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Chasing Rainbows
In one earth shattering moment, Sheldon Henry Stottz's near perfect life is changed forever.
The influenza epidemic of 1918 had already taken many lives. In what seemed like a single breath, the people Sheldon Henry loved the most where gone, and his rock-solid faith shaken to the core.
Why was God letting this happen? What had he done to deserve such agony, such utter pain?
Soon, Sheldon stumbles upon a young woman in tears. She's deeply broken, and while trying to offer some comfort, Sheldon suddenly realizes that God has spared him for a purpose; a purpose he would perhaps soon understand.
The influenza epidemic of 1918 had already taken many lives. In what seemed like a single breath, the people Sheldon Henry loved the most where gone, and his rock-solid faith shaken to the core.
Why was God letting this happen? What had he done to deserve such agony, such utter pain?
Soon, Sheldon stumbles upon a young woman in tears. She's deeply broken, and while trying to offer some comfort, Sheldon suddenly realizes that God has spared him for a purpose; a purpose he would perhaps soon understand.
372 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 2011
1 person is currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Lynette Chambers
7 books22 followersLynette Chambers has worn many hats in her lifetime. Central among them has been the role of pastor's wife, friend, and mentor. Lynette loves speaking at women's events and retreats.
As a wife, mother and grandmother she strives to live a life that is pleasing to God.
Many of her books and stories reflect her years in pastoral ministry and her life as a child growing up in the Ozarks. Her writings will bring you closer to God in a way that you might never expect.
Lynette is an award-winning author of four published novels. She is a contributing author in the upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul book, My Very Good, Very Bad Cat.
Lynette has also written numerous articles and short stories and has been featured on a number of radio talk shows.
Some days she is found working in her comfys, drinking endless cups of coffee as she researches ideas and details for her next novel or story.
Lynette loves sharing about her work with everyone she meets. Please feel free to view the video trailers of her first two novels.
Chasing Rainbows - A Novel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v74ec...
The Emerald Rainbow - A Novel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GKsh...
Please feel free to check out her Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/lynette.b.ch...
As a wife, mother and grandmother she strives to live a life that is pleasing to God.
Many of her books and stories reflect her years in pastoral ministry and her life as a child growing up in the Ozarks. Her writings will bring you closer to God in a way that you might never expect.
Lynette is an award-winning author of four published novels. She is a contributing author in the upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul book, My Very Good, Very Bad Cat.
Lynette has also written numerous articles and short stories and has been featured on a number of radio talk shows.
Some days she is found working in her comfys, drinking endless cups of coffee as she researches ideas and details for her next novel or story.
Lynette loves sharing about her work with everyone she meets. Please feel free to view the video trailers of her first two novels.
Chasing Rainbows - A Novel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v74ec...
The Emerald Rainbow - A Novel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GKsh...
Please feel free to check out her Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/lynette.b.ch...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 17, 2014
This review also appears on my blog, Reading Rachael.
Wow. I can't remember the last time that a book filled me with so many emotions! I cannot imagine ever going through a tragedy of this magnitude. I do not doubt that many Christians during this time questioned God's purpose for the widespread loss and grief. In that sense, this book seemed like a very realistic depiction of the devastation caused by the influenza epidemic of 1918.
The authors were able to seamlessly flow from one character's perspective to another to essentially give reader a 360 degree view of the story, without the plot feeling disjointed. Each of the characters were memorable for one reason or another, but this particular story was centered primarily on Sheldon Stottz. After losing his newborn daughter and beautiful wife literally within hours of each other, Sheldon begins struggling with the divine purpose behind his immeasurable heartache. That alone would be enough to shake a person to their core, and the family's despair felt palpable to me. However, Sheldon's trials were only beginning.
Being of German descent and open about his uneasy feelings about the war, Sheldon is accused of being a German spy and is subsequently arrested - immediately after the funeral of his wife and daughter. During all of this turmoil, Sheldon questions where his life should go from there, and even contemplates leaving home and starting over. But soon after Sheldon is released from prison, he meets a person who may be able to show him that life is still worth living, and that he still has a purpose.
It is fairly obvious that this is a self-published book, and there are some grammatical errors throughout the text, but they certainly do not take anything away from the story. I try to be a little less critical of self-published works, but overall this was a very beautiful story. The fact that this is "Christian fiction" may tempt you to automatically dismiss this book, but you honestly shouldn't. Yes, this book deals with a man's struggles with his faith, and religion is a major part of these characters' lives, but if you rule out the possibility of reading his novel simply on that basis then you are really going to miss out on this little-known gem.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.
Wow. I can't remember the last time that a book filled me with so many emotions! I cannot imagine ever going through a tragedy of this magnitude. I do not doubt that many Christians during this time questioned God's purpose for the widespread loss and grief. In that sense, this book seemed like a very realistic depiction of the devastation caused by the influenza epidemic of 1918.
The authors were able to seamlessly flow from one character's perspective to another to essentially give reader a 360 degree view of the story, without the plot feeling disjointed. Each of the characters were memorable for one reason or another, but this particular story was centered primarily on Sheldon Stottz. After losing his newborn daughter and beautiful wife literally within hours of each other, Sheldon begins struggling with the divine purpose behind his immeasurable heartache. That alone would be enough to shake a person to their core, and the family's despair felt palpable to me. However, Sheldon's trials were only beginning.
Being of German descent and open about his uneasy feelings about the war, Sheldon is accused of being a German spy and is subsequently arrested - immediately after the funeral of his wife and daughter. During all of this turmoil, Sheldon questions where his life should go from there, and even contemplates leaving home and starting over. But soon after Sheldon is released from prison, he meets a person who may be able to show him that life is still worth living, and that he still has a purpose.
It is fairly obvious that this is a self-published book, and there are some grammatical errors throughout the text, but they certainly do not take anything away from the story. I try to be a little less critical of self-published works, but overall this was a very beautiful story. The fact that this is "Christian fiction" may tempt you to automatically dismiss this book, but you honestly shouldn't. Yes, this book deals with a man's struggles with his faith, and religion is a major part of these characters' lives, but if you rule out the possibility of reading his novel simply on that basis then you are really going to miss out on this little-known gem.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.
September 3, 2013
Excellent novel. Well written.
December 17, 2014
I liked the historical setting of this book, and I enjoyed learning a bit more about a certain kind of Christianity. The author's descriptions of the death of a loved one and everyone's feelings while dealing with these emotions are very relatable.
I felt like the book was too long for only taking place over a few weeks in the book. The description on Goodreads really is all that happens in the book; there are nice details to give the story more substance, but not much actually happens. It was so sad in the beginning, and it was so sad. I was ready to move on with the story and have it stop being sad, but it was sad until the very end. I had a difficult time keeping track of the characters and their relations to each other; a family tree in the beginning would have been very helpful.
I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.
I felt like the book was too long for only taking place over a few weeks in the book. The description on Goodreads really is all that happens in the book; there are nice details to give the story more substance, but not much actually happens. It was so sad in the beginning, and it was so sad. I was ready to move on with the story and have it stop being sad, but it was sad until the very end. I had a difficult time keeping track of the characters and their relations to each other; a family tree in the beginning would have been very helpful.
I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.
March 6, 2016
I both enjoyed writing this book with my sister, Janice Lee, and have also enjoyed going back some almost three years later and re-reading it.
The story line never fails to draw me in. I can't wait to see what others think of it as well.
The story line never fails to draw me in. I can't wait to see what others think of it as well.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews