Customer Reviews

Like Always

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As a mother, I had to know the story of a pregnant woman who discovers she has an aggressive form of cancer. Merit Sullivan has to make a choice between her own life and the life of her unborn baby.

I found myself captivated by her strength, her faith, her vulnerability. She made a decision and stood by it even when faced with opposition, and her own doubts. I was moved by her husband's devotion and love for his wife. Will Sullivan faced his own battles as he wrestled with his wife's decision and the fear of losing her. My thoughts turned to how such a choice would impact loved ones as well as those indirectly affected.

Robert Elmer weaves a touching story with deep characterization and rich description. He draws you in, carries you along an intimate journey and brings you to a beautiful conclusion. Like Always, a novel inspired by a true story, is about faith, sacrifice and perseverance.

Come prepared: You will need tissues. This novel will stir your heart and leave you wanting more from this author.

Robert Elmer is a talented writer and I loved the Celebrity. I was so excited to receive this novel and yet when I read it, I felt like I was being preached at throughout the book. More time should have been spent on Merit and the girls. I am a Christian and I read a lot of Christian books, but this one spent way too much time on faith. The character got left out and for me it left a story that was dull and non-feeling, not the way I know Mr. Elmer was trying to create the story. He is a talented author just not with this book.

This book has a very good plot and keeps you reading to find out if you have it figured out correctly. I thought the title was going to be used more frequiently.

This was an extremely well written novel. Intriguing, touching, with deep real life characters you will fall in love with.

Robert Elmer's newest adult fiction novel, Like Always, offers a realistic look at the sensitive situations people face in their daily lives. Elmer infuses his characters with real emotions, thus inspiring compassion in readers. This story of tender love confronted with wrenching pain concludes with the perfect "of course!" ending, reminiscent of Nicholas Sparks's The Notebook. I also enjoyed Elmer's The Celebrity.

Elmer's talent makes him one of the few authors who are able to write successfully across genres. As a skilled author of over 35 books for children, Elmer's talent shone. Now as he moves to writing nonfiction and fiction for adults, he exhibits a remarkable ability to portray through his tales the gamut of emotions people experience when facing various situations. For more information about Elmer's books, please see his Web site: www.robertelmerbooks.com.

Will Sullivan has always wanted to run a resort, so he and his wife Merritt decide to move to Northern Idaho. The resort they buy is small, rundown, and needs a lot of work. Their two young daughters adapt easily to the change, but Michael, their older son, newly home from Iraq isn't enthused. The townspeople are aloof, but gradually they accept these outsiders. Michael and Will work hard repairing the resort and getting it ready to open, the girls are thrilled with new experiences, and the glimpses of wildlife, Merrit loves their new location. Even Michael is coming around. then Merritt discovers she is pregnant and suddenly their world crashes. Will and Merritt face an agonizing decision that will affect the rest of their lives.
A gripping, emotional story about characters who seem as real as your next door neighbor. Like Always will grip your heart and never let go.

Like Always by Robert Elmer is a captivating tale about Will and Merit Sullivan, who, along with their two young daughters, leave the rat race in order to follow their dream of restoring a rundown resort in northern Idaho. Along the way this little family encounters joy, when their son Michael returns from Iraq, they experience shock, when learning Merit is pregnant at forty-five and finally, they struggle to accept the devastating news associated with a terminal illness. Through it all, the Sullivan's must learn to cope with the challenges of a move, managing a new business and making and relying on new friends in times of trouble.

Like Always isn't one of those perfectly packaged, pretty stories that ties up all the loose ends and everyone walks away with a happy, satisfied feeling. In fact, just the opposite is true. The Sullivan family faces painful and excruciating choices that challenge them each step of their journey. These characters mirror what many of us go through in our own lives. We deal with relocations, loved ones serving in a war that we may or may not agree with, feisty family members who live lives that are polar opposites from our own--and last but not least, the question of whether or not we believe in God.

Sometimes we, like the Sullivan's, are forced to deal with these life issues all at once, not one at a time, but all lumped together, one right after another, testing every ounce of our emotional, physical and spiritual fortitude.

What I found so amazing in this story is the evidence of God and His love for us. Like Always showcases everyday life for the Sullivan's under the harshest, most difficult of circumstances and yet through it all, God is still present, still loving this family every step of the way.

Armchair Interviews says: Powerfully told story of one family's struggles with life and how God was there with them.

The Sullivan family is elated because twenty years old Airman First Class Michael is coming home from being stationed in Iraq. His parents Will and Merit have prayed every day for his safe return and that of his unit too. His younger sisters Olivia and Abby are just as euphoric as their parents. However, the reunion is somewhat marred by Michael's girlfriend not showing up as she Dear John dumped him.

Meanwhile Will and Merit decide to follow a dream by relocating from California to Idaho where they buy a run down lake resort that they know they will have to put in a lot of work to restore. To their shock, fear and joy, forty-four years old Merit is pregnant. However, soon the family will face the greatest threat to their belief in God as Merit has an extremely difficult choice to make.

The five Sullivans come across as full blooded different individuals with varying desires and needs. However, the tale is owned by Merit who faces a terrible dilemma that shakes to the core her belief in God's ways and even more so that of her husband and three offspring. Readers will appreciate Robert Elmer's deep inspirational family drama starring an interesting individual whose decision displays the core of her faith.

Harriet Klausner

This book is very well written, and I was enjoying it until I reached the part where Merit discovers she has a terminal illness. I was extremely put off by the unrealistic description of the doctors aggressively pushing their decision onto the family, and trying to rush them into making it. This would never happen, even in the most unprofessional of medical establishments, and instead immediately came across as poorly disguised attempt from the author to force the reader into the same conclusions he has drawn about the right course of action to take on this moral dilemma. It irritated me so much that I couldn't enjoy the rest of the book.

Robert Elmer has done it again. With a writing style that is his alone he crafted another touching love story that feels so much like life you are sure you can drive to the town and meet the people.
Will and Merit Sullivan decide change is good. They pack up and move to a dilapidated resort in northern Idaho. They bought the lake resort to fix it up and become their livelihood as they raise two young daughters there. The task is huge, the work tiring, and the demands upon them daunting. When news from the doctor brings with it joy and devastation at the same time, Merit and Will find themselves facing an entirely different challenge.
This book is a testimony of true love and faith. It will touch your heart. As the characters find their way in a difficult and joyful world you will find yours also. This novel, inspired by a true story, is a testimony to the love of a husband and wife with each other and their Father for them.