The Pruning

American Dreams #2

by Jan Cline

Clarissa cruelly discovers that you cannot always escape your past. A clandestine meeting is about to test her faith, and expose secrets that could challenge her marriage.
Will Clarissa and her husband cling to God’s promise for a new beginning? Or be destroyed by tragedies and trials.

Unknown Binding

Published July 3, 2019

About the author

I'm an author, freelance writer and speaker from Idaho. I recently retired from directing a writer's conference I founded, but continue to be involved in the writing and publishing world. I love to speak to women's groups, book clubs, writer's groups, and at writer's conferences.

My love for history and old stuff keeps me busy researching for my novels and feeds my hobby of giving new life to tired vintage items.

Sign up for my email list on my website to receive interesting articles and inspirational blog posts, and you'll also receive a free short story.

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pruning by Jan Cline tells the story of the Wilding family, who leave heartache and despair behind in dust bowl Kansas for the promise of a new life in the Pacific Northwest. This book held my attention from the very first scene. Clarissa, wife to Frank and mother of two boys, runs smack dab into her past the moment the family steps off the train in their new location.

The author does a wonderful job of developing characterization, taking us to the heart of the conflicting emotions of her characters and exploring the versatility of family dynamics. The situations the family encounters are unique and challenging. I particularly liked Elijah. The quiet presence of this family friend held the strongest influence in times of trouble with his unwavering faith in God and belief that God is always in control. I laughed and cried with these realistic characters who encountered adversity, endured hardship, and learned how to forgive.

It was a pleasure to read a book set in this time period by an author who takes great store in research and accuracy.

This is book two in Jan Cline’s American Dreams series. Even though I had not read book one, there was enough reference to past events to grasp the continuity of this ongoing story. However, I now have added book one, Heaven’s Sky, to my must read list!

[Phyllis Rundell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book #2 in the American Dreams series and, if you have read Book #1, you will recognize many of the same characters along with some new ones. The character development is fantastic and the author has a gift of making them so real and believable that you almost feel a part of the story. The story is rich in mercy, grace and forgiveness. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Don't miss this one.

[Christa MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read a lot of fiction from this particular time period so I was looking forward to this book. I didn't read the first in the series and I found this one stood on it's own very well. The plot moves along nicely and kept me turning pages. I was so rooting for one particular character's redemption. The theme of forgiveness runs through as well as faith in God's Providence.

[Gloria Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wonderful Story

I loved this story. The characters are so real and struggle with real issues. God is definitely the answer, but I like how they're like all of us by not allowing that truth in right away. Their actions, feelings and thoughts are so human. Jan Cline writes great stories.

[Marty Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished "The Pruning". God sure blessed Jan Cline with an amazing talent! This book is phenomenal! I am more impressed with each new book that I read! Such an amazing storyline, what an even more amazing lesson in grace, forgiveness and mercy. Just spectacular. 

[Carrie Del · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a deeply emotional story of facing your past and trusting God with the future. Cline presents a rich image of life in Depression-era America.

[Mike Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, poignant story of love, family, trust, and forgiveness during a largely forgotten period in American history.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This follow up story in Clarissa's life lived up to my anticipation. Going from the dust bowl in the first book in the series to a farm in the Pacific Northwest with her family must have shocked Clarissa's worn down body. But what waited for her at the destination shocked her soul. And that's what this story dealt with. More leaning on God, more grace needed to face a different kind of storm, this time a family situation. Frank and James, her husband and son, had to come to terms and learn to trust God for everything. I couldn't put the book down and now am in anticipation of the next story in the series. Which I should have in my hands any day now. Wonderful series, Jan! Thank you.

[WordCrafts Press · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pacific Northwest offers a refreshing new start for a Dust Bowl family, but the past has a way of coming full circle, and secrets long buried tend to be resurrected...at the worst possible moment.

[Gretchen Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Jan dove deep into character development in this second book in the series, making us feel every emotion of anger and worry, fear and distrust.

With beautiful parable-like references to pruning and forgiveness, this is a tale that makes you long for redemption, not only in the book, but in your own life.