Belonging

by Ruth O'Neil

After the death of her father, painfully shy and introverted Shelly finds her world turned upside down. She is forced to speak with people and she may even have to move from her comfortable apartment. Sorting through her father’s possessions at his house brings back many memories, including how they would research her mom’s genealogy so that in a way, she could get to know her mother’s family, who are all deceased. Shelly wonders why her dad never researched his own family and she never remembers any family events. Why? She begins a journey that takes her to places she never dreamed. Throughout the entire story, God nudges Shelly to get out of her comfort zone. That’s easy for some, but for Shelly it may almost be impossible.

238 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 2014

Reviews

[Lori King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the simplicity of this storyline and ease of reading. So many things spoke to me from the character Shelly... from finding her voice to stepping out of her comfort zone to that yearning to belong. Love how the author uses faith and scripture and applies it in a clear, nonthreatening form and in a way that is understandable and applicable to daily life. I enjoyed experiencing the growth of the character and seeing her come out of her shell!

[Jennifer Thompson-Thalasinos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shelley’s life suddenly turns upside down after her father dies. Returning home to go through his house, the shy writer finds herself on a journey she never expected. Encouraged by Professor Yates, her only other companion, to broaden her horizons, and Jay, the man her father hired to fix up his house, Shelley is forced to come out of her shell at last. I greatly enjoyed this story being a shy introvert and a writer myself. I also liked how the author weaved G-d into the book as Shelley pushes herself out of her comfort zone. Highly recommend!