Like Always: A Novel

by Robert Elmer

When Will and Merit Sullivan decide to escape midlife blues and buy a small, dilapidated resort in northern Idaho, their dreams finally seem within reach. More importantly, their twenty-year-old son Michael has just returned from Iraq, thrilling his younger sisters and making their family complete again.

So the morning Merit discovers she is pregnant, at the age of forty-five, she is shocked. Can their lake lifestyle adjust to having a little one in the house? It seems too much to ask–until devastating news forces the biggest decision of all. As Will and Merit face the greatest trial of their lives, the couple must re-examine their faith and their devotion to each other in a truer way than they could ever have imagined.

Inspired by a true story, Like Always explores the triumph of real-life love and asks if we can ever go back to the way things used to be.

Genres: Christian Fiction

304 pages, Book

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Robert Elmer is the author of more than fifty books, including contemporary novels for the adult Christian audience, nonfiction devotionals like Piercing Heaven and Fount of Heaven (Lexham Press), and seven series for younger readers. Among kids, he is best known for his historicals such as the Young Underground, Adventures Down Under, Life Behind the Wall, and Promise of Zion books. When he's not at the keyboard, he enjoys beachcombing and travel with his wife, and spending time with their three kids and families.

Reviews

[Miranda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is very well written, and I was enjoying it until I reached the bit where Merit discovered she had cancer and was also pregnant. I was extremely put off by the unrealistic description of the doctors aggressively trying to push her into having an abortion, and trying to rush her into making the decision. That would never happen. It's so obvious that the writer was trying to push his own conclusions re: the right course of action to take on this moral dilemma onto his readers. It irritated me so much that I couldn't enjoy the rest of the book.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet enough story focusing on a middle-aged couple coping with unexpected turns in life, but while I found it technically well-written, I felt that the last half of the book was lacking in emotional depth. In fact, I was expecting a very different outcome based on what we were given. I didn't not like the book, it just definitely wasn't great.

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Family buys resort in Idaho, one member is ill. Sad, but uplifting at the same time.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

It may be a fine book, but didn't keep my interest. I stopped reading it

[Leeann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This family's story gives food for thought about how I would handle the same situation. The strong marital relationship was a breath of fresh air.

[NJaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ The story lines were good, but the pace was terribly slow. I was happy to see that it had a realistic ending tho. I would have teared up if the author had been able to make me care about the characters. It had two and a half story lines going on (sister’s story was bare minimum), but none were fully developed unfortunately. I’m sorry to say that I had to make myself finish it

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

little sad for me ..

[Jeannette Harbottle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tear jerker!

A difficult subject sensitively handled. Each person's conflict and faith is tangible, and their final response is faith filled and real. A good read.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lives of Will and Merit are turned upside down when Merit learns that she is pregnant and very sick.

To make matters worse, they have 2 young children already, and they just picked up and moved to Idaho (a drastic life change for the whole family).

Will Merit and the baby survive? This question stays in your head throughout the whole book.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a powerful theme of love, faith, and motherhood. Merit has to choose between starting cancer treatments to save her own life, or aborting her unborn child. The book didn't start this conflict until half way through, however, so I thought it was a slow moving plot at first. Overall, I liked the book and might recommend it.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, but typical story line.

[Traewilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great journey to discovering the value of life, at all levels.

[Elaine]

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[Deon]

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[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

At times this book gets a little preachy which I do not care for.