Beyond the Shadows

Deborah Haskins is devastated at the death of her young husband of only eighteen months. They had just bought a small farm that was Andy's life-long dream, and now he was gone. Deb felt she had to stay on the farm. It was what Andy would have wanted and she was determined to hang on, to keep his dream alive, despite pressure from her mother to 'move back home.'  "This is my home. It was Andy's dream."   When a young man appears at the farm a few months after the funeral, she remembers meeting him briefly at the graveside. An uneasy feeling creeps over her as he approaches. His name is Gideon Clermont, a man who served with Andy in Korea. Deborah learns that, in fact, Andy had saved Gideon's life, and Andy had asked Gideon to come to the farm to help with renovations.   Gideon's quiet demeanor lulls Deborah's caution as he steadfastly sets about fixing things on the farm, working Saturdays. As time goes on, Deborah can no longer fight her attraction. Their romance blossoms and Deborah heals as her grief fades and she looks forward to a new, happy life.   But she discovers her new husband has kept a terrible secret from her, and as it emerges Deborah learns that her healing came with a price. She turns to Christ for strength and guidance as she tries to cope with this new sorrow. When Gideon nearly kills their young son, Deborah knows it is time to make a decision. Has it come too late?   Working through her own painful experiences, Robin Lee Hatcher tells a story of hope and heartbreak, faith and second chances. She has bravely tackled a subject that all too often gets covered up and swept under the carpet. We live through the agony of the non-violent form of alcoholism in the story of Deborah and Gideon. It is hard to know which way you want Deborah to behave as you feel her anger and pain, love, hate and despair. I fell in love with Gideon and I felt myself just as angry, hurt, disgusted and hopeless as Deborah. And sometimes I wanted to shake her for putting up with it as long as she did.   This is Deborah's story, but Beyond The Shadows is told in a unique style, with vignettes as seen through the eyes of her neighbors, parents and her pastor. It reveals how ill-equipped the Christian family is to deal with alcoholism, or any addiction. The truth is, as Deborah discovers, we can only handle it through faith in Jesus and leaning on Him for the strength to cope. Beyond the Shadows is a gripping story, difficult to read at times as Hatcher pulls you right into Deborah's heart, head and life. Highly recommended.

My hat's off to Robin Lee Hatcher. She did a phenomenal job on this book. A problem I have with reading "Christian" authors writing Christian romances is that sometimes, things are too perfect. The authors try deal with real life issues such as alcoholism, but sugar-coat them to make it look like one simple prayer is all that's required, then life will be perfect. The Christian walk is not that way, regardless of the problem faced. Ms. Hatcher certainly conveys that in this book. I felt Deborah's pain at losing her first husband, and her hope at finding another love of a lifetime. I felt Gideon's struggle with trying to keep his problem hid, then his rebellion after being found out. Ms. Hatcher made me care about these people, which not all authors can do. There are no simple answers in this book, no scene where everything is made "all better", but the reader is left with a sense that with God's help, these two people are going to give it all they've got, and try to salvage a life together. This is a book that will make you think. Don't try to fly through it, but take your time and savor what most definitely has been a labor of love from Ms. Hatcher. And if you like Ms. Hatcher's books and are looking for another great read, try "Forever Rose".

Wow! As a long-time fan of Robin Lee Hatcher's I can only marvel at how her stories never let me down. Beyond the Shadows is no exception. I know that when I read any of her books I'll be treated to interesting characters and an engrossing storyline...Deb and Gideon Clermont's journey certainly delivered both as well as a fantastic message of love, grace and patience that anyone could learn from. My father and step-father were both alcoholics and the truth of what it's like living with this condition rings true on every page. Yet Hatcher doesn't condemn, she gives keen insight into both sides of the story and shows us that true freedom is within reach whenever we choose to reach out and accept it. If you live with or love an alcoholic, Beyond the Shadows will help you to know you're not alone in your pain. One of Deborah Clermont's thoughts touched me so deeply - Deb thinks how everything revolves around Gideon and his moods, whether he'd been drinking or not and that she didn't know what to expect from day to day- and I felt that finally someone else understood what it was like to live with someone who was out of control!But here's the amazing thing about this (and all of RLH's books) this isn't just about alcohol, it's about each and every one of us and the struggles we face when we put *anything*...be it alcohol, food, drugs, anger, anything...between ourselves and God and ourselves and our families. Whether you've lived with alcoholism or not, Beyond the Shadows is an insightful, touching book that you shouldn't miss. Better yet, buy one for yourself and one for a friend and enjoy the story together, it really is that wonderful. If you haven't read any of Robin Lee Hatcher's books, don't stop with Beyond the Shadows, I heartily recommend The Forgiving Hour, The Shepherd's Voice, Ribbon of Years and Firstborn to start with. I hope you'll be as touched as I and her many other readers have been by her heartwarming stories.

The story line is different, and the extra "comments" by people that knew Deborah and Gideon threw me for a bit, then it hit me. Alcoholism is a tricky addiction, I gathered and apparently fools many people...until its too obvious, usually too late. Overall, I enjoyed the book and whenever I came across scripture, I found myself asking my own questions about my own life, in general. Initially, I thought, this would be a great "self-help" book for people with addictions, but by the end of the book, I'd decided that anyone with any type of addiction, be it alcoholic, or like in my case, food addiction, can benefit from reading this book.

Robin Lee Hatcher tackles with finesse the difficult and unsettling taboo of alcoholism within the church. As a church body, too many of us have avoided dealing with this all-too-common problem as if it were the unforgivable sin, not wanting to see or approach the lives it shatters and the dreams it brings crashing down. Yet through her own experiences with a loved one's alcoholism, Robin Lee Hatcher boldly brings to light the Ultimate Hope and Comfort, the Great Healer of addiction and broken hearts and lives. As you journey with the characters through their sorrows, hopes, tears, and finally (because God is God) joys, you find yourself absorbed in their lives and perhaps even seeing your own in a new light. Beyond the Shadows is a blessing. Hats off to Robin Lee Hatcher's talent...and her willingness to used by God to write on a difficult topic.