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“Hannah smiled – a ghost of a smile - happiness long since buried under the cruelty of circumstances. Their life had become a funeral of sorts where they were always grieving the loss of a child, the loss of a soldier, and now the loss of their love.” Keith and Hannah Anderson have been through three miscarriages, multiple deployments, and shared in the loss of friends to the tragedy of war. Retirement should be easy – a fresh start for the weary couple. But Keith sees the move back home to their small Oklahoma town as a step backward in a long line of failures – and Hannah as the one who left him with no choice. Hannah views Keith’s grumbling and unwillingness to embrace their new life as a reminder of the things she was unable to give him. Staring at the empty doorway of their marriage, both want to see things to change, but are unsure how to navigate all the hurt between them. Then Hannah finds a box of unopened letters from an unknown woman. She believes they could help her understand the mother she never knew. When Keith begs her to leave the letters alone, they become another point of contention in their already troubled marriage. Hannah hopes the truth in the letters will bring healing to her battered heart – but hope is scarce in her life. Will Hannah and Keith allow life to push them through another door, or can they learn to trust that God is with them, no matter what door they are walking through?

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2016

49 people are currently reading
88 people want to read

About the author

Michelle Lynn Brown

22 books46 followers
When Michelle Lynn Brown was a teenager, her mother used to take her to used books stores at least once a month. It was there she fell in love with the written word. As a writer, she uses this passion to share with others the joy of having a personal and intimate relationship with Christ.

She is a housewife, mother of three, military spouse, writer, blogger, hopeless romantic, and a cuddly lap for one very large cat. She was born in Dayton, Ohio, but raised in El Paso, Texas. And since she married her husband, the military has blessed her with the opportunity to live in many locations, from Germany to Pennsylvania, where she now resides.

Like the flawed characters that grace her books, she has had many stumbles and struggles in her life. God’s grace and mercy through these trials have kept her on her knees. It is from this humble position that she seeks to minister through her writing – not as someone who has it all figured out, but just someone who has figured out how wonderful and awesome God is.

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5 stars
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27 (32%)
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews130 followers
Want to read
August 30, 2018
💝FREE on Amazon today (8/30/2018)!💝

Blurb:
“Hannah smiled – a ghost of a smile - happiness long since buried under the cruelty of circumstances. Their life had become a funeral of sorts where they were always grieving the loss of a child, the loss of a soldier, and now the loss of their love.”

Keith and Hannah Anderson have been through three miscarriages, multiple deployments, and shared in the loss of friends to the tragedy of war. Retirement should be easy – a fresh start for the weary couple. But Keith sees the move back home to their small Oklahoma town as a step backward in a long line of failures – and Hannah as the one who left him with no choice. Hannah views Keith’s grumbling and unwillingness to embrace their new life as a reminder of the things she was unable to give him. Staring at the empty doorway of their marriage, both want to see things to change, but are unsure how to navigate all the hurt between them.

Then Hannah finds a box of unopened letters from an unknown woman. She believes they could help her understand the mother she never knew. When Keith begs her to leave the letters alone, they become another point of contention in their already troubled marriage. Hannah hopes the truth in the letters will bring healing to her battered heart – but hope is scarce in her life.

Will Hannah and Keith allow life to push them through another door, or can they learn to trust that God is with them, no matter what door they are walking through?
Profile Image for Martha.
1,949 reviews62 followers
April 7, 2016
The story of a young couple with marriage struggles, dealing with an ill family member can touch your heart.
The term miscarriage is used a lot in this book, to describe losses of pregnancy, no matter the gestation period, which was quite inaccurate.
However, the story has some good, deep thoughts about marriage and not giving up when things are tough.
Profile Image for Sandra.
1,139 reviews45 followers
July 2, 2019
I didn't read the blurb on this book and so honestly didn't know what to expect, other than it was a book of faith with Christian standards. This book is an excellent example of the trials and circumstances that often face Christians and those striving to be Christians in a world torn by so much sin, strife, dishonestly and danger, along with sadness and sorrows too heavy to bear. Doors are opening all the time, but it is often hard to discern if 'the opening door' is going to lead to peace and happiness or far more strife than we can ever image.

In this story, I had the pleasure of reading about Hannah, Lilly, Audrey, Esther, Dr. Avant, Wade, Grams, Keith, Matt and Laura with many of the characters intertwined within each other's lives and some of them just being 'a name from the past'. Hannah and Keith have a marriage which none of us would envy, but yet which many of us have walked through. I sometimes felt that the author was taking thoughts right out of my head.

I would highly recommend this book to young and old married couples and to those considering marriage as it could possibility help you to avoid some of the pitfalls. Thanks Michelle Lynn Brown has a heart-rendering story.
138 reviews6 followers
March 29, 2018
A good read

I loved this book. It was suspenseful, sad and satisfying all rolled into one. I was so glad for the happy ending. This story was built around letters that were left unopened for decades and when they were read they resulted in more hurt, distrust, and judgment. This book gives an accurate view of life and the repercussions that often follows well intended actions. I highly recommend this great book.
197 reviews2 followers
September 7, 2019
This was a good book with a great story line. A true to life story line for a lot of couples.
I loved the Christian book. NO cursing or sex. I loved it.

About two people that needed to get God back into their lives to make a go of it. In their own minds, they each, more or less, blamed the other one and kept their thoughts to their selves.
Had that been me, I would have just blurted out what I thought.

The book is well worth reading.
Profile Image for Beatrice Followill.
1,624 reviews41 followers
June 23, 2019
Hannah and Keith are both wrestling with depression ,regrets, loss of faith and both have lost touch with each other within their marriage. When they move to Hannah's Home town to take care of her grandma, they are tested, the move will make them realize they need each other and faith in the lord they serve to make it work. this was a good clean Christian Romance .
Profile Image for ann.
7 reviews
September 7, 2017
Great read. Loved all the characters and how they begin to trust our Heavenly a father.

This book really keeps you interest and you feel you are right there in the story. I love how the characters realize their only hope is to let go and let God direct their life.
Profile Image for Sharon DeLand.
76 reviews
February 19, 2019
Communication is a must!

Love is hard and sometimes quite emotionally difficult.
Sometimes things are not what they seem. We don't know what is coming next. Some of the hardest things we go thru are life giving blessings. ☺
1,843 reviews24 followers
March 16, 2023
healing comes from opened doors

This book is a very real demonstration of how easily a marriage can fall apart. These pages contain the secret to healing: Jesus Christ. Only when our hearts are opened can we forgive and really live.
488 reviews2 followers
November 19, 2017
Wonderful story!

Michelle Lynn Brown has done it again. I found myself caught up in the lives of the characters. I definitely recommend this book.
Profile Image for Dystopian Mayhem  .
683 reviews
May 8, 2019
The first chapter was the best, after that it was a long and painful state of agony and misunderstandings between the two main characters, which ended after one couples counseling session.
20 reviews
January 8, 2020
Unopened


This was a great story of love, faith in our Lord, and never taking your eye off of Him so that your relationships will work out.
Profile Image for Pattisue.
568 reviews
April 11, 2016
Once again, Brown writes with unfailing honesty and raw emotion. She tackles heartbreaking topics with sensitivity and finesse. In this book she addresses depression, miscarriages, care of elderly family members and life changes. This beautiful written story of faith and healing introduces the reader to Keith and Hannah Anderson. Three miscarriages have stripped Hannah of hope for a family and left her broken. After depression and deployments drove a wedge into their relationship, the only option seems to be divorce. They have turned away from God, away from each other. Keith has done everything he can to keep the marriage alive, helplessly fighting the grasp of her depression. “Had they grown so far apart that she didn’t know he would turn the world upside down for her?” Contemplatively, Brown explores the steps that can lead to divorce. Elements of faith and hope fill this story. “Remember, faith isn’t about what you believe you’re going to get back; it’s about believing in someone you know has your back.”
• I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
Profile Image for Lillie.
Author 21 books44 followers
July 24, 2016
As the reader looks at the couple, it's obvious both are selfish and whining and self-pitying. But in the marriage, they each thought were self-sacrificing and mistreated. They found their way back to each other and their marriage when together they found their way back to God.
Profile Image for Tracy Wainwright.
Author 23 books33 followers
December 28, 2016
Impactful

This book offers a glimpse into the reality of almost giving up on marriage too many people face. It also offers, not pat answers or advice, but hope that's offered when people choose to keep moving forward simply by taking the next step the Lord lights up on the path.
Profile Image for Kimmie.
531 reviews24 followers
April 7, 2016
Great book

A very well written book!! I loved all the advice on marriage weaved into the book. I would definitely recommend you pick this book to read!!
117 reviews
May 3, 2016
Good read

I enjoyed reading this story. It was not one of my favorites, but still a good story. I liked the ending.
Profile Image for Robin.
1,289 reviews18 followers
May 13, 2016
Oh my goodness, what a read. So many painful topics within a marriage so well covered. Well written and I was hooked from the beginning. Highly recommend.
Profile Image for Sherry Ledet.
254 reviews6 followers
July 22, 2016
It was a good book. The story is one of the best examples of how close to divorce people can come when they don't communicate.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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