Description:
Where Love Once Lived by Sidney W. Frost follows a man at a
crossroads as he seeks to regain the love of his former college
sweetheart.
Forced to leave Karen by circumstances beyond his control, Brian returns to his hometown after 30 years to find Karen doesn't want to deal with the memories of his painful and unexplained departure. She has worked hard to put her love for Brian behind her and rebuffs his advances. Brian can see that winning her over again isn't going to be as easy as he had hoped, but he's willing to do whatever it takes.
"The story of Brian and Karen shows that, with God's help, it's never too late to find happiness," says Frost. "My hope is that their story makes readers laugh, cry and learn a little more about God's love."
Frost was inspired by his faith to create Where Love Once Lived. The importance of a relationship with God is a major theme in the book. In the novel, Karen's faith in God grew stronger after Brian left, leading to fulfilling work as a lay minister. As she becomes reacquainted with Brian, Karen begins to share with him the strength that can come from faith. Brian, who had turned away from God, eventually comes to realize that the void in his life was not just the loss of Karen but also the loss of God.
Forced to leave Karen by circumstances beyond his control, Brian returns to his hometown after 30 years to find Karen doesn't want to deal with the memories of his painful and unexplained departure. She has worked hard to put her love for Brian behind her and rebuffs his advances. Brian can see that winning her over again isn't going to be as easy as he had hoped, but he's willing to do whatever it takes.
"The story of Brian and Karen shows that, with God's help, it's never too late to find happiness," says Frost. "My hope is that their story makes readers laugh, cry and learn a little more about God's love."
Frost was inspired by his faith to create Where Love Once Lived. The importance of a relationship with God is a major theme in the book. In the novel, Karen's faith in God grew stronger after Brian left, leading to fulfilling work as a lay minister. As she becomes reacquainted with Brian, Karen begins to share with him the strength that can come from faith. Brian, who had turned away from God, eventually comes to realize that the void in his life was not just the loss of Karen but also the loss of God.
Review:
After
hundreds of books and movie reviews behind me, I’ve developed some
strong opinions. I write reviews for those wanting input on a book,
movie or product choice rather than for those who merely want me to say a
few good words. Yet I try to find the best in the book to point out.
It’s a tricky balance sometimes. And my absolute loves may not appeal to
the average reader. I tend to love books that make me laugh or honestly
cry, books that are almost works of art with words being the artist’s
medium. I generally avoid romance, Amish fiction and sci-fi because I
find them too formulaic for the most part.
Where Love Once Lived
is a novel that is very likely “the” story on the author’s heart and I
know how much time, sweat, tears and blood go into writing one of those
stories. I have a few of those sitting on my computer hard drives. Mr.
Frost is articulate and able to tell a winding tale that centers on two
people torn apart by circumstances and their own immaturity. Karen and
Brian were college sweethearts, but, after things got too hot and heavy,
the relationship was broken as were their hearts.
Thirty
years later Brian returns “home” after his divorce and finds that Karen
has divorced as well. They each have secrets that they go through great
emotional turmoil to protect. Struggling to forgive themselves and each
other fills the pages of this novel, a very real issue that many
readers will relate to.
Mr.
Frost has created an extras cast of characters who go along for the
emotional roller coaster ride with Brian and Karen. One character shares
Mr. Frost’s love of opera, and another is the heavy but loveable
librarian who helps Brian run the Bookmobile which was purchased in an
attempt to win Karen’s heart.
Struggles
and trials plague the love-crossed couple. Karen has a crisis at work,
and in the midst of that she takes in a former student who is pregnant
with nowhere else to turn. Brian finds himself at the mercy of stock
holders. A marriage between characters causes drama in his circle of
friends. Brian discovers secrets about his parents and his marriage that
force him to consider running far away to another place where he had
once found happiness. Can this couple finally find true love and
restoration? Will they find the emotional maturity and the spiritual
hope they need to embrace another relationship regardless of their past
failures? Only the reader will know.
Where Love Once Lived
may appeal to readers who like the romance novel plots wherein the
characters begin to grow closer to each other until an obstacle or
multiple obstacles rip them apart…the idea that love is an endless
series of ocean waves drawing the characters back to shore against the
odds of them being cast adrift alone. Some inspirational readers may
find something to like if they are not sensitive to sex outside of
marriage and divorce. If so, the subject matter may be too much for
them, however, the consequences of both are some of the struggles this
couple faces. Those looking for a strong Gospel message may be
disappointed, but others who like light religion and the message of
God’s love, forgiveness and patience may find what they are looking for
here. Literary fiction lovers will probably want to avoid it. This novel
falls more toward the weight and formula of romance versus love story,
so keep that in mind as well.
yeah .. it's really gud 1..!!
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