Customer Reviews

Beyond the Shadows

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(1)
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Deborah Haskins is devastated at the death of her young husband of only eighteen months. They had just bought a small farm that was Andy's life-long dream, and now he was gone. Deb felt she had to stay on the farm. It was what Andy would have wanted and she was determined to hang on, to keep his dream alive, despite pressure from her mother to 'move back home.'  "This is my home. It was Andy's dream."

 

When a young man appears at the farm a few months after the funeral, she remembers meeting him briefly at the graveside. An uneasy feeling creeps over her as he approaches. His name is Gideon Clermont, a man who served with Andy in Korea. Deborah learns that, in fact, Andy had saved Gideon's life, and Andy had asked Gideon to come to the farm to help with renovations.

 

Gideon's quiet demeanor lulls Deborah's caution as he steadfastly sets about fixing things on the farm, working Saturdays. As time goes on, Deborah can no longer fight her attraction. Their romance blossoms and Deborah heals as her grief fades and she looks forward to a new, happy life.

 

But she discovers her new husband has kept a terrible secret from her, and as it emerges Deborah learns that her healing came with a price. She turns to Christ for strength and guidance as she tries to cope with this new sorrow. When Gideon nearly kills their young son, Deborah knows it is time to make a decision. Has it come too late?

 

Working through her own painful experiences, Robin Lee Hatcher tells a story of hope and heartbreak, faith and second chances. She has bravely tackled a subject that all too often gets covered up and swept under the carpet. We live through the agony of the non-violent form of alcoholism in the story of Deborah and Gideon. It is hard to know which way you want Deborah to behave as you feel her anger and pain, love, hate and despair. I fell in love with Gideon and I felt myself just as angry, hurt, disgusted and hopeless as Deborah. And sometimes I wanted to shake her for putting up with it as long as she did.

 

This is Deborah's story, but Beyond The Shadows is told in a unique style, with vignettes as seen through the eyes of her neighbors, parents and her pastor. It reveals how ill-equipped the Christian family is to deal with alcoholism, or any addiction. The truth is, as Deborah discovers, we can only handle it through faith in Jesus and leaning on Him for the strength to cope. Beyond the Shadows is a gripping story, difficult to read at times as Hatcher pulls you right into Deborah's heart, head and life. Highly recommended.

My hat's off to Robin Lee Hatcher. She did a phenomenal job on this book. A problem I have with reading "Christian" authors writing Christian romances is that sometimes, things are too perfect. The authors try deal with real life issues such as alcoholism, but sugar-coat them to make it look like one simple prayer is all that's required, then life will be perfect. The Christian walk is not that way, regardless of the problem faced. Ms. Hatcher certainly conveys that in this book. I felt Deborah's pain at losing her first husband, and her hope at finding another love of a lifetime. I felt Gideon's struggle with trying to keep his problem hid, then his rebellion after being found out. Ms. Hatcher made me care about these people, which not all authors can do.

There are no simple answers in this book, no scene where everything is made "all better", but the reader is left with a sense that with God's help, these two people are going to give it all they've got, and try to salvage a life together. This is a book that will make you think. Don't try to fly through it, but take your time and savor what most definitely has been a labor of love from Ms. Hatcher.

And if you like Ms. Hatcher's books and are looking for another great read, try "Forever Rose".

Wow! As a long-time fan of Robin Lee Hatcher's I can only marvel at how her stories never let me down. Beyond the Shadows is no exception. I know that when I read any of her books I'll be treated to interesting characters and an engrossing storyline...Deb and Gideon Clermont's journey certainly delivered both as well as a fantastic message of love, grace and patience that anyone could learn from. My father and step-father were both alcoholics and the truth of what it's like living with this condition rings true on every page. Yet Hatcher doesn't condemn, she gives keen insight into both sides of the story and shows us that true freedom is within reach whenever we choose to reach out and accept it. If you live with or love an alcoholic, Beyond the Shadows will help you to know you're not alone in your pain. One of Deborah Clermont's thoughts touched me so deeply - Deb thinks how everything revolves around Gideon and his moods, whether he'd been drinking or not and that she didn't know what to expect from day to day- and I felt that finally someone else understood what it was like to live with someone who was out of control!

But here's the amazing thing about this (and all of RLH's books) this isn't just about alcohol, it's about each and every one of us and the struggles we face when we put *anything*...be it alcohol, food, drugs, anger, anything...between ourselves and God and ourselves and our families. Whether you've lived with alcoholism or not, Beyond the Shadows is an insightful, touching book that you shouldn't miss. Better yet, buy one for yourself and one for a friend and enjoy the story together, it really is that wonderful.
If you haven't read any of Robin Lee Hatcher's books, don't stop with Beyond the Shadows, I heartily recommend The Forgiving Hour, The Shepherd's Voice, Ribbon of Years and Firstborn to start with. I hope you'll be as touched as I and her many other readers have been by her heartwarming stories.

The story line is different, and the extra "comments" by people that knew Deborah and Gideon threw me for a bit, then it hit me. Alcoholism is a tricky addiction, I gathered and apparently fools many people...until its too obvious, usually too late.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and whenever I came across scripture, I found myself asking my own questions about my own life, in general. Initially, I thought, this would be a great "self-help" book for people with addictions, but by the end of the book, I'd decided that anyone with any type of addiction, be it alcoholic, or like in my case, food addiction, can benefit from reading this book.

A moving and powerful portrait of alcoholism and redemption. I could not put the book down and will probably read it over and over. As the product of an alcoholic family growing up in the 50s and 60s, I emphathize with the signs, denial, guilt and despair. The actions and reactions depicted in the novel are truly true to life. Ms. Hatcher has once again presented us with another moving slice of real life Americana by tackling a subject that has long been hidden by the stigma of shame and embarrassment. This novel powerfully points out the ultimate fact: God is in control.

Every once in a while a novel is written than transcends fiction. This story is powerful, emotional and inspiring. I am not a Christian and found it to be one of the most insightful and valuable books I have read. In understanding the lives of these characters, we see our own temptations and failings-- and how each person must find a path through the darkness by listening to their heart--as well as surrendering to the lessons life brings them. There simply are no easy answers. Yet love, compassion and faith can see us through. We learn through Deborah that we cannot always fix or help or save those we love no matter how much we wish to. We can only love them and forgive them and ourselves for being only human and imperfect. This is a glimpse into the heart and soul and a journey of faith that will appeal to anyone of any faith who believes that we must trust in God to see us through every dark night to each small joy and blessings in every day. We cannot choose our circumstances but we must choose how we face challenges. This novel gives us insight and hope precisely because it does not provide simple answers or a magical ending. It is a book of honest faith, a real journey of the heart. Hard to imagine how it could have been any better. I have bought several copies to give to family and friends.

In 1955, Deborah Haskins receives grieving sympathy from her parents and her beloved Andy's parents at his funeral. All she could think of is that it is not fair, as the two should have grown old together on their farm together. However, the Korean War cut short the life of the pious Sunday school teacher Andy; Deborah feels fifteen months seems unfairly and excessively short.

A few months after the funeral veteran Gideon Clermont, who served with Andy in Korea and attended the funeral, arrives at the farm to offer help to the widow. Andy was his best friend and saved his life. Not long afterward, surprising everyone who knows her and her love for Andy, Deborah and Gideon marry. However, Gideon is a gentle alcoholic who believes he pales next to the angelic aura of Deborah instead of the deeply religious Andy. This marriage seemingly in haste appears doomed unless they reach out to one another and the Lord with understanding that there is "a reason for every purpose under heaven".

Deborah is the key to this wonderful inspirational character study as she feels somewhat like a female Job tested with the death of her first husband and the alcoholism of her second spouse. Gideon is a more complex person as he concludes that he is a shadow compared to Andy's light and ironically as a carpenter to Jesus. Alcohol is his only way to escape BEYOND THE SHADOWS that engulfs him unless they turn to the Lord. Robin Lee Hatcher furbishes an intriguing historical Christian drama that readers of the sub-genre will highly value as entertainment and more significantly as encouragement.

Harriet Klausner

Beyond the Shadows is an honest, hard look at the effects of alcoholism on the spouse and family of an alcoholic. Through the eyes and heart of Deborah, I experienced the pain, the roller-coaster rise of hope and plunge of despair over and over as she watched her husband battle his addiction. I cried. I felt her anger. I wondered how much more she could endure. And then I saw God's healing hand work in Deborah's life and faithfully waiting for Gideon when he finally reached for help. This is truly a book of hope and God's grace for anyone dealing with this destructive condition. Robin Lee Hatcher has delivered another beautiful and moving story that typifies her writing.

Robin Lee Hatcher tackles with finesse the difficult and unsettling taboo of alcoholism within the church. As a church body, too many of us have avoided dealing with this all-too-common problem as if it were the unforgivable sin, not wanting to see or approach the lives it shatters and the dreams it brings crashing down. Yet through her own experiences with a loved one's alcoholism, Robin Lee Hatcher boldly brings to light the Ultimate Hope and Comfort, the Great Healer of addiction and broken hearts and lives. As you journey with the characters through their sorrows, hopes, tears, and finally (because God is God) joys, you find yourself absorbed in their lives and perhaps even seeing your own in a new light. Beyond the Shadows is a blessing. Hats off to Robin Lee Hatcher's talent...and her willingness to used by God to write on a difficult topic.

Robin Lee Hatcher tackles a tough subject with great honesty in <i>Beyond the Shadows.</i> A widow, still grieving, finds comfort with her husband's friend. Comfort turns to love.

The early part of the story concerns a couple who are together for the wrong reasons, and is enough of a subject to explore. Now that they are married, they must go forward, but are they outside the will of God? How do they heal from their grief when guilt is laced through the new relationship? How can a new husband fight the ghost of a perfect first love?

Hatcher is delving into a darker subject, though. Deborah discovers that she's married to an alcoholic. Her new husband Gideon, a sweet, sensitive charmer, turns to drinking when life gets unpleasant. Eventually he begins to drink all the time.

Through Deborah, we watch the phases of living with an alcoholic: the denial, the lies, the bitterness, the anger and blame. Hatcher doesn't let her characters off with easy answers, but she does offer hope in the end. As always, her writing is compelling and her characters have depth. She doesn't flinch from hard truths and she never forgets to entertain. <i>Beyond the Shadows</i> is an excellent, intense study of alcoholism and the price people sometimes have to pay for love. - <b>Mary Connealy, Christian Book Previews.com</b>