Summer Snow

Threads of Change #2

by Nicole Baart

Julia DeSmit is finally learning to accept her new life. Optimistic and anxious to begin again after dropping out of college, she is taking fumbling steps down a challenging yet hope-filled road. But the careful existence Julia has begun to build falls hopelessly to pieces when her estranged mother, Janice, appears on the front porch one icy March night. Mother and daughter have not seen or talked in ten years, and a decade of anger, resentment, and bitterness follows in Janice's wake, along with a surprise Julia could never have anticipated. Julia is convinced that which is broken cannot be mended. Yet when she faces the very decision her mother did years before, she begins to realize what it means to truly accept grace. Will it be her undoing, or the impetus for a change she'd never dared hope for?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Young Adult, Audiobook, Adult, Contemporary

364 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2008

About the author

Nicole Baart is the author of eleven novels, including Everything We Didn’t Say (an October 2021 Book of the Month selection and Amazon Editor's pick) and The Long Way Back. Best known for her “race-to-the-finish family dramas” (People), Baart is also the cofounder of a nonprofit and mother of five. She lives in Iowa with her family.

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nicolebaart/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NicoleBaart/
Twitter https://twitter.com/NicoleLynnBaart

Reviews

[Lydia Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Second Review at the bottom)

Although I didn't find this book hard to put down like the first one, I still enjoyed it very much and, strange though it seems to actually say this, I thought the ending was good. I'm hardly *ever* satisfied with endings to books, so that was a surprise. To clarify: I want to know more about happens and I'm hoping there is a third book, but I'm also okay with how things turned out. For the last third of the book I was really wondering how one of the threads was going to end and I couldn't figure out a way that would make me happy, and yet it did. Way to go, Miss Nicole!

Again, Julia and her grandma have an amazing relationship that I really enjoyed watching. During the times when they were going through some rough patches it was actually kinda hard and I just wanted to skim read until everything was going well again.

One of the issues that this book deals with came in very timely for me because it's something a friend of mine has going on right now. It was helpful to see it from the MC's perspective and to therefore get an idea of what it was like coming from someone else's brain.

There were times when it was hard to like Julia, but even during those times she seemed well-written and her reactions very natural. I also felt like there weren't many solid conclusions to the things she was searching for, but that, too, felt natural.

Overall I liked the book (although there were some times when the descriptions got to be a little too much for me and I skim-read a good amount). It barely squeaked in with 4 out of 5 stars, 7 out of 10.

* * * * * * *

I've been wanting to re-read this book because I remember the writing being so beautiful. I picked it up at the library last weekend, and then breezed through it on Sunday. It was like visiting old friends, and for that I was quite happy.

Overall, the book didn't pull me in quite as much as I had anticipated, but its as still soothing and lovely and I'm glad I re-read it. (Re-read on March 19, 2017)

[Nenette · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Don't wall yourself behind some unquenchable hate. Don't you know that you're only building a stronghold around yourself? Janice and Simon may not be able to get in, but don't forget that when you build a fortress this impenetrable, you won't be able to get out." These were Nellie's (Julia's grandma) words to her, and at that point, even if she knew she was being too hard, Julia chose to not get out of her fortress. But time heals wounds, so it is said... In the end, Julia finally opened up and became accepting, the seed of faith finally sprouting up fresh new buds; and forgiving, both to herself and the people around her.

Like the first book (After the Leaves Fall), this second installment is as inspirational and enjoyable. Again, it does not come off as preachy, even with the awakening of faith in Julia. The author was able to describe it in a prose so beautiful, that it is not impossible for readers to have an awakening/renewal themselves, I personally felt it, and it was great,

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Subtle longing fills this beautiful book. I love Julia's evolution from bitterness to acceptance and the very real obstacles she faces as an unmarried teen. She's smart, deep, and thoughtful, all mixed together with insecurity. Baart made me want to live with Julia's grandmother, made me want to paint a flaking front porch, made me want to live in the country. Her turns of phrases inspired me. A beautiful book.

[Karla Renee Goforth Abreu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the trilogy, with the first being After the Leaves Fall. See that review. For this genre, I would give it a 4. My rating does not necessarily reflect all genres, but a 4 in this particular one, Christian fiction.

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd in series about pregnant 19 year old who has dropped out of college. Realistic portrayal of mindset and thinking of a young person.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Hopeful. Loved it and. Any wait for the ne t installment. Satisfying and fun follow up. Can't wait for the final installment

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a satisfying follow up to the Julia DeSmit story. I enjoyed this story. I loved
The character ARCs. Enjoyable and ready for the third installment

[Karna Bosman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel to After the Leaves Fall. Thought provoking book that completes the first book,
Rising above brokenness. Rising from ashes.

[Nora St Laurent · Rating 4 out of 5]

"After the Leaves Fall" is the first book in this series. "Summer Snow" is the second book. In the beginning of this book the main character Julia realizes she has made some bad choices in her life and she is going to have to live with them. Not just survive, but finally accept who she is and what the future holds for her. She's a brave young woman and doing very well living this unexpected life until her mother shows up on her front porch. What did she want after all this time? It was such a shock – Julia couldn't believe it was really Janice!

Julia’s mother, Janice, wants a relationship with her, but how can that work? Julia thinks it’s a little late for that to happen. In the middle of this very strained situation I love how Julia's Grandma prays one night "We thank You, Lord, for this day. For its blessings, its trials, and Your hand in it all..". I’ll say, Amen to that. This had Julia and Janice thinking!

Julia was in the middle of a whirlwind; memories were eating her alive. She was stuck and couldn't make sense of these feelings or what she thought of any of this. She had to get unglued from the past. She didn't realize how hurt she was until her mother walked back into her life like she had just seen her yesterday. It's been 10 years! It’s then that Julia realizes she has spent more than 10 years of her life feeding a bitter root she had towards her mother. She had to cut the root in order to be set free. She couldn’t let these feelings keep her stuck in the past any longer.

Julia begins to learn about "Freely Given"grace. Undeserved. Extravagant. Easier said than done by Julia. She had some hard choices to make in her life. Many things happen in this story that lead Julia to understand what really happened between her mother and father all those years ago. This gets Julia to look at her mother in a new light - through the Light of the eyes grace not the world - and to give away what has been freely given to her by her grandmother. It’s then Julia realizes that she is not alone and it's ok to admit these haunting feelings in order to move on. That's what she really wants - to be the best 'Julia' she can be for the upcoming challenges that she is about to face. It can’t be done on her own strength Julia knows that now. This might be the hardest thing she’s ever had to do.

This novel ended with me wanting more. It also makes me want to read the first book in this series, "After the Leaves Fall", to find out about Julia's life before her mother abandoned her 10 years earlier. It definitely left me wanting to read the third book in this series to see how things turn out.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sitting down with one of Nicole Baarts books is like visiting with my favorite people. This story follows Julia and her Grandmother as they enter into a new season of life, while they are inexorably drawn toward confronting their past. I can relate, and find comfort in many of the passages, but my favorite, both timely and relevant was about belief "Grandma once told me that belief is the suspension of disbelief". The following passages exemplify why I like Ms. Baarts writing, as she is able to display a process of thinking and feeling which illuminates a topic clearly for her readers. It connects us with the characters, and invests us in the outcome of her decisions. Lovely.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying the story of Julia DeSmit and her complicated life and the her spiritual journey through a lot of unresolved hurt and abandoments. It is SO very hard to put down. Very well written and very relatable character. A new favorite author for me.

[Ritchiealm Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It left me with so unanswered questions.

[Brooke Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the end of the first book (After the Leaves Fall) Julia DeSmit finds out that she is pregnant, the father breaks up with her, and she is left feeling alone and hopeless. She decides to return home to her grandmother. In this book we follow Julia as she navigates her way through breaking social norms (aka being a unwed mother who had to drop out of college), a new job at the local Value Foods store, and the unexpected and shocking return of her mother who left her years and years ago. Her mother brings a surprise in the form of a little brother for Julia. Simon is smart and precocious and takes to being part of the family quickly, even when he doesn’t even know they’re related. Julia finds she likes Simon and soon begins to love him. We follow her through her struggles to find herself, connect with God, and forgive a mother she never got to have. I SO loved this book!!! It is heartwarming, touching, sad, and all the feels all at once! I highly recommend and can’t wait to pick up the third book!

[IAmTheHolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for a light fluffy summer read for vacation and took this along. Never got around to reading it (got too busy reading the whole Life As We Knew It series, so I decided to make this one my last book of the summer. This book wasn’t my favorite, but it was all right. It was interesting to see Simon’s growth through the book, but I feel like most of the primary characters were a little flat. Julia is mostly a pretty flat character until she has sudden moments towards the end. I’d be interested to read the first one, I guess, but I’m probably not going to go looking for it either.

I’ll give this a 6 out of 10 for enjoyment and 4 of 5 for readability. I feel like the faith aspect was a tiny part of the story, and overall, just not much character development.

For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!

[Mindy Peltier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baart has a beautiful way of writing that makes me relish every sentence.

I loved the raw emotion of women with broken lives and relationships. It's so realistic and closer to my life than most Christian fiction. Julia's journey to come to terms with her pregnancy and her faith were slow and sure.

My disappointment was not getting enough backstory about the men in Julia's life. Unless I missed something, only the name of her daddy baby was mentioned, nothing about their relationship. Today when I was looking up the book, I discovered it was #2 in a series. To make a book a successful stand-alone, the backstory needs to be addressed thoroughly.

But, despite that little glitch, still a Baart fan. :)

[DebWillRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down. The writing in this series flows nicely with Book 1 and 2 feeling like one novel. I don’t know if reading Book Two as a stand alone would work. I think why I rated it as I did is because the protagonist, Julia, is so negative. Time after time she refuses to face anything in a positive light. Several times while reading I actually sighed because of the negativity. Grandma was my favorite character. Her no nonsense attitude and her quiet but fierce faith were a perfect foil for Julia. Yes Julia went through a lot during her lifetime but she also didn’t deal with things ideally either. There have been some reviews criticizing the amount of religion in the book but it is marketed as Christian fiction so that shouldn’t be a surprise .

[Gloria Noran · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the precipice of following in her own mother's footsteps Julia understands she has to make her own decisions and live with them.

The characters in this book are well thought out and complex. The author goes into much detail in their thought process (often times leaving the reader wondering if this is written from experience). I enjoyed getting into the minds of the characters and learning along with them.

Although the story was somewhat predictable the characters thinking made it well worth the read. I feel I could talk with people in the same places as these characters although not from experience.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I liked this book better than the first except for the very last chapter that kind of best you over the head with the Jesus-y stuff (see my review of book one for my general opinion of most Christian lit). The MAJOR conflict ended up NOT being what I expected it to be at all, and was talked really well. There were times I felt like Julia was being a trial brat and others when I felt that Grandma and the other people in Julia's life were asking much to much of her. The ability of the author to get me to flip-flop throughout was appreciated. I'll not rush right out and grab it, but I'll definitely round out with book three.

[Judi Haley]

This is the 2nd in the series about Julia DeSmit. She lives with her Grandmother and is back home from college after having to drop out. Julia is pregnant and she comes home to have the baby.
The father didn't want anything to do with the baby and gave her money to have an abortion, but
Julia could not do that.

Now she is trying to make it on her own. She has a job and trying to save up. Now, after years of leaving her, her mother shows up at the door. There is no way Julia is going to give her forgiveness.
But will Julia work out her life and make choices to keep her faith.

Good read.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 and a half stars! Loved this sequel. These stories are so human, so hopeful, even though not all goes perfect in the main character's life.
My favorite quote from the book:
"Grandma once told me that a life lived outside of the will of the Lord is like trying to climb a waterfall. Surrender, on the other hand, is peace - a flowing, moving calm that comes with letting His water, His way, carry you downstream. "

[Sheila Dailie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to see how Julia matures during the time of her pregnancy, and the growth of her faith--including learning to forgive. Her care and concern for her half-brother Simon and the tension between Julia and her grandmother, plus learning to deal with many different personalities at the grocery store make the story move along.

Now, I can hardly wait for the next book in the series....

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy did I feel stupid. I started listening and then thought that this was a lot like After the Leaves Fall. I understand that authors can have a trademark style. But I found it a bit ridiculous that the names were even the same. THEN I REALIZED: It was the second in the series..
Nice, sweet and easy..
Apparently I read #3 in January of 2018. 😊

[jaimedannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

my ratings:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Loved it. Couldn't put it down. I will probably read it again and it has a place in my library.
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Enjoyed it. Good characters, great story. if nonfiction, great information, interesting topic.
⭐⭐⭐: Liked it. Glad I read it, but won't read again.
⭐⭐: okay, I won't read it again, it will not be kept for my library.
⭐: I didn't like it, don't recommend it.

[Piper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the second book in the series and I continue to enjoy reading about Julia and watching her as she grows and matures. I found her struggle to forgive her mom to be very realistic, what she went through was difficult and it wouldn't be easy to deal with the past and move on. The writing was again really beautiful and I really enjoyed immersing myself in the words of this book.

[Patricia Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excited to start the next book..well, as soon as I request it from the library! It was wonderfully written! Made me very angry with Janice. If you're curious as to why ...read the book! You'll be glad you did!

[Jackie Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie's review

An awesome tale of growing up moving forward, working through life, strength, acceptance, and peace. I truly hope there is more to come about this family. I feel as though I have been left hanging. Did Janice return? Did Julie and Mihael get together?

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is 2nd in a series, and I almost quit reading the first book. BUT I'm so glad I didn't. I really enjoyed the family interactions and hearing how Julia grew spiritually. She had many difficult circumstances in her life, but her grandmother was there patiently loving and guiding her.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this from my local library not knowing much about the book or author. The religious parts were not my favourite. The entire story seemed too unrealistic and not relatable. I have the next volume so it will be interesting to see if it gets better.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended

I can't really describe this book adequately. A wonderful story of a young woman who is surprised by a pregnancy, learning to accept her life as a single mother, and finding her faith. Truly fabulous!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. This series. This author. so so good. Another non-preachy, all the difficult feels type of book. Really beautiful writing.