Heaven & Earth

by Joshua Senter

Ruth Christianson is at an unfathomable crossroads in her life. Her husband, the esteemed Pastor Sam Christianson, has just been outed for having an affair with a male prostitute, and they have been exiled from the megachurch they built together in Charleston, South Carolina. With their three children in tow Ruth and Sam attempt to escape the condemnation that follows the very public scandal by disappearing to the small, Missouri farm where Sam grew up. Once there, Ruth must decide whether to maintain her bonds of holy matrimony or walk away from the only man she's ever loved. As she reflects on the events that brought her to this moment in time, Ruth suddenly realizes there is a third much more radical option, but choosing it may well destroy her very soul.

Genres: Fiction

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2023

About the author

Joshua Senter was raised in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri where he was homeschooled along with his four sisters on a five hundred acre cattle farm. Going against the grain of his conservative upbringing Josh moved to Los Angeles in 1997, and three years later he received a bachelor’s degree in filmmaking from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, along with Ninth Term Honors.

In 2002 he began writing for the hit Showtime series The L Word. A year after that, he joined the international phenomenon, Desperate Housewives, where he was nominated for a Writer’s Guild of America award for his episode, Don’t Look at Me. In 2013 Joshua began writing and co-producing a new show for ABC Family, Chasing Life. During that time his debut novel, Daisies, was published by Diversion Books. In 2014 Joshua moved over to MTV where he began working as a writer/producer for the hit series Finding Carter.

In 2015 Joshua was placed on the Tracking Board’s Young and Hungry List as one of the top 100 writer’s working in Hollywood. In 2016, 2017, and 2018 Josh wrote pilots for ABC, FOX, and NBC respectively. A Valentine’s Day movie he co-wrote for Freeform, called The Thing About Harry, aired in February of 2020 and was nominated for a 2021 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Movie. His critically-acclaimed sophomore novel, Still The Night Call, was published by Roubidoux Press and released January 14th, 2022.

Reviews

[Joe Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to win a copy of Joshua Senter’s new novel, Heaven and Earth, and I have to say that I’m so glad I did. His writing is poetic and literary but equally easy to read and enjoyable. I read his previous book, Still the Night Call, which it was also excellent. Heaven & Earth is more accessible, though, and I’m excited for others to read it, because it explores themes around fundamentalist religion and tradition that I suspect will create space for some deeply meaningful conversations that quite honestly need to be had in the United States (and probably elsewhere too). Questions like: Why do we believe the way that we do about love, marriage, mortality, and God? Senter manages to explore what is fraught territory with a beauty and grace that is a tribute to his immense talent and skill. I really can’t recommend this book enough.

Heaven and Earth is similar in tone to more popular voices like Frazen or Kingsolver, but less fussy, and perhaps even a bit more authentic.

[Mandie Rocque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was a fantastic book! I became so intrigued by the characters and couldn’t put it down. So many emotions came with reading this book- the author really knows how to reel you in. Although I can say I’ve never been through this situation, the author writes so eloquently that you can legitimately empathize with each character and inevitably become so invested in the entire family. Hands down just an absolutely amazing work of art! Kudos to you, Joshua Senter, you are a very talented writer!

[Bridgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heaven & Earth is a well-written novel full of heart and emotion. Dealing with an "all to common" storyline these days, unholy affairs involving pastors/priests, Ruth wife of a local pastor who committed a same-sex affair, must decide between her family and her faith. Easy to read storyline, great character development. Highly recommend.

[Gail Herrmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, could have been pulled from news headlines. A pastor of a Mega church is accused of having a relationship with another man. A fall from grace and all of the end results from that fall from grace are the bones of this story. Not a light read, but instead made for lots of thoughts!

[Melenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dnf

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt look at faith & spirituality—and how they can be subverted.

[Novels and Nummies · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is hard to explain this book, but I read it very quickly. It is heartbreaking and angering all at once. If you have been on any sort of social media for the last few years you are bound to see a post about some religious and/or conservative figure or politician being exposed for partaking in some sort of activity that goes directly against what they speak of, an especially common one is homosexuality.

This book takes a look at the aftermath of the once influential family from the wife's eyes. All the characters are extremely flawed in either how they use religion to harm others with a sense of moral superiority and use religion to take the blame away from themselves.

This is not a happy read and the ending while expected is still hard.

I rated this four stars just because some of the punctuation and sentence transitions were all over the place. In addition, the writing of a female character becoming aroused happened way too quickly and read like something from smut (which did not fit the vibe with the rest of the book).

I hope that this review does not come across negatively. I would 100% recommend this book, especially for a book club. This book deserves discussion.

[Remington Arquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

{Semi-spoiler alert!} Best known as an American screenwriter and novelist revered for his work on the television series Desperate Housewives and his critically-acclaimed novel, Still the Night Call, Joshua Senter has again graced us with his talents on his most recent release, Heaven & Earth. His writing of a troubled marriage in these tumultuous times we all now find ourselves is gripping, to say the least. The hot-button topic (if it's even referred to as such anymore) of infidelity--one involving a homosexual encounter--is brilliantly handled without there ever being an offensive scene! (In my opinion, that is.) Brilliant! Positively brilliant! No better background or cast of characters could there have been for the sensitive topic matter this novel so quaintly delves into. Its characters are deep, and their points of view are vividly expressed, heart-felt even, by Senter's emotionally charged and well-balanced efforts. The prose is easily grasped and comfortably descriptive without ever being judgmental, especially when conveying the complicated and raw emotions such a "fall from grace' could surely have on all parties involved. This was a mature novel dealing with a very realistic family setting; none of the teenie or tweenies 'coming out' and all the confused saga the genre is so overly burdened with. (Again, my opinion) However, I was thrown at one point in the story when there seemed almost to be a reconciliation between the lead characters . . . until the wife's renouncing of her faith, that is. Something I'd been totally blindsided by. Yet in further reading, I became unsure, having been led to believe one thing during the wife's emotional outburst --though it must have been only temporary; perhaps that reaction, that overloading of emotion, was needed to finally free her of the doomed marriage. Yet, besides the confusion there, I felt the story worked marvelously and even sent me wondering just how many marriages have undergone similar troubles. How many?

[Píaras Cíonnaoíth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought-provoking and compelling exploration of the human spirit...

In “Heaven & Earth” by Joshua Senter, readers are immersed in the tumultuous journey of Ruth Christianson, a woman grappling with an unimaginable crossroads. The exposure of her husband's affair with a male prostitute shatters their lives, leading to their expulsion from the megachurch they once built together. Seeking refuge from the relentless judgment, Ruth, accompanied by their three children, seeks solace on a humble farm in Missouri, where her husband grew up. As she navigates the wreckage of her marriage, Ruth faces a pivotal decision that will redefine her existence.

“Heaven & Earth” is a thought-provoking and compelling exploration of the human spirit, urging readers to confront their own beliefs, values, and the depths of their souls. Senter's eloquent prose and poignant storytelling make this novel an engrossing and emotionally resonant read. With its rich characterization and honest portrayal of difficult choices, this book will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on readers' hearts and minds.

In this evocative tale of love, redemption, and the search for personal authenticity, Joshua Senter invites readers to embark on an unforgettable journey through the intersecting realms of heaven and earth. Recommended.

[Chanie]

I read an ARC from NetGalley.

I’m not sure how to rate this book because I have strong mixed feelings. The writer is clearly talented, so it’s not a matter of skill. I think it’s more a matter of craft choices. The characters are devoutly Christian and struggle because of their Christian upbringing which influenced how they viewed themselves, the world, and their beliefs. I hurt for their self-imposed prison. On the other hand, because their suffering was due to their beliefs, I wanted badly for them to step out of these beliefs because relief was available. And that is how Ruth (ironically) finds her salvation. But why could t she do it earlier? The author drags us through her painful thoughts for long stretches, when the pacing could and should have been more swift. Another challenging point was that I didn’t like Sam. He was the source of the distress, but I didn’t find him empathetic. Lastly, the book was uncertain if it wanted to be Christian or erotic, and those make for strange bedfellows. The only thing I can say is that if the mark of a good book is that it unsettles you, then this book is it.

[Jan Corona · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of the book was intriguing: the lead minister of a mega church commits fall-from-grace adultery. He and his family move to his family’s Kansas farm, where there is little love, zero warmth, lots of judgment, blaming, and condemnation. His wife must juggle her love for him, protect her children, figure out where she falls on the faith spectrum, etc. Anyway, the relationships fell flat…I don’t want to write anything else about this book.

[Phyllis Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book. It was a struggle to read through as I did not care for this author's writting style. He u sed a lot of words that I had to look up. Thank goodness for Kindle and its dictionary. Also, one of the characters who was an avid Christian loses her faith....by deciding God does not exit. I am a Christian,,,,HE does exist.

[Plot Twist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruth’s husband, pastor Sam, is outed for having an affair with a man. Ruth and Sam relocate their family to escape condemnation. This was an interesting plot. Not what I was expecting.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ideas—strong
Execution—weak
Characters—odd
Dialogue—laughable