The Prayer

by Norma Budden

The thought of going to university for another year sends shivers up Sierra's spine. She knows she needs an education but is quickly becoming bored with life, unable to find passion for anything. All she desires is to get in her car and drive.

Tamara loves her mom with all of her heart, but she has missed out on having a dad in her life, an ache that never seems to go away. The unthinkable happens: her mom falls and suffers a head injury, then goes into a coma. A month later, the heartache has become too much to bear so she insists upon a trip to the ER, where she meets Doctor Brady Carlos – and the longer she's around him, the more she wishes he could be her dad.

Long after Tamara left the ER, she was still on Brady's mind – so much that, at the end of his shift, he makes a trip upstairs to visit her mother, Katarina. The moment he sees her lifeless form in the bed, he gravitates toward her in a way that takes him by surprise, even as a paternal instinct he didn't know he possessed yearns to shelter Tamara from further emotional pain.

A chance meeting later brings Sierra and Brady together in the same place, equally fascinated with each other for different reasons. As they get to know each other, an emotional connection develops between them, but is it strong enough to withstand the pull Brady feels toward Katarina?

When all is said and done, will Brady and Tamara be able to hold onto each other, become the father-daughter team they both desire, or will something greater than either of them imagined stand in their way?

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 20, 2017

About the author

Norma Budden is a Canadian author and photographer who also publishes book reviews and author interviews. She has a passion for all things travel and enjoys hiking, swimming, kayaking and snowshoeing.

Norma is the proud author of the Freedom in Love Series which, currently, has five titles published: An Affair to Remember, When Love Abides, Soul Confessions, Divided Loyalties and The Promise. She is also the author of The Prayer, The Journey (both titles being part of The Wish Trilogy) and Coming Unglued: A Mother's Journey into Hell, a story inspired by true events.

Norma has also published a novella and short story, Written on The Stars and Hershey Falls, respectively, and is co-author of Angels Among Us, written with the late Michael. T. Ingram.

If Only is a stand-alone title as is her autobiography, Arctic Child.

Reviews

[Elsa Hoffmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't my usual murder and police and court reading material, but I love the way the story develops between all the characters. Norma Budden takes real life and makes it sound almost good enough to be forever.

We know nothing is forever, and Doc Brady has to take a chance on love here, but who? Two women and one little girl. The little girl has basically all of his heart, and I wanted to yell "wait before you choose!" and suddenly he does. What a lovely story. Friendships that run so deep they're almost forever, lives full of hurdles and heartache, strong women - it's like watching real life unfold while you are a spectator only, wanting to meddle and give advice but you can't. As it is in life, we all have to deal with things in our own way. However, when one has faith in God, somehow it all becomes bearable and the hurdles are not that high.

My favorite character here is Tamara. I don't even quite know why. She just tugs at my heart! Really enjoyed this book, it was my escape from the murder and mayhem on the news and it will leave you with a lingering smile. Worthwhile and well written! Let's see what the sequel brings...

My apologies to Ms Budden. I am so behind in my reading I think I'll apologise to all of you hard working authors in advance. Don't worry though, I try to review every book I read, whether I received a copy or found it or bought it. Thank you for writing. Books are a wonderful escape route when reality gets overwhelming. And this story is really full of hope and faith.

[Lynn Hallbrooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I was literally unable to rest until I finished.

As an Emergency Room physician, Brady is trained to help others especially when they are having a bad day. He finds it easy to diagnosis an injury but not so easy to help a little girl with a heartache. Should he go with his training or go with his gut instincts?

I really enjoyed how Ms. Budden interweaved some medicine into this Christian fiction story that also has a touch of romance and family drama. Because I enjoyed getting to know the various characters, I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book.

[Gail A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is brilliant in her character development as she draws her readers into the hearts souls, minds, spirits and challenges of their blended lives. One of the main characters, Katarina is in a coma and fighting to come back to life. Her little daughter Tamara is desperate to have her Mom wake up and talk to her again. Doctor Brady, an ER doctor is connected to all of them, after treating Tamara in the ER and at the same time treating an older woman with a sprained ankle whose son Hunter and granddaughter Sierra become part of doctor Brady's life in very intimate and life changing ways The way the author creates chance meetings between the characters is fascinating and as their lives overlap and intertwine there is a profound impact on all of them. The most powerful feeling throughout the entire book is love, love between a mother and a daughter love between a father and a daughter, love between a grandmother and a granddaughter love between sisters, love between friends and love between a man and a woman searching for a truth that will be eternal. The author is amazing and how she explores many challenges of love but greater than that is how she makes it quite clear that love is a force that can change lives when people go to great lengths to understand love,to fight for love, and to sacrifice for love.

[Jeff Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read at least four of Norma’s books and this one seemed to miss the mark for me. As always, her stories are compelling and packed with emotion. I had a hard time separating all of the players characteristics. The only one that stayed the same and was consistent was Katarina’s sister, Shelly. She came across as cold and callous, but she was looking and preparing for her sister passing and raising her niece, Tamara. Could she have been a little more compassionate or hopeful her sister would come out of the coma? Perhaps, but then reality is never a fairy tale.
The character I had the most trouble with was Dr. Brady. This is a man who’s gone through twelve years of school, and at least a year of residency. That would put him around 34 to 36 years old. When he met Tamara in ER waiting room and promised to check on her mother, that is the sign of a good man. But then the wheels came off. His emotions were all over the place. Zero consistence and when he started falling for Sierra, who’s twenty-one, that was too much. Couple that with him falling for Tamara and her mother, it was becoming too much. Then you throw in Katarina’s friend Paige and Sierra’s father Hunter, it become Peyton Place.
The message of the story is sound: pray, faith and love can overcome any obstacle. I just didn’t think it was executed well in the story.
And, it wouldn’t hurt to go back through the story. Ran across a lot of misspelling and grammatical issues.

Three Stars.

[Bernard Holler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Tamara's prayers be answered?

Interesting story line about the adorable five year old Tamara who wants to visit her mother who has been in a coma for over a month. Because she is "heart sick" ER Doctor Brady works on getting her in to visit her mother. Tamara sometimes shows more spiritual and emotional maturity than most of the adults involved. Keeping the many characters that end up being involved straight finally works out in the story until we get to read the next installment to see which father Tamara picks to spend time with and who Dr. Brady chooses to have for his wife and mother of his children.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful sweet story

Unexpected twists and turns with a variety of different personalities ...I wished it would have ended differently. Leaves u wondering

[Deanna Lynn Sletten · Rating 5 out of 5]

A college student has yet to find her passion in life. A young girl is desperate for her mother to come out of a coma. A doctor tries to help the young girl, and in the process finds he is being drawn to both mother and daughter. Three strangers are pulled together by fate, design, or as the answer to a prayer.

THE PRAYER, the first book in The Wish Trilogy, by Norma Budden is a heartfelt story about love and faith. Filled with a cast of interesting characters, heartwarming moments, and a few twists and turns, it is sure to hold your interest and leave you wanting more. I highly recommend this story to readers who believe in the power of faith.

[Pumpkinruse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a Sweet Story

What a beautiful and touching story.
Each character seen so clearly through the sentences written with such feelings.
Can’t wait to get on to the next in the story line series. Well done!

[Zelda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is all about relationships and the connections that people form and have with each other. The female characters in this book have great strength. The male characters not so much. The person at the center of this story is little Tamara, whose mother is in a coma, and doesn't seem to be coming out of it any time soon. Each of the characters in this book have a connection to this little girl and her situation. The power of prayer is touched on quite a bit. Some budding romances also develop. Some of them have conflicting feelings. I am glad that there will be a sequel to this book, as I would like to see what happens to these people in their futures.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read from start to finish. The writer reaches out and touches your soul. The first night I was able ro mark my page and put the book down. Not so the second night. With the new developments and unexpected twists and new characters introduced, I could not put the book down until I finished the story. Excellent excellent read! I wanted more. I found myself wishing the book were half again as long.

[Jo-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. Even though there were some heart-breaking moments, there were also many endearing times making it hard to put down.

At first, there were so many people that didn`t seem to have any connection with each other that I had some doubts about this story. But I love Norma Budden`s books so I trusted in her ability to make this a story I would like. As I got to know the characters and saw how their lives intersected, I was caught up in the story. I thought it was cute when 5-year-old Tamara told her caregiver that her heart hurt so she had to go to the hospital. Knowing they couldn't help her, the caregiver took her to the ER anyway. That`s how she met Dr. Brady Carlos who became very important in her life as well as her mother's. Even though there wasn`t anything he could do medically to fix Tamara's heartache, he might be able to do something for the cause of her problem. Which lead him to visit Tamara`s mother who was in a coma.

This book was very well-written with wonderful characters and a powerful message. While faith played a big part in all their lives, this story didn`t feel preachy.

This Christian family drama is a captivating story I highly recommend. Especially if you believe in the power of faith.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspirational story, The Prayer highlights the power of faith and importance of not giving up. Little Tamara’s insistence that she see a doctor for the pain in her heart tugs at Dr Brady’s heartstrings, prompting him not only to delve deeper into Tamara’s source of anguish, but into the background of her unconscious mother as well. I found that the story dragged a little in parts, however it nevertheless does inspire one to recognise and anticipate the work of God’s hand in the lives of people. There are a number of characters, each of whom play their part. Although the story is well written and I was inspired by the faith of the characters, I was frustrated by the fact that it ended on a cliff hanger. I also felt that Brady’s inability to make a decision was unfair to both Katarina and Sierra and the only constant in his life was in fact Tamara. I received a copy of this book as a gift for free and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Prayer was an interesting and quick read. I stayed up well into the early morning hours reading because I just couldn't put it down. I loved the emphasis on the power of prayer and faith that Ms. Budden included in this book. That was a major draw for me in keeping my interest. It was also interesting to note how each character represented a particular facet of humanity...Brady was kind and compassionate, Sierra was faith-filled, Shelley was a doubting Thomas, full of skepticism, Janetta was full of life, Hunter and Paige were resilient despite past life difficulties, Tamara embodies the innocence of childhood, and so on. I would be interested in reading the next installment to find out what happens next in each of their lives.

[LuAnn Rodriquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE PRAYER by Norma Budden is an enjoyable book to read, filled with characters who seem admirable in differing degrees and absolutely real. This story will make you want to read the next one as not all questions are answered by the end. Ms. Budden’s emphasis on God and His goodness is a big part of what I liked in these fictional people’s lives. Reading this book was very much a positive experience for me!

[D.K. Ricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whirlwind Story!

,Love at first for everyone one in this story. Little girl, mom, Brady, Sierra, Hunter and Paige! Love is truly in the air!