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Beyond Expectations: Velma's Story
Bases on the life of author G.L. Gooding's mother, Velma Steele Gooding, Beyond Expectations continues the heartfelt saga first introduced in Where Courage Began, The Road to Resilience, and The Long Journey.
Now settled in Illinois, Velma and Jack Gooding face the shifting landscape of postwar America. Their sons are growing into men, each with dreams of their own, while Velma discovers that her knack for leadership and problem-solving opens unexpected doors in a profession long reserved for men. Her journey toward independence and self-worth brings both satisfaction and strain as she balances ambition with the needs of her family.
As Jack's health falters and Velma's aging mother, Alice Steele, requires ever more care, Velma must draw on every ounce of faith and fortitude she possesses. Love, once her strongest foundation, is now tested by loss, duty, and time itself.
Rich in historical detail and grounded in Midwestern values of perseverance, humility, and devotion, Beyond Expectations is a tender reflection on the power of love that endures beyond circumstance--and the quiet strength of women who dare to rise above with the world expects of them.
Now settled in Illinois, Velma and Jack Gooding face the shifting landscape of postwar America. Their sons are growing into men, each with dreams of their own, while Velma discovers that her knack for leadership and problem-solving opens unexpected doors in a profession long reserved for men. Her journey toward independence and self-worth brings both satisfaction and strain as she balances ambition with the needs of her family.
As Jack's health falters and Velma's aging mother, Alice Steele, requires ever more care, Velma must draw on every ounce of faith and fortitude she possesses. Love, once her strongest foundation, is now tested by loss, duty, and time itself.
Rich in historical detail and grounded in Midwestern values of perseverance, humility, and devotion, Beyond Expectations is a tender reflection on the power of love that endures beyond circumstance--and the quiet strength of women who dare to rise above with the world expects of them.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2025
35 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
G.L. Gooding
10 books13 followersAmerican novelist G. L. Gooding is the author of five novels that have warmed the hearts of audiences around the globe.
Met with glowing industry reviews, Fresh Snow on Bedford Falls is the award-winning historical mystery that picks up where the classic film It’s a Wonderful Life ends. Available in paperback, e-book, and a separate large-print edition, the novel is now available as an incredible audiobook narrated by industry legend George Guidall. Fresh Snow on Bedford Falls shares new layers of suspense, history, revelation, and redemption as a determined bank examiner pursues the truth about George Bailey, Mr. Potter, and the money that Uncle Billy failed to deposit that fateful day.
Gooding's second book Yellum shines the spotlight on the challenging life of a special donkey with a divine purpose. Lost and alone in the world, the orphaned beast of burden must overcome hardships and disillusionment before he ultimately discovers that every single creature on Earth matters--especially him--the donkey chosen to carry the pregnant Mary to Bethlehem for the birth of the Christ Child.
His third book Murder in Minnesota launches the Wandering Woodie Mystery series about a young veteran who returns home from the Vietnam War in the early 1970s and strikes out on a cross-country adventure with his friends, driving a recently restored 1946 Ford Woodie that pulls a teardrop trailer behind. When the vintage vehicle breaks down in Minnesota, mystery and mayhem begin as the friends discover how a string of local murders are linked to the area’s tragic past.
Gooding's tribute to his mother's courageous life is chronicled in the novels Where Courage Began and Road to Resilience. These novels recount the stories of family and friendship and shed light on depression-era communities in rural America.
Gooding and his wife, Sarah, live in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Gooding is at work on the next adventure in his Wandering Woodie Mystery series as well as the next chapter of historical series Velma's Story.
Met with glowing industry reviews, Fresh Snow on Bedford Falls is the award-winning historical mystery that picks up where the classic film It’s a Wonderful Life ends. Available in paperback, e-book, and a separate large-print edition, the novel is now available as an incredible audiobook narrated by industry legend George Guidall. Fresh Snow on Bedford Falls shares new layers of suspense, history, revelation, and redemption as a determined bank examiner pursues the truth about George Bailey, Mr. Potter, and the money that Uncle Billy failed to deposit that fateful day.
Gooding's second book Yellum shines the spotlight on the challenging life of a special donkey with a divine purpose. Lost and alone in the world, the orphaned beast of burden must overcome hardships and disillusionment before he ultimately discovers that every single creature on Earth matters--especially him--the donkey chosen to carry the pregnant Mary to Bethlehem for the birth of the Christ Child.
His third book Murder in Minnesota launches the Wandering Woodie Mystery series about a young veteran who returns home from the Vietnam War in the early 1970s and strikes out on a cross-country adventure with his friends, driving a recently restored 1946 Ford Woodie that pulls a teardrop trailer behind. When the vintage vehicle breaks down in Minnesota, mystery and mayhem begin as the friends discover how a string of local murders are linked to the area’s tragic past.
Gooding's tribute to his mother's courageous life is chronicled in the novels Where Courage Began and Road to Resilience. These novels recount the stories of family and friendship and shed light on depression-era communities in rural America.
Gooding and his wife, Sarah, live in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Gooding is at work on the next adventure in his Wandering Woodie Mystery series as well as the next chapter of historical series Velma's Story.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 5, 2026
Great Ending to the Series
This book was a great wrap-up to this series. I have so enjoyed reading about Velma and her family; I feel like I knew her! Like the earlier books, this one sadly did not go through final proofreading and contains many mistakes. Still, I highly recommend these books. They're a great look at growing up in the 20th century--how difficult life was for a young widow with four very small children in America's farming midwest. The lessons Alice taught Velma while Velma was a small child shaped Velma's entire life. She was such a strong, resilient woman. She wore many hats, her favorite being Jack's wife and the mother to their four sons. Her story had me reminiscing about my own parents and grandparents and wondering what legacy I will leave for my children and grandchildren.
This book was a great wrap-up to this series. I have so enjoyed reading about Velma and her family; I feel like I knew her! Like the earlier books, this one sadly did not go through final proofreading and contains many mistakes. Still, I highly recommend these books. They're a great look at growing up in the 20th century--how difficult life was for a young widow with four very small children in America's farming midwest. The lessons Alice taught Velma while Velma was a small child shaped Velma's entire life. She was such a strong, resilient woman. She wore many hats, her favorite being Jack's wife and the mother to their four sons. Her story had me reminiscing about my own parents and grandparents and wondering what legacy I will leave for my children and grandchildren.
January 29, 2026
wonderful
These four books of Velma’s story went beyond expectations! It told of a life well lived,full of tribulations, full of success, full of highs and lows, full of the everyday life situations that we are faced with…some good some bad, but it was told with such a reverence and filled with such descriptive paragraphs that you felt like you were living Velma‘s life. I suggest reading all four books beginning with the first as it tells a complete story. You can tell that the author had emotional investment in these books and that made all the difference.
These four books of Velma’s story went beyond expectations! It told of a life well lived,full of tribulations, full of success, full of highs and lows, full of the everyday life situations that we are faced with…some good some bad, but it was told with such a reverence and filled with such descriptive paragraphs that you felt like you were living Velma‘s life. I suggest reading all four books beginning with the first as it tells a complete story. You can tell that the author had emotional investment in these books and that made all the difference.
January 16, 2026
Beyond Expectations
I loved this book, and this family with all their ups and downs, just like any family. I had hoped they would find Katherine sometime, though. Thanks for this amazing tale.
I loved this book, and this family with all their ups and downs, just like any family. I had hoped they would find Katherine sometime, though. Thanks for this amazing tale.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews