I have been a little obsessive with this series. I read this book during my holidays, but it has taken me a while to review, mostly because it has been so busy, but also because this was a difficult read. This had my emotions all over the place, and I needed some time to sort through it all.
Book
From the Power of the Matchmaker series: BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH
Cassandra Webb’s every waking minute is devoted to being a great mother and wife. She takes five-year-old Noah to the library each week, volunteers in his kindergarten class, and even coaches his soccer team. She makes sure her husband’s uniforms are always laundered—even though he hasn’t worn them the last six years—always has his game day snacks on hand, and meets him for date night every Friday—which consists of one sided conversations at his bedside and watching his favorite take out remain untouched.
Pearl, a mysterious visitor at the care center, suggests that it is only Cassie’s love still tying Devon to Earth when he has been ready to move onto Heaven for quite some time. If Cassie will but open her eyes and heart, she will discover the path she should travel, one that will bring relief to Devon and much joy to her own life. But Cassie vowed never to give up on him. She never has and she can’t now, even after meeting hapless, single soccer-dad Matt.
Review
This book focusses on the love story that develops between Cassie and Matt. They both have gone through a lot of pain, and lost a lot. Matt lost His wife in a car accident, leaving him behind with two young sons. At the beginning of the story he is barely coping, with his oldest son lashing out as a way to deal with his pain.
Cassie is living with the idea that her husband will possibly wake up after being in a vegetative state for six years. She goes above and beyond to still be true and faithful to him, but it seems clear from the beginning he is never coming back. Yet her hope, her desire makes you hope for a miracle
As the friendship starts to develop between Matt and Cassie, and they inevitably form an almost romantic connection Cassie is torn in two trying to decide what to do.
This book was one of those reads where it is hard not to constantly ask yourself what you would do when placed in such a situation. Cassie was an excellent wife, doing everything in preparation for her husband Devon to wake up, and come home, so you can’t help but feel such admiration for her strength and devotion. Then when you see her fall in love with Matt, you don’t want to blame her, because you have never been in such a situation, so how would you know. Yet it does make it hard to read, and I found myself struggling along with her.
When she finally gets to the point of telling Devon that she can let him go, and he does move on to HEAVEN, you also feel some form of relief for her, but with VERY mixed feelings. I kept thinking to myself, how would I feel? What would I do? I honestly would not know, and so I couldn’t judge her. This is one of those situations where the line between what was right and wrong was very fine. She didn’t take him off any support, and inadvertently kill him, but somehow I kept asking myself, what if Devon did hang on for six more years. What would Cassie have done?
So this one of those reads that had me putting it down from time to time, and having a long, hard think. And also I felt very appreciative of not being in such a situation. I can’t even begin to imagine what it must be like to go through that, day in, day out, for years on end with no end in sight.
About the Author
Michele Paige Holmes spent her childhood and youth in Arizona and northern California, often curled up with a good book instead of out enjoying the sunshine. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education, and found it an excellent major in which to indulge her love of children’s literature.
Her first novel, COUNTING STARS (Covenant Communications 2007), won the 2007 Whitney Award for best romance. The sequel, a romantic suspense titled, ALL THE STARS IN HEAVEN (Covenant 2009), was a Whitney finalist, as was her first historical romance, CAPTIVE HEART (Covenant 2011). MY LUCKY STARS (Covenant 2012) completed the Stars series.
In October 2014 Michele launched the Hearthfire historical romance line with the publication of SAVING GRACE (Mirror Press 2014). The companion novel, LOVING HELEN (Mirror Press 2015) was released in February 2015. A third book about this same family, MARRYING CHRISTOPHER, will be published in summer 2015, with another historical to follow later this year.
Michele has been a member of the same critique group for over fifteen years and feels that joining a critique group is the single best thing an author can to do help improve his or her writing. She has been a member of RWA and URWA, LDStorymakers, and The League of Utah Writers. Michele enjoys both attending and teaching at conferences.
When not reading or writing romance, Michele is busy with her full time job as a wife and mother. She and her husband live in Utah with their five high maintenance children and a Shitzu that resembles a teddy bear, in a house with a wonderful view of the mountains. You can find Michele on the web at michelepaigeholmes.com and on Facebook and twitter.