Hold Up the Sky

I borrowed this from the library, and had to renew it because it just didn't catch my interest at first. But once I actually sat down with it, I changed my mind. Billie (short for Wihelmina) is 28, the solo mother of a 5-year-old daughter with cerebral palsey. Her husband, Porter, left her two days after Michelle because he couldn't cope with a disabled child. But he has been faithfully sending her monthly child support checks, until this month. Now Billie can't find Porter and has to find a source of income with only $12 in the bank and no way of working as she can't find childcare because of Michelle's disability. It's told in the first person, but past tense, so she keeps stopping her own story to tell the stories of the other characters, which is quite interesting. The other characters include Margaret (Billie's older sister, who is happily married with two children) Emerita (a Mexican immigrant) and Mamie, the elderly woman who looked after both Margaret and Billie as children, who now has some serious health problems. Circumstances bring the women together, only none of them are telling the whole truth about their situations. I had one niggle with the story, but to tell would be a spoiler. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would at first - it's got a bit of mystery (missing husband), a bit of romance (high-school crush), a bit of humour and well-written characters that are flawed yet still likeable, and it's discussing some difficult problems without being dreary and without resorting to Christian platitudes (none of the 'oh, your husband's left you, your son hates you, you've lost your house and can't get a job. Never mind, God loves you' which some authors resort to). It's a Christian novel, but not overwhelmingly so. All in all, a solid 4 star read.

I have read many of Patricia Sprinkle's books, and this is my favorite. It is rare that a book makes me cry and laugh, but this one did. These wonderful women and their friends and family became real to me as I read. As with the other reviews, I didn't want this book to end, and I hope we get to meet the characters again.

This is the first Patricia Sprinkle book I have read and I loved it! She is a great storyteller and you come to love and admire her characters....only problem with the book is that it ended!! I will definitely read more of her work.

Though the odds are against her, Billie Waits has been managing a challenging life as a single mother of a handicapped daughter just fine. Until, that is, her estranged husband stops sending checks. Now Billie needs a job, a babysitter, and all the help she can get. She is surrounded by a host of strong women who equally need support: her sister, Margaret, struggling with the crushing burden of a secret divorce; Mamie, an elderly woman facing her own mortality; and Emerita, an immigrant looking only to build a better life for herself and her husband. Together, they will learn to help one another and to see the greater patterns life holds for us all. Sparkle's novel //Hold Up the Sky// is a heartwarming story, one that just might provide inspiration for staying up all night reading. Full of hardy, realistic characters and heart-wrenchingly believable scenarios and set in a visibly beautiful small Southern town, this book has everything--family, strength, love, and more. The predictability of the plot does not detract in the least from its charm. Reviewed by Holly Scudero

Patricia has done it again when she introduces new characters that we come to love and know as friends. One of the things I greatly admire about Patricia's books is her in-depth character development. Great read. I couldn't put it down and then was sad when I finished because it was like taking a trip and making new friends and then having to leave and wondering how they are doing. I wanted the story to continue so I could visit with them some more!