Abide with Me

Home Ties Trilogy #1

by Delia Parr

printed with letters bigger than usual good for people with visual problems

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian

643 pages, Unknown Binding

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

Delia is the author of fifteen historical novels who now devotes herself to writing inspirational historical romance. The mother of three grown children, she is a full-time high school teacher in southern New Jersey who spends her summers writing on Anna Maria Island in Florida.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't get through this one, too much preachy talk.

[Carolyn Russett · Rating 2 out of 5]

i actually give it a 2.5
you can read the summary of the book....
It is a christian , inspirational type of read. which I don't mind. However I did find it a bit preachy, and a bit unbelievable at times. but might not be a bad read for some.

[ML Couch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read

I really enjoyed this series spotlighting more mature women! Good stories, fast read, and good messages we all need to hear and be reminded of.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am getting super frustrated with the Christian and Inspirational books I am reading. I started reading these books because they were well written, not always full of doom and gloom, and because they -at least the first dozen or so-showed people working at , and through their problems, in a deep and conscientious manner. All I seem to find now is people behaving abominably, saying God forgives me so you must to-and Fast, and taking virtually no personal responsibility for their actions ,nor the ramifications that follow.
This book is well written, and I certainly got engrossed in the story and the characters, but the plot line of Madge and Russell defied all reason and turned what could have been a 4 star experience into a one [I averaged it out a bit for the star part of the review.]
The author missed a HUGE opportunity to develop this story in a more realistic way. I am very disappointed, especially because she writes well and had interesting story lines for the other two sisters.
SPOILERS AHEAD.
I can accept that Madge decided to stay in the marriage, and forgive her husband, as well as raise his ' love child'. I cannot , for the life of me, accept that she treated his ongoing ,3 plus years ,actions as if they were a 'mistake' that needed forgiveness.
The fact that she didn't express any emotion about hubby carrying on with another wife for 36 months plus; living with another woman;sleeping with another woman;even getting a pet for his love child when he wouldn't let his 'real' sons have one!! Nothing Nada-nope, let's just let it all skate by-because I took vows. Well those vows say 'for better or worse'. They Don't say: be a doormat; let your spouse walk all over you; allow your spouse to persuade you to lie to your adult children. I mean, isn't lying a sin? Or lying about something that the other person had a moral right to know-oh, like "hey sons, you have a sister"?
He MARRIED the other woman, lived with her as a husband, raised the little girl as a bio father, and spent just as much time with the 'second' wife as he did Madge. There is NO WAY that that is 'just a mistake', and absolutely no way that any self respecting woman would gloss over an entire alternate life. I mean , that is waaaay beyond betrayal. The fact that Russell basically said 'oops, sorry, it's all on you' about his other family and divorce, is even ,more offensive. He had an entire second life for at least 3 years. What woman wouldn't be seriously emotionally wounded by the thought of her husband having regular sex And an emotional commitment to another woman? Forgive all you want, but you don't forget, and that seems to be what Madge did-and what Russell expected. It's as if Madge had an emotional lobotomy, one that had Russell's approval. Then on top of that he forces her to maintain his lie and not inform their adult children of Daddy's duplicity. Oh, and her sisters encouraged her to keep all the lies juggling in her life.
I honestly do not 'get' this idea that I find in more and more Christian novels, that actions have no real consequences, that the characters in these books tend to be far from sincerely remorseful, instead they, and their pastors tell the betrayed one " you must forgive" and that , as far as sneaky, cheating hubby's think, is the end of it.
It is well written, but I am truly disappointed.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good to see how each sister's faith helped her thru her struggles, along with the love and support of her sisters. However, even though I consider myself a strong Christian, I found some of the dialogue a bit unbelievable and preachy. All in all, it was an enjoyable book. It showed how a strong faith can help one deal with all kinds of struggles - with health, finances, relationships, marital problems. It also illustrated the importance of relationships, with family and with friends. However I think the rather heavy handed use of "churchy" dialogue could drive away any readers who are not already strong Christians - and who are the ones most in need of receiving the message of this book.

[Elaine]

577
527
591

[Terri Michalenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the close relationship between sisters! Gives great hope to Cancer diagnosis which touches so many of us in different ways.

[Simi · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyable read to pass some time, was a little preachy, but nothing overly so or offensive for that matter.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

did not read

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book about three Sisters. Everyone should read this book! :)

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars--Three sisters, one with cancer, one with cheating husband who has a surprise daughter, another who longs to be a SAHM. Slow and weird POV changes, but core story good.