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Home
Melanie runs away. From conflict. From pain. From reality.
When novelist Melanie Vander faces a looming deadline, she decides it’s time for an escape to an inspiring, novel-worthy locale. She’s not running away. Really. She just needs time to focus. But as she disappears into her writing, she encounters a man whose tenderness leaves her reeling. Engaging and wise, psychologist Elliot Hammond tempts Melanie to question everything, including her marriage. But that’s ridiculous. Dr. Hammond isn’t even…real.
Melanie’s husband, Craig, has his own problems, including a recession that’s threatening his business. Waning finances, a looming home foreclosure, and a wife who’s checked out emotionally, has Craig feeling as though he’s carrying his burdens alone. When his client, the beautiful and single Serena Buchanan, offers him a solution to his financial woes, he’s tempted by more than her offer of a business solution.
At a crossroads, Melanie and Craig seem headed in opposite directions. As Melanie runs away from her problems by escaping into her own fictional world, Craig dives into his struggles, seeking God for strength and healing for his marriage. Ultimately, Melanie must choose whether she’ll check out completely, or allow her characters to lead her home.
When novelist Melanie Vander faces a looming deadline, she decides it’s time for an escape to an inspiring, novel-worthy locale. She’s not running away. Really. She just needs time to focus. But as she disappears into her writing, she encounters a man whose tenderness leaves her reeling. Engaging and wise, psychologist Elliot Hammond tempts Melanie to question everything, including her marriage. But that’s ridiculous. Dr. Hammond isn’t even…real.
Melanie’s husband, Craig, has his own problems, including a recession that’s threatening his business. Waning finances, a looming home foreclosure, and a wife who’s checked out emotionally, has Craig feeling as though he’s carrying his burdens alone. When his client, the beautiful and single Serena Buchanan, offers him a solution to his financial woes, he’s tempted by more than her offer of a business solution.
At a crossroads, Melanie and Craig seem headed in opposite directions. As Melanie runs away from her problems by escaping into her own fictional world, Craig dives into his struggles, seeking God for strength and healing for his marriage. Ultimately, Melanie must choose whether she’ll check out completely, or allow her characters to lead her home.
314 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2017
352 people are currently reading
964 people want to read
About the author
Ginny L. Yttrup
10 books360 followersGinny L. Yttrup is the Christy Award winning author of Words, and six other titles, the award-winning Mendocino Village Novels, Invisible and Illusion. She writes women's fiction and suspense. Ginny is also a sought after writing coach, developmental editor, and speaker. When not writing she loves to spend time with her adult children, and the circle of dear friends who enrich her life. She lives in northern California with the man in her life, her rescue pup Henry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
March 22, 2017
Not only do I have a cold, but I have just been reduced to a pile of mushy tears when I finished this book! My poor nose!
So many emotions while reading HOME. There was sadness, fear, trepidation, exasperation, empathy, sympathy, frustration and relief. I feared for Melanie and her husband Craig's marriage. I thought for sure that I knew where the author was going with their story, but in reality I had no idea. I experienced exasperation at Melanie's behavior...before I understood what she was going through. I felt sympathy for their neighbor Jill and her husband Marcos. I admired the characters for getting the help that they needed, all in different ways. I admired Craig's faithfulness even when temptation assailed him. I admired Marco's in the way he supported his wife and encouraged her to seek help. Each character had a struggle, a hurdle to overcome and a grief to work through.
HOME is about allowing ourselves to experience and work through the grieving process. Some of the characters in HOME embraced their grief and worked through it, some of the characters were unable to do that until events in their lives brought them face to face with having to deal with their grief. I love what Melanie's husband Craig said at one point,
"What Jesus suffered for mankind, for me, makes what I'm going through look trivial at best. Yet the Spirit assures me that God feels my pain--it isn't trivial to Him."
Isn't it wonderful that we have such a relational God? I know this is a work of fiction, but so many truths were packed in it, so many poignant, gut-wrenching scenes, with characters that seemed so real that I felt like they were a part of my life.
HOME is one of those stories that will stay with the reader long after the final page is turned.
So many emotions while reading HOME. There was sadness, fear, trepidation, exasperation, empathy, sympathy, frustration and relief. I feared for Melanie and her husband Craig's marriage. I thought for sure that I knew where the author was going with their story, but in reality I had no idea. I experienced exasperation at Melanie's behavior...before I understood what she was going through. I felt sympathy for their neighbor Jill and her husband Marcos. I admired the characters for getting the help that they needed, all in different ways. I admired Craig's faithfulness even when temptation assailed him. I admired Marco's in the way he supported his wife and encouraged her to seek help. Each character had a struggle, a hurdle to overcome and a grief to work through.
HOME is about allowing ourselves to experience and work through the grieving process. Some of the characters in HOME embraced their grief and worked through it, some of the characters were unable to do that until events in their lives brought them face to face with having to deal with their grief. I love what Melanie's husband Craig said at one point,
"What Jesus suffered for mankind, for me, makes what I'm going through look trivial at best. Yet the Spirit assures me that God feels my pain--it isn't trivial to Him."
Isn't it wonderful that we have such a relational God? I know this is a work of fiction, but so many truths were packed in it, so many poignant, gut-wrenching scenes, with characters that seemed so real that I felt like they were a part of my life.
HOME is one of those stories that will stay with the reader long after the final page is turned.
March 4, 2017
I have recently fallen in a hole of christian-fiction and I cannot find my way out of it. Someone send a ladder cause I need to get out of here. and yeah, I reference The Path (that's what that's supposed to be), when I'm not obsessing over Hart of Dixie (we need more character development in books, movies and TV that's a-la Wade Kinsella style).
Actual rating: 3.5
Home features a very compelling story, told in a unique way. I really liked said story, but what I liked more was the style, and the way the whole book was organized. It's written with multiple POVs which were executed pretty well. I loved the look into Melanie's writing which spoke more about he character. Overall, an enjoyable read for any fan of Christian-fiction and romance.
Actual rating: 3.5
Home features a very compelling story, told in a unique way. I really liked said story, but what I liked more was the style, and the way the whole book was organized. It's written with multiple POVs which were executed pretty well. I loved the look into Melanie's writing which spoke more about he character. Overall, an enjoyable read for any fan of Christian-fiction and romance.
March 8, 2017
This is my first book by Ginny & it won't be my last. I adored every character. Home tells of a story of our journey to find a place in our own lives to call home. It really hit close to home for me coming out of a season of dryness. Melanie, Jill, Marcos & Craig were all such amazing examples of what struggle looks like when we don't go to God first.
I throughly enjoyed seeing Melanie go through her struggle through her character Chloe. It just felt like the Holy Spirit was taking her through her struggles in a way that would impact her the most. It allowed for God to meet Melanie where she could handle all of her pent up life! Which we know God will meet us right where we are in our struggles.
I gave 4 stars because I wanted to see more character development & the story line for them flushed out more. I wanted to see Jill's progress in more detail. Giving us a glimpse into the heart of her struggle. Just glad to find another Christian author who isn't writing romance novels!
Shout out to Serena for calling a spade a spade! Hope she gets her own book!
I throughly enjoyed seeing Melanie go through her struggle through her character Chloe. It just felt like the Holy Spirit was taking her through her struggles in a way that would impact her the most. It allowed for God to meet Melanie where she could handle all of her pent up life! Which we know God will meet us right where we are in our struggles.
I gave 4 stars because I wanted to see more character development & the story line for them flushed out more. I wanted to see Jill's progress in more detail. Giving us a glimpse into the heart of her struggle. Just glad to find another Christian author who isn't writing romance novels!
Shout out to Serena for calling a spade a spade! Hope she gets her own book!
October 23, 2017
Home is about three different main characters: Craig, Melanie and Jill. Each of them have different issues that they've chosen to ignore rather than confront. The novel is about being willing to work through a problem rather than ignore it and the value in going through the process and finding the end result.
This is my second novel by Ginny Yttrup. She tackles some tough topics and does a nice job with it. I especially liked the author quotes that began each chapter.
This is my second novel by Ginny Yttrup. She tackles some tough topics and does a nice job with it. I especially liked the author quotes that began each chapter.
April 1, 2017
I didn't know what I'd be in for when I met Melanie, a forty-nine-year-old, midlist author who emotionally checks out of life and her marriage, getting wrapped up in her fictional stories in Home, a novel by author Ginny L. Yttrup.
That is, I suspected I'd be in for something normal-but-fantastical like Stranger Than Fiction. So when I got into the novel and found it was pretty somber and wasn't fantastical, I didn't think I'd love it. I thought, "Oh, dear, so is this one of those melancholy stories where everybody's giving each other sad smiles while they're inwardly rehearsing all the ways their lives are unraveling or burning to ashes?"
Nothing against folks who do like melancholy novels, but I usually need comedy, thrilling twists, or something else more in contrast to balance it all out. Otherwise I feel like a book full of dry gloom is killing me softly.
But this novel, as it dug through dark, tough issues, softly gave me life, after while. Yes, I, a writer, tend to be partial to books and movies that get real about writers. But this novel gets real, period, in a way that isn't sparkling but is still engaging. Well, I can't say that I personally found the pages of Melanie's manuscript the most interesting, since I wasn't invested in her characters, but the manuscript's effect on Melanie is so key.
This is a beautifully written story that gave me a "God is here" experience that I don't get with all books. And, yes, I loved it.
_________________
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
That is, I suspected I'd be in for something normal-but-fantastical like Stranger Than Fiction. So when I got into the novel and found it was pretty somber and wasn't fantastical, I didn't think I'd love it. I thought, "Oh, dear, so is this one of those melancholy stories where everybody's giving each other sad smiles while they're inwardly rehearsing all the ways their lives are unraveling or burning to ashes?"
Nothing against folks who do like melancholy novels, but I usually need comedy, thrilling twists, or something else more in contrast to balance it all out. Otherwise I feel like a book full of dry gloom is killing me softly.
But this novel, as it dug through dark, tough issues, softly gave me life, after while. Yes, I, a writer, tend to be partial to books and movies that get real about writers. But this novel gets real, period, in a way that isn't sparkling but is still engaging. Well, I can't say that I personally found the pages of Melanie's manuscript the most interesting, since I wasn't invested in her characters, but the manuscript's effect on Melanie is so key.
This is a beautifully written story that gave me a "God is here" experience that I don't get with all books. And, yes, I loved it.
_________________
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
June 3, 2017
"Home is the imprint on our heart, the song of our soul, the memory we've yet to live . . . ."
Melanie Vander has packed her suitcase and virtually run away from home to her friend's lake house, cowering under the pretense of completing her novel under deadline, when in reality she recognizes that she and her husband have slowly drifted apart; thoughts of the future so confusing that it seems safer to escape into the alternate reality of her work in progress. But there is no solace there, either.
Craig Vander is under tremendous pressure; building custom built homes during a recession has drained his resources. Unfortunately, putting his own home on the market looks more and more like the only alternative. Why hasn't he been honest with Melanie before now about their bleak financial straits? The answer is obvious, it's because their recent conversations have either been one-sided or have ended in disagreements; Melanie's increasingly unfocused thoughts being driven by the imaginary characters in her novels, rather than by her very real husband.
In this spiritually vibrant story, the Spirit makes His presence known; for Craig begins to pray for his wife, and Melanie's characters do eventually send her "home". And as an added bonus, a second story line parallels that of Craig and Melanie, equally satisfying and empowering.
Melanie Vander has packed her suitcase and virtually run away from home to her friend's lake house, cowering under the pretense of completing her novel under deadline, when in reality she recognizes that she and her husband have slowly drifted apart; thoughts of the future so confusing that it seems safer to escape into the alternate reality of her work in progress. But there is no solace there, either.
Craig Vander is under tremendous pressure; building custom built homes during a recession has drained his resources. Unfortunately, putting his own home on the market looks more and more like the only alternative. Why hasn't he been honest with Melanie before now about their bleak financial straits? The answer is obvious, it's because their recent conversations have either been one-sided or have ended in disagreements; Melanie's increasingly unfocused thoughts being driven by the imaginary characters in her novels, rather than by her very real husband.
In this spiritually vibrant story, the Spirit makes His presence known; for Craig begins to pray for his wife, and Melanie's characters do eventually send her "home". And as an added bonus, a second story line parallels that of Craig and Melanie, equally satisfying and empowering.
February 6, 2017
Fans of contemporary Christian fiction focused on married couples will enjoy this touching, insightful book!
Uniquely written from the first person point of view of 4 people--2 couples--giving an upfront and personal look into their struggles. As they seek solutions to problems they are facing, revealing underlying spiritual and emotional issues, it felt quite therapeutic to see how they resolved their conflicts. The main character, Melanie, is an author and her work in progress becomes part of the story as well, adding a special sideline to her life. I wanted to say a few choice words at times to her husband, Craig!
A look at the many different sides to grief, and how God allows difficult circumstances to get our attention, meeting us in our brokeness, was one key spiritual theme; searching for peace and a place of belonging, defining home, was another.
A well-written contemporary with a lot of depth. Recommend! 4.5 stars
(An e-book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.)
Uniquely written from the first person point of view of 4 people--2 couples--giving an upfront and personal look into their struggles. As they seek solutions to problems they are facing, revealing underlying spiritual and emotional issues, it felt quite therapeutic to see how they resolved their conflicts. The main character, Melanie, is an author and her work in progress becomes part of the story as well, adding a special sideline to her life. I wanted to say a few choice words at times to her husband, Craig!
A look at the many different sides to grief, and how God allows difficult circumstances to get our attention, meeting us in our brokeness, was one key spiritual theme; searching for peace and a place of belonging, defining home, was another.
A well-written contemporary with a lot of depth. Recommend! 4.5 stars
(An e-book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.)
May 5, 2018
Home by Ginny Yttrup was so beauitful in an emotional blend of feel goods and grief. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the emotions that are swirling within me right now after reading this one. Ginny portrays the lives of three main characters, Jill, Melanie and Craig. Melanie and Craig are married.
The emotional roller coaster each of these characters ride resonated deep within my own soul. You felt what they felt in this novel because Ginny made them all so real. I felt that I was, too, living the lives they were living, going through the hardships they were experiencing. In all honesty, for anyone that reads this, at least for me, the book will really resonate with you. We all experience grief, hardships, and anxiety. I felt at peace after reading this book. I felt that there is truly hope in this world, even on the days it seems impossible.
I highly recommend this read. It was so good.
The emotional roller coaster each of these characters ride resonated deep within my own soul. You felt what they felt in this novel because Ginny made them all so real. I felt that I was, too, living the lives they were living, going through the hardships they were experiencing. In all honesty, for anyone that reads this, at least for me, the book will really resonate with you. We all experience grief, hardships, and anxiety. I felt at peace after reading this book. I felt that there is truly hope in this world, even on the days it seems impossible.
I highly recommend this read. It was so good.
April 18, 2017
Home, written by Ginny L. Yttrup, is the first book I've read by this author.
What a delightful read...full of emotion! Romance, sadness, grief, longing, and lots of stuff between. I found the beginning of the book hard to get into, BUT after I got going...it was a keeper! I'm sure I'll read it again. It's a book writer's life, an editor's life and the book the writer is writing. Very unique! I've never read anything like it. I have always been a fan of first-person POV's and this one has first-person POV's from three different characters. Loved that part especially!
Strongly recommend this read if you love contemporary romance with a twist...addresses grieving issues, OCD, PTSD, and a host of other emotions.
I was given this book by the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.
What a delightful read...full of emotion! Romance, sadness, grief, longing, and lots of stuff between. I found the beginning of the book hard to get into, BUT after I got going...it was a keeper! I'm sure I'll read it again. It's a book writer's life, an editor's life and the book the writer is writing. Very unique! I've never read anything like it. I have always been a fan of first-person POV's and this one has first-person POV's from three different characters. Loved that part especially!
Strongly recommend this read if you love contemporary romance with a twist...addresses grieving issues, OCD, PTSD, and a host of other emotions.
I was given this book by the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.
March 20, 2017
What happens when we just “check out” of life? Maggie has hit a brick wall in her writing and it seems to have spilled over into her marriage as well. In her mind, the daily struggles are happening more and more and Craig doesn’t seem to be able to pull her out of her funk. Craig is struggling with a sharp downturn in work and finances which are leading to some heart-wrenching decisions. With Maggie off on a self-imposed retreat to meet her writing deadline, Craig feels as if he’s battling on his own. Can their marriage survive this time in the wilderness or will all of this be too much for them to overcome? No sense in worrying about it, just go BUY THIS BOOK!
This book is another great example of why I enjoy any book by Ginny Yttrup. She writes from the first person perspective, but alternates each chapter with a different character. This gives you some great insight as the story unfolds into not only the character interactions, but also what they thought and intention was for those interactions. Her characters are not fake, as they seem to be just like me or anyone that you know. I guess that’s what makes you feel so committed to their situation and hoping that everything turns out for the best.
Is this a "guy's book"? This doesn’t have any major suspense or action scenes, but it does show you a man who’s willing to fight for his wife and the life that he knows God intended him to have. With that being said, then yes, this should be a book that every guy reads.
This book is another great example of why I enjoy any book by Ginny Yttrup. She writes from the first person perspective, but alternates each chapter with a different character. This gives you some great insight as the story unfolds into not only the character interactions, but also what they thought and intention was for those interactions. Her characters are not fake, as they seem to be just like me or anyone that you know. I guess that’s what makes you feel so committed to their situation and hoping that everything turns out for the best.
Is this a "guy's book"? This doesn’t have any major suspense or action scenes, but it does show you a man who’s willing to fight for his wife and the life that he knows God intended him to have. With that being said, then yes, this should be a book that every guy reads.
March 1, 2017
Every so often, you will read a book that will touch your heart and change your life. Home was one such book for me.
Like Melanie, I also dive into the fiction world rather than confront the uncomfortable truths around me. Needless to say, I understood her quite well. For me, it was icing on the cake that she was a writer as I love reading books about writers.
In Craig’s struggles with a failing economy, a job on the brink, and a wife not emotionally present, I could easily see my husband. The man who carries the weight of the real world on his shoulders while his wife plays in imaginary ones.
Jill, Melanie’s best friend and editor, fights her own demons and it broke my heart to watch her struggle. In her, I felt a connection as well. It’s never easy fighting demons, and I felt Ginny L. Yttrup portrayed the battle incredibly well.
Each character was brought to life in such a way they all felt real. They could have been people living in your same community, or like me, you could feel a personal connection. I wish I could meet them and call them friends.
Written in first person, the book switches between Melanie, Craig, and Jill. It is clearly labeled which character is speaking, and once in the chapter, it’s easy to keep track of whose viewpoint you’re reading. I’ve read books in which this wasn’t the case, so it was a welcome respite to see it done well.
This book easily rivals anything Debbie Macomber has written, but includes a Christian viewpoint. It was beautifully written and I couldn’t put it down until I’d read the last word. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Christian books with a chick lit vibe.
*I received an ARC for an honest and unbiased review*
Like Melanie, I also dive into the fiction world rather than confront the uncomfortable truths around me. Needless to say, I understood her quite well. For me, it was icing on the cake that she was a writer as I love reading books about writers.
In Craig’s struggles with a failing economy, a job on the brink, and a wife not emotionally present, I could easily see my husband. The man who carries the weight of the real world on his shoulders while his wife plays in imaginary ones.
Jill, Melanie’s best friend and editor, fights her own demons and it broke my heart to watch her struggle. In her, I felt a connection as well. It’s never easy fighting demons, and I felt Ginny L. Yttrup portrayed the battle incredibly well.
Each character was brought to life in such a way they all felt real. They could have been people living in your same community, or like me, you could feel a personal connection. I wish I could meet them and call them friends.
Written in first person, the book switches between Melanie, Craig, and Jill. It is clearly labeled which character is speaking, and once in the chapter, it’s easy to keep track of whose viewpoint you’re reading. I’ve read books in which this wasn’t the case, so it was a welcome respite to see it done well.
This book easily rivals anything Debbie Macomber has written, but includes a Christian viewpoint. It was beautifully written and I couldn’t put it down until I’d read the last word. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Christian books with a chick lit vibe.
*I received an ARC for an honest and unbiased review*
April 8, 2017
I was super-impressed by Words, the first Ginny Yttrup book I read. The second, Invisible, was a little harder to get into. And Home was a little harder again. I know Words was partly based on Ginny’s own story, and I suspect part of Home is as well (a novel about a novelist? Who ends up writing a novel titled Home? It’s easy to see why I might think that).
I know authors are told, ‘write what you know’. And obviously, authors know writing novels. But I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of novels featuring novelists as main characters. I don’t mind novels about journalists or bloggers. But something about a novelist as a main character makes it harder for me to suspend disbelief—some novels have done it (Denise Hunter and Kaye Dacus are two, but their novels are fun romance. Home isn’t).
No, Home is a story about a novelist who’s having problems writing her novel, and who has a husband who is having problems with work—he’s a building contractor, and the work isn’t coming in the way it used to. Which means the money isn’t coming in either (I must admit, this was the part of the novel that didn’t work for me. He was a successful contractor until the Great Recession hit a couple of years earlier, they’d been living in the same house for twenty years—the house he built—and it wasn’t paid off?)
Home is told in first person point of view. This isn’t something that usually bothers me, but it bothered me with Home because it’s told from the viewpoint of several different characters, and I kept having to go back to the beginnings of chapters to work out who the viewpoint character was. I find it easier if first person is one character.
The result was it took me longer than normal to get into Home, and when I did, I found myself engaging less with Melanie’s story (the novelist), and more with the story of her neighbour and editor, Jill. I did get into Melanie’s story, and even into Craig’s (her husband), but it took a while.
And that makes it a hard novel to review. The ending was good, but it took a long time to get there. The writing was excellent, particularly in the second half, and there was a lot about Melanie I could relate to.
I liked the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. And I liked the way the characters, especially Craig, had a solid Christian faith. Overall, Home is a novel about loss and grief, and learning to cope with both. It’s uplifting and encouraging, but not a book to pick up if you’re looking for a light read.
Thanks to Shiloh Run Press and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
I know authors are told, ‘write what you know’. And obviously, authors know writing novels. But I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of novels featuring novelists as main characters. I don’t mind novels about journalists or bloggers. But something about a novelist as a main character makes it harder for me to suspend disbelief—some novels have done it (Denise Hunter and Kaye Dacus are two, but their novels are fun romance. Home isn’t).
No, Home is a story about a novelist who’s having problems writing her novel, and who has a husband who is having problems with work—he’s a building contractor, and the work isn’t coming in the way it used to. Which means the money isn’t coming in either (I must admit, this was the part of the novel that didn’t work for me. He was a successful contractor until the Great Recession hit a couple of years earlier, they’d been living in the same house for twenty years—the house he built—and it wasn’t paid off?)
Home is told in first person point of view. This isn’t something that usually bothers me, but it bothered me with Home because it’s told from the viewpoint of several different characters, and I kept having to go back to the beginnings of chapters to work out who the viewpoint character was. I find it easier if first person is one character.
The result was it took me longer than normal to get into Home, and when I did, I found myself engaging less with Melanie’s story (the novelist), and more with the story of her neighbour and editor, Jill. I did get into Melanie’s story, and even into Craig’s (her husband), but it took a while.
And that makes it a hard novel to review. The ending was good, but it took a long time to get there. The writing was excellent, particularly in the second half, and there was a lot about Melanie I could relate to.
I liked the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. And I liked the way the characters, especially Craig, had a solid Christian faith. Overall, Home is a novel about loss and grief, and learning to cope with both. It’s uplifting and encouraging, but not a book to pick up if you’re looking for a light read.
Thanks to Shiloh Run Press and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
March 7, 2017
Wow! I really loved this book. A powerful story that explores many different emotions, some of the struggles mirrored some that I have had in my life and like Craig and Melanie it made my faith stronger.
January 24, 2017
Ginny Yttrup puts together a novel so compelling, so intriguing, it's very hard to put down. I stayed up till nearly 3:00 AM to finish the book. Her characters are honest, and they all have a voice of their own. One of the quirks of this book that makes it work is the fact that several of the characters are authors and one of the main characters is trying to meet a deadline for her book, but she's having a hard time getting words to paper.
Melanie describes herself as a pantser type author--one who writes by the seat of her pants, but she's having a hard time with her new novel.
Valerie is a therapist who has a lake cabin that she uses for refuge and offers it to Melanie.
Craig is Melanie's husband and a builder whose business had dropped off during the recession.
Jill and Marcos are Melanie's and Craig's next-door neighbors and dearest friends. Jill is having a bit of trouble with obsession and with nightmares.
Melanie takes Valerie up on her offer of the lake cabin, and Jill eventually comes to visit Melanie, needing the mental break from daily life.
The tagline for the book should be "Sometimes you just have to run away from home to find out where home really is."
This is a five star book, two thumbs up, and a new novel to read.
My thanks to Barbour Publishing/Shiloh Run Press for allowing me to read and review this book.
Melanie describes herself as a pantser type author--one who writes by the seat of her pants, but she's having a hard time with her new novel.
Valerie is a therapist who has a lake cabin that she uses for refuge and offers it to Melanie.
Craig is Melanie's husband and a builder whose business had dropped off during the recession.
Jill and Marcos are Melanie's and Craig's next-door neighbors and dearest friends. Jill is having a bit of trouble with obsession and with nightmares.
Melanie takes Valerie up on her offer of the lake cabin, and Jill eventually comes to visit Melanie, needing the mental break from daily life.
The tagline for the book should be "Sometimes you just have to run away from home to find out where home really is."
This is a five star book, two thumbs up, and a new novel to read.
My thanks to Barbour Publishing/Shiloh Run Press for allowing me to read and review this book.
August 23, 2017
This is the second book I've read by Ginny Yttrup and it's just as good if not better than the first one. Her stories carry lots of psychological drama. Home had multiple layers. The characters were ones I could deeply care about, their issues, their problems and their outcomes. I got throughly engrossed in the story and could almost feel my presence in the pages of the book. The descriptions of the surroundings in each location was easily imagined. It was emotional and heartwarming. Full of unresolved grief, past issues and confusion at times as the characters try to understand each other. Craig becomes closer to God and prays numerous times for his wife Melanie while she's gone on a writing retreat. It was interesting to read through the eyes of an author as she struggles with a novel she is trying to finish but hidden emotional issues are causing her to have writers block. She and her husband are also having financial problems. Her best friend next door is also struggling with mental issues that causes strife within her family.
I especially loved the underlying symbolism, or what I took as symbolism for the home, not always a physical place but a place in your heart or with those you love and ultimately home in Heaven.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
I especially loved the underlying symbolism, or what I took as symbolism for the home, not always a physical place but a place in your heart or with those you love and ultimately home in Heaven.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
April 7, 2017
Home was a book that was a pretty gripping story of grief, temptation, illness, and what keeping secrets can do to a family. Mostly though this was a story about grief, all kinds, and how we need to face it, a human emotion and a necessary next step in the moving on of our lives. Whether it is a loss of a loved one, dream, career, or financial security grief must be faced head on. We as human beings need to go through the stages no matter how painful.
The author masterfully told this story through three different viewpoints; Melanie the author, her husband Craig, and her best friend and next door neighbor, Jill. We are also given two of the characters viewpoints in the novel that Melanie is writing. All of these characters felt like they were my friends too. This story made me think and brought tears to my eyes, but in no way is it depressing. This is my very first book Ms. Yttrup, and her writing this story in the way she did simply moved me. It was lovely and a soul stirring novel not to be missed.
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and the views and opinions expressed are my own.
The author masterfully told this story through three different viewpoints; Melanie the author, her husband Craig, and her best friend and next door neighbor, Jill. We are also given two of the characters viewpoints in the novel that Melanie is writing. All of these characters felt like they were my friends too. This story made me think and brought tears to my eyes, but in no way is it depressing. This is my very first book Ms. Yttrup, and her writing this story in the way she did simply moved me. It was lovely and a soul stirring novel not to be missed.
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and the views and opinions expressed are my own.
June 6, 2017
Grieving is not something any of us would choose, and yet it's something we all face at one time or another. Sometimes we'd rather pretend it doesn't exist than to face it head on.
Several of the characters in Home are grieving. They are facing difficult situations, and they handle their emotions differently, but ultimately they each must go through a learning and healing process.
I love that Home doesn't shy away from this difficult topic but presents loving and wholesome perspectives on the process. The characters wrestle with their faith, and sometimes each other, as we each must do.
Whatever the cause of our grief, there is hope and healing to be found, and Home shows the way there. Whether you are struggling yourself or are walking alongside someone else who is struggling with grief, Home is sure to be an encouragement to your heart.
(This review was first published on my blog -- sarahruut.com. I received a complimentary copy of this novel. The thoughts expressed here are entirely my own.)
Several of the characters in Home are grieving. They are facing difficult situations, and they handle their emotions differently, but ultimately they each must go through a learning and healing process.
I love that Home doesn't shy away from this difficult topic but presents loving and wholesome perspectives on the process. The characters wrestle with their faith, and sometimes each other, as we each must do.
Whatever the cause of our grief, there is hope and healing to be found, and Home shows the way there. Whether you are struggling yourself or are walking alongside someone else who is struggling with grief, Home is sure to be an encouragement to your heart.
(This review was first published on my blog -- sarahruut.com. I received a complimentary copy of this novel. The thoughts expressed here are entirely my own.)
June 7, 2017
Title: Home
Author: Ginny L. Yttrup
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Home" By Ginny L. Yttrup
My Thoughts....
This story was quite a well written read where the characters struggles were definitely ones that could be faced by just anyone you may know.
For Melanie and Craig were having some real hard times in their marriage where one could at one point or another not know to whom to feel more sorry for. Less not forget those neighbors who added quite a lot to the read. This is definitely one of those reads that will promote a lots of thoughts that will touch one just about on any level.
"Home" is of a real story of a 'family relationship, trust, romance, sadness, longing, love and less not forget a prayer' as each one of thee well developed characters will have their own struggles in trying to find there way home. Will these characters be able to overcome their struggles?
"Home" will definitely help one to understand more about relationships that are often faced in today's society.
Author: Ginny L. Yttrup
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Home" By Ginny L. Yttrup
My Thoughts....
This story was quite a well written read where the characters struggles were definitely ones that could be faced by just anyone you may know.
For Melanie and Craig were having some real hard times in their marriage where one could at one point or another not know to whom to feel more sorry for. Less not forget those neighbors who added quite a lot to the read. This is definitely one of those reads that will promote a lots of thoughts that will touch one just about on any level.
"Home" is of a real story of a 'family relationship, trust, romance, sadness, longing, love and less not forget a prayer' as each one of thee well developed characters will have their own struggles in trying to find there way home. Will these characters be able to overcome their struggles?
"Home" will definitely help one to understand more about relationships that are often faced in today's society.
February 8, 2019
My thoughts - I went into this read thinking it would be an ordinary Christian Contemporary following a woman that’s got a choice to make.
I honestly wasn’t sure if I would even get invested in the story line.. but I picked it up then couldn’t put it down.. it made me question somethings in my own life.
We follow 3 characters not just Melanie
1.Melanie
2.Craig
3.Jill
Each one has choices to make and honestly I fell in love with / connected with each character.
I rated it a 4 because I loved one of the characters story line more and wished the book would’ve followed them more(or wished it would’ve just been about that characters story only)
Over all tho I recommend this book it’s a quick read
With great story line and relatable characters.
I honestly wasn’t sure if I would even get invested in the story line.. but I picked it up then couldn’t put it down.. it made me question somethings in my own life.
We follow 3 characters not just Melanie
1.Melanie
2.Craig
3.Jill
Each one has choices to make and honestly I fell in love with / connected with each character.
I rated it a 4 because I loved one of the characters story line more and wished the book would’ve followed them more(or wished it would’ve just been about that characters story only)
Over all tho I recommend this book it’s a quick read
With great story line and relatable characters.
April 10, 2017
I have never read a book by Ginny Yttrup but I sure will again. This book was so good it was like reading 2 books into one. Once I started reading I couldn't put the book down. The characters are very developed. Watching Melanie's life come through the life of her character. By working together her and her friend Jill see their lives and what needs to change. Awesome story.
"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."
"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."
March 20, 2017
This is not just the story of Melanie and Craig. This is a story of their friends, mental illness, depression, OCD, the thought of an affair, children, marriage in general, and the hardships that marriage can face, especially after a great loss.
I found myself completely enthralled with this story. I couldn't stop reading. Whether it was Melanie's POV or Craig's, or her best friend's, it didn't matter. It grabbed ahold of me and wouldn't let go. Perhaps it is because I have felt what the characters felt, or because I am going through in my life now what they are going through, or maybe it is just because the story is so well written, it filled my heart and mind.
Melanie and Craig have been married for numerous years. He's a contractor/construction worker, building the grandest of homes. She's an author, and presently is having the hardest time putting her thoughts into words, her words into a story, and even more, keeping her thoughts from wondering. She has an idea to change the story, but her editor isn't thrilled. So she tries to make the story fit, but it just isn't happening. A friend of hers offers a beach house to get away to for some time, to find peace, to find the story that needs to be written.
While this is going on, her marriage is on the rocks. Is it just Mel that checked out? Or did Craig check out too? Does it have anything to do with the woman Craig has been renovating a house for? Or is it due to a loss so great, so heartbreaking, that when never dealt with properly, lead to the effects of this shattering story of theirs?
Even when trying to find their own place in their relationship, their work, this world; both Craig and Melanie are still there for their best friends, their neighbors, who are having a go of their own. Can they keep their own heads above water (or wine), or do their own troubles and turmoils tear their marriage apart? Or will they truly find themselves called back home?
I found myself completely enthralled with this story. I couldn't stop reading. Whether it was Melanie's POV or Craig's, or her best friend's, it didn't matter. It grabbed ahold of me and wouldn't let go. Perhaps it is because I have felt what the characters felt, or because I am going through in my life now what they are going through, or maybe it is just because the story is so well written, it filled my heart and mind.
Melanie and Craig have been married for numerous years. He's a contractor/construction worker, building the grandest of homes. She's an author, and presently is having the hardest time putting her thoughts into words, her words into a story, and even more, keeping her thoughts from wondering. She has an idea to change the story, but her editor isn't thrilled. So she tries to make the story fit, but it just isn't happening. A friend of hers offers a beach house to get away to for some time, to find peace, to find the story that needs to be written.
While this is going on, her marriage is on the rocks. Is it just Mel that checked out? Or did Craig check out too? Does it have anything to do with the woman Craig has been renovating a house for? Or is it due to a loss so great, so heartbreaking, that when never dealt with properly, lead to the effects of this shattering story of theirs?
Even when trying to find their own place in their relationship, their work, this world; both Craig and Melanie are still there for their best friends, their neighbors, who are having a go of their own. Can they keep their own heads above water (or wine), or do their own troubles and turmoils tear their marriage apart? Or will they truly find themselves called back home?
April 26, 2017
Not completely what I expected from the back cover. There's really two stories going on, but the characters are connected and the stories flow together. It's a very cerebral married romance. Very good but not your typical Christian fiction. Really enjoyed it, just like I have Ginny's other books.
April 6, 2017
I struggled to get through this book. While the author is clearly a talented writer, and there are a few nuggets of wisdom buried inside, this was not a favorite read for me.
The story attempts to deal with real life issues (marriage, lies, withdrawing, emotional and mental confusion, etc.) which I expected from the description of the book, but I almost felt like this was two different stories.
Melanie’s best friend gets as many pages if not more than the heroin and her husband. While the friendship becomes a valuable part of them, I felt like Jill should have had her own story. The constant story hopping among three characters POV repeatedly took me out of the tale, and left me wondering where we were chronologically.
While there are issue inside readers may relate to, I would have a difficult time pointing to this book as a good source for dealing with them. I might not even recommend this as an enjoyable fiction piece.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
The story attempts to deal with real life issues (marriage, lies, withdrawing, emotional and mental confusion, etc.) which I expected from the description of the book, but I almost felt like this was two different stories.
Melanie’s best friend gets as many pages if not more than the heroin and her husband. While the friendship becomes a valuable part of them, I felt like Jill should have had her own story. The constant story hopping among three characters POV repeatedly took me out of the tale, and left me wondering where we were chronologically.
While there are issue inside readers may relate to, I would have a difficult time pointing to this book as a good source for dealing with them. I might not even recommend this as an enjoyable fiction piece.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
March 24, 2017
I wasn't sure I was going to like this book when I chose it. Oh was I wrong! This is a very well written story that is actually told in three voices along with the characters in the book that Melanie is writing. Sound complicated? It had to be complicated to write and author, Ginny Yttrup did an incredible job with it. This story truly touched me on a personal level and could touch the lives of many people with differing conflicts in their lives. It is so much more than the descriptive paragraphs to get a potential readers attention.
This is a book that will stay with me for quite awhile. I loved it.
This is for anyone who is dealing with the struggles of life such as financial heartache, infertility, marriage fears, loss and mental of physical illness, Incredible, wonderful job touching on these things showing weakness, strength and faith. My words can't do it justice.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Ginny L. Yttrup for my ecopy.
This is a book that will stay with me for quite awhile. I loved it.
This is for anyone who is dealing with the struggles of life such as financial heartache, infertility, marriage fears, loss and mental of physical illness, Incredible, wonderful job touching on these things showing weakness, strength and faith. My words can't do it justice.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Ginny L. Yttrup for my ecopy.
March 26, 2017
Home by Ginny L. Yttrup is a thought provoking and compelling book. A book that is not a light read, yet there are some light moments in it. A book about characters who have very real and troubling problems to deal with, yet find the strength and faith in family and God to work through those problems. A book about home, a place we all long for and yet not necessarily in the sense of an actual place but something more. Yttrup masterfully touches on the multifaceted issue of grief and the oft misunderstood issue of mental illness weaving faith throughout the story. And the faith is in a God who is there, who is present to bring the struggling one home. Home is an amazing book that will resonate in the hearts of many a reader.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions are my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions are my own.
March 21, 2017
This novel is written from the points of view of several characters, which helps move the story along and gave me a rounded view of the main characters. The characters deal with a variety of crises that lead them to face the past and issues they have never dealt with, like grief and family secrets. Ultimately you cannot run away forever. I found myself searching my own mind and heart as I read.
The author leads in to each chapter with a literary quote that in some way summarizes the chapter to follow. I usually ended up re-reading the quote after I finished the chapter, and found they were dead on. I also like the emphasis on serious prayer--fervent is a word used in the Bible to describe it. The novel within the novel is a good way to show what Melanie's thought process was. I was almost as eager to see how that story turned out as the main one.
All in all this is an enjoyable book, though not terribly deep, but it gave me something to think about.
I received this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for my honest review.
The author leads in to each chapter with a literary quote that in some way summarizes the chapter to follow. I usually ended up re-reading the quote after I finished the chapter, and found they were dead on. I also like the emphasis on serious prayer--fervent is a word used in the Bible to describe it. The novel within the novel is a good way to show what Melanie's thought process was. I was almost as eager to see how that story turned out as the main one.
All in all this is an enjoyable book, though not terribly deep, but it gave me something to think about.
I received this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for my honest review.
March 18, 2017
When I read a novel by Ginny Yttrup I never know what is going to happen. She is the queen of delivering a "boom" at the end of her novels.
I loved Invisible. So I was quite excited to receive another book authored by this fantabulous author.
Again, when one reads a book by Ginny Yttrup, one never knows what the surprises will crop up at the end of the read. I just love this about her books!
In this novel, HOME, Melanie and her husband are facing some marriageable issues. Melanie goes to Dr, Hammond and he listens ever so well.
Melanie feels that her husband, Craig, and she are headed in opposite directions. But it seems that Dr, Hammond understands everything so perfectly.
The fact that we all need a Savior is evident tin this read. Also, I love the way that Ginny Yttrup brings out the way humans can so easily decide themselves.
And home is where the heart is.
Quite an inspirational read! Love, love Ginny's books!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
I loved Invisible. So I was quite excited to receive another book authored by this fantabulous author.
Again, when one reads a book by Ginny Yttrup, one never knows what the surprises will crop up at the end of the read. I just love this about her books!
In this novel, HOME, Melanie and her husband are facing some marriageable issues. Melanie goes to Dr, Hammond and he listens ever so well.
Melanie feels that her husband, Craig, and she are headed in opposite directions. But it seems that Dr, Hammond understands everything so perfectly.
The fact that we all need a Savior is evident tin this read. Also, I love the way that Ginny Yttrup brings out the way humans can so easily decide themselves.
And home is where the heart is.
Quite an inspirational read! Love, love Ginny's books!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
May 17, 2017
"One way to describe it is a longing for home, though that's not quite accurate. The Welsh have a word for it: hiraeth. It's difficult to translate in English, but I've heard it described as a homesickness for a home you can't return to. Our a place that never was. I've come to acknowledge it in myself as a longing for God. 'Eternity set in the hearts of men,' as Solomon so eloquently wrote."
I guess everyone has their own definition of what "home" really means. All I know is it is NOT confined to the walls of a brick and mortar building, but it is what is located in my heart. "It is either the sturdy foundation or the crumbling underpinnings a child is built upon." Home is in here. In our hearts, and time or distance have no bearing on it or cause us to lose our sense of where home really is.
In Ginny L. Yttrup's latest novel, "Home," we get a sense of what it means for quite a few of her characters. For married couple Melanie and Craig, who have been married for twenty-three years are struggling to come to terms with where their future might be headed. After learning that they can't have children, they have both faced their own uncertainties. Craig is a home builder struggling to manage both his business and home with the rising financial downturns of the local economy. All he knows is that he has to come clean with Melanie that they might have to sell their custom built home and cut spending until things pick up. He feels at fault for not providing for their family. Melanie, a successful author now on her sixteenth novel, but is now wondering if she has more creativity left to inspire her to her looming deadline with her publisher. She wants to contribute to the finances, but if she can't complete this novel, they will have to look at selling their dream home.
Their neighbors Marcos and Jill are facing their own struggles as well. For Jill it is dealing with her OCD behaviors that are beginning to impact her way of life and the way she relates to her family. She believes it has to do with a recurring nightmare that she is putting together bits and pieces of things that don't make sense to her. When she tries to explain it to her mother, she is dismissed. However it is possible these aren't nightmares but repressed memories? All she knows is that if she doesn't get help soon, she will come unglued and possibly hurt herself or her family without meaning to. Her only ally is her best friend Melanie, but even they are dealing with their own issues and now that Melanie has taken a trip away to a lakeside home to finish her novel, is it possible it is the end of her marriage as well to Craig?
I received Home by Ginny L. Yttrup compliments of Barbour Publishing and Net Galley. This novel really hit home for me after a particular rough Mother's Day and found myself questioning whether I made a difference in the lives of our family. I can't believe how much I found myself relating to Melanie's character. Struggling to understand if she loved Craig as much as she should being married or it is possible they simply have grown apart. Is there a way to put things back together and see one another differently now that they're in different places in their personal and professional relationships. One thing is certain, temptation is just around the corner in places they least expected. Home is found in our hearts! Everything else is simply temporary. We are all created to live life to the full, and we can only do that if we're willing to fully participate! That is what I realized, after reading this novel. It isn't about what others are doing, but what we contribute to the life we are living. We can partner with our spouse or walk away. It is always better to work together!! There are some great discussion questions at the conclusion of this novel that would be great for a book club. For me, this one earns a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion, because it changed something even in my own heart, and for a novel to that, it has to be extraordinary.
I guess everyone has their own definition of what "home" really means. All I know is it is NOT confined to the walls of a brick and mortar building, but it is what is located in my heart. "It is either the sturdy foundation or the crumbling underpinnings a child is built upon." Home is in here. In our hearts, and time or distance have no bearing on it or cause us to lose our sense of where home really is.
In Ginny L. Yttrup's latest novel, "Home," we get a sense of what it means for quite a few of her characters. For married couple Melanie and Craig, who have been married for twenty-three years are struggling to come to terms with where their future might be headed. After learning that they can't have children, they have both faced their own uncertainties. Craig is a home builder struggling to manage both his business and home with the rising financial downturns of the local economy. All he knows is that he has to come clean with Melanie that they might have to sell their custom built home and cut spending until things pick up. He feels at fault for not providing for their family. Melanie, a successful author now on her sixteenth novel, but is now wondering if she has more creativity left to inspire her to her looming deadline with her publisher. She wants to contribute to the finances, but if she can't complete this novel, they will have to look at selling their dream home.
Their neighbors Marcos and Jill are facing their own struggles as well. For Jill it is dealing with her OCD behaviors that are beginning to impact her way of life and the way she relates to her family. She believes it has to do with a recurring nightmare that she is putting together bits and pieces of things that don't make sense to her. When she tries to explain it to her mother, she is dismissed. However it is possible these aren't nightmares but repressed memories? All she knows is that if she doesn't get help soon, she will come unglued and possibly hurt herself or her family without meaning to. Her only ally is her best friend Melanie, but even they are dealing with their own issues and now that Melanie has taken a trip away to a lakeside home to finish her novel, is it possible it is the end of her marriage as well to Craig?
I received Home by Ginny L. Yttrup compliments of Barbour Publishing and Net Galley. This novel really hit home for me after a particular rough Mother's Day and found myself questioning whether I made a difference in the lives of our family. I can't believe how much I found myself relating to Melanie's character. Struggling to understand if she loved Craig as much as she should being married or it is possible they simply have grown apart. Is there a way to put things back together and see one another differently now that they're in different places in their personal and professional relationships. One thing is certain, temptation is just around the corner in places they least expected. Home is found in our hearts! Everything else is simply temporary. We are all created to live life to the full, and we can only do that if we're willing to fully participate! That is what I realized, after reading this novel. It isn't about what others are doing, but what we contribute to the life we are living. We can partner with our spouse or walk away. It is always better to work together!! There are some great discussion questions at the conclusion of this novel that would be great for a book club. For me, this one earns a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion, because it changed something even in my own heart, and for a novel to that, it has to be extraordinary.
April 5, 2017
This was my first Ginny Yttrup book and I quite enjoyed it. The story was very different from any I've read and her writing style just made everything seem so real and authentic. This was a book that was easy to read yet, at times, difficult to read. It wasn't a light, airy read but one that is relatable.
From the beginning I could see the detachment between Melanie and Craig. The two have been married for twenty-three years and it was easy to see that they were perhaps stuck in a rut. It was almost as if both had given up on their marriage and were just going through the motions. Melanie, an author, lives more in a fictional world than her husband, Craig, who builds houses. Craig is the one who lives in reality and is more of a take-charge kind of person. It was easy for me to see his frustration with his wife. There was so much that seemed real to this story that it left me wondering if the author was using her own life as inspiration for parts of the story. I did enjoy the way the author went back and forth and told the story from both characters point-of-view. It kept the story feeling more authentic and also less confusing since the reader also gets to read snippets of the book Melanie is writing.
The next-door neighbors were a nice addition to the story and especially the struggles of Jill. Jill is a freelance editor and works with Melanie. It is hard to say the two are close friends at the beginning but it is easy to see the shift in their relationship as the story progresses. Jill is facing her own battles and the chapters dedicated to her and her problems were a unique addition to the story.
As a lover of books and someone who enjoys reading about the writing process, I loved the way the author incorporated the process of writing a book into the story. This is another one of those things that made the story that much more real. Some of the terms she used were familiar to me and lent another layer of reality to the story.
If you are looking for a light read then don't pick up this book. This is a heavier read so if you are looking for a book that is full of emotion then this would be a great book to pick up. This would be a terrific book club selection.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
From the beginning I could see the detachment between Melanie and Craig. The two have been married for twenty-three years and it was easy to see that they were perhaps stuck in a rut. It was almost as if both had given up on their marriage and were just going through the motions. Melanie, an author, lives more in a fictional world than her husband, Craig, who builds houses. Craig is the one who lives in reality and is more of a take-charge kind of person. It was easy for me to see his frustration with his wife. There was so much that seemed real to this story that it left me wondering if the author was using her own life as inspiration for parts of the story. I did enjoy the way the author went back and forth and told the story from both characters point-of-view. It kept the story feeling more authentic and also less confusing since the reader also gets to read snippets of the book Melanie is writing.
The next-door neighbors were a nice addition to the story and especially the struggles of Jill. Jill is a freelance editor and works with Melanie. It is hard to say the two are close friends at the beginning but it is easy to see the shift in their relationship as the story progresses. Jill is facing her own battles and the chapters dedicated to her and her problems were a unique addition to the story.
As a lover of books and someone who enjoys reading about the writing process, I loved the way the author incorporated the process of writing a book into the story. This is another one of those things that made the story that much more real. Some of the terms she used were familiar to me and lent another layer of reality to the story.
If you are looking for a light read then don't pick up this book. This is a heavier read so if you are looking for a book that is full of emotion then this would be a great book to pick up. This would be a terrific book club selection.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
April 26, 2017
I frankly don't know anyone who writes women's fiction as well as Ginny Yttrup. Even though it's fiction, there's such a ring of truth in them that you'd swear Ginny's writing it from her own life.
When the housing market took a dive, many building and architectural contractors went out of business. Those who survived had to diversify and cut back. Craig is one whose business has suffered--or strangled, nearly. He and Melanie discuss putting their own self-designed dream home on the market and moving to something smaller. Or rather, Craig tries to discuss it. Melanie closes herself off.
Melanie is a writer with a deadline that's looming way too close, and she can't get her characters to cooperate. What she needs is a break, and a friend provides her with the perfect retreat--a house on beautiful Clear Lake--for free. She can escape, but will she return even when--if--the book is ever finished?
Jill and Marcos live next door, and Jill is the closest thing to a best friend that Melanie has. Jill has problems of her own: She is OCD on steroids. She has frequent nightmares of someone dying, and she's literally terrified that someone in her family is going to die from a germ that found its way into their sterilized house or a car wreck or whatever. The dreams are so real they seem more like a memory than imagination. Marcos is beyond worried about her.
With tension on every page, this book is nearly impossible to put down. Available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
When the housing market took a dive, many building and architectural contractors went out of business. Those who survived had to diversify and cut back. Craig is one whose business has suffered--or strangled, nearly. He and Melanie discuss putting their own self-designed dream home on the market and moving to something smaller. Or rather, Craig tries to discuss it. Melanie closes herself off.
Melanie is a writer with a deadline that's looming way too close, and she can't get her characters to cooperate. What she needs is a break, and a friend provides her with the perfect retreat--a house on beautiful Clear Lake--for free. She can escape, but will she return even when--if--the book is ever finished?
Jill and Marcos live next door, and Jill is the closest thing to a best friend that Melanie has. Jill has problems of her own: She is OCD on steroids. She has frequent nightmares of someone dying, and she's literally terrified that someone in her family is going to die from a germ that found its way into their sterilized house or a car wreck or whatever. The dreams are so real they seem more like a memory than imagination. Marcos is beyond worried about her.
With tension on every page, this book is nearly impossible to put down. Available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
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