What I’m Reading: Before the Storm

I just finished reading the book  Before the Storm by Diane Chamberlain.  You might remember that I’ve been gobbling up Diane Chamberlain books.  I would have listened to this as an audio book but my on line library didn’t have an audio book so I settled for a Kindle book instead.

I liked the book and thought it was a good story.  Typically the author has me guessing a little bit longer, but this time, I figured out most of the underlying details early on in the book.  I still read on and it didn’t ruin the story for me.

Here’s what Amazon had to say about the book, “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.”

One of the things I love about Chamberlain’s books is that her characters are flawed.  They don’t always make the right choices but typically come around to the right decisions.  I can relate to that.  I also like that stories are told from different points of view.  When I stopped over to Amazon to get the review information I saw that there is a sequel to this book, Secrets She Left Behind.  I know I’ll be looking to see if my on line library has a copy of this.

Amazon readers gave Before the Storm 4.6 stars.  I’d give it 4.2..it’s a good  book but I did like a couple of her other books, especially Necessary Lies and The Midwife’s Confession just a little bit better.

Each day leading up to Thanksgiving, I am closing my evening post with a few words about something that I am thankful for.

Today I am thankful that today was election day.  I am thankful that I live in a country where I can vote and am allowed many freedoms that people from other countries don’t have.  That freedom is a HUGE comfort that I all too often overlook.  I love being able to speak freely and feel safe in my home.  I love that I can have a say in my government and love that my country is democratic.  Today I am thankful that I live in the U.S. and can experience election day.