Last Things, First Things

This is a story of an "odyssey" that a man makes through the pleasures of life to try to find something that makes life worth living (while there is still time). Everyone knows they're going to die, but at the same time, everyone believes that it won't be tomorrow. And since there is always a tomorrow, this means that we really believe that we'll live forever. This is also the story of a woman who, like everyone else, thinks that she has plenty of time, when in fact the clock is already ticking. In spite of this, the story is not depressing and not boring.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends LAST THINGS FIRST THINGS as a strange, exciting, frustrating & sometimes, hilarious tale of two people who must ask the most basic questions of life. Why me? If not now, when? What should I do? Wells Earl Draughon has written a fine dark romance in which everyone is very normal, coping with everyday frustrations & setbacks, who find, by thinking things through & surviving their darkest hours, that living now to the fullest, is all there is.

What would you do if you had only a short time left to live? What if you did everything you thought you'd wanted to do but your life was just empty and lonely? Could you call your life complete if you had not accomplished what you thought was your life's work? Wells Earl Draughon has addressed some very deep topics in "Last Things, First Things." His characters confront issues that we all hope we won't ever have to. This makes for a heart touching, thought provoking read.Val believes that he is dying of cancer. He saw the foreboding word on his medical charts. His mistrust of doctors convinces him that he has little time left and he takes matters into his own hands. He quits his job, sells everything he owns and is ready to embrace the world during his last weeks. But all he feels is empty and hopeless. Except for the memory of meeting someone at the hospital...someone who he feels drawn to in ways he never has felt before.Erin is working on the plans of her dream house. As an architect she is successful yet her ambition drives her to fulfill her goal of designing the perfect house. She also wants a baby and a husband and is in the process of adopting a baby girl. But her fatigue is dragging her down and scaring her to no end in her worry over what it could be that is causing it. Her doctor tells her she is fine, and she believes him. She trusts him. Taking a trip to the Greek islands seems to be the answer for much needed rest and inspiration. When Val and Erin find each other there, the draw between them is evident. Should he tell her that he is dying? Should she tell him she is adopting a child? She makes him feel alive and complete. He makes her forget her exhaustion. Is the love they have discovered enough to get them through their troubles? Or is it the very thing they live for?Wells Earl Draughon has written a piece that will leave you wondering what you would do if you were faced with the end of your life. What things would come first for you? What would be the last things you ever do? He will also remind you to live as if you were dying - living to the fullest. With a plot that is fast paced and emotionally charged, "Last Things, First Things" will have you turning pages and looking for more from this author when you reach the end. Review by Heather Froeschl of BookReview.com

Last Things, First Things is an unusual love story, told through the words and thoughts of two people facing the shared crises of death. Author Draughon's plot is quick-paced and the characters nicely fleshed out. They are real people with whom a reader can relate. This intriguing story kept me interested from the first page to the last, especially the inner conflict running inside Val and Erin as they decide how to live their lives. At first, each is immersed in their own world -- until they discover each other. Any reader will love how this story ends -- in the way it is meant to -- with Val and Erin together.

From the moment I began reading this book by W.E. Draughon, I was immediately 'absorbed' in the plight of both Val and Erin. Tension is critical in any drama, and there was certainly enough to keep me wanting more. Faced with our own mortality, what would we do? This thought often crossed my mind while reading Draughon's book. His attention to detail, believable dialogue, and intricate plot held my attention for the duration of the book. Having read one of his other books, "Heather"- and enjoying it tremendously, I was not disappointed with "Last Things, First Things" at all. The attraction between Erin and Val, along with the truths they held within, made for a very interesting & enjoyable read.