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The Second Half

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Bestselling author Lauraine Snelling shares a heartfelt story of a couple who put their plans for a peaceful retirement on hold to assume guardianship of their young grandchildren.

Mona and Ken Sorenson are approaching the best years of their lives. Mona's greatest concern is that Ken will learn of the surprise party she's planning for his retirement from his job as Dean of Students at Stone University. They've already been making plans to travel, spend limitless hours in the garden, and Ken is looking forward to working on his woodworking and fishing with his grandchildren. It's what they deserve after years of careful planning.

But things begin to unravel when Ken learns that office politics are about to destroy his department. Can he really just leave, abandoning the work he spent a lifetime achieving? Mona is eager to build her event planning business with Ken's help, but rather than supporting her, he expresses concern that the stress of the work will send her back into the depression she struggles with. Then, just days before Ken's last official day of work, their son, a Special Forces officer in the Army, learns he's being immediately deployed on a six-month mission in Pakistan. Since his wife left him, the only people he trusts to care for his two young children are his parents. In an instant, everything Ken and Mona spent their lives planning changes, and they will need to find strength, both physical and mental, to become parents once more. This is not the second half they wanted, and when their son fails to contact them as planned, they struggle to trust that it is God's plan, not theirs, that matters most.

368 pages, Paperback

First published July 5, 2016

248 people are currently reading
628 people want to read

About the author

Lauraine Snelling

159 books2,031 followers
Award-winning and bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has over 80 books published with sales of over 4.5 million. Her original dream was to write horse books for children. Today, she writes adult novels about real issues centered on forgiveness, loss, domestic violence and cancer in her inspirational contemporary women’s fiction titles and historical series, including the favorite, Blessing books about Ingeborg Bjorklund and family.

Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
Profile Image for Lisa Zentio.
41 reviews962 followers
November 11, 2016
This was a really good book and I almost cried in the beautiful ending! I highly recommend this book!
345 reviews
November 14, 2018
I actually did not finish this book. I read perhaps a third of it. I thought that the plot of the book would make it interesting to me, but the writing was too full of daily details to be interesting. I just really did not care what the characters had for dinner every night, or when she fed her pets, or what she said to her pets. Boring. Maybe it got better. I doubt it.
Profile Image for Kristina Anderson.
4,050 reviews83 followers
July 23, 2016
The Second Half is the latest novel by Lauraine Snelling. Ken Sorensen is getting ready to retire as Dean of Students from Stone University. Ken and his wife, Mona will now be to travel or do whatever they want. Ken has plans for fishing and woodworking. Mona owns and runs an event planning business from home. Mona is hoping that Ken will assist her with her event planning business once he retires (Ken has no clue). Just before his last day at work, Ken finds out that people are trying to eliminate the department he created. Ken has helped many students and does not want to see his legacy destroyed. Then Mona and Ken receive a call from their son, Steig. Steig is a captain in Army’s Special Forces. Steig has two young children and his wife has abandoned them. He has just received his orders. Steig needs his parents to watch Jakey (5) and Mellie (10). Ken and Mona agree (of course), but this is not what they had planned. They figure they can do this for six months to a year (at most). It turns out more complicated than they thought. Ken gets called back into the university to help his replacement, and Mona is left to watch the children. Mona has her own business to manage and is at risk of falling back into her depression (it is a constant battle). Jakey is not handling the changes very well (clingy which is natural). Mona and Ken keep reminding themselves that it is only temporary, but then the unthinkable happens. What if it is not just for six months or a year? See what happens when the best laid plans go awry!

Have you ever heard the phrase “we plan and God laughs”? That is the premise of The Second Half (referring to the second half of their lives when the kids are grown up and we get to retire). Mona and Ken each have plans for their retirement. One action changes everything. Mona has to battle depression (it is a constant battle to keep depression at bay) and Ken a change of his plans (for taking it easy, fishing, his hobby of woodworking, travel) as well as the destruction of something (legacy) he created (and enjoyed). The Second Half contains good writing (as usual) and has a sweet ending. There were some slow spots (especially during the prayer sections), but the book keeps moving at a decent pace for the most part. I thought Mona worried way too much (all her worrying made me nervous), but it is part of her character (worry, prayer, and depression). I give The Second Half 4 out of 5 stars. It was interesting to see how Mona and Ken handled each situation. It teaches us that we are not in control and worrying does not help. I liked The Second Half, but it is not my favorite book of Lauraine Snelling (just my personal feelings). I will definitely be reading Lauraine Snelling’s future novels.

I received a complimentary copy of The Second Half from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel. The opinions and comments above are strictly my own.

Profile Image for Barbara.
110 reviews
September 7, 2016
This book made me cry. In a good way, that family and faith win.
Profile Image for Sherry.
136 reviews1 follower
January 16, 2025
I found this book created too much anxiety as I read it to be completely enjoyable. I finished it because I needed to see how everything played out. The characters' lives, however, were in one of those when it rains it pours-type of seasons in life, making the conflict in this book just as overwhelming for this reader as those seasons of life are for the people experiencing them. I was satisfied with how it ended.
Profile Image for Diane  Pitts.
153 reviews8 followers
April 25, 2025
Refreshing

What a fine book. Grandparents—one retiring and one expanding a career—become guardians for Mellie and Jakey.
Will their military dad come home? Or will the Sorensens become permanent “parents”?

So real. All primary and secondary characters have challenges to overcome. Ken understands and feels Mona’s depression when devastating circumstance drops him there.

In order to prevent spoilers, I’ll leave it, but The Second Half is a great read.
513 reviews3 followers
August 7, 2018
This story was rather heavy, with depression clouding the life changes and challenges the characters must traverse. The ending was very satisfying.

Clean throughout.
Profile Image for Anita.
1,200 reviews36 followers
July 19, 2018
This was the first of this author's books I've read and although she does a good job with characters, I found the plot predictable and rather boring. The two children obviously have had a difficult time of things, but their brattiness and the lack of control from the grandparents got on my nerves. I might try another of her books as some have good reviews, but this one was just barely okay for me. 2.5/5 stars.
Profile Image for Kathleen (Kat) Smith.
1,613 reviews93 followers
May 31, 2016
It seems like their entire life has been for this moment, a time for a new chapter and a new beginning for Mona and Kenneth Sorenson. Now that their children are grown and have families of their own, they are ready to begin retirement and make those plans that they have put off until now. But when Steig, their oldest son receives word that he is about to be deployed overseas temporarily as a single day for some unknown mission, he can only turn to his parents to help take care of his two children.

While it may have to put a temporary hold on their retirement plans, they know that they will take the two children. Where else can they go. Their mother abandoned them all, years ago and as much as they are eager to begin a new chapter in their own life, Mona and Kenneth accept the challenge they believe God has for them at this time. This will mean a whole new adjustment for all of them becoming initially full time parents again. Two children who had never stayed with their grandparents by themselves; there had always been parents along. Two full-time children, not just visiting and going home. Dear Lord, how are we ever going to do...to what, Mona wasn't sure.

It will also be a huge adjustment for ten-year-old Melinda and five-year-old Jake, who would be leaving their dad behind to live with their grandparents, now full time. Not just visiting when Dad was home on fishing trips or during holidays, but until he came back. If he came back at all. So why can't they stay with their mom, Angela? They would do well to spend some time with their mom, I mean what kid wouldn't want to stay and get to know their mom again. One thing for sure, it's going to take a whole lot of adjusting on all their ends.

I received The Second Half by Lauraine Snelling compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups in exchange for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of the novel in exchange for my personal and honest opinion. As I am nearing the end of my own child rearing, I can sense what Mona and Kenneth would be going through. Wanting to finally have that alone time with the person you've been married to for years would be something I would be planning and anticipating only to have a monkey wrench thrown into the mix. Not knowing if this would be a temporary thing or a permanent one if Steig doesn't return from his deployment is also something you have to evaluate as well. Something to be said, for plans that work out according to God's and not ours can be found in this charming summer novel. I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars.
Profile Image for Mary Gramlich.
514 reviews38 followers
July 4, 2016
Mona and Ken were about to embark on the back half of the great book of life they had written. Ken was retiring from academia and while Mona was going to continue to work her home based small business it would not free her up to see where she could take it with Ken able to pick up those things at home that diverted her focus. There was travel, gardening, projects together and individually to look forward to but then the brakes were slammed on their plans when their son finds out he is about to be deployed and he needed someone to take care of his 10 and 5 year old children. His ex-wife had deserted them for parts unknown and the only back up that Steig had in play was help from his parents and of course they said yes. His daughter was well adjusted to the situation they thought but his son was not and still reeling emotionally from the loss of his mother. Mona and Ken gathered their wits about them and made the necessary accommodations to get the grandkids settled with some help from their daughter and her family.

After Steig deployment Mona and Ken do their best to adjust to being parents again and not sure what that means anymore, since things are different and trying to catch up with all the requirements is a little daunting. The other problems that arise is how unsettled both children are to losing their mother and now their father, the thought that they had things under control is was completely a myth as both children suffer from the fear that they drove their mother away and the uncertainty that their father will never return. As Mona adjusts her schedule and Ken deals with the final days at the university tension brews between them as well as the life they expected is not the one they have been handed and both are not sure they are up for the task.

What both Mona and Ken forgot is God has this situation all worked out for them and He knows what he is doing and with all the prayers they are sending His way a sign will present itself to them letting them know what is working and what needs some tweaking. Mona and Ken remind each other they are best together and even when their son is classified as MIA the one place their terrified hearts can always go is to prayer.

Lauranne Snelling writes about the love of family, the strength in prayer, the glory of understanding that your plan is not always the plan you will be following. A wonderful book of faith, family, and knowing you are a parent for life.
Profile Image for Gail Welborn.
609 reviews18 followers
November 14, 2016
***A warm & inspirational story of grandparents, grandchildren & life circumstances***

'The Second Half" from award winning author Lauraine Snelling is a warm, character driven story of family and difficult decisions that challenge cherished dreams as retirement nears. A time when the stress and anxiety of working is supposed to be replaced with doing what you want, when you want and how you want to do it. At least that's how Ken and Mona thought their retirement years would be.

Ken's successful thirty-year career as dean of students at Stone University would conclude in a few weeks and he looked forward to sleeping in, fishing with the grandkids and having time to learn more about his favorite pastime—wood working. While Mona, plagued by depression, wasn't ready to retire. Instead, Ken's retirement would give her more time for her "event planning business" and Ken might even decide to pitch in and help promote it.

For their first retirement vacation they talked about traveling to Canada and taking the ferry from Vancouver, BC to Alaska and driving the Alcan Highway back home. Another consideration was a cruise up the picturesque Hudson River. For the first time in their married lives there were no schedules and they could plan just for themselves.

However life has a way of changing the best laid plans and for Ken and Mona a phone call from their son Steig, a special forces Army officer did just that when he said, "I'm being deployed to Karachi, Pakistan. Can you keep the kids for me." Without hesitation, they said yes since Steig's wife had filed for divorce and left him to raise 9-year old Mellie and 6-year old Jake on his own,
yet, what about their own dreams?

Thus begins an inspirational story of real issues grandparents face when they take over the care and guardianship of young grandchildren like 9-year old Mellie and 6-year old Jake. Written with warmth and honesty it's a story of struggles with disappointment, fears and sometimes guilt when life doesn't go as planned. But most of all it's a story about love of family, faith and the power of prayer with a touch of suspense thrown in. Snelling is a five star read!

'The Second Half: A Novel,' by Lauraine Snelling, FaithWords, 2016, 368 Pages, 978-1455586172, $14.99

Midwest Book Reviews: "Gail's Bookshelf" October 2016
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Profile Image for Joan.
4,345 reviews122 followers
July 16, 2016
We see it often. Grandparents are raising children for the second time – their grandchildren. Vacation plans, long awaited hobbies, and sleeping in all bow to the new responsibility of child care.

Snelling has created a novel that gives us a good idea of what might happen when grandparents are called upon to take over the care of their grandchildren. In this case, it is a son who is in the army. His wife had walked away from the family and now he was being deployed over seas.

This novel takes a deep look at the personalities of the grandparents at this time of transition. Mona is trying to do a good job at building her event planning business. Ken is retiring from his job as the dean of students at a university. Both of them are facing difficult obstacles when their son calls with the child care request.

There is quite a bit of character study in this novel. Mona has suffered from depression before and it threatens to rear its ugly head again. Ken is seeing his legacy of student support destroyed by a faction of the university leadership. The grandchildren are in the midst of a turbulent time too. They are reeling from the abandonment of their mother and now their father is leaving.

This is definitely a character driven novel. Facing depression is a significant theme. Mona may come by depression because of chemical imbalance but Ken finds out he must fight it too. His struggle with the university gives him a new appreciation for his wife's battle with depression. That reveals another theme, the legacy one leaves upon retirement. How is one to face the possibility of the destruction of a lifetime of work? Then there are the children, facing the reality of losing another parent.

There is a great deal in this novel that is food for discussion. There is a Reading Group Guide included so this would make a good choice for a reading group, especially of the members are at or nearing retirement.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
173 reviews
July 15, 2016
We commonly hear of children being raised by their grandparents. That is the case in the book The Second Half by Lauraine Snelling. Main characters Ken and Mona have many plans to enjoy life as Ken is about to retire from the local University. They both look forward to that season of life, and then suddenly everything changes. Their son is deployed so they are left caring for two young grandchildren since their mother had previously abandoned them. How will Ken and Mona adjust to having two children in their house again? Will they be able to figure out a new routine with the kids while their plans have to be put on hold?

I enjoyed this book overall. Since I am not to this stage of life yet, I could not totally relate to the characters. The author did a good job sharing the characters' feelings and emotions about having this sudden change in life. The emotions they felt seemed to be how real people would feel if they experienced this change. They love their grandchildren but were totally not expecting to have two of them moving into their home. Plus they are worried about their son's safety during his deployment. Another aspect of this book I found interesting was depression. I thought the examples given of how the character Mona felt and dealt with her depression during this season of life were insightful. I have not faced this personally but found it to be helpful to know how people facing depression must feel daily.

This book is easy to read and a good story. I'd also like to add that when I received the book in the mail, my 11 year old son read the back and wanted to read it. He read it quickly and enjoyed it as well.

This is a standalone novel. You can visit Lauraine Snelling's website here to find out about this and other books.

This book was provided to me from FaithWords with the Hachette Book Group for my review. Thank you.
Profile Image for Brandi (Rambles of a SAHM).
817 reviews34 followers
October 7, 2016
As an empty-nester this novel resonated deeply with me. As much as we hate to admit it time moves along and with it our plans for the future. So much of our early married years seem to revolve around the kids, but as they begin to leave home our plans inevitably turn towards our future as a couple. That's where Mona and Kenneth Sorenson find themselves when we meet up with them.

Kenneth is on the verge of retirement and in his mind it is the perfect time to begin traveling and seeing all those places they've dreamed about. Mona on the other hand is eager to expand her business and travel with her husband in between clients. Of course even the best laid plans change in the face of Providence. In this case it came in the form of a phone call from their son.

Before they know it Mona and Ken find themselves in the midst of raising children again. My favorite thing about this novel is that it explored all the elements of the situation. Ken and Mona dearly loved their grandkids but they were also disappointed that their plans needed to be laid aside. The story showed the joys of being a grandparent but also the deep sorrows of young children feeling abandoned. It is a very moving storyline and in my opinion one of Lauraine Snelling's best.

I of course think this book will appeal to empty-nesters but it will also resonate with anyone that has had to lay aside their hopes and dreams to do what is right. We've all had moments of disappointment but those of us with faith have also seen how God can use those times to grow and bless us.

I would encourage anyone with a book club to consider this book as a selection. The subject matter is deep and complicated and will most definitely provoke good discussions. As a bonus there are questions in the back of the book that could get you started.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
126 reviews1 follower
July 10, 2017
The Second Half by Lauraine Snelling is about Ken and Mona Sorenson and their family. Ken Sorenson is about to retire from his job at Stone University and spend his free time fishing and traveling with his wife, Mona. Mona has her own business and works from home. She has suffered from depression for many years and is in constant fear it will come back and take over her life as it had before.

Ken and Mona have faced many challenges together with the strength of their faith. Another struggle looms on the horizon with the military deportation of their son, Steig, who is the full-time caregiver of two children, Mellie and Jake. Ken and Mona are faced with raising their two grandchildren while their son serves his country. With the help of their daughter, Marit, the family faces the challenges ahead with strength and a strong faith.

I truly love this story. These characters are so real and the struggles that deal with are written with such realism. I liked the fact that Ms. Snelling addressed the topic of depression in Mona. Mona’s fear that the depression could debilitate her is such a realistic portrayal on how depression effects individual lives; I thought Mona was a wonderful example of this particular struggle and how it can affect a family. Each of these characters will touch your heart as they navigate their own feelings and doubts. This story reflects how putting faith in the Lord can give you strength and that He is with us in all of our circumstances.

Happy Reading!

Note: I have received a copy of this book from Hatchette Books in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Julie D..
585 reviews21 followers
August 16, 2016
I really enjoyed this book as I could relate to the main character of Mona. Not because I'm responsible for taking care of grandchildren or other small children in my older age, but because of the roller coaster feelings that she has and the fighting of depression as she finds her life turned upside down and dealing with a new normal.

The couple of Mona and Kenneth are so likeable and I loved how the author really showed how it feels to have your life planned out with your spouse only to have a situation arise that you feel responsible to deal with yet you don't really want to turn your life upside down. I liked the reality of them sharing their real feelings despite loving their son and grandchildren very much.

There are a lot of twists and turns to this plot so it definitely kept me interested and enjoying the story right to the end. I also loved that the main characters were older folks (like my hubby and I) as I could relate to a lot of the feelings that they had. The added addition of the children brought a younger element to everything so it's a story anyone would enjoy.

I loved the reality of this story. So many grandparents are facing this exact situation and I think it's important to understand how rewarding yet difficult this can be on older people. I loved the faith brought into this story and it was just an all around great book that I give 5 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me for my honest review by FaithWords Group
Profile Image for Mark.
2,488 reviews51 followers
Read
September 15, 2016
Lauraine Snelling has been writing books for a long time, but I think this is the first book of hers I have read. My youngest sister is a big fan of her books, but I am pretty sure this is a first for me.

I thought this sounded like a good book to read, and I was not wrong. The story is entertaining, amusing, encouraging, and heart rending. To have a retired couple suddenly taking over raising two children who miss their dad makes for a great story, and Snelling did it justice. There is something about a story with kids in that pulls at my heart, and especially if there is any kind of hardship or trouble involved...... so this book had me from the get-go. I loved all of the characters, and their escapades and adventures.

Snelling writes most, or all, about people from Norway, and this book was no different. It was interesting to catch a little of that culture while reading the book.

The theme of trusting God is the main theme of this book, and it is driven home several times as Ken and Mona struggle with raising two small children while facing the reality their son may never come back.

This was a very enjoyable read to me from the start to the great, but somewhat predictable finish (I was OK with that). And though this is fiction and not a "how-to" book, it would be a great read for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren short or long term.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Margaret Tidwell.
610 reviews9 followers
July 6, 2016
FTC: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

The Second Half by Lauraine Snelling was a book I knew I had to check out when I got the email. The book reminded me of my situation in the fact that I was raised by my grandparents from the age of about eight on so I was super interested in this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book and in the end, I did like this book. I have read so many books that it is rare that one sticks out in my mind after I have finished it and written the review. This is one of the ones that stuck out to me because I just really enjoyed the story and the characters. This book was well written, and I wouldn’t mind reading other books by her. I also liked that this book was an easy read. I was able to sit down and read it in a few hours which was nice. I like that it gave me a little inside to what my grandparents could have felt like when they took my brother and me in when we were younger. I think this is a book that most people would enjoy.
Profile Image for Barry Martin Vass.
Author 4 books11 followers
October 7, 2016
The Second Half is focused on Ken Sorenson, a dean of students at a small but prestigious Wisconsin university. Dr. Sorenson has always made a special effort to connect with his students over the years, to step in and help them whenever necessary, so it comes as somewhat of a shock to him when, in the days approaching his retirement, it becomes apparent that others, particularly in the provost's office, want to gut his department and slash all funding and aid to students. Will his legacy be ruined? And, more importantly, how will this affect the student body? While this plays out his son Steig, a single parent as well as a captain in the Army's Special Forces, calls to tell Ken and his wife, Mona, that he is being deployed to Pakistan for six months, has no place to put his four-year-old son and ten-year-old daughter, and would they mind raising them for a year? This is definitely not the way Ken and his wife pictured their retirement, but they step in and take the children in. The Second Half is a very involving, faith-based study of how, when stress and problems start to overwhelm you, families pull together in solidarity.
Profile Image for Stacey.
167 reviews8 followers
September 20, 2016
I'd probably give this somewhere between a 3 and a 4, depending on when you ask me. There were many things I enjoyed about this book, but Mona was difficult for me to like. I felt she was selfish and self-centered and I had a hard time relating to her. When her son had to deploy overseas she and her husband were guardians to his two children, but she did not do it lovingly, she resented it and I felt like it showed. That is so different to how I would feel and I had a hard time having patience with it. I can definitely understand the feelings, but I felt like she and her husband were clueless as to how to raise children and that was difficult for me to understand as they had raised two. I felt like the resentment showed and that bothered me. In my mind they should have been doing every thing they could to make the kids feel safe, and reassured, and loved, no matter what happened with their dad's tour.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
11 reviews2 followers
March 5, 2017
This book was amazing with good narration, and I loved the real life application of living as Christian under tough times that this family went through in the book. This is one of those books that really brings trusting in the Lord and how we should be patient and allow him to work in our lives. He helps us fight the landmines of depression, worry, and pride as the characters in the book experienced those landmines. I feel this book would be a really good book to read along with Landmines In The Path Of A Believer. A {onderful book with a Christian family with normal kids, and awesome grandparents who are more like their parents. If I read it straight through, it would be one of those books I wouldn't be able to put down.
Profile Image for Joy.
385 reviews12 followers
July 17, 2016
Lauraine Snelling knows how to tell a story...she has been a long time favorite author. I look forward to every new book. In THE SECOND HALF she writes about a couple nearing retirement with plans of travel and enjoying each other to the fullest when their son is deployed and they have grandchildren to raise.

Their lives change and what they thought would be their best years is anything but. I really enjoyed this novel, it's realistic, fast paced, and captivating.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
214 reviews
August 10, 2016
Ah, retirement. Parties, plans, looking forward to travel and adventures.
His wife has just started a new home-based business. They can be flexible.
His successor calls him for advice.
The wife is getting overwhelmed with a big project; she's prone to depression. Is she taking on too much?
The divorced son who is sole custodian of two young children just got called for deployment. He's asked the grandparents to be guardians while he is away. Kids are feeling abandoned.
Medical issue adds more pressure.
What next?
1,146 reviews5 followers
March 3, 2018
3.5 stars
A Christian novel which deals with an older couple and their military son. Just as Kenneth Sorenson is about to retire and Mona Sorenson is about to start her own business, their son Stieg (who is Army secret ops) gets deployed on a special mission. Stieg's wife walked out on him and their two young children and the grandparents become their legal guardians. This put a crimp in the plans they had made for after retirement. A good book about family helping family during a worrisome time.
Profile Image for Zippy Apple Brain.
17 reviews
December 6, 2017
I love the Blessing series by Ms. Snelling. Decided to try one of her books that deals with a contemporary theme. Was very pleased with this title which is the story of a family in Wisconsin. The family deals with many realistic issues such as: divorce, abandonment, military service, parenting, depression, children, retirement, family loyalty etc etc.

I plan on reading more of her contemporary titles while waiting for the next Blessing book to be released.
Profile Image for Ann Gemmel.
208 reviews11 followers
June 30, 2017
The overall story line of an empty nest couple on the cusp of his retirement suddenly surprised with the obligation of carrying for their two young grandchildren while their son (the kids dad, a single parent) was quickly deployed - had some interesting dimensions. But one of the most abrupt endings I have read in a long time. Very disappointing in that regard.
184 reviews
July 29, 2017
I loved the ending of the book. It's a Christian book and I enjoyed the innocence of it. The parenting tips and examples from the parents and grandparents were great. The part I didn't like was all the meal prep and ice cream eating. It took up a lot of the book.
28 reviews
April 6, 2018
Terrific!

All of Me Snelling's books are wonderful! But this has to be one of my favorites. Maybe because I am a Nana, of 7. But I could not help out myself in Mona's shoes. You will love this book.
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