Eva and Angela must learn to live again. One step at a time. It has been fifteen months since Eva and Angela lost their thrill-seeking husbands in a scuba diving accident. Both women are trying to navigate their way through the grief, but neither one is making much progress. Angela is barely making ends meet, angry at her husband for leaving her to raise three children on her own. Meanwhile, Eva … Meanwhile, Eva is stuck, unable to move forward after losing the love of her life and her source of inspiration.
But then Eva gets a life-changing phone call. Before Brent and Wes died, they had signed up for a race of a lifetime–an ultra-marathon in beautiful New Zealand. Eva begs Angela to run the race with her in their husbands’ place, and Angela finally agrees, hoping to finally understand her husband’s choices.
Training is exhausting, and the race is even more demanding. Their journey grows more complicated by the presence of two men–Marc is Brent’s best friend who is running the race with Eva and Angela, and Simon King is a writer who is covering their inspiring story. With every step, Eva and Angela must ask themselves questions that they haven’t had the courage to ask before. As the women literally put one foot in front of the other, they wonder: Is it possible to find their way forward in hope?
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“But my greatest sorrow isn’t in the things I lost that I had no control over. No, my biggest sorrow is more about the things I lost to fear.”
Once again Lindsay Harrel masterfully weaves together broken and raw emotions into a beautiful tapestry of hope, faith, discovery, and victory while sensitively and artfully addressing grief from different perspectives. The heroines of the story are two sisters-in-law, bound by grief of having lost their husbands in one terrible accident. They are complete opposites, Angela being the type A control freak who wears anger like her second skin as she struggles to get by as a single mom of three and Eva being the free-spirited and gifted florist who is drowning in sorrow and darkness. Eva was easier to relate to because her emotions flowed freely on the pages but she had a lot of soul-searching and growing up to do to overcome fear. Angela was more difficult to figure out, mostly because she herself didn’t know who she was anymore. Regrets and broken dreams haunt Angela until they land in New Zealand to train for and run an ultra marathon. There, surrounded by majestic beauty, both Angela and Eva begin their discovery of purpose, passion, and ultimately God.
I really loved the heroes of the story. Marc and Simon are loyal, steadfast, and so wonderfully tender. Their faithfulness to Eva and Angela is incredible, even when they are hurt and intentionally pushed away by the women they love. But my favorite character from the story has to be the women’s mother-in-law Sherry. After losing her husband and two sons within such a short time span, Sherry remains the spiritual rock for the women, a constant source of encouragement and helping hand. I want to be just like her!
Written with melodic voice and heart-wrenching honesty, The Joy of Falling will linger in your mind and heart long after you’ve finished the book. Any contemporary romance fan will love this book. I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
A beautiful story about life after loss, The Joy of Falling by Lindsay Harrel is thought provoking in the best way. With hints of romance, this women’s fiction novel explores life following the loss of a spouse. Filled with heartache and frankness, in addition to amazing beauty, Harrel shows the challenges of moving forward after loss. I loved the descriptions of New Zealand. I loved Eva and Angela’s grit, but also their softness. I loved that this book didn’t have an easy solution, but showed that mourning isn’t a checklist and yet there’s still hope.
I empathized & rode the rollecoaster of emotions of the characters in the story. I felt all the emotions of the two women & their grieving process in the story. The author did great in expressing each woman’s path to healing. I felt the author gave an accurate portrayel. I think the story was well thought out and the character’s had depth. The story had a good flow & dialogue. This was my 1st book with the author and I’m glad I gave it a try.
Grief can hit you hard and sometimes you lose your way. This tale is about two women whose husbands both died on the same day. They were brothers and loved to do extreme sports. What they left behind were two women who didn’t really know how to handle their grief. Each one thought they were doing okay, but it took an unexpected event to show them what they really needed to continue on with life.
I truly loved this story for so many reasons. The author Lindsay Harrel showed how death can affect people in so many ways, and that not one particular way is the best. It was also a story, of endurance and staying strong when life hits you hard. Another thing this book showed, is how when we step out in faith God can bless us.
The relationships with friends and families were so real. When we can put ourselves in the character’s lives and understand the pains and joys, that is what makes a book great! This author has done that!
I couldn’t put it down because I was so invested in the lives of these two characters. I really enjoy reading books written by Lindsay Harrel. She brings such wonderful lessons to our hearts through her books.
If you live to travel and to see new places then this book will take you there. This book is set in amazing New Zealand; a place I’ve never been to but now I’d love to see. The author used beautiful word pictures to help capture the whole wonder of this country.
I’ll just come right out and say it. I do judge a book by its cover, and this one grabbed my eye the first moment I saw it. I knew it was a story I wanted to check out, and thankfully the inside held a story as beautiful and colorful as the outside. I loved the New Zealand setting. And though I’ve never experienced the type of grief the main two women in this book have, I felt like the way they each dealt with their grief resonated with me on many levels. It’s the first book I’ve read by this author, but it certainly won’t be the last.
So this was my first novel by Lindsay Harrel and it will most certainly not be my last. This book was wonderful. Two very different women find themselves in exactly the same place. They’ve both lost their husbands, who were brothers in a tragic accident. They were living very different lives and had they not been related by marriage would probably never have met, let alone be friends. They were both very judgmental of each other. Eva allowed her entire world to revolve around Brent so much so that she truly didn’t know who she was without him and didn’t have a clue to how to live without him. Angela loved and missed Wes, but was so very angry at him. He left them way too young, financially unstable and she couldn’t understand why he kept feeling the need to leave and do extreme crazy things around the globe instead of staying home with his family. One phone call changes it all. Eva finds out about yet another extreme crazy adventure that the men had planned and decides that all of them should go to complete the race together. After much cajoling Angela decides to go and they all pack up and head out. They both wanted answers. And answers they eventually found. They learn about themselves, each other, their husbands, how to accept and appreciate new love, and most importantly how to move forward with a new outlook on….everything.
Lindsay Harrel’s newest book, The Joy of Falling, is in my opinion, her best book yet. With two very different women—sisters-in-law—trying to fulfill their husbands’ dreams, they learn a lot about themselves, each other, and the many shades of grief. I truly enjoyed this story.
Eva is floundering trying to figure out how to honor her husband, but not succeeding, when she receives an unexpected phone call. Apparently, her husband signed up a team for an ultra-marathon in New Zealand before he died, she wants to run in his honor. She persuades her sister-in-law to be a part of her team, along with the best friend of one of the men.
Angela has worked hard to meet her family’s needs. With three growing children and no one else to rely on, she feels the burden of single-motherhood. She’s also angry that her husband made the choices he did that resulted in his and his brother’s deaths.
When Eva begs her to be part of the team to run the ultra-marathon, she reluctantly agrees. Each woman comes at the training in different ways. As they train together and with Marc, the third team member, they must face the questions they’ve tamped down or struggled with.
In the process, they each learn more about themselves and their husbands. And each finds a little romance in the bargain.
This story is a beautiful depiction of coming to terms with the death of a loved one. The questions, the feelings, the confusion all resonated as authentic throughout the story.
I loved the epic adventure that Harrel brings the reader on as the trio trains and travels and competes in the race. Each person on the team has to help the others if they are to complete the ultra-marathon. Each woman comes to the end of herself and discovers new ways forward in the process.
And New Zealand? The setting was perfect for the race and for the lessons learned by each woman.
Harrel’s characters are nuanced and hold depth, and that held me through the story. I really liked each one, and they were so real as they grappled with their struggles. The children in the story and the secondary characters added depth and a sense of reality to the journey Eva and Angela embarked on. I found myself tearing up a few times as my heart resonated with things they encountered.
The themes of hope amid grief and learning how to move forward run through this story. As the women learn to trust each other, they also are able to help each other answer the questions that have haunted them since the day their husbands died.
If you enjoy adventure and relational stories with themes of hope and encouragement, you will love this book.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. A positive review was not required. These thoughts are my own.
The Joy of Falling is the first book I have read by Lindsay Harrel and I absolutely loved it. I had seen several people recommend it, but honestly I was leery about reading it because I am not a runner and didn’t think I would be interested. Boy was I wrong! So grateful I took others recommendations and took a chance on this story.
After losing their husbands in an accident, Eva and Angela discover their husbands were registered to run in an ultramarathon in New Zealand. They decide to go ahead and run the marathon as a way to honor their husbands. Since travel is not really an option right now, I really enjoyed traveling to New Zealand virtually.
This is a beautiful story of friendship, grief, healing, and learning to live and love again.
I was immediately drawn in to this beautifully written story of grief, faith, forgiveness and finding joy. I felt so many different emotions while reading the story of sisters-in-law, Eva and Angela. The author did such a wonderful job describing the beautiful setting of New Zealand. The secondary characters were great, especially mother-in-law, Sherry. I also enjoyed learning more about what runners go through while training for marathons. I highly recommend this book!
**I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.**
Some stories are just unforgettable. What started as a book of grief and sorrow ultimately leads to a story of hope and joy. The beautiful relationship that blossoms between two widows, Angela and Eva—sisters in law in name only—is what makes it so incredibly heart filling. These 2 very different women, along with Marc, the best friend of Eva’s late husband, decide to fulfill a mega-race commitment that their husbands made. At first, I heartily disliked Angela, and was wondering wether she might create the whole race’s undoing. But as we got to know her better & understand where each woman is coming from, and where the hearts are going to, the story opens up into a tale of moving beyond the tentacles of grief and finding joy where you least expect it. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a review.
Eva Jamison lost her husband eighteen months ago. He and his brother drowned while diving. She was a talented florist, but hasn’t worked since Brent died. Instead, she volunteers at his favourite, lives off the proceeds from the fitness centres he co-founded, and mourns. When a chance telephone call offers the opportunity to raise money for Brent’s favourite charity, Eva is keen to help. But that requires help …
Angela Jamison hasn’t had time or energy to mourn her husband. Instead, she works two jobs to support their three children, and tries to cope with her moody teenage daughter. She doesn’t have the time or energy to think or grieve, let alone train for an ultramarathon or travel halfway around the world to New Zealand’s South Island. And there’s the money … money she doesn’t have.
Two sisters in law, united by a common grief, and brought together by a unique opportunity. It’s a great premise, and while it did not motivate me to run any distance, the characters somehow managed to convince me that running an ultramarathon for 155 miles around the South Island was a great idea. (Hint: it’s a noble objective, and the scenery is fantastic, but I prefer to tour via a car, thank you very much.)
I’ve visited many of the New Zealand settings from The Joy of Falling, and I definitely enjoyed those parts of the book. It’s great to read about a familiar setting, and especially to see it through the fresh eyes of visitors. Being in a new country gave the women (and the children) a chance to rediscover themselves.
The writing was excellent. The story is a sensitive examination of grief from different perspectives. It’s also a story of discovery and making choices and finding the blessings in life, even in the hard times. It’s not an overtly Christian story, but the underlying themes and values are definitely Christian, and the overall tone is straight out of the Bible: be joyful always … even when it’s hard.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Before hearing about “The Joy of Falling” on social media, I had not heard of or read anything by Lindsay Harrel. I was immediately drawn to two things about this book other than the fact that the plot sounded really good. One of those things being the beautiful cover of the book. The colors of the cover alone drew me to want to read this book. The second thing that immediately drew me to wanting to read this book was that one of the main characters and I share a name. Once I started reading this book, I really hated the times I had to put it down in order to get other things done. This author did an amazing job of drawing you into the lives of Angela and Eva. I felt like I was right there with them and experiencing what they were going through with them. I found myself wanting to encourage both of them when things got tough and listening to them when all they needed was an ear. I really loved this book so much that I would recommend it to anyone but I would especially recommend it to anyone who has lost a spouse because it seemed like there was great advice in it for someone who would find themselves in a similar situation as these two women found themselves.
When I first started this new novel, I was afraid that it was going to be depressing since both of the protagonists lost their husbands (brothers) in a freak accident the year before. As I continued reading, I saw this was more a story of hope. Both Eva and Angela deal with the grief of losing their husbands in very different ways, but both journeys rang true. At times I was frustrated with Angela and her reactions, but I came to realize that it was because I connected with Eva’s journey of grief more personally. Lindsay Harrel weaves a beautiful tale of two seemingly different women who must find their way through the grief to live a life of true joy that the Lord has waiting for them. I also loved the descriptions of New Zealand that was the setting for much of the story. The race that the women go to New Zealand to train for and run in honor of their husbands becomes symbolic of their journeys through grief. I don’t want to say more because I don’t want to give too much away. I highly recommend this new novel by Lindsay Harrel who has become one of my favorite authors.
From the very first page of Lindsay Harrel’s debut I was captivated by her beautiful writing style and the unique way she draws you into the heart of her characters! So to say I get excited about each new release from her is an understatement.
First we need to talk about this stunning cover! I think my jaw literally hit the floor when I saw it for the first time! The colors and the nods to New Zealand, where much of the book is set, were beautifully combined and I could stare at it for days!
As the book started we got to meet first Eva then Angela, sisters-in-law who we’re both grieving the deaths of their husbands but in two uniquely different ways. I appreciated the way the author highlighted the fact that everyone handles grief in their own way, that it’s not a one size fits all thing. I will say I didn’t find myself connecting with either Eva or Angela, which is okay, you can’t connect with every fictional character! But it did take away a little bit of what has captivated me so much with this author’s previous books. Usually I’m deeply invested with her heroines and their emotions are like gut punches for me but that just wasn’t the case with this one.
I loved that the story took us to New Zealand, I always love reading about that beautiful country and Harrel did a great job of describing the setting as the characters explored during their training and the race!
I liked both of the guys in Eva and Angela’s lives, Marc and Simon. They both were very respectful of the women’s emotions and allowing them the space to work through things.
I do have to say that the ending wasn’t quite what I was hoping for. While the ultra-marathon was basically the main focus of the book when it came to the end of it I found it to be a little anti-climatic and I wasn’t a big fan of how the relationships were handled as they went back to the US. The big time jump at the end didn’t fully make sense and I felt like the relationships getting wrapped up in a nice bow without any actual talking about things just seemed a bit unrealistic.
Overall though the author’s unique writing style shone through and I will be looking forward to her next book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This is a great story about personal triumphs in the wake of tragedy. Despite the heavy themes, I found the journey the characters took to change their lives after tragic loss inspiring. Bonus for me was that I love running, and the story centers around training for an ultra-marathon in New Zealand.
This is a poignant story of grief and finding joy again after terrible loss. Though their circumstances are different, both Eva and Angela have to figure out what their lives look like now that their husbands have passed away.
I loved the realness of the family dynamics, as well as the lush New Zealand setting. And while I never see myself doing an ultra marathon, I found those details fascinating and loved going on that journey with them. The parallel to their inner journey is apparent but feels completely natural. I loved the gentle way that faith is discussed in the novel; it feels very organic within the story.
This is my third Harrell novel and stands up wonderfully beside her other titles. I’ll be eager to read her next book!
I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher; this review is my honest opinion.
I absolutely love the stunning cover of this novel! Lindsay Harrell has become one of my must buy authors and I eagerly anticipate each of her book releases. The Joy of Falling tackles the emotional struggle with grief and how it has affected each of the characters in this novel. One of the things that I appreciate about Lindsay Harrell’s writing is her ability to showcase multiple perspectives about her chosen subject matter through the different personalities of her characters. It really allows the reader to find some aspect that they identify with in her books. The subject of grief could potentially be a depressing topic to tackle however this book is set against the backdrop of training for an a ultra marathon and I enjoyed that it allowed the characters and the reader something additional to be invested in other than a journey to overcome their grief.
Personally I didn’t really connect with either of the heroines in this story. Angela was a bit hard to like and I found Eva to be unrealistic and impractical. However, the overall message of this book was a great one and it was uniquely told which I always appreciate!
As I started reading this book about two women who became widows, when their husbands who were brothers died in a tragic accident, I quickly found myself caught up in the story. These two women approached their grief with very different outlooks. But when Eva received a call about an ultra marathon their husbands were supposed to have participated in with Brent’s best friend, life changes for both.
Eva seems to have it all in Angela’s mind. She does not have three children depending on her. At the same time, Eva sometimes envies Angela having the three children she has to come home to at the end of a day.
Marc, Brent’s partner, and his best friend set out to train with the two women for the marathon. The ups and downs of grief and attempting to move on are captured in a way that resonated with me. I loved how Sherry, Eva, and Angela’s mother-in-law comes alongside the two women and shares her own experience of becoming a widow.
Having never experienced a spouse dying myself, I can not begin to fathom the depths of grief these women were dealing with at all. But I love how Sherry encourages the women to seek to find joy rather than happiness. She states that joy comes from having a true relationship with God.
These three women, Marc, and Simon create an incredible look at what facing grief while also moving on with life looks like. I found myself laughing, crying, and rooting for the three to finish the marathon, but also found myself wanting them to step out in faith and take a chance on loving again.
So check out this book for yourself.
I received a copy of this book for my fair and honest review.
The Joy of Falling was about two sisters-in-law who have lost their husbands in an accident. A year later both are still reeling from the grief and the consequences of that fateful day.
Brent had left Eva better prepared in the financial department. Much better than his older brother, Wes, did for Angela and their three kids. Eva has basically made Brent a hero in her mind. Yes, he was her husband, her knight in shining armor, but he became so much more than he was in her mind’s eye than when he was alive.
On the flipside of that Angela is having trouble forgiving Wes for leaving and their marriage was not the happiest when he died.
Both women are grieving in their own ways. Not only that but we have their mother-in-law, Sherry, who lost both of her sons and who had lost her husband a few years before. Than we have Angela’s three kids, who are going through a tough time after losing their father. Especially Kylee who is fifteen and hers and Angela’s relationship is certainly on rocky ground.
When the chance to remember and honor their loved ones in a race in New Zealand presents itself, Eva is gung ho, while Angela is less than thrilled. But this turns out to be an adventure of a lifetime. A chance for this family to grieve and cry and cheer together. A chance for relationships to grow deeper and for new promises of romance to come true.
I really enjoyed this tale of family and love. I wasn’t sure how depressing it might be, but it wasn’t. Author Harrel handled her characters and their grief process well. This was a lovely story.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Both Eva and Angela lost their husbands and both are trying to live again after such a loss. These ladies and completely different, connected only by the brothers they married, and a mother in law that loves both.
This is my first book by this author, and I will sure be looking for more from Lindsay Harrell. I slowly fell in love with these characters. It was hard at first because they were facing such a past, and trying to find their own way to grieve. I really liked the mother in law, she was full of wisdom because she has also lost a husband, and she lost her two sons at the same time. Sometimes I really was frustrated with Eva and Angela because they depended on they depended on her too much, instead of helping her through her grief, she had lost her husband and boys, after all.
The trip the New Zealand was interesting. There was a lot of friction between Eva and Angela. Angela did have a bad attitude, but Eva had her issues as well. There are so many things happening in this story, and you need to read the book to really get it all and enjoy it. The author does an amazing job of weaving everything going on and bring it to a nice close to end the story.
If you are a fan of contemporary fiction, and good, clean Christian fiction, you will love this story. It is sure a story of family, love, forgiveness, trusting God and second chances. I encourage you to check this one out. It is well worth the read.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.