Thursday, June 6, 2013

That Certain Summer . . . by Irene Hannon













About

Two very different sisters . . . an unexpected homecoming . . . one unforgettable summer
Karen and Val are family-yet they're anything but close. Karen has carried the burden of responsibility for her aging mother ever since her sister left town years ago to pursue a career in theater. But Val had other reasons for moving away-as well as a secret to keep-and coming home has never been an option . . . until their mother suffers a stroke.

Reunited in their hometown, Karen and Val must grapple with past mistakes as they care for their ailing mother. When two handsome men enter the picture, the summer takes on a surprising new dimension. As their lives intersect, can each of them learn how to forgive, let go, and move on? And strengthened by the healing power of faith, might they also find the courage to love?



About the Author:

Irene Hannon

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du...
Continue reading about Irene Hannon 



My Thoughts:

Val and Karen are as different as night and day, or are they? Their mother has been critical of the two of them since they were young. 
Karen is the responsible one who stayed in town and has been at her mother's beck and call. 
Val is the "pretty" and talented one who left for Chicago to pursue a dream of theater. She teaches theater not acts, and models.

Their mother has a stroke and Karen decides that with the divorce from her husband, Michael, her teen daughter, Kristen who has broken her leg she just can't take care of her mother so she calls her sister Val and tells her she needs to come home to help. The last thing Val wants is to come home. Too many bad memories.

In this novel, Irene Hannon, tackles the issue of infidelity and the struggle the other spouse has with deciding whether getting into another relationship would be honored by God, since the vows we take are for life. I understood where she was coming from, I just am not sure I agreed with every thing, considering I experienced the pain of infidelity.

The other painful issue that Irene deals with in this novel is abortion. Abortion is a hot topic politically, and within Christian circles. I am an adopted child who found her birth mother in 92, and learned the true story of my birth mother's pregnancy, and her protection of me, long story short, my maternal grandmother wanted me aborted by the family doctor and my birth mother said NO, and she had me. She was 13, and this was 1966. Irene does a beautiful job handling this sensitive issue.

Val and Karen are not close at all and during the summer through circumstance and choice they become sisters and friends.

All in all this was a good book and would make a great summer beach read, that I recommend.

*Available at your favorite Revell bookseller*

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