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Homefires
Emily Sue Harvey’s first novel, Song of Renewal, was praised by New York Times bestselling author Jill Marie Landis as “an uplifting, heartwarming story,” by bestselling author Kay Allenbaugh as a work that will “linger in the memory long after readers put it aside,” and by Coffee Time Romance as “a must-read book for anyone doing a little soul searching.” New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry said, “It captures your attention, and whets your appetite for more,” while Peeking between the Pages called it “quite simply a beautiful book.”Her second novel, Homefires is set in the Deep South’s Bible-belt on the eve of unprecedented moral changes. It is the story of Janeece and Kirk Crenshaw, a couple married just after their high school graduation who set out to make a life for themselves. It is a life marked by surprises, none more dramatic than when Kirk receives his “high-calling” and becomes a pastor. It is a life marked by tragedy, the most heart-rending of which is the death of one of their children. And it is a life marked by to their church, to their community, and most decidedly to their marriage. And as the fullness of time makes its impact on their union, Kirk and Janeece must face the question of whether they have gone as far as they can together.Filled with the rich emotions and evocative characters that readers have come to expect from Emily Sue Harvey, and reminiscent of the work of Jan Karon and Anne Rivers Siddons Homefires is a poignant and compelling novel that will steal readers' hearts.
456 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2011
About the author
Emily Sue Harvey
12 books11 followersEmily Sue Harvey’s writing to make a difference. Her upbeat stories have appeared in dozens of anthologies including “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” “Chocolate for Women,” “From Eulogy to Joy,” “A Father’s Embrace,” “True Story,” “Compassionate Friends Magazine,” and “Woman’s World.” Emily Sue served as president of Southeastern Writers Association in 2008-2009. Her first novel, Song of Renewal, published by Story Plant, was released in the spring of 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 26, 2013
I really enjoyed this book...it's a pretty realistic portrayal of a dedicated Christian woman's struggle to keep the homefires burning while her preacher/husband ministers to his flock. The sorrow is, at times, almost overwhelming. Yet through it all, Neecy manages to learn and grow and - somehow, against almost overwhelming odds - maintain faith strong enough to sustain her through the tragedies and heartbreaks that molded her into the amazingly strong and resilient woman God created her to be. But be warned...you WILL need a box of tissues at hand for parts of this book!
October 12, 2024
great book
This was a really like real
life. Once I start reading it,
I could hardly put it down.
I especially enjoy the biblical
view and the many scripture
that were used. A good Christian book.
This was a really like real
life. Once I start reading it,
I could hardly put it down.
I especially enjoy the biblical
view and the many scripture
that were used. A good Christian book.
December 2, 2024
A book with depth (unlike so many books that are written today), life lessons, hope, and compassion for the human condition. Very, very well written. Highly recommend. Would love to read many more books by this fine author.
August 19, 2024
Moderate. A must-read book from IB English Language & Literature. Will add some thoughts after reading it again.
June 20, 2011
Homefires by Emily Sue Harvey
Release Date: June 7th, 2011
Publisher: The Story Plant
Page Count: 451
Source: Received from publisher via Pump Up Your Book for review
Homefires is set in the Deep South’s Bible-belt on the eve of unprecedented moral changes. It is the story of Janeece and Kirk Crenshaw, a couple married just after their high school graduation who set out to make a life for themselves. It is a life marked by surprises, none more dramatic than when Kirk receives his “high-calling” and becomes a pastor. It is a life marked by tragedy, the most heart-rending of which is the death of one of their children. And it is a life marked by challenges: to their church, to their community, and most decidedly to their marriage. And as the fullness of time makes its impact on their union, Kirk and Janeece must face the question of whether they have gone as far as they can together.
Filled with the rich emotions and evocative characters that readers have come to expect from Emily Sue Harvey, and reminiscent of the work of Jan Karon and Anne Rivers Siddons, Homefires is a poignant and compelling novel that will steal readers' hearts.
What Stephanie Thinks: While I can tell Emily Sue Harvey carefully emplaces lots of sentiment into each word she writes, her overall complacent tone makes her novels difficult to enjoy. If Homefires was the first book written by her I had read, I wouldn't be saying this. In fact, I would be willing to give her another chance. But Homefires is her second chance. The first chance started with Song of Renewal, which I reviewed back in January. It was written to be a heartwarming story, but I personally could not feel the "heartwarming" part.
Let's go back to Homefires. As a whole, it's a sweet, wholesome Christian novel that follows the romance, as well as the times and troubles of Janeece and Kirk Crenshaw. There are a few elements that tasted unfit for my palate, however:
1. A self-absorbed cast. Every character in this book makes me cringe. They all align on extreme ends of personality spectrums. Some characters are too nasty, some are too saccharine, some are too shell-shocked, to realistically imagine. But each of them has one thing in common: they think they're way is the best way, and though it isn't said aloud, it's evident they would all refuse any other way but their own. The most naïve, and consequently, most annoying, is Janeece, who of course, narrates the story. Some characters, I feel like I could tolerate; Kirk, for example. He may not be the ideal husband, but even with his flaws, he seems genuine and charismatic. Unfortunately, Homefires is not told from Kirk's point of view; it's told from Janeece's.
2. Superiority from the author. I know most writers have the right to consider their work the best work, but is it necessary to bring it into the text? When Janeece speaks, she speaks condescendingly, as if everything she has to say is the most important, and most fulfilling. I would not mind this if Janeece and Harvey really were as profound as they think they are.
3. No structured expression in plot. The book isn't arduous, in terms of conventions. In fact, Harvey's style reads very smooth and the only complaint I have about it, is that it is drawn out to cover 451 pages. However, nothing actually happens in the story. Sure, little mishaps and small delights scatter all throughout the novel, but, aside from Harvey's point that family and love will always prevail, I get no satisfaction out of reading this book.
I have one more thing to criticize (or, if you look at it sardonically, you could say poke fun at). Homefires ruined italics for me. Do authors have no shame in written structural conduct? Italics in prose can only be properly used for emphasis (provided, you don't count book titles, thoughts, foreign words, definitions, et cetera). There is no point in using italics if you are going to italicize every other word. Not only does it get annoying for me as a reader, but it's also displaces all the emphasis that should be put in a sentence, which weakens the writing on so many levels. Do I make myself clear?
Stephanie Loves: "I knew [Kirk] would quit smoking if he could. When he could. And I knew that just as he wasn't perfect, neither was I. I knew by now there was no Knight in shining armor." This is probably a slap of reality for Janeece -- one she has to make a point by using three italicized words with. Arguably, those few sentences were probably light on italics, compared to other passages throughout the novel.
Radical Rating: 6 hearts- Would recommend to people.
Release Date: June 7th, 2011
Publisher: The Story Plant
Page Count: 451
Source: Received from publisher via Pump Up Your Book for review
Homefires is set in the Deep South’s Bible-belt on the eve of unprecedented moral changes. It is the story of Janeece and Kirk Crenshaw, a couple married just after their high school graduation who set out to make a life for themselves. It is a life marked by surprises, none more dramatic than when Kirk receives his “high-calling” and becomes a pastor. It is a life marked by tragedy, the most heart-rending of which is the death of one of their children. And it is a life marked by challenges: to their church, to their community, and most decidedly to their marriage. And as the fullness of time makes its impact on their union, Kirk and Janeece must face the question of whether they have gone as far as they can together.
Filled with the rich emotions and evocative characters that readers have come to expect from Emily Sue Harvey, and reminiscent of the work of Jan Karon and Anne Rivers Siddons, Homefires is a poignant and compelling novel that will steal readers' hearts.
What Stephanie Thinks: While I can tell Emily Sue Harvey carefully emplaces lots of sentiment into each word she writes, her overall complacent tone makes her novels difficult to enjoy. If Homefires was the first book written by her I had read, I wouldn't be saying this. In fact, I would be willing to give her another chance. But Homefires is her second chance. The first chance started with Song of Renewal, which I reviewed back in January. It was written to be a heartwarming story, but I personally could not feel the "heartwarming" part.
Let's go back to Homefires. As a whole, it's a sweet, wholesome Christian novel that follows the romance, as well as the times and troubles of Janeece and Kirk Crenshaw. There are a few elements that tasted unfit for my palate, however:
1. A self-absorbed cast. Every character in this book makes me cringe. They all align on extreme ends of personality spectrums. Some characters are too nasty, some are too saccharine, some are too shell-shocked, to realistically imagine. But each of them has one thing in common: they think they're way is the best way, and though it isn't said aloud, it's evident they would all refuse any other way but their own. The most naïve, and consequently, most annoying, is Janeece, who of course, narrates the story. Some characters, I feel like I could tolerate; Kirk, for example. He may not be the ideal husband, but even with his flaws, he seems genuine and charismatic. Unfortunately, Homefires is not told from Kirk's point of view; it's told from Janeece's.
2. Superiority from the author. I know most writers have the right to consider their work the best work, but is it necessary to bring it into the text? When Janeece speaks, she speaks condescendingly, as if everything she has to say is the most important, and most fulfilling. I would not mind this if Janeece and Harvey really were as profound as they think they are.
3. No structured expression in plot. The book isn't arduous, in terms of conventions. In fact, Harvey's style reads very smooth and the only complaint I have about it, is that it is drawn out to cover 451 pages. However, nothing actually happens in the story. Sure, little mishaps and small delights scatter all throughout the novel, but, aside from Harvey's point that family and love will always prevail, I get no satisfaction out of reading this book.
I have one more thing to criticize (or, if you look at it sardonically, you could say poke fun at). Homefires ruined italics for me. Do authors have no shame in written structural conduct? Italics in prose can only be properly used for emphasis (provided, you don't count book titles, thoughts, foreign words, definitions, et cetera). There is no point in using italics if you are going to italicize every other word. Not only does it get annoying for me as a reader, but it's also displaces all the emphasis that should be put in a sentence, which weakens the writing on so many levels. Do I make myself clear?
Stephanie Loves: "I knew [Kirk] would quit smoking if he could. When he could. And I knew that just as he wasn't perfect, neither was I. I knew by now there was no Knight in shining armor." This is probably a slap of reality for Janeece -- one she has to make a point by using three italicized words with. Arguably, those few sentences were probably light on italics, compared to other passages throughout the novel.
Radical Rating: 6 hearts- Would recommend to people.
June 22, 2011
I had really enjoyed the author's previous novel, Flavors; packed within the pages of the short book, there was so much wisdom and inspiration. As a result, Flavors instantly became a book I could count among my 2011 favorites. Compared to that, I am quite disappointed with Homefires. It's more than double the size of Flavors and yet, I failed to find that same connection I felt to the author's previous book.
Homefires tells the story of Janeece and Kirk Crenshaw, right from the time of their marriage to the time their kids are grown up. The depiction of the trials and tribulations of their married life is very realistic and (despite my complete inexperience in that department) even accurate, I believe. Their marriage starts off as a fairy tale; they are merely high school graduates when they marry and initially their married life seems to sail smoothly. Soon this fairy tale dissipates as Janeece and Kirk realize that marriage requires much more than love - it requires trust and acceptance too. Over the years, they face challenges that almost breaks their marriage apart, still they somehow survive through it. One of the most heartbreaking and one of the only moments when I actually felt emotional was when they suffer an enormous loss of someone they love - their pain almost got to me.
So what is lacking? Firstly, the characters. In Flavors, I felt so deeply attached to every character - right from the main protagonist to the secondary characters, everyone was so memorable. On the contrary, in Homefires, I felt nothing for the characters or what they experienced. Most of the time I was either annoyed with them or outright bored. Except for just one time (which I mentioned before), I just didn't care about what happened to the characters. I also felt that the lingering prose of the author's previous book was lacking here. Further, in a book that's more than 400 pages, I would have expected much more to happen. Many times, I felt I could not finish the book because it was starting to feel like a tiring monologue.
Janeece, the narrator and the main protagonist, seems to be absolutely self-obsessed and even at times, drowning in self-pity. There are so many times that I found her to be a hysterical woman, bordering on craziness and extreme paranoia. One of the most cringe-worthy aspects about her is that she kept on repeating - "I am unlovable. Noone loves me". It is so hard to like a character who is constantly whining. However, I did start to respect Janeece a bit more after she finally "grew up" from being a childish, immature woman to one who could stand up to her husband. Kirk, though less annoying than Janeece, is far from being a likable character. I was surprised at the number of times Janeece just forgives and accepts him. I believe in acceptance, but that doesn't mean blindly accepting the other person is alright. Kirk seemed to be a male chauvinist and his behavior towards his wife is often cruel.
Despite the above stated points, I do like that Homefires stresses on the importance of family, relationships and love. It gives out some important messages about hope, faith and forgiveness without getting overly preachy ; and that it's possible to get through the worst that life deals out to you.
Overall:
A good premise, but weak in execution and character development.
Recommended?
Not really. I would suggest checking out the author's previous books.
Homefires tells the story of Janeece and Kirk Crenshaw, right from the time of their marriage to the time their kids are grown up. The depiction of the trials and tribulations of their married life is very realistic and (despite my complete inexperience in that department) even accurate, I believe. Their marriage starts off as a fairy tale; they are merely high school graduates when they marry and initially their married life seems to sail smoothly. Soon this fairy tale dissipates as Janeece and Kirk realize that marriage requires much more than love - it requires trust and acceptance too. Over the years, they face challenges that almost breaks their marriage apart, still they somehow survive through it. One of the most heartbreaking and one of the only moments when I actually felt emotional was when they suffer an enormous loss of someone they love - their pain almost got to me.
So what is lacking? Firstly, the characters. In Flavors, I felt so deeply attached to every character - right from the main protagonist to the secondary characters, everyone was so memorable. On the contrary, in Homefires, I felt nothing for the characters or what they experienced. Most of the time I was either annoyed with them or outright bored. Except for just one time (which I mentioned before), I just didn't care about what happened to the characters. I also felt that the lingering prose of the author's previous book was lacking here. Further, in a book that's more than 400 pages, I would have expected much more to happen. Many times, I felt I could not finish the book because it was starting to feel like a tiring monologue.
Janeece, the narrator and the main protagonist, seems to be absolutely self-obsessed and even at times, drowning in self-pity. There are so many times that I found her to be a hysterical woman, bordering on craziness and extreme paranoia. One of the most cringe-worthy aspects about her is that she kept on repeating - "I am unlovable. Noone loves me". It is so hard to like a character who is constantly whining. However, I did start to respect Janeece a bit more after she finally "grew up" from being a childish, immature woman to one who could stand up to her husband. Kirk, though less annoying than Janeece, is far from being a likable character. I was surprised at the number of times Janeece just forgives and accepts him. I believe in acceptance, but that doesn't mean blindly accepting the other person is alright. Kirk seemed to be a male chauvinist and his behavior towards his wife is often cruel.
Despite the above stated points, I do like that Homefires stresses on the importance of family, relationships and love. It gives out some important messages about hope, faith and forgiveness without getting overly preachy ; and that it's possible to get through the worst that life deals out to you.
Overall:
A good premise, but weak in execution and character development.
Recommended?
Not really. I would suggest checking out the author's previous books.
June 29, 2011
I loved Flavors by Emily Sue Harvey, so when I saw this book up for review, I jumped at the chance to be on the tour. I was a little disappointed in this book.
Janeece and Kirk were young and innocent kids that were in love. They decided to "save themselves" for marriage and eventually they got married. Some of the parts of the book I could relate to, like when they were going on a trip and one kid had to sit on "the hump" in the middle of the back seat. I remember clearly going to Texas when I was little and we had to take turns riding on "the hump". So, I did feel kind of a connection with the characters, but not as much of a connection that I would have liked. Other than than, the book just seemed to move too slow for me, and it was too long.
I do like reading a variety of books, but this one just didn't hold my interest as much as I had hoped. I have friends that I would recommend this book to (Staci). It all depends on your taste in books I guess as to whether or not you would like this one. The only way you will know is to just read it yourself! I do recommend that you read Flavors by Emily Sue Harvey though!
Janeece and Kirk were young and innocent kids that were in love. They decided to "save themselves" for marriage and eventually they got married. Some of the parts of the book I could relate to, like when they were going on a trip and one kid had to sit on "the hump" in the middle of the back seat. I remember clearly going to Texas when I was little and we had to take turns riding on "the hump". So, I did feel kind of a connection with the characters, but not as much of a connection that I would have liked. Other than than, the book just seemed to move too slow for me, and it was too long.
I do like reading a variety of books, but this one just didn't hold my interest as much as I had hoped. I have friends that I would recommend this book to (Staci). It all depends on your taste in books I guess as to whether or not you would like this one. The only way you will know is to just read it yourself! I do recommend that you read Flavors by Emily Sue Harvey though!
June 27, 2011
Overall, I enjoyed reading Driftwood Cottage but I honestly found myself skimming over parts of the book and I thought the accident would have happened in the beginning to start us off. Course that’s me, I like drama and/or action in the beginning of a story to get me in the mood. It wasn’t until more than half-way through the book that we get to that part. But then the book did share with us how the couple related to one another (along with the other characters) to help us understand them and the family. Because of the backdrop prior to the accident, you can sympathize with why Connor and Heather were resistant in finally committing themselves to each other in marriage. (Of course it would end in marriage…) You can also rejoice in the blossoming of love for other characters because they all deserved to have love. To me the book was more about family, support, reconnection, and love. You honestly can’t resist feeling like one of the family members or friends sitting at the dinner table on Sunday night or playing matchmaker with the others.
May 23, 2011
Homefires is a story set in the Deep South centering around a couple, Janeece and Kirk Crenshaw, who have been together since high school. It follows them as they grow as a couple, have children and deal with marital difficulties. You see how Kirk's pastoral duties affect their lives and way of handling the world around them.
I enjoyed Ms. Harvey's descriptions of the characters and their surroundings as you followed their journey. This was a good book and something that is outside my normal type of reading material. I'm glad that I had the chance to read it.
I obtained a copy of this book from the author to review as part of her Virtual Book Tour.
I enjoyed Ms. Harvey's descriptions of the characters and their surroundings as you followed their journey. This was a good book and something that is outside my normal type of reading material. I'm glad that I had the chance to read it.
I obtained a copy of this book from the author to review as part of her Virtual Book Tour.
September 25, 2011
Soooo booooring. I got quite a ways into the book, but I just couldn't finish it. I couldn't connect with the characters, so I didn't really care what was happening in their day-to-day life. Don't waste your time.
January 24, 2012
SOOOOOOO boring. I will never read another Emily Sue Harvey novel. Don't waste your time!
February 22, 2014
Oh my ... Oh my!
What can i say? This is a life time story and at least to me, so real! I couldn't help to hope for the ending that I wanted so bad and cried through it all. Wonderful
What can i say? This is a life time story and at least to me, so real! I couldn't help to hope for the ending that I wanted so bad and cried through it all. Wonderful
August 8, 2011
Loonnng, LONG...and full of heartbreak and love. Pretty good
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews