"Perfect summer 'take me away' read."
Reviewed by Sandi Shilhanek
Posted June 24, 2008
Women's Fiction Contemporary
As summer has arrived, and you're looking for the perfect
take me away read I'd like to suggest BEFORE THE STORM by
Diane Chamberlain. It in an intensely
emotional read, that will pull you in, and not let you go
until the last page of the book has been turned. The Lockwood family is well to do financially, but that
doesn't mean that they haven't had more than their share of
emotional or physical pain. What they have had to face in
the past is nothing compared to what they are now facing.
Andy Lockwood who was born with FASD, due to his mother
drinking during her pregnancy is excited because he's going
to get to attend a lock in at a local church. Laurel, his mom is concerned about Andy's safety but only
because he doesn't quite understand how things work, and
takes so many things literally. Her daughter, Maggie
convinces her that nothing can go wrong at a church lock
in, so she allows Andy to attend. Soon however, the church is engulfed in flames. Who if
anyone has died because of the fire, and who has been
spared? Was the fire an accident? Was it arson? The
burning of the church and the resolution of the cause soon
becomes the main focus of Before The Storm. Diane Chamberlain has written a story that at first appears
to be confusing as it is written from many different
viewpoints. However, as you find yourself swept up in the
telling of the story the various views are easier to
follow, and only enhance the story. BEFORE THE STORM is a story of a family that has weathered
tragedy, and continues to face each new twist in their life
with determination. The love they have for one another is
the love that I hope that all families have for each
other. Even with the storms the family has to face they
never give up, and their love for one another continues to
bloom. Diane Chamberlain is an author who never fails to deliver,
and is one that I believe doesn't get the attention she so
richly deserves. I hope that you take the time to read
Before the Storm, and find yourself as swept away as I was,
and that you have discovered a potential new auto buy
author.
SUMMARY
Fifteen-year-old Andy Lockwood is
special. Others
notice the way he blurts out anything that comes into his
mind, how he
cannot foresee consequences, that he's more child than
teenager. But
his mother sees a boy with a heart as open and wide as the
ocean. Laurel
Lockwood lost her son once through neglect. She's spent the
rest of her
life determined to make up for her mistakes, and she's
succeeded in
becoming a committed, protective parent�maybe even
overprotective.
Still, she loosens her grip just enough to let Andy attend a
local
church social�a decision that terrifies her when the church
is consumed
by fire. But Andy survives�and remarkably, saves other
children from
the flames. Laurel watches as Andy basks in the role of
unlikely hero
and the world finally sees her Andy, the sweet boy she knows
as well as
her own heart. But when the suspicion of arson is
cast upon
Andy, Laurel must ask herself how well she really knows her
son�and how
far she'll go to keep her promise to protect him forever.
What do you think about this review?
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