This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Leaving Yesterday
Bethany House (October 1, 2009)
by
Kathryn Cushman
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I graduated from Samford University with a degree in pharmacy, but I’ve known all my life that I wanted to write a novel “some day”. For me, “some day” came about five years ago, when I started writing and never looked back.
My third attempt became my first published novel.
A Promise to Remember was a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers Book-of-the-Year in the Women’s Fiction category, and Waiting for Daybreak was a finalist in Women’s Fiction for the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award. Leaving Yesterday just arrived on scene and I’m very excited about it!
On the homefront, I’ve been married to the wonderful and handsome Lee for over twenty years now, and our two daughters are currently braving the worlds of elementary and high school. We’ve lived in Santa Barbara for the last seventeen years. When I’m not writing or reading or braving seventy degree holidays, you’ll find me watching the younger daughter play softball, or the older daughter building amazing high school theater sets
ABOUT THE BOOK:
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.
But 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.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Leaving Yesterday, go HERE.
Learn more about Kathryn and her books on her Website.
MY REVIEW:
Leaving Yesterday was a difficult book for me to read. As a mother of two young adults I could identify with Alisa, having been through the fire with them. I can only be thankful that our circumstances were not as dire but realize that the possibilities are there for each and every parent.
Leaving Yesterday is realistic and relevant with honestly portrayed characters. Alisa’s denial of the situation in hope that it would go away is such a normal coping mechanism (especially for mothers). And believe it or not, Christians do make huge mistakes. It was refreshing to read about Alisa’s temptations and the mistakes she made but to also witness the positive choices she made afterward. It was a confirmation that although God does not always make our lives easy, He will be there with us through the storms if we turn to him.
