Beneath A Southern Sky had an interesting and emotional plot. As a reader I tend to have a habit of immersing myself in the characters and placing myself in their shoes. In this case it was a very hard place to be. I struggled to read Beneath A Southern Sky because I just could not relate at all to the character’s mindset. I not only disagreed with many of her choices and responses in this book, but felt downright angry at Daria Camfield/Hunter. I felt that she was a character who didn’t really know herself. She was led into things by the men in her life and never really took control of her own identity. I was frustrated and unable to truly get behind her as a reader.I felt like the author was trying to steer me in a direction I didn’t really want to go. If I believed the love of my life was dead only to find him alive I would not view it as a tragedy. Daria’s decision to move on after Nate’s death was not my problem. Love happens. Often it comes unplanned, but at a time when it’s most needed. My issue was with her response upon hearing that Nate was alive. Her choice to stay with Cole or return to Nate was immaterial, she saw his life as a tragedy. I couldn’t understand that. At the least she should have felt thankful for the miracle of his survival regardless of the obstacle or inconvenience it created for her personal life. I just didn’t feel her compassion for Nate. I also wasn’t pleased with the “romance” between Daria and Cole. I just didn’t like him as a character at all. He was mean, controlling, impatient with Daria’s daughter and just unlikable. Cole also kept a very huge secret from Daria well into their marriage. To me, that alone would have been a deal breaker. I couldn’t root for them.This is a well written book. The author does have a talent with words, but I failed to get behind her direction in this story. I thought her characterization was also a little weak. Bottom line, I didn’t enjoy this book. It isn’t a story I’d place on my list of books to recommend. In the future I will look at other books written by Deborah Raney because she can weave a story. Beneath A Southern Sky just wasn’t the story for me.
After reading Tamera Alexander's, A Lasting Impression, I was browsing her blog and found a list of "Books I wish I could erase from memory and read again for the first time (since I loved them so much)," and on that list was Deborah Raney's, Beneath a Southern Sky. Since Tamera is one of my favorite authors, and I trust her book recommendations, I decided to pick this one up for my Kindle -- and I'm so glad that I did!Oh. My. Word. I LOVED it! I've never read another book quite like it, and found it to be very unique. Deborah Raney takes difficult circumstances, and weaves a story that is realistic and touches the heart. The messages of forgiveness, sacrifice, and God's will are so well done, and beautifully written. Oftentimes, it seems that faith messages are an afterthought in Christian fiction, but Deborah has woven these messages perfectly into the story. The characters deal with real issues of faith that I think most Christians can relate to. The dialogue and narrative are very well done, so much so, that you can truly feel the emotions right along with the characters. The characters are flawed, and they face real, human struggles, making them easy to relate to.I personally didn't find the story predictable, though I did have a preference for how the story would turn out. I had no idea how Deborah would reconcile the circumstances, so I was very intrigued to see how things would play out. I was literally weeping at the end -- which is a good thing for me! I'm one of those readers who likes a good cry in a book, and for me, there's just something wonderful about a book that can touch the heart in that way. This was a very satisfying read for me!Beneath a Southern Sky won the 2002 RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, and it is a book that I would highly recommend.
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This is the sequel to After the Rains. In which this story takes some surprising twists. There aren't too many novels that keep me awake reading into the wee hours of the night, but this book did. The characters slipped from the pages of this book and into my heart. I experienced all their heart-wrenching emotions, agonized over every decision they had to make, and rejoiced as they triumphed by God's grace in the midst of an impossible, hopeless situation.This book is amazing and will stay with you long after you've read the last page. Deborah Raney is my new favorite author. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”Nora St LaurenttTBCN Where Book Fun Begins www.bookfun.org The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
—Nora St Laurent
Daria and Nathan Canfield are missionaries to Colombia. Nathan goes to a remote village to stop an epidemic and is supposedly killed in a fire. Crushed, Daria returns to her home in Kansas to heal, have her baby, and rebuild her life. She meets Colson Hunter, a vet at the clinic where she gets a job, and they fall in love and get married. But Daria's world turns upside down when Nathan is found alive after 2-1/2 years. Only God can clear up the mess and heal everyone's hurt.Deborah Raney does a splendid job bringing her characters and setting to life. The plot, which could be preposterous in someone else's hands, works well and is believable. She explores the topic of following God's leading to direct your life in a challenging way. She also shows how God can clear up any mess of our creation, even if it is not what He had desired for us.
—Martha Groeber
I mostly liked this book; the Christian element in it was not annoying like it can be in certain novels. I really enjoyed the first half or so, but then it started dragging with too many mundane details before it got to the big dramatic climax. And the climax....too melodramatic for me. Too much weeping and restating of the problem, everybody freaking out. I mean, it is a big deal, but you've had the whole book to think about it and see it coming since it's completely given away in the synopsis. Maybe if the book cover didn't give it away, it would have made more sense to go over and over it and be so dramatic about it. But I knew the whole book what the issue was going to be, so I felt like I just wanted them to get on with it! I couldn't decide between 3 and 4 stars, so I went with 4 because I was fairly riveted for most of the book, and only annoyed at the end. :)
—Jana
