Halfway to Tomorrow

When we were growing up, our parents always made us take our little sibling with us as we went out. All the while reminding us to take great care of them and not let them get hurt. Rena A. Finney penned Halfway To Tomorrow baring the reality of what those words really mean. Gwendolyn "Gwen" James is an older sister who took the words look after your sister, so serious, that it consumed her. Gwen's whole world is turned upside down when her baby sister, Tiffany, ends up in the hospital with pneumonia, a side effect caused by her having HIV. Tiffany never told anyone except for, Tori, her roommate who found out by accident. Even though Gwen was taking this hard because she failed her sister, she had to make a big decision that would strain another relationship. Dealing with all the hurt and pain, sent Gwen to Richmond where she would try to heal, with the help of her friends Patrice, Marcus, Vince, and Andre. Before she can heal she has to deal with every hurt that has ever come her way. Gwen's college love, Marcus McGuire, resurfaces into her life and is trying to make better a mistake that he had committed, but will Gwen give into the love that they had then and she still feels for him now? I would recommend Halfway To Tomorrow to everyone trying to learn a lesson in life and love. Even though I truly enjoyed the main storyline, there was another storyline in itself on a minor character. The storyline was a little distracting within the context of this read, but would make for another great book from the author. I cannot wait to read other works from Finney. Jennifer Coissiere APOOO BookClub

Although Halfway to Tomorrow is general fiction, it is a book that could easily be read by Christian Fiction readers who love a real theme with a bit more edge. Rena Finney steps onto the mainstream platform with a book that tells a real story in a real way. The characters are not over the top or are they sappy and preachy. The progressive storyline is realistic and ends where you should expect it too. It's not designed to be (in my opinion) a brain twisting mystery nor a chest heaving hot romp...but a well told story. And it was. Rena Finney's freshman effort has me anxiously awaiting her next.

Rena Finney's first novel, HALFWAY TO TOMORROW draws you in from the first page when we meet the main character Gwen and her younger sister Tiffany as children. It is clear from the start that Gwen is destined to be Tiffany's protector, and their childhood exchange reminded me of my own relationship with my younger sister. From there we jump into the present. Gwen, Tiffany and their brother TJ are all grown up and their family gathers for a traditional holiday celebration together. Gwen senses that something isn't quite right with Tiffany; her normal spark seems to be missing and she confronts her sister with her concerns. They are however, interrupted by long-time friend and "adopted" family member Patrice, so they drop the conversation. Tiffany goes back to Atlanta and everyone goes on with life as usual. Yet Gwen is plagued by a case of hives, which she has learned are usually in response to stress or an omen of some impending doom. When she and her family learn that Tiffany is hospitalized and critically ill, they all pack up and head to Atlanta where they hold vigil until their beloved family member dies. This ending of a life is really the beginning of the story. Gwen struggles to move on after her sister's death and deal with her mother's resentment. After struggling to maintain, she decides to take a leave of absence from work and returns to Richmond, the city where she attended college and where many of her old friends reside. There she is forced to deal with her inability to commit to long term relationships with men, an unresolved relationship from her past, her sister's death, her mother's rejection, and several other personal issues. HALFWAY TO TOMORROW begins with a bang and this emotional intensity continues through the first several chapters. Unfortunately, as the story continues this intensity begins to wane and at times the story drags on. I felt that Gwen's journey to self discovery was moving, but it was too disjointed from the book's opening. The relationship issues she faced were completely unrelated to her sister's death and it wasn't until the very end of the book that the author attempted to develop a connection between Tiffany's passing and Gwen's present life. As a result, I felt like this was a book with two distinct stories that were enjoyable enough, but had the author done a better job blending the two storylines this would have been a five-star book. HALFWAY TO TOMORROW is a noble freshman effort that solidly lands Rena Finney on my "authors to watch" list. Reviewed by Stacey Seay of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Rena A. Finney's novel, Halfway To Tomorrow is a well-told story, spun by a master storyteller. You will fall in love with her characters and laugh until you cry. It is a must read.

Wow! Halfway To Tomorrow is a well crafted novel. Once I began reading it I just couldn't put it down. The characters were so alive. From beginning to end I was enthralled. This book is definitely a must read! I highly recommend it, you will not be disappointed.