Story of parents who lost a son in a automobile accident. ( )

Ever since buying a Kindle, I've been reading a lot of books that I wouldn't have given a second thought to. But who am I to say no to a free book? This one really surprised me.

Two women from opposite sides of the track are bound together in a tragedy- a car accident that takes the lives of both their sons. Through the deaths, each women learns what it means to be a strong Christian.

Andie has it all on the outside- a nice house, a husband and good friends, and attends the right church. She has her hand in several charities and fundraisers. But she sees herself as to blame for her son's death- if only she had been a better mother. She has long abandoned the one thing that she took pleasure in- painting- in order to live up to her husband's expectations. He is desperately trying to close a deal that will solve some financial difficulties Andie knows nothing about. Since the death of their son, they are in a slow decline, tearing the marriage apart through lack of communication

Melanie is a single mother, trying to hold her life together for her daughter's sake, after the death of her son. While her children attend church, she wants nothing to do with it. In her anger and pain, she decides to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the other family. She just wants her son to be remembered. Through the lawsuit that steals the imagination of the court of public opinion long before it actually goes to court, she learns that forgiveness and kindness are more difficult.

Yes, it is a Christian book, and forgiveness certainly plays a starring role, but it doesn't come off as preachy. It is more about the raw emotional journey that happens when loved ones die unexpectedly- the things that can go wrong, and the things that ultimately can make a person stronger. ( )

This story deals with the issues of grief and forgiveness. The main characters are two mothers--both lost their sons in a car accident and one blames the other for her son's death. She decides to sue the other mother and what follows is the story of how they each try to deal with their grief and eventually learn to forgive. As you can tell, it's kind of a depressing topic so read this when you are in the mood for something serious. ( )

NCLA Review -Readers who enjoy connecting personally with the characters and story line in a novel will enjoy this is the book. Cushman has done an excellent job of bringing this story to life and opening the reader’s heart to the pain and love in each character’s experience. There is a plethora of food for thought in this book. Do you make snap judgments when you witness a piece of a situation or overhear a bit of conversation? Do you “go with the flow” rather than stand up for what you know is the godly thing to do? Oh, to be as open to hear God’s whispers as these two women learn. While the underlying story is every parent’s worst nightmare, there is much to learn about going forward and keeping faith. The minor characters are folks we meet in our day-to-day living. A truly, well-rounded look into the community of family, friends, church and town. Rating: 4 —PL ( )