One night changes everything for three women. . . .When Addison Killbourn’s husband is involved in a car accident that leaves a woman dead, her perfectly constructed life crumbles apart. With her husband’s memory of that night gone and the revelation of a potentially life-altering secret, Addison has to reevaluate all she thought she knew.Emilia Cruz is a deputy bearing a heavy burden far beyond … burden far beyond the weight of her job. Her husband is no longer the man she married, and Emilia’s determined to prevent others from facing the same hardship. When she’s called to the scene of an accident pointing to everything she’s fighting against, she’s determined to see justice for those wronged.
Brianne Demanno is hiding from reality. She was thriving as a counselor, but when tragedy struck a beloved client, she lost faith in herself and her purpose. When her neighbors, the Killbourns, are thrown into crisis, Brianne’s solitary life is disrupted and she finds herself needed in a way she hasn’t been in a while.
As the lives of these women intersect, they can no longer dwell in the memory of who they’ve been. Can they rise from the wreck of the worst moments of their lives to become who they were meant to be?
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This novel was so touching. The writing had me emotionally involved.
Emilia, Addison, and Brianne move in different circles. When a horrific car accident happens, their circles intersect like a Venn Diagram.
Each woman is haunted by her own demons. Each one has been shaped by her background and circumstances. Each one has faith, sometimes strong, sometimes floundering. Each one is just trying to live her life. Much like the rest of us.
Ms. Nelson has posed seemingly impossible situations for each woman and through their interaction and through those around them, they are shown to grow in their faith. The everyday things become more than they can deal with. But God is in control and He can change perceptions. As Addison says: “It’s easy to see what we want to see, or even what we expect to see. It’s much harder to stand back and see the truth.”
The author has a way of creeping into the thoughts of her characters and giving us profound lessons. There are shocking moments as well as tender ones and the relief of amusing antics of children and a dog. This novel comes across as real life.
This is the first book I have read by Ms. Nelson and I will be sure to look up her previous offerings.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
3.5 stars
“Once again, life wasn’t playing fair.”
The lives of three women converge one fate filled night on the Darlington-West Crow Highway. One, being the officer who responded; another, the wife of the driver; and the third, was simply a neighbor. Tragically for all three, there was nothing remotely simple about the head on collision that claimed the life of a single mother, especially when the man responsible maintains no recollection of the accident, or why he had even been on the road that night.
Determined that she has the evidence to convict Caleb Kilbourn of drunk driving and vehicular homicide, Deputy Emilia Cruz presses the case forward. Addison Kilbourn has never known her husband to drink alcohol, but she does know that he had not been truthful about his whereabouts on the night in question. Brianne Demmano has been living in virtual solitude after tossing her counseling career aside, until her distressed neighbors, the Kilbourns, desperately need her assistance during their current family upheaval.
Memories are a curious thing. Some lead to thoughts of bitterness and revenge, others simply confuse and confound, while others are twisted out of proportion; producing guilt and regret. Others still can be manufactured after repeatedly injecting falsehoods.
The author has woven all of these scenarios into a fascinating story with the assurance that ” . . it’s a dangerous thing to make decisions out of fear. Fear can stop us from seeing the wonderful adventures and people who are waiting for us to show up.”
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
Filled with heartache, pain, and hope for the future, Christina Suzann Nelson’s latest novel, More Than We Remember, will have readers reflecting on the story long after the final page. After a fatal car accident, three women find themselves connected in a shocking way that will change their lives forever. A coach’s wife, a deputy, and a counselor…three women carrying burdens of their own, are all searching for answers to overcome the pain of their pasts.
More Than We Remember is the first book I have read by Christina Suzann Nelson. She realistically portrays issues that both adults and teenagers are facing in society, including addiction to pain medication and the popularity of vaping among teens. The women, their husbands, and children all have struggles they are facing, and everything is not always as it seems.
The characters were well-developed and the readers could personally feel the pain they were experiencing. I did not care for the personality or character of deputy Emilia Cruz, but I could sympathize with the struggles that she was experiencing in her family life as she tried to find justice for victims in her law enforcement career. More Than We Remember is recommended for readers who are looking for a novel focusing on deeper subject material. I am looking forward to reading Christina Suzann Nelson’s next novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bethany House Publishers and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
This is a complex read with subjects that can be hard to face but this author makes the story flow from one situation to the next. I was pulled into the lives of these three women who each are dealing with difficult life crisis and found I could identify with each of them on a different level. I love the insight contained within as well as the wisdom we could heed. These woman have self doubt, fear, faith, family, and inner strength they don’t realize they possess unto faced with difficult circumstances of life. This book will make you cry, cheer them on from the sidelines, and want to be their friend. Definitely a must read and will go on my keeper shelf.
I swapped books and acquired this one. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
What an interesting read. I was soon drawn into the lives of these three women. So different, yet they are alike in so many ways. Nelson’s characters were authentic which made them impactful. As the story unfolds, these characters struggled with life’s burdens and important lessons were won the hard way. I appreciated the friendships that developed and the value and importance placed on them. Nelson captured the beauty of doing life together. Even during difficult circumstances, new beginnings occurred, inspiring hope. This is the first book that I’ve read by Christina Suzann Nelson, but it won’t be the last. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
“One night changes everything…can they rise from the wreck of the worst moments of their lives to become who they were meant to be?”
One fatal night intersects three families’ lives and has them questioning everything they thought they knew. Innocence hides behind suspicion, and guilt taints a once happy reality. Three women bond over tragedy and find hope in the deep places.
This is not a shallow or a quick read, it has a depth that can steal your breath away as events unfold. It deals with modern day problems that can touch a family without warning, and has the potential to tear them apart or bring them closer together. As Addison, Brianne and Emilia deal with the aftermath of an accident that kills one woman, it will shred everything and crumble the foundation of their safe life. I ached for them, for all the things they went through and all the things they were facing. These women & their families get under your skin in a very real way and make you want to reach through the pages of the book to comfort, hug and take away what hurts. Sometimes you have to go through the dark valleys in order for truth to prevail. Even in those dark times, hope shines bright if we but look for it. This brings to life the truth that we must cling to and rely completely on the Lord when hard trials come, when things seem to want to overwhelm us and crush us under its weight.
“We’re too big for our britches when we take responsibility for things that are ultimately out of our control. If we trust God, we trust that He can work through even the most upside-down situation. You are not God. ~pg 290”
“It’s easy to see what we want to see, or even what we expect to see. It’s much harder to stand back and see the truth.~ pg 322”
This story will stick with you for a long time afterwards and make you ponder its deep truths. Quite a few resonated with me and that’s why it became much more than fiction in my mind. It touched me profoundly in a way I won’t soon forget. If you’re looking for a “fluffy” read, you won’t find it here. If you’re looking for one with a lot of depth and emotion, characters who you come to really care about, and an even more meaningful relationship with God, then look no further than “More Than We Remember”! This is easily one of my top reads for 2020 and highly recommended.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *
A beautiful story with great character development! A great depiction of how a single incident impacts different lives in different ways, and a fantastic reminder to be kind. We never know what someone is going through. I will definitely look for more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, but my opinions are my own.
A beautiful page-turner full of depth and hope. A reminder that faith and friendship can see us through even the most impossible situations. Don’t miss this gift of a story.
More Than We Remember is the first book by Christina Suzann Nelson that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. It will not be the last.
This is the story of three women in different phases of their lives whose paths cross because of a tragedy. Addison, Breanne, and Emilia are characters who are real. They doubt themselves, they make mistakes, and they struggle with areas of their personal lives. Sometimes I wanted to reach into the pages and give them a warm hug. Other times I wanted to wag a finger or shake my head at them (especially with Emilia).
There are some unexpected twists thrown into More Than We Remember, but the overall theme of forgiveness and grace is well-written and comes through loud and clear. Fans of Katie Ganshert should definitely pick this one up.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
This is the second story that I have read by Christina Suzann Nelson. I really like her writing style as it draws you immediately into the story. In More Than We Remember, there are three points of view. This was well done and really worked for this story because you get to know what each of the main characters is feeling and thinking. I also liked the slight mystery that ran throughout.
That being said, for me, this story, including all of the secondary stories, was just too heavy. I wish the romance thread would have started sooner and been expanded more. I think this would’ve balanced the story out a bit. I did appreciate Lilly, the young daughter of one of the main characters, who added a touch of lightness to the story. I also felt like the ending was too rushed especially since we had more than one story coming to a conclusion.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you in advance to the publisher and JustRead Publicity Tours for providing a complimentary review. A positive review was not required. All words and thoughts are my own.
Despite being a “Christian” themed book as it is sold by Bethany House, it does not have many Christian references or God references until about the last third (⅓) of the book. Then again, it is more or less mentioning God and subtle prayers. However, religion isn’t the primary focus. It doesn’t get overly preach, nor does it quote scripture. It is a clean read with no profane language or sex references.
The only triggers about this book are Substance Abuse, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). There are going to be moments that are shocking, and some that are emotional to the point of tears. This is by no means an easy read. Anyone who has been through or going through the scenarios mentioned might have to take caution with this.
Nelson crafts three unlikely people, thrown together by an accident on a windy road, along with a life lost as a result.
** Addison faces losing her husband due to his role in a fatal accident while battling her mother-in-law’s mysterious decline.
** Emilia wants justice for the victim because her own life was changed by someone’s reckless behavior that injured her husband on the job. The change of her husband’s personality is also affecting her relationship with her teen daughter.
** Brianne feels guilt about a patient’s suicide, but seems to enjoy feeling needed again when Addison’s family is in peril; she becomes close to Addison and her family.
The author didn’t rush the pace of the novel, nor did she keep it unnecessarily slow either. It progresses quite naturally, very real to life. I had to force myself to take frequent breaks from this novel.
She balances out the multiple POVs, told in third person – Addison, Emilia, and Brianne. I felt sympathy for each person in their circumstances – Addison, Emilia, and Brianne. Yet, there were times I was alternately frustrated with the three women, more so Addison and Emilia.
The range of emotions when reading this feel like it is a therapy session – you’re made at Addison’s husband, you feel sorry for the guy, you’re mad at Addison’s mother-in-law, but you feel sorry for her … I truly alternated like this throughout the book. It shows the subtlety and yet ugliness that is substance abuse. And, readers will be stunned as to the identity of the person. Forget stereotypes.
The characters were realistically written, so much so that they could’ve been people you knew from church, school, work, or community events. Even the coach (Addison’s husband) was well loved, with many speaking out on his behalf.
And, at first – everything looks bad for Addison’s family. There is no reprieve for them. The author doesn’t candy-coat the consequences.
Nelson also hits readers with a surprise in chapter 34 with who Emilia’s daughter becomes friends with. But, the final shocker is in chapter 45. I did not truly think that was where this was going. I refuse to spoil it, but that was one HUGE shock! I really didn’t think that was what the author was going to do. I couldn’t even imagine that plot twist. And, it is almost the last chapter of the book.
This is not a feel good read due to the plot and tone. But, it does have a beautiful message none the less – trusting God to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. It also shows that despite differences, social standings, and origins – some people are meant to end up in the same place for a reason. I came away praying that the families would find some peace and begin their journey to healing and forgiveness.
Nelson is a wonderful story-teller and keeps the reader engaged with the story. I read 208 pages the first night before I headed to bed. To give you some perspective, the story starts on page nine (9) and ends on 341 (so it is roughly 332 pages long). I ended on page 217 which is chapter 29.
This is my first introduction to the author, and likely won’t be my last.
Poignant:
I liked how it brought together the lives of 3 different women, highlighting their struggles, anxieties and aspirations. It was tragic and heart wrenching at times and while I get that the book was about facing hardships, personally I thought it could have benefited from at least some brevity, lightness or joy to counteract all of the somber times. There was a light inspirational message about turning to God during trials which I wished had of been emphasized more. I did however enjoy the investigative and mystery aspects of the book, even if they were slow to unfold. The ending felt rushed and it could have benefited from an epilogue.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.