Emma's Gift (The Wortham Family Series #2) [Paperback]

Leisha Kelly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

In Leisha Kelly's well-received novel, Julia's Hope, Samuel and Julia Wortham and their two children charmed readers as they found shelter in the home-and heart-of a grandmotherly woman named Emma Graham.
Now, in Emma's Gift, the Wortham family is struck down by the deaths of two close friends, including their neighbor Wilametta Hammond, just days before Christmas 1931. Wila is the mother of ten children and the glue that holds the family together. In his grief, her husband, George, ignores the children and has no will to live. Sam and Julia step in to help, but how can they manage ten extra children when they barely have enough for themselves? Can George overcome his grief and become the father his children need? And if Emma's nephew takes ownership of her land, will the Worthams be allowed to stay?
Masterfully told from the perspective of both Samuel and Julia, Emma's Gift is an unforgettable story of God's faithfulness and peace and of the seasons of life that shape each of us.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her sequel to Julia's Hope, Kelly once again offers a compellingly simple tale of faith, hardship and community during the Great Depression. Using two points of view-those of Julia Wortham and her husband, Samuel-Kelly unfolds a series of events that will leave Julia with more questions about her faith than answers. As her neighbor Wilametta Hammond draws her last breaths, Julia despairs of understanding how a God of love could allow Wilametta to die. More unexpected chaos follows. With Wilametta's 10 children motherless and George Hammond deranged with grief, Julia and Samuel try to pick up the pieces, caring for the children as best they can. But, "We were all broken. Beyond repair, it seemed," muses Julia. "And about to face God's own Christmas without a reason to rejoice." God is in the details in Kelly's novel-from the depictions of how a Depression-era rural Illinois community handles death to her competent regional dialogue. Her characters are multifaceted, including a non-Christian who is particularly endearing (although an expected conversion scene promptly follows). A few didactic passages at the end of the book summarize the message for readers, rather than letting them draw their own conclusions ("I found it's not so hard to love the unlovable..."). However, Kelly's warm descriptions of how friends prop each other up in the midst of devastating circumstances strike just the right note of redemption and hope, which should endear this novel to CBA fiction fans.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

"Kelly's smooth voice and well-crafted writing keep the pages turning."--Publishers Weekly, praise for Kelly's first book, Julia's Hope

In a time of confusion,
in the midst of grief,
they discovered something beautiful.

Julia Wortham is a strong woman with a strong faith to match. She and her husband, Samuel, rely on God, their creativity, and the love of their friend Emma Graham to provide for their family in the impoverished conditions of 1931.

But just days before Christmas, the Wortham family is faced with a terrible loss-the death of their neighbor Wilametta Hammond, who is the mother of ten and the glue that holds her family together. In his grief over her death, her husband, George, ignores the children and has no will to live. Sam and Julia step in to help, but how can they manage ten extra children when they barely have enough for themselves?

In the web of emotions and fear, Julia's faith begins to tangle. Why would God take away someone who was needed so much? How can the void of lost friends be filled? But amidst their sorrow, the grieving families discover the unexpected-a gift of hope that will shape them all

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 314 pages
• Publisher: Revell; Reprinted edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800758579
• ISBN-13: 978-0800758578
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #149,137 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book about Trusting In God, March 29, 2004

By 

C. Price "pcarol636" (Ironton, Mo United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Emma's Gift (The Wortham Family Series #2) (Paperback)

I thought this was a very good book.It was sad in different places but also showed how you have to put your trust in God
Know matter what your going thru.I enjoyed this book and Just
ordered her other book called Julia Hope.Ireally felt sorry
for Elizabeth the oldest of the ten kids she had so much on
her shoulders but she knew that she had to help with all her
brothers and sisters.Again great book.Loved it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Emmas Gift, August 30, 2006

By 

K. Huff (Ontario, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Emma's Gift (The Wortham Family Series #2) (Paperback)

I loved this book. It takes the reader to a time where life is really hard. Makes me grateful to God for the life I have.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Leisha Kelly scores again!!, December 31, 2004

By 

Deborah J. Nunley (Mcintosh New Mexico) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Emma's Gift (The Wortham Family Series #2) (Paperback)

This second book and sequal to Julia's Hope is a great book of reality. It very clearly depicts the hard and sad times our country experienced during the depression. It also shows the strength and courage the people of that era had. Making it possible for them to survive during that bleak period in our history by their faith in God and working together with their neighbors. The times were hard and life had many trials. Mrs. Kelly did a wonderful job of painting a very true and clear picture with her easy flowing words.