Customer Reviews

Leaving Before It's Over: A Novel

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Leaving Before It's Over is a sweet, gentle, heartwarming novel that shows us how our choices in life--good or bad--affect others in ways we can't predict.

Roy Vines and his family are managing a content life in a small time when his wife is struck down by a serious illness. With a new interstate diverting traffic away from the town and his business, Roy must do the unthinkable--go to his estranged parents and brother and ask for money to save his wife's life.

The catch--a 17 yr old boy who thinks that Roy is his father is being raised by his family. They are willing to give him the money only if he takes the boy with him.

Reading this book was like being wrapped in a warm blanket. For the most part, the characters are kind, honorable and true to themselves. They help their neighbors, reach out to those in trouble, and make room in their home and hearts for a boy that seemingly no one wants.

The end was not as satisfying as it could have been, and I truly hope the author writes a sequel.

The language and a few situations make this book appropriate for grades 9th and up. Leaving Before It's Over is a sweet, gentle, heartwarming novel that shows us how our choices in life--good or bad--affect others in ways we can't predict.

Roy Vines and his family are managing a content life in a small time when his wife is struck down by a serious illness. With a new interstate diverting traffic away from the town and his business, Roy must do the unthinkable--go to his estranged parents and brother and ask for money to save his wife's life.

The catch--a 17 yr old boy who thinks that Roy is his father is being raised by his family. They are willing to give him the money only if he takes the boy with him.

Reading this book was like being wrapped in a warm blanket. For the most part, the characters are kind, honorable and true to themselves. They help their neighbors, reach out to those in trouble, and make room in their home and hearts for a boy that seemingly no one wants.

The end was not as satisfying as it could have been, and I truly hope the author writes a sequel.

The language and a few situations make this book appropriate for grades 9th and up.

Over the objection of his wealthy family, Roy Vines married his second wife Rosalind. He cut off all ties to his family and he and Rosalind had two children who had never met their paternal grandparents, their father's twin Uncle Mont or their step-brother Luke.

When his beloved wife becomes ill, Roy returns home to beg for money to save her life. He has no choice but to take college freshman Luke, who believes Roy abandoned him and his late mother, with him for the summer. Luke hates his father and Rosalind as he believes she caused him to desert his first wife and son. However, that summer Luke begins to learn the truth is much more complicated than his belief though he wonders if he will ever learn the entire truth.

This is an intriguing entertaining family drama that at times turns into a soap opera. The Vines are a fascinating brood especially the twins whose DNA is statistically identical yet are so different. However, the key to the tale is Luke as a confused teen finding he enjoys living in the loving household run by Roy and Rosalind. Fans will appreciate this solid contemporary climaxing with the twins confronting one another.

Harriet Klausner