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Suddenly: A Widow’s Story of Unexpected Loss and Healing
Imagine suddenly losing your soulmate of 30 years. What would help you to keep moving forward?
Danell was living her dream life with her husband Patrick and two daughters when he left for a morning bike ride and never returned home.
Danell was suddenly a single parent who was faced with learning to move forward on an unfamiliar path. Danell treasured the impact Patrick had on the lives of others and dedicated herself to making that kind of difference in the future.
In Suddenly: A Widow’s Story of Unexpected Loss and Healing, readers will discover how Danell:
Used writing to record memories while they were fresh, helping to process grief
Discovered a new purpose through introspection
Strengthened family traditions and created new ones
Allowed herself to experience happiness and joy after the grieving process
Supported her daughters as they found their own purpose
Danell found strength in the stories of other widows. She aspires to have her story provide hope for others experiencing loss.
Review by AuthorsReading:
Danell teNyenhuis Black is a courageous writer who shares her personal story of loss, grief, and recovery for the edification of others. Suddenly: A Widow's Story of Unexpected Loss and Healing presents the author's intensely personal message of loss, which is heartfelt and supportive without being maudlin. She writes from the perspective that widows are part of a sisterhood as well as an extended family.
The author introduces her message with a prologue that includes a short piece she wrote on the first anniversary of her husband's death. Her imaginative writing and interpretation lead the reader to see how the author's hopes and dreams followed an unplanned path. Inspirational and encouraging, the reader is then plunged into "The Worst Day of My Life."
Told in first person, present tense, the story of Patrick's accident is chilling and heart-numbing. Danell includes small backstories about Patrick and their family so the reader feels they are personal friends. Danell relates factual data as well as her fears that all she is learning about an unidentified man killed in a bike accident is not a coincidence.
Danell's story continues as she relates confirmation of her worst fears, notifying her daughters and their large extended family members. Family as a whole and individual family members are a vital part of her story. Readers who have had similar experiences will be able to relate to her many short family backstories. Funeral planning and the aftermath of court hearings of the perpetrator of the accident make saying "goodbye" to her husband, their daughters' father, and a member of a large extended family a heart-wrenching experience.
As years passed, Danell moved forward and tried the online dating scene. Her experiences are often humorous and help the reader realize that life goes on.
As the book reaches a conclusion, the author includes a section about what life is like for a widow during the Holidays and as a single person who must now rely on herself to do all the chores handled by her husband. She chose to be happy and to further her education. Her courage is empowering.
The BookFest Awards First Place Winner for Nonfiction: Self-Help/Inspiration
The Firebird Book Award 1st Quarter Winner for Personal Growth (2024)
Danell was living her dream life with her husband Patrick and two daughters when he left for a morning bike ride and never returned home.
Danell was suddenly a single parent who was faced with learning to move forward on an unfamiliar path. Danell treasured the impact Patrick had on the lives of others and dedicated herself to making that kind of difference in the future.
In Suddenly: A Widow’s Story of Unexpected Loss and Healing, readers will discover how Danell:
Used writing to record memories while they were fresh, helping to process grief
Discovered a new purpose through introspection
Strengthened family traditions and created new ones
Allowed herself to experience happiness and joy after the grieving process
Supported her daughters as they found their own purpose
Danell found strength in the stories of other widows. She aspires to have her story provide hope for others experiencing loss.
Review by AuthorsReading:
Danell teNyenhuis Black is a courageous writer who shares her personal story of loss, grief, and recovery for the edification of others. Suddenly: A Widow's Story of Unexpected Loss and Healing presents the author's intensely personal message of loss, which is heartfelt and supportive without being maudlin. She writes from the perspective that widows are part of a sisterhood as well as an extended family.
The author introduces her message with a prologue that includes a short piece she wrote on the first anniversary of her husband's death. Her imaginative writing and interpretation lead the reader to see how the author's hopes and dreams followed an unplanned path. Inspirational and encouraging, the reader is then plunged into "The Worst Day of My Life."
Told in first person, present tense, the story of Patrick's accident is chilling and heart-numbing. Danell includes small backstories about Patrick and their family so the reader feels they are personal friends. Danell relates factual data as well as her fears that all she is learning about an unidentified man killed in a bike accident is not a coincidence.
Danell's story continues as she relates confirmation of her worst fears, notifying her daughters and their large extended family members. Family as a whole and individual family members are a vital part of her story. Readers who have had similar experiences will be able to relate to her many short family backstories. Funeral planning and the aftermath of court hearings of the perpetrator of the accident make saying "goodbye" to her husband, their daughters' father, and a member of a large extended family a heart-wrenching experience.
As years passed, Danell moved forward and tried the online dating scene. Her experiences are often humorous and help the reader realize that life goes on.
As the book reaches a conclusion, the author includes a section about what life is like for a widow during the Holidays and as a single person who must now rely on herself to do all the chores handled by her husband. She chose to be happy and to further her education. Her courage is empowering.
The BookFest Awards First Place Winner for Nonfiction: Self-Help/Inspiration
The Firebird Book Award 1st Quarter Winner for Personal Growth (2024)
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2024
3 people are currently reading
434 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 29, 2024
Very well written book about a widow’s journey in grief. The author is very honest and expresses each person’s grief is unique and individual. Highly recommend for anyone experiencing a loss or is supporting a loved one who has experienced a loss.
July 9, 2024
Danell and I started following each other's grief journey several years ago.
This book has a unique perspective as a series of real-time blog posts—which candidly show Danell’s thought process as she was living through it.
I find so many of the experiences that Danell has faced relatable.
This book gives the reader hope that gratitude and peace can be found.
This book has a unique perspective as a series of real-time blog posts—which candidly show Danell’s thought process as she was living through it.
I find so many of the experiences that Danell has faced relatable.
This book gives the reader hope that gratitude and peace can be found.
February 28, 2024
Grief is an invariably complex emotion, universally challenging yet deeply personal. This sentiment is at the heart of Suddenly: A Widow's Story of Unexpected Loss and Healing, where the author, Danell teNyenhuis Black, confronts the sudden loss of her husband. The book opens on a day like any other, except it culminates in a life-altering tragedy: her husband's fatal cycling accident. This event propels her into the uncharted territory of widowhood, forcing her to adapt to new responsibilities as the sole parent and provider for her daughters.
Black's narrative is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and resilience. She delves into the intricacies of her marriage, painting a vivid picture of a love story that began in school and flourished over the years. The couple's distinct personalities and shared history are brought to life, creating a tapestry of memories that is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. Throughout the book, the importance of family and community support is emphasized. Black candidly shares the challenges she faced in the aftermath of her loss, offering a raw and honest depiction of her journey toward healing. Her resilience in the face of adversity is notable, as is her ability to find happiness again and help others who have experienced similar losses. Black's writing style is engaging, seamlessly weaving humor with moments of deep emotional insight. The book is a testament to the enduring power of love and the strength of the human spirit in overcoming grief.
Suddenly: A Widow's Story of Unexpected Loss and Healing is recommended for readers who appreciate personal, heartfelt stories. It offers a blend of inspiration, humor, and poignant reflections on love and loss that will resonate with many. Whether it brings a smile or a tear, Black's story is a compelling reminder of the depth and resilience of the human heart.
Black's narrative is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and resilience. She delves into the intricacies of her marriage, painting a vivid picture of a love story that began in school and flourished over the years. The couple's distinct personalities and shared history are brought to life, creating a tapestry of memories that is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. Throughout the book, the importance of family and community support is emphasized. Black candidly shares the challenges she faced in the aftermath of her loss, offering a raw and honest depiction of her journey toward healing. Her resilience in the face of adversity is notable, as is her ability to find happiness again and help others who have experienced similar losses. Black's writing style is engaging, seamlessly weaving humor with moments of deep emotional insight. The book is a testament to the enduring power of love and the strength of the human spirit in overcoming grief.
Suddenly: A Widow's Story of Unexpected Loss and Healing is recommended for readers who appreciate personal, heartfelt stories. It offers a blend of inspiration, humor, and poignant reflections on love and loss that will resonate with many. Whether it brings a smile or a tear, Black's story is a compelling reminder of the depth and resilience of the human heart.
April 30, 2024
I won this Kindle edition book in a Goodreads
Giveaway. Thank you to everyone involved.
Very well written!
Giveaway. Thank you to everyone involved.
Very well written!
May 5, 2024
✍🏼❤️✍🏼❤️
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews