ABOUT THE BOOK:
Deb Raney delivers an emotion-packed, gripping story with the creation of Bryn.
A firefighter's wife, Bryn thinks she knows more than most just how dangerous fire can be. Yet when it takes the life of her husband and four other firefighters, Bryn sees fire for the thief it truly is.
From their mutual despair, Bryn and another firefighter's surviving spouse form a close friendship. As the relationship begins to blossom into more, though, the thief comes again and Bryn must face the question: what caused the fire that stole her husband's life?
MY THOUGHTS:
“You know, Garrett, being a hero isn’t always about saving lives and leaping tall buildings in a single bound.” (p. 128)
Bryn Hennesey spoke almost prophetically the day she shared this sage advice with Garrett Edmonds. Both Bryn and Garrett have suffered great loss at the point that their lives converge, and as each of them help one other carry the load of sorrow (and in Bryn’s case, guilt) we learn some vital things about human nature and the characteristics of grief. Deborah Raney has a unique way of exploring ideas, and her latest novel, Almost Forever, takes a close look at the different ways people respond to tragedy and the difference it makes in their lives when they allow God to work in their hearts in spite of the dark or heavy circumstances.
Bryn and Garrett are characters that readers will be easily drawn to. Garrett is a fifth-grade teacher and Bryn works part-time for the library while volunteering in a local homeless shelter. When tragedy strikes their small town the responses vary from unforgiving rage to the purest forms of grace. As friendship grows between Bryn and Garrett they must learn together what it means to offer mercy during times of great difficulty. These two main characters are supported by a cast of believable and sometimes quirky counterparts (Sparky and Boss in particular!), and they blend together to form a beautiful picture of what mercy and grace look like when reflected through our lives by our Heavenly Father. Garrett’s students prove to be mighty teachers in his life, and the unmerited favor shown to Bryn during an particularly agonizing situation prove God’s love for her like nothing else in her life thus far.
Almost Forever is a beautiful story, and I am happy to recommend it to you!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Her books have received the RITA Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Her novel, A Vow To Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title.
Visit the author's website at: www.deborahraney.com
Thank you to the folks at Glass Roads Public Relations for my review copy of this book!
1 comment:
I was hoping to get the chance to review this book. No matter - I bought it and it's taunting me from my TBR pile!
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