Some think courage belongs only to mythical superheroes. Others think courage is simply a matter of the will. Where does courage come from—really? Marissa Cinzano shouldn’t have trouble finding courage. After all, she was brought up on it. As a single woman, she’s relied on it her entire adult life, especially during her breast cancer journey. But when her father wants to sell Orange Tree Farm, … Tree Farm, the only home she’s ever known, she believes saving the farm is her responsibility. If only she could work up enough courage—mind over matter.
Cousin Dante tries to help, but financial troubles with the family-owned restaurant makes it hard, and solutions are complicated by her father’s aging and her mother’s failing health. A fire fueled by dangerous Santa Ana winds in the canyons of Orange County, California causes a major setback. Will Orange Tree Farm be saved?
Marissa’s story challenges us to remember our plans may not be God’s plans and courage is found at the intersection of faith and grit.
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Beatty has created a memorable novelette, House of Courage, based on one of her characters, Marissa Cinzano, from her upcoming novel, Faces of Courage. From the first page, I was immediately drawn into the dynamics of a strong Italian-American family dealing with life-and-death issues concerning family members, the family farm and business, and the very land upon which their legacy has been built. I felt as though I were sitting in the kitchen watching Marissa’s mother prepare her mouth-watering sfogliatelle and experiencing the unveiling of relationships of real people grappling with real issues of life, faith, and trusting in God when life doesn’t always make sense. I can hardly wait for the upcoming release of her novel, Faces of Courage, upon which the backstory of this novelette was drawn. Beatty is a natural storyteller who will draw you into a story you won’t want to leave.
Where does your courage come from?
This quickly read novella leaves the reader with many things to consider long after finishing the story. It’s a tale of a family that arrived from Italy in 1948 and has grown to encompass several businesses with many generations of children that have worked on the farm and in the restaurant.
What I found the most memorable was the courage that was portrayed by the extended family, in particular by Marissa, a first generation American. Between breast cancer, Alzheimer’s and devastating loss came the realization that with trusting the Lord comes understanding. It wasn’t up to her, she had only to lean on Him and be just like that loan green tree that was covered in ash.
I received an ARC through CelebrateLit. The impressions and opinions are my own.
Perhaps the first novelette that I have read, at least in recent memory, Susan Beatty’s “House of Courage” can be read in one sitting. Nevetheless, it probes several significant issues and is in that way not a light read. This Italian American family experiences heartache and challenges common to so many, with a prevailing bedrock of faith that is tested but never defeated. The main character, Marissa, is battling metastatic breast cancer and the side effects of chemotherapy while working with her cousin Dante and her father to salvage the family’s orange tree farm. Marissa’s mother has dementia and vacillates between lucidity and confusion. The extended family also owns a restaurant that is under financial distress.
Through it all, this godly family persists and sacrifices, trusting God even when their circumstances seem to not make sense. While reading, I continually thought of Jesus’ parable about the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7. Regardless of our outward circumstances, we have a choice as to whether we will build our lives on the Rock or on shifting sand. As Beatty writes, “The Cinzanos had remained strong here through many trials. Her father often said they lived in a house of courage.” We, too, can live in a “house of courage” when we seek the Lord’s will and truly trust Him in all things, with all things, and through all things. Only then will our hearts be satisfied.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
A sweet, clean, easy read, this book does its job and set’s you up to want to read the next book. Even though it’s a novelette, I would have liked to see a little more detail (I’m a fan of fewer details vividly explained versus several details lightly described), but it kept me reading and whet my appetite for more books by Beatty.
I didn’t know what a “novelette” was before I read this one (although I could deduce from novel + ette!).
Now I know.
You know that thing where you start a book before bedtime, get caught up in the book, lose track of time, stay up way too late and wake up with the “reading hangover?”
A novelette is a book that is safe to read before bed. You can finish it in one sitting without staying up all night. Of course, the part that isn’t safe…if it’s a good novelette, it will do more than entertain. It will make you think, and you have to decide whether you want THAT right before bed.
I really enjoyed reading House of Courage. I actually didn’t read it right before bed (maybe I’ll do that with the next one!); but I finished it sitting in the doctor’s office. I found myself drawn into Marissa’s story and wanting to know more, and I found myself identifying with women I know who have battled cancer and the barrage of life events that seem to come along with it.
I don’t have those experiences: I haven’t personally battled cancer or tried to save a family farm. But we are women of courage: women with grit, women who refuse to quit, and I felt a little more of that courage welling up inside me as I read this little book.