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Fiction. Literature. Laurel Lockwood lost her son once through neglect. She's spent the rest of her life determined to make up for her mistakes, and she has succeeded in becoming a committed, protective parent-maybe even overprotective. Still, she loosens her grip just enough to let Andy attend a local church social-a decision that terrifies her when the church is consumed by fire. But Andy survives . . . and remarkably, saves other children from the flames. Laurel watches as Andy basks in the role of unlikely hero and the world finally sees her Andy, the sweet boy she knows as well as her own heart. But when the suspicion of arson is cast upon Andy, Laurel must ask herself how well she really knows her son . . . and how far she'll go to keep her promise to protect him forever.… (more)
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This is the second book of Diane Chamberlain I've read. Again, not a disappointment. This book is
The characters are all very strong and poignant in the plot. If I was asked to pick a favorite it would be really tough, but I would have to choose Maggie: a seventeen year old girl, getting ready to go to college and feeling very independent. You can see that she is ready to be on her own and an adult. She is very sweet and caring towards her brother and has a tattoo signifying one of her qualities that is very similar to her dad.
Get ready for weaves and turns and twists all the way to the very last page. It is quite a ride.
This is the story of Laurel. She met the love of her life in college. Jaime. Jaime who was more saint than sinner. Their life was happy until she bore their first child Maggie and was stuck with a serious case of post partum depression which went untreated but left Laurel unattached to Maggie and feeling like a complete failure…at everything! During a separation, Laurel was pulled from her loneliness by Jaime’s brother Marcus. Marcus was the black sheep to Jaime’s golden boy. He deadened his pain with alcohol, and unintentionally taught Laurel to do the same. Their relationship changed one drunken night, but both agreed NEVER to think about it again. Jaime and Laurel got back together…just in time for Laurel to find out she’s pregnant again. Still depressed and spiraling out of control, she continues to deaden her pain with wine coolers—and gives birth to a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. That’s Laurel’s wake-up call to turn her life around.
Fourteen years later Laurel is a survivor. ’s life is about to fall apart all over again. She survived Jaime’s death. She survived single parenthood. But now her life is about to fall apart all over again. Her beloved and special son Andy is accused of setting a fire that killed three people, hurt countless others, and destroyed a church. Now she’s fighting to save her son. But there are still secrets to be discovered and the more Laurel learns, the more she wonders if she really knows any of the special people in her life, especially her children.
This novel is written mostly in first person, so if that bothers you, you’ve been warned! The story moves between time and perspective. From Laurel’s early life, to Andy’s view of the world, to Marcus’ efforts to be involved, to Maggie’s heartbreaking efforts to become a woman—they’re all here and each characters words drive the story and plot to its inevitable conclusion. The reader feels the pureness of spirit behind Andy’s actions, the enthusiasm and naiveté of Maggie, Laurel’s desperate attempts to atone for her earlier actions, and Marcus’ efforts to become a better man for all of them. I keep deleting parts of this review so as not to give too much away, but it’s so hard. Even with the time and voice changes, I didn’t get confused. Ms Chamberlain has a talent for pulling the reader INTO the story. So many times I found myself wanting to comfort one character or warn another. I felt the small-town ties and the burdens of everyone knowing too much about everyone else and how actions of youth in a small town can and do follow you forever into adulthood. The bias of have vs have not, old-timer vs newcomer, normal vs not normal, family vs family, religion vs religion and all those other things that pretty much define small town America.
If I keep writing I’ll just give too much away. So if you’re looking for a sweet, pleasant read, then you should just move on along. If you’re looking for a book that will make you think and worry and cry and laugh and likely hug your loved ones a little harder…then please find a copy of “Before the Storm” by Diane Chamberlain. It’s an emotional, yet cathartic read about life, relationships, and learning.
The story is about Laurel, a woman who drank when she was pregnant with her now 15 year old son, Andy. As a result he has Foetal Alcohol
This book is a fabulous read. Diane Chamberlain is always likened to Jodi Picoult and I can see the similarities, but I find Diane Chamberlain's work a much easier read, although just as hard-hitting. In this book, she tells the story from various different perspectives, and I liked the way I could understand the events from the view of different characters. It worked very well, and was not at all confusing.
This is a real page turner - highly recommended.
The cover of the book I read says that you should read it if you like Jodi Picoult. I'd recommend leaving Jodi Picoult in the library or the bookshop and reading this instead.
Diane Chamberlain is a very good writer. She's been compared to Jodi Picoult, and it is easy to say why. Both write from multiple first-person perspectives and both present characters with a lot of depth. Diane Chamberlain also delivers a page-turner...I couldn't stop reading this story.
I should have reviewed this as soon as I finished reading it, because now I have lost the feeling you get when you close the book.
Throughout the book I was impressed with the story, but couldn't see where it was going. I realized more than half
The book takes you through the