Autumn Blue

by Karen Harter

An authentic tale of the bonds of family, faith, and trust. As single mother Sidney Walker struggles to save her troubled young son, she finds she is not as alone as she thinks when help comes from the most unexpected person.

Genres: Fiction

292 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this book out of the library two weeks ago. Ever since, I have been giving it a wide berth. Don't know why. You'd think if I'd plucked it off the shelf and checked it out and placed it on the library stack, I'd be wanting to read it, wouldn't you? I mean....a lot of time and effort had already been expended on this book. Right?

But, I just couldn't get excited about it being my next read. I even considered throwing it out into the front seat of my car. The front seat of my car is where the books going back to the library hang out while they wait for another Saturday to roll around.

I'm off work this week and I finished a military mystery that, while good, bored me to tears through the middle. So, I wanted something light, something fun, something......easy, to read. Being the total puzzle that is me, I pulled AUTUMN BLUE off my library shelf and started it late last night.

If I say this book was SO GOOD it kept me off the computer all day, would you understand just how good it was?

Or do I need to tell you how much I wanted to crawl inside this book and hang out with Sidney and her family? I wanted to run my fingers across her beautifully painted furniture, comb Sissy's hair, become mesmerized by Alex's and Enrique's music. I wanted to BE in Ham Bone.

I finished the book this evening. Yep. Inhaled it in lieu of other pursuits. And I'm satisfied. Fully and completely satisfied.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another new to me author. Sidney's 15 year son is missing. She feels it's her fault because she is a divorced mother and her son has no father to raise him. Sidney lives in a trailer across the street from a kindly old man named ,Millard. He helps her to keep her son,Ty out of trouble although reluctantly at first. She thinks if she starts up a relationship with one of her ex-boyfriends this will help ,Ty get the father figure in his life that he needs. The deputy that is responsible for being in charge of Ty when he does community service is the one that Sidney,her son Ty and her daughters make a connection with. The boy finally get's his life straightened out after some adult caring and being shown love and how to respect adults.

[BookDigger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was just....FANTASTIC!! It was one of those books you ache for. It has such a sweet note and it gently caresses your heart as you read. Definitely worth reading! It had some suspense, just as it did reunion and love. Very nice piece. Very nice.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her 15 year old son is missing and her world shatters when the gruff sheriff tells her that Ty is suspected of burglaries in the area, on top of the trouble he's in already. As Sidney deals with that, raising her other two children by herself, unexpected help comes from the old man across the street, who feels like his life is over. A hard-to-put-down sweet story of people helping people.

[Kerstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not nearly as deep as her debut novel, but still an engaging read. It was predictable and the happy ending, was, happy. There are some poignant life lessons and I always appreciate a good book without profanity.

[Pattymea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rewarding read - I enjoyed the twists and turns! Interesting family dynamics...

[Karla Keegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty and predictable story. Why did we need to know about the mom's eating habits?

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hallmark movie. Single mother of a troubled teen boy falls in love with the police officer who arrests him. Everyone is happy in the end. Quick read.

[Melanie Wissel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Sweet predictable story with a wholesomeness lacking in most light reads.

[ANNETTE · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story , loved the characters

[Lester · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick and easy read.

[Kimberly Westrope · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good, heart-warming story with likable characters and a message of community and helping one another.

[Nora St Laurent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read by the author. I REALLY liked it. This deals with tough life situations. You can see how this single mom really loves her kids as the story unfolds. She learns how to put her children into the loving arms of the Lord and leave them there. It is a hard lesson for moms to learn. But in the end she learns more about life, love and herself. Really good read with Discussion Questions in the back of the book for a book club.




Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com

[L8blmr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not famiiar with this writer but after reading the blurb about this book I decided to give her, and this story, a try. I am happy I did on this particular weekend. This is a tale of ... people. People who need people. (Hey, that would make a great song lyric!) It's somewhat humorous that when we speak of "relationships" we often go right to the male/female thing in our minds, but we are all surrounded by many kinds of relationships. That's what I enjoyed most about this story; the unlikely friendships, the mentoring, the tough love, the truth that sometimes the people who should love you the most don't, the oridnary humans who get a shot at being a hero, and the fact that you don't have to share genes to be family. A feel-good easy read that is well worth sandwiching between heavier fare.

[Darby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reading, fairly predictable. Stereotypical single mom scenario. It was a positive story so I gave it three stars instead of two. I don't read much fiction anymore maybe I'm just overly critical, maybe I really did learn something in my high school AP English class. But I want a fiction book to be powerful and really say something. This book was obvious with a shallow abount of depth to it. I did like the portrayal of the elderly man across the street and how his daughter treated him. Working with seniors I have a unique perspective on the aging process. Just because someone is aging doesn't mean they are useless or stop having needs of self actualization.

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is considered to be Christen Reading. I liked this book very much. It is all about Sydney and her angry and confused son. Sydney is trying her best as a single mother to raise her children. But she thinks her children need a father. When Ty gets into trouble with the law the most unsuspecting person comes to the rescue, the neighbor, Millard, a 73 year old man who lives by himself. As all this works out, Sydney finds things out about herself she never realized. The best part is her family gets a father figure and Sydney didn't even see it coming. As far as that goes, I didn't even see this coming. Great book!

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is considered to be Christen Reading. I liked this book very much. It is all about Sydney and her angry and confused son. Sydney is trying her best as a single mother to raise her children. But she thinks her children need a father. When Ty gets into trouble with the law the most unsuspecting person comes to the rescue, the neighbor, Millard, a 73 year old man who lives by himself. As all this works out, Sydney finds things out about herself she never realized. The best part is her family gets a father figure and Sydney didn't even see it coming. As far as that goes, I didn't even see this coming. Great book!

[Glenda L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The author's wonderful family drama features the unlikeliest of heroes ... a grumpy old man who has no intention of getting involved ... with anything! Luckily life intervenes and he finds his heroic inner self. Complications ensue when a single mother turns to him for support. When their lives intersect, they learn that maybe the things they need the most are the ones they least expect. A warm, engaging family drama. This book is a glowing affirmation of the importance of family, community and the redeeming power of love.

[Alberto Jacobo Baruqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

La vida de Sidney Walker una madre soltera de 3 hijos, puede ser la de muchas estadounidenses (a excepcion de los 3 hijos!); Basada en la familia y en la fe. Es un buen libro si quieres escuchar una historia sencilla y cotidiana pero cargada del poder del cambio por amor. Algunos saltos inesperados moveran el curso de esta novela que cierra en un romanticismo puro. Karen Harter marca su clara influencia de Kristin Hannah en historias cercanas a nuestras vidas citadinas. AJ

[Lesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good story about people helping people. Mr. Bradbury helping Ty and Sidney helped all of them including Mr. Bradbury. I commend Mr. Bradbury for getting involved in a difficult situation and I wonder if I would do the same thing. I thought that I probably wouldn't, but then I remembered just this past month I helped a friend of mine that was in a tough situation and involved a large sum of money and I did help her out. So maybe I would get involved.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A relatively predictable book, but one that still has some good life lessons on love and family and community. Harter creates the angst of a troubled young boy, a lonely and useless-feeling older man, a single mom struggling to do what's right for her family and other characters that are believable and who make you care. Quick read and good!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

i wasn't so sure how i was going to like this book. i'm tired of reading about the single mother who needs help with her kids and gets rescued by the knight in shining armor. it's so overdone. this book was so good. it was refreshing and realistic. i'm so glad i read it. i wish there were more books that lift your spirits like this one did. it was a warm sense of community and healing.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a "sleeper", and by that I mean, I didn't expect it to be as good as it is! A troubled boy gains a great relationship from an unexpected neighbor who is lonely and looking for a purpose in his life. They both find something they need, and through their newly found friendship, the other characters are bound together. I enjoyed this book, and recommend it.

[Rayni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book. I loved the way she developed her story. Only letting out bits & pieces. When you think you've got the whole story, another little piece slips out. I was sad when the book ended. I inhaled it so fast, I'd like to read it again.

[Ishanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute novella about a single mother's struggle with her teenage son and the neighbor who helps her. I enjoyed this little book surprisingly enough and I recommend it. If you like short and sweet, this is a book for you!

[Nina Mchugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, I do think it was predictable but still enjoyable, very well written and very good likable characters. It is an easy read and a feel good book, who doesn't need that once in awhile!!

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not very deep...just fluff!

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Likable single mom as the lead character, but I was put off by the somewhat stereotypical circumstances... must be the single mom in me.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sweet story - happily ever after ending.
Not much depth to characters or plot but an easy feel good read.

[Aubrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story