . . . not her family, not River, not even Maiya’s father.
As Maiya’s rebellion escalates, Teal receives tragic news from her sister and decides to take Maiya home to Cedar Pointe, Oregon, a place she’s avoided most of her adult life. But will her already-strained marriage survive the distance and the secrets she’ll be forced to face there? And can Teal erase the lies that echo in her heart?
Leaving Oxford by Janet Ferguson
Escaping home to Oxford, Mississippi, seemed like a good idea. Until it wasn’t.A year after a tragic accident in Los Angeles flipped her world upside down, advertising guru Sarah Beth LeClair is still hiding away in her charming hometown of Oxford, Mississippi. And she may well be stuck there forever. Suffering from panic attacks, she prays for healing. Instead, her answer comes in the form of an arrogant football coach and an ugly puppy.
Former celebrity college quarterback Jess McCoy dreamed of playing pro football. One freak hit destroyed his chances. Although he enjoys his work as the university’s offensive coordinator, his aspirations have shifted to coaching at the highest level. His plans of moving up are finally coming together–until he falls for a woman who won’t leave town.As the deadline for Jess’s decision on his dream career looms, the bars around Sarah Beth’s heart only grow stronger. But it’s time to make a decision about leaving Oxford.
The Mark of The King by Jocelyn Green
After being imprisoned and branded for the death of her client, twenty-five-year-old midwife Julianne Chevalier trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling 1720s French colony of Louisiana, where she hopes to be reunited with her brother, serving there as a soldier. To make the journey, though, women must be married, and Julianne is forced to wed a fellow convict.
When they arrive in New Orleans, there is no news of Benjamin, Julianne’s brother, and searching for answers proves dangerous. What is behind the mystery, and does military officer Marc-Paul Girard know more than he is letting on?
With her dreams of a new life shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous, rugged land, despite never being able to escape the king’s mark on her shoulder that brands her a criminal beyond redemption.
‘Mater Biscuit by Julie Cannon
It is summer in Euharlee, Georgia, and Imogene Lavender’s garden is bursting with snap beans, okra, and tomatoes. The household — made up of Imo; her daughter Jeanette and her new baby; and Lou, Imo’s niece — is about to grow as well. Imo’s estranged mother, Mama Jewell, has begun to show signs of senility, and Imo has decided that it is her duty to take her mother in. Mama Jewell brings with her some secrets from the past, including the story of Lou’s mother, a revelation that sends Lou in search of her ne’er-do-well father. For Imo, who is feeling the squeeze of being in the middle of the generations, Mama Jewell’s temperamental nature stirs up long-buried memories of a difficult childhood. And much to everyone’s surprise, wild Jeanette is so determined to find a husband that she joins the church choir to be closer to the handsome and enigmatic young reverend.
‘Mater Biscuit is a wonderful evocation of small-town life in the South, a world where hard work and prayers unite the community. Life isn’t always easy for Imo and her girls, but they have only to look as far as Imo’s beloved garden to be reminded that all things change with the seasons.
River’s End by Melody Carlson
Anna Larson’s daughter, Lauren, became pregnant while she was at college and decided to keep the baby, Sarah, but life had not been easy for them. When Sarah was only sixteen years old, she ran away from home. It is now Sarah’s eighteenth birthday and neither Anna nor Lauren have heard from her in all this time. Anna is certain that her granddaughter is dead. But suddenly, Sarah shows up at the Inn at Shining Waters, a mere shell of her old self. She has joined a religious cult that has had two whole years to brainwash her. Convinced that she’s not good enough for God’s love and forgiveness, she has come home, but following an argument with her mother, she leaves once again. This time, Anna and Lauren have a trail to follow and they do just that. But instead of finding Sarah, they find Jewel, a frightened young woman trying to escape the cult. Together, these three women will try to find Sarah and persuade her that in God’s eyes, she is perfect. Three generations of family heartbreak
A Stillness of Chimes by Meg Mosely
When teacher Laura Gantt comes home to Prospect, Georgia to settle her recently-deceased mother’s household, the last thing she expects to encounter is a swirl of rumors about the father she lost to the lake twelve years ago—that he has reportedly been seen around town. Elliott Gantt’s body was never found and he was presumed dead. Reeling from the sharp loss of a parent, Laura must now grapple with painful memories surrounding her father’s disappearance and the sense of abandonment she experienced after his death. Life-long friend and former beau Sean Halloran wants nothing more than to protect Laura from the far-fetched stories of Elliott’s resurrection and to care for her, but he has his own reasons, troubling echoes from his childhood, to put Elliott’s disappearance to rest. Working together, Laura and Sean begin to uncover the truth, one mired in the wooded peaks and deep waters of the Blue Ridge Mountains surrounding Prospect. Can they fathom how many secrets the steep hills hold? With surprising facts revealed, will Laura be able to understand the sacrificial choices made that forever changed her life? And can love and a peace with God be rekindled in her heart after so much time has passed?
White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner
When her black sheep brother disappears, Amanda Janvier eagerly takes in her sixteen year-old niece Tally. The girl is practically an orphan: motherless, and living with a father who raises Tally wherever he lands– in a Buick, a pizza joint, a horse farm–and regularly takes off on wild schemes. Amanda envisions that she, her husband Neil, and their two teenagers can offer the girl stability and a shot at a “normal” life, even though their own storybook lives are about to crumble.
Seventeen-year-old Chase Janvier hasn’t seen his cousin in years, and other than a vague curiosity about her strange life, he doesn’t expect her arrival will affect him much–or interfere with his growing, disturbing interest in a long-ago house fire that plagues his dreams unbeknownst to anyone else.
Tally and Chase bond as they interview two Holocaust survivors for a sociology project, and become startlingly aware that the whole family is grappling with hidden secrets, with the echoes of the past, and with the realization that ignoring tragic situations won’t make them go away.
Will Tally’s presence blow apart their carefully-constructed world, knocking down the illusion of the white picket fence and reveal a hidden past that could destroy them all–or can she help them find the truth without losing each other?
The lure of new shiny books is so, so real. They whisper of wonderful characters, exotic locales, and stories to get lost in. But what about all those books that I have missed? My TBR pile grows ever larger as new books are released and as the ones I have missed by favorite authors demand to be read too. Today, Top Ten Tuesday is all about the backlist — books that we just haven’t gotten to — yet. 😉 I’m featuring favorite authors’ books that I need to read! All of the books on my list are from authors I love and include historical and contemporary, romance and suspense genres. They were released a few (or a lot) of years ago and are still hanging out on my shelves or Kindle. Have you read them? Let me know what you thought.
Head over to That Artsy Reader Girl to discover more books and authors. Your TBR will love you!
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday theme should be titled the Shame Pile, at least for me. Bloggers were charged to search their shelves (and other places hoarders collectors stash their books) for the books that have been waiting the longest to be read. Oh dear! I have to close my ears as I walk past the shelves that fill the rooms of my house because the books whisper, whine, and sometimes shout Pick Me! I’d like to say that the books I chose this week have been on my shelves the longest, but the task was so overwhelming that I settled for random selections. I had such high hopes when I bought these books (and the other fifty gazillion that await). I just knew I would love them because I had loved their sisters and brothers — the books written and read by their fabulous authors. And I am sure I will love them . . . someday. *sigh* As I lovingly returned them to their places of honor, I promised that one day, they too would join the ranks of the read.
To find out what books other bloggers have waiting, please visit the Artsy Reader Girl.
Top 10 Neglected Books from My TBR Mountain
The Beach House by Sally John
Hope Springs by Lynne Hinton
June Bug by Chris Fabry
Leaving Yesterday by Kathryn Cushman
‘Mater Biscuit by Julie Cannon
The Passion of Mary Margaret by Lisa Samson
River’s End by Melody Carlson
Ruby’s Slippers by Leanna Ellis
Sandpiper Drift by Vanessa Del Fabbro
White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner
What book do you have on your shelf that needs to be read?
A few weeks ago the Top Ten Tuesday theme was books from 2016 that should have been read. My shelves are overflowing with 2016 titles as well as those from 2015, 2014, 2013 . . . . So in an act of equal time and fairness, I wanted to showcase more books that are so pretty, yet sit forlornly on my shelves waiting for me to come and open them up. I’m an equal opportunity neglecter — you’ll find both historical and contemporary fiction on this list.
This week the folks at The Broke And The Bookish are giving bloggers a Freebie. Check out what other topics they are exploring HERE.
My friend Carrie is a fellow book lover/nerd! Although she and I are 20 years apart in age, we get each other’s love for books. It doesn’t hurt that she is a dedicated follower of Jesus too. A voracious reader, Carrie has agreed to help me out with the towering stack of books that have shown up at my house unannounced. While I am very, very grateful to all those publishers that thoughtfully fill my mailbox, I just cannot get to every title in a timely manner. That’s where Carrie comes in. Here are some of her thoughts:
Perla Long moved to Wise, West Virginia to escape the gossip of her having a child outside of marriage. She also has a unique talent in that she can cook and make food stretch. She has always tried to hide her unique gift, but when a drought takes the town of Wise, she discovers that what she wanted to hide is truly a gift from God that can help others. Miracle in a Dry Seasonwill challenge you in how you judge other people and show you the importance of looking for how God can use even the smallest of gifts for His glory.
Join Kelli Huddleston in a wild but realistic journey to find out who she really is. She had always been told that her mother and two siblings had died in a fire when she was young. After her father’s death while going through his belongings she uncovers some startling possibilities that her mother and siblings are not only alive but don‘t realize she is also alive. As you travel to Tennessee with Kelli, you will be reminded about the importance of family. Finding Me will challenge you to not take your family for granted.
Purchase this book HERE. (The Kindle version is currently $1.99!)
Irish Meadowsshows what life was like for women in New York in 1911. Sisters, Brianna and Colleen O’Leary are the epitome of opposites. Brianna, who loves the outdoors and horses, yearns to attend college even though her father is only interested in marrying her off to a wealthy husband to help solve his financial problems. Colleen is only interested in marrying as long as it continues to allow her to have the finer things in life and won’t force her into having to do more than coordinating her social life. As their father works to marry them both off quickly to erase his debts, two men from the past come in shake things up. Irish Meadowschallenges you to not only focus on your dreams and stand for what you believe in, but also shows that people can change from their selfish, self-centered ways with the right people. God knows what He is doing and His plan has a way of bringing everyone closer to Him and their dreams.
Number 3 in the Porter Family Series, doesn’t disappoint. The mysterious Jake Porter runs the family horse farm. He suffers from PTSD and few people are allowed to get close to him, even family members. His childhood friend Lyndie James moves back home to Holley, Texas and begins working with the thoroughbreds on the horse farm. Her bubbling personality slowly tears down his walls. Becky Wade gives a very realistic story of how PTSD affects people in this romantic story. Whether you know the Porter family or this is your first time with the family, you will fall in love with this special family.
(Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for copies of these books. All opinions are Carrie’s alone.)
Carrie McNair is wife to Terry and mother to two active boys, Caden and Noah. Carrie is a Model Teacher. That means people from far and wide come to find out about excellence in the classroom by observing her and her students. A committed bookworm, Carrie makes sure her students develop a love of reading.
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Miracle in a Dry Season (
Finding Me (
Irish Meadows (
A Love Like Ours (
Carrie McNair is wife to Terry and mother to two active boys, Caden and Noah. Carrie is a Model Teacher. That means people from far and wide come to find out about excellence in the classroom by observing her and her students. A committed bookworm, Carrie makes sure her students develop a love of reading.
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