Learning to Fly [Paperback]

Roxanne Henke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2008

In this delightful new novel, popular author Roxanne Henke (the Coming Home to Brewster series, The Secret of Us), offers readers a wonderful story of mothers and daughters.

Susan Shaffer is a new mom filled with doubt as she and her husband, Seth, welcome little Lily into their lives. Each time Susan thinks she just might have a handle on this “mothering thing,” Lily discovers a new stage of growth and testing and Susan tries her best to keep up.

A chance meeting of a high school acquaintance, JoJo, also a new mom, in the grocery store gives both Susan and her daughter friends to learn and grow with. Parenting their girls from toddler–through–teen years is a constant challenge for the two mothers...and their daughters. As high school graduation approaches, all four of these women face new territory. Are the young women ready for life on their own? Are the mothers ready to let their girls go?

Learning to Fly is a story of life, love, and letting go.

“Fiction that finds blessing in the broken”

“...a CBA novelist to watch.” —Publishers Weekly

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (February 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736917020
• ISBN-13: 978-0736917025
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #833,754 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a small-town 'girl.' (Rural North Dakota to be exact.)

It's a good place to write from, distractions--like coffee shops and bookstores--are at a minimum. So are stop lights and shopping malls. All that adds up to more time to write.

My life-long dream was to write ONE book...I never dreamt about a second book, much less a third, fourth, or fifth! Just goes to show God can dream much bigger than we can.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinatingly insightful and engaging., July 19, 2008

By 

Michelle Sutton (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Learning to Fly (Paperback)

This engrossing novel is better than a parenting book! And if you you see a frustrated, self-conscious mom in the store with a kid having a conniption fit, do her a favor and tell her about this book. Seriously. You may just save her some heartache.

Learning to Fly is about parenting and the heart of a mother. But it's even more than that. It's about marriage and friendship and peer pressure. It's about the consequences of not speaking up and of letting your child get what they want all the time. It's about the dysfunction of reliving your childhood through your child and the damage it can do. It's about so many things. And the most exciting part of this book is it's every mother. There is a bit of Susan and Jo Jo in all moms, so everyone can relate.

I love reading about dysfunction when the authors have deep insight into the situation and wisdom that shows up in their characterization. Roxanne Henke nails so many things in the process of telling you this story that will grip your heart in many, many ways. In fact, this is the perfect gift for a parent with little ones. Readers can't help but see just how much it hurts your child to give in to them. It's not a pretty sight and only gets worse as they get older. The takeaway value of this book is that it's worth it to be consistent and to listen to your child and not make excuses for their bad behavior. Plus, the characters are so well done it's hard not to love them and understand them by book's end. I highly recommend this book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Her best novel yet!, March 10, 2008

By 

Deborah Raney - See all my reviews

This review is from: Learning to Fly (Paperback)

Learning to Fly is like a library of parenting books rolled into the most wonderful story imaginable. I read this book on two weekend flights and it made the hours fly by. Moms (and dads) of every age will find themselves saying over and over again, "Yes, that's exactly what it's like to be a parent!" Be prepared to laugh one minute, and cry your eyes out the next, and to be left with a satisfied smile on your face and hope in your heart. I can't quit thinking about this great story! My favorite Roxanne Henke book yet--and that's saying a lot!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, March 16, 2008

By 

S. Schlosser "Avid Reader" (Scottsdale Az USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Learning to Fly (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book and it had me "hooked" from the first page! Great job Roxy and I would recommend it to my friends. In fact......I am buying some to give them. Keep up the wonderful work!! I am already excited for the next book you are writing!!!