I've been reading Deborah Raney's books since her first, A Vow to Cherish, was published. I've not once been disappointed. Not once. I ALWAYS buy her books. I hate waiting so long between books, but every time I read one, I know why and don't mind. She writes with such a depth of emotion that it's truly astounding.
Mitchell Brannon looks forward to his wife returning from a teacher's conference, but she never makes it home. Police get called, searchers get sent out, Jill's disappearance is on all the news media, but no news at all. Nothing. How can a family cope in a situation like this? Not knowing, wondering all the time what has happened to their loved one?
Shelley Austin lives next door and has been Jill's best friend for 15 years. Shelley starts helping Mitch look for Jill and the two become closer than they always had been. Feelings begin to flow between them.
Mitch feels like he's betraying Jill and Shelley decides to move. What else can they do? Things are forever up in the air, no resolution.
What would YOU do if your spouse disappeared with no clues, nothing to go on? How would you live your life day in and day out? I know my life wouldn't even be worth living. I'd never have any peace, never any closure. But God...that is a wonderful sentence, though not a complete sentence. God is able to give peace even in the depths of despair. Mitch learns this along the way and so does Shelley.
This book moved me and as I sat finishing it at the breakfast table, I was actually sobbing, then smiling, then sobbing. It moved me so much. Deborah Raney has a God given talent to write books to minister to people. It's clear from her writing that she herself has a deep relationship with Christ. THAT is only one of the reasons I will always buy her books. If you miss this book, you've missed a blessing.