Reasons for Waking

by Karen Foster

When reclusive Philip teams with a determined young woman to unravel the tragedy that shattered both their lives, he's forced to confront his estranged family. The lies-and devastating truths-he discovers expose his family's secrets and compel him to face his flawed assumptions. Reasons for Waking is a tale of how secrets and silence can hide the truth that can heal us.

404 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2023

About the author

Karen Foster was the oldest of six children. She held a BA with honors in English from Longwood College, and an MA in creative writing from Hollins College, and she did postgraduate work in English at Vanderbilt University.

She worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Atlanta area for more than 23 years, both as an employee and later as a consultant in a variety of editing and writing roles, including as a technical writer-editor and a subject matter specialist.

Karen’s true passion was raising, showing, and breeding English Springer Spaniels. Her affection for dogs is evident in Reasons for Waking, her first novel, which she finished writing shortly before she died in March 2022.

Reviews

[Beth Carrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so good I could not put it down!! Excellent character development, many unexpected twists & turns, and definitely a tear jerker. I never wanted the book to end.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Since that horrible day that left two dead, Philip has stayed away from his family for years. He wants to live a calm, solitary life, teaching and having the company of his loyal dog, Dilsey.

But when Emily, a young woman who claims to have ties to the shooting, comes asking for answers, Philip's quiet life is upended. Emily and Philip are an unlikely pair to team up, but their lives are entwined by loss and grief.

As Philip sorts through the past, painful family lies, deception and secrets surface, shattering every last thread his mind held onto.

This is a mystery, but hurting families that suffered loss and tried to cover up the emotional bleeding are at the center. The ending is heartbreaking, but speaks loudly to healing and forgiveness on many fronts.

The writing here is skillful and engrossing. Philip had a perfect voice, reserved and guarded, yet you could feel his pain. I loved Dilsey; she helped everyone until she couldn’t anymore. (You may cry; just a heads up).

Thank you @reasons_for_waking for a gifted copy.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

While fiction, this story reads as if this all actually happened. The details in the characters, the emotions, the conversations between people, the experience of owning a disabled dog, all read as actual happenings. The author conveys deep understanding of the interplay between characters and the situation at hand. The first chapter pulls you in. About midway thru, the true mystery stirs you and you want to figure out what really happen...and who can be trusted in the story. Is Emly trustworthy? What about Philip's memory? And his best friend - are his actions sincere or not? Should Philip keep moving forward in his investigation or cut his losses? I experienced an array of emotions reading this book. Ms Foster was not just a good writer, she was an extraordinary writer, and her siblings are amazing for bringing this book to publication. I highly recommend this novel.

[Kim L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this novel and how many times I didn't want to put it down!! By chapter two I was drawn in to an intriguing story of tragedy, denial, uncertainty, and fragmented relationships. But woven deep within is also the story of love, friendship, family and overcoming. As the story unfolds so do the characters and the stories within the story. I found myself completely surprised on more than one occasion by an unexpected outcome! This speaks of what an excellent author Karen Foster was! It is the kind of novel that kept me drawn in and left me with a sense of well being. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read and enjoys the unexpected!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sitting in an airport,next to another passenger, and was intrigued by title of this book. I asked to read the back page summary. Between the description and author story, I knew this was a book to read.

Tragedy and grace and wrong choices genuinely made because of love. The storyline gives the reader much to consider about life, acceptance, forgiveness and finally truth.

This author passed away after this novel was in its final draft. This book will always make me wonder (and look forward too) what else she would have written.

Note: some final editing was completed by her family and you may find some wordings redundant. However, I'm so glad I asked a fellow reader about this book

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, powerful book

I loved this book. I loved the mystery; the settings; the depiction of family and the idea that is not always blood; the emotions that it created; and the characters especially Dilsey; Philip, Henry, Emily and Scottie. This book captured my imagination and engaged all of my emotions. Ultimately, to me, it is a story about love and family and forgiveness. It is a great book that will be remembered. I am so sorry that this is the only book I will read by the author Karen Foster. Her writing is powerful and thought provoking and I thank her family for ensuring that it was published and sharing it with readers.

[Glyndal Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must Read

This book was hard to put down……it was a story that anyone who has family can relate to. It showed the love that can hurt, yet really can save us. Being told from the viewpoint of an eldest son in a family, it showed how we can form beliefs/opinions that really are not what they seem to be.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a VERY good book!!!!

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit too long and could have used some editing, but I appreciated the labor of love of the author’s siblings to publish this after her passing. The scenes set in South Carolina made me feel like I was back in the Palmetto State, both with the physical descriptions and the characters. As a dog owner, and more specifically the owner of several Labradors over the years, I especially loved the storyline about the main character’s dog. Overall, a good read.

[Angela Hoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel. At first the characters were profoundly one dimensional and I had a hard time suspending my disbelief. However, the story line and the plot were interesting, plus there's a mystery, and all of that held my interest. Slowly the protagonist becomes more self aware and thus more dimensional, and this is a catalyst for the story and the people in it to fully open. Note that there are some tragic scenes. A good read for travel!

[Lisa F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! A masterfully woven mystery that unravels a family tragedy that changed the lives of all involved. This story draws you in from the first page to the last and will lead you to examine your own hurts, family dynamics, and the path to healing. You won't be disappointed-a great read!!

[Joanne Pike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, it pulls you in from the first pages and keeps your interest until the end. Families dealing with tragedy and the secrets that keep them apart, you may want to keep a box of tissues handy.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel grabs you in from the first page and doesn’t disappoint. The character development made me feel like I knew them personally!

[Barbara L Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book. It's truly a "can't put it down" read. The characters and plot are so well constructed it kept me turning page after page.

[Tara Corrigall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing story - both the novel and the author story.

[Craig Turley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous novel.Karen Foster is a wonderful author. I could not put this page turner down. Thank you Karen.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a little slow story-wise, but beautiful throughout. It’s such a shame the author never saw it published or had the ability to write additional books. This one had me crying on the beach.

[Nancy Spiker · Rating 5 out of 5]

What We Miss

This book marvelously depicts how flawed we are in our assumption of others’ intent, and the courage and risk required to overcome our own selfish narrative. A tragically beautiful story about overcoming our hidden disabilities.