Category Archives: Reunion

Reunion by Lauraine Snelling

Title: Reunion by Lauraine Snelling
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Imprint: FaithWords
Genre: Contemporary, Inspirational, Fiction
Length: 330 pages
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Keira Johnson, a 50-year-old mother of two grown sons, believes she lives a good Christian life without secrets– until she discovers a life-jarring fact her late mother kept hidden all her life. Kiera was born out of wedlock, and the man she had always known as her father had adopted her as an infant.

Meanwhile, Keira’s beloved 17-year-old niece, Kirsten, has just discovered an unwanted pregnancy. Her boyfriend, Jose, is bound for college and Kirsten does not know what to do. As the family comes together for a reunion, Keira and Kirsten struggle with their fractured pasts and jumbled present. Will truth and honesty be the catalysts that allow the entire family to find peace?

Inspired by events in Lauraine Snelling’s own life, REUNION is the author’s finest novel to date.

The Review:

In Reunion, Lauraine Snelling deftly weaves a compelling story of faith, family and unconditional love. In the days leading up their annual family reunion, Keira and her niece Kirsten’s lives are in turmoil as they each deal with devastating news. Keira’s discovery that her late father is not her biological father leaves her questioning her identity. Kirsten’s unplanned pregnancy has far-reaching implications for many of the people in her life.

We tend to define ourselves by who our family is. In Reunion, Keira learns this lesson firsthand when she uncovers the shocking secret surrounding her birth. What is her role in her adopted father’s family if she is not related by blood? Should she tell the other members of her family? Most important, how could her mother, who is the most honest person Keira knows, hide the truth from her?

The storyline with Kirsten’s pregnancy is very well done and realistically portrayed. Her anger and emotions are age appropriate and believable. She explores all the options available and makes her decision based on what is right for her.

Underlying both women’s struggles are their strong faith in God and close family ties. Through scripture, they gain strength and guidance as they work through their problems. Their families are always there for them and give them their unconditional love.

A strong sense of community is also at the core of Reunion. With their lives in such chaos, it would be easy for all of them to lose sight of what is happening around them. But when a natural disaster strikes a nearby town, they are quick to offer aid.

Reunion by Lauraine Snelling is a beautifully written novel that is never preachy or angsty. It is a story with a great deal of depth and the themes of unconditional love, forgiveness and abiding faith will strike a chord with anyone who enjoys Inspirational fiction.

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Filed under Contemporary, FaithWords, Hachette Book Group, Inspirational, Lauraine Snelling, Rated B, Reunion