Beneath a Southern Sky (Beneath a Southern Sky Series #1)

With Beneath a Southern Sky, Deborah Raney has created a cast of characters with a depth and maturity we can all hope to achieve. At first, I assumed this was a typical "triangle-type" love story - but there is nothing at all typical about this tremendous story! By the end of the book I was gasping, crying and cheering. I look forward to reading all of Deborah Raney's books.

I'm a romance reader, but most of the books I read are not Christian romances. Still, that was a complete non-issue to me in enjoying this book. As a romance novel, I thought it was really top notch.First of all, the writing style. It's a carefully written book that provides a rich atmosphere. But it never gets bogged down in dull detail or caught on insignificant events. It keeps moving and pulling the reader along. I never once got bored.Secondly, it's an EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT book. Everything that happens in this book - you feel it. When something sad happens, your heart will sink. When something surprising happens, your jaw will drop open, and when something romantic happens, you will have a big silly grin on your face. It is a right-brained book as well as left-brained. It's a book you can feel right down to your bones.As far as romance, the book is an absolute dream. I can't say too much without giving away some secrets about the plot. But I wanted desperately for "us" (the heroine and me) to marry the hero. I adored the men in her life. And even though the book was tasteful, I found that the author could give me chills by mentioning just a few gestures, a few powerful words. It definitely gave me romantic flutters. Another thing I loved was the honesty in the minute, routine observations made throughout the book. When the heroine has an argument with her husband once, the authors says that for just a moment, she kind of hated him. I appreciated that honesty! I know exactly what she's talking about - that moment when you're in an argument with someone you love, when your "I've got to win this argument" feelings are so strong that you lose all affection for the person for one moment. It's so real. And yet, their love went on - it wasn't a big deal. There were a number of things the author mentioned which occur in real relationships, in real marriages. Some of them, I'd never seen expressed on paper before. It really made me feel good to relate to those moments, and to see that the couple could just keep moving on past them.As far as the Christian aspect, as I said, that's not usually my thing. So did the Christian theme interfere with my enjoyment? Not at all. In fact, it added a lot to the story. This was not a book about wholesome, "perfect people" who were so devout and angelic that I wanted to roll my eyes at every turn. Not at all! They were just normal people with normal problems (OK, some unusually dramatic problems as well), and I was able to understand their Christianity through their eyes ... how it affected them as characters. And it was not a shallow Christianity that was presented here. It was a more thoughtful, profound kind of Christianity. The kind where I could say, "OK, I guess I've had religious experiences that felt a little like that. I kind of know what she means." Finally, without giving away the ending, I want to say that I was really impressed by the parallel drawn at the end of t

After reading Raney's A Vow to Cherish, I just had to read this one. The writing is as enthralling as the story idea. I couldn't put the book down, and it's one I've passed on to friends and family as a "you have to read this book" loaner. I laughed and cried as the heroine experienced a myriad of emotions throughout. I'm definitely buying her next book!

To consider just the concept of this book brings to mind mid-day talk shows and tabloids instead of an insightful work of fiction. But it simply proves that Deborah Raney is an extremely talented author who can tackle a bizarre situation without succumbing to the error of sensationalism. The story of Daria, Nathan, and Colson moved my spirit deeply as she confronted fears many women face -- that of losing the love of their life, of being alone and the grief and pain it brings. The tone of the book, on first impression, is tragic, but the genius is the hope it inspires. There is nothing we humans can do that will mess up God's plans. We can't fail so badly that He shakes His head and says, "Well, I have no idea what to do now." Instead, this book shows that even a huge mistake can be used by God to bring blessing and a deeper understanding of His love and compassion. I'd like to correct some errors made in a previous review by an anonymous reader. She felt that Daria's behavior at her husband's memorial service showed a lack of genuine feeling because she wasn't behaving in a completely devestated way. I think the author is actually trying to show 1) that a person who has given control of her life to the Lord has a joy and hope that transcends even the darkest moments of life, and 2) people in mourning need all the opportunities to smile and feel like "their old selves" that they can obtain. It's part of the healing process, and is natural and healthy. Second, the other reader felt that Daria's relationship with Colson was inappropriate and unrealistic so soon after her husband's presumed death. She refers to the quote on page 62 about Colson's touch being "strangely intimate" as if Daria's attraction to him began there. This is out of context. The idea was that the "strangely intimate" contact was unpleasent to her, not that it attracted her. Her daughter was nuzzling the man, trying to nurse! The entire episode would have been painfully embarrasing, not romantic. By page 83, all Daria has done is tearfully confessed to her mother that she LIKES Colson, and she feels a good amount of guilt over it. Perhaps it is more romantic to think of people pining for their lost loves the rest of their lives, but reality is that most people do move beyond their grief. And for Daria, it seems that the need to heal would have been especially pressing considering she had a child to think of as well. Her loneliness and desire for companionship seems to me to point more to the depths of her grief and loss rather than to a lack of feeling. The rest of the reader's review is not worth comment, except to say that she attempts to distort the true path of the story into something it is not. I highly recommend Beneath a Southern Sky for anyone who has ever wondered what they would do if their spouse was taken suddenly from them. Despite Daria's lack of heed to the Lord's voice, her story is one that shows there IS life after the death of a loved one,

Who Should Read: lovers of human drama, romance, and inspiratonal fiction.Review: Oh, the choices we make without the guidance from the Lord!Daria Camfield went into the mission field more out of love for her husband, Dr. Nathan Camfield, than in obedience to God's call. When Nate is reported killed in the jungles of Colombia, she is left alone--with the exception of the baby growing inside her.When Daria returns to the U.S., she is returning to more than her family. She must now build a new life for her daughter and herself. Part of that new life includes the handsome & personalble Dr. Colson Hunter. When Cole asks for Daria's hand in marriage, she quickly says yes.The early days of Daria's marriage to Cole sees both good and bad days and is eventually blessed with the forthcoming arrival of another child. Life finally seems to be settling down to a happy medium when the unthinkable happens: Dr. nathan Camfield has been found...alive!Personal Comments: Few books rivet me; this is one of those. Ms. Raney so carefully created her characters and researched her subject matter. I woke up early--to read. I carried the book with me--to read. It shared teatime with me and I took it to bed for "just a few more pages" before falling asleep.Challenge: Prepare for a huge knot in your throat as Daria and Nate make the most difficult decision of their lives. See if you can get thru the last few chapters with tears.