Morningsong: A Novel [Paperback]

Shelly Beach (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2009

The highly-anticipated follow-up to the Christy Award-winning Hallie's Heart. After her terrifying accident on the shores of Lake Michigan, Mona Vander Molen is trying to pick up the pieces of her life. Mona's brain injury has limited her physically and the doctor's uncertain prognosis isn't helping her feel any better. As she faces the threat of permanent disability, Mona also struggles to make sense of her relationship with the kindly carpenter Adam Dean.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The highly-anticipated follow-up to the Christy Award-winning Hallie's Heart!

A terrifying accident on the shores of Lake Michigan has shattered Mona's life and left her with disabling injuries. With the threat of lifelong disability looming over her and her doctor's uncertain prognosis on her mind, Mona doesn't know if she can pick up the pieces.

Just when she thinks things couldn't get worse, trouble comes looking for Mona again. And trouble's name is Hallie. A brewing family storm and Hallie's hidden fears are the last thing Mona wants to deal with. But can she turn away her sister? Even as the dark clouds continue to roll in, a hope waits for both of them--if only they can catch their breath long enough to find it.

"Morningsong is a beautifully written story of real people, living painful, joyful, complicated lives This realistic portrayal of how messy our lives sometimes become shows readers how to find hope in the midst of loss, how to love the unlovable, how to forgive after trust is broken, and how to find God's strength when we've reached the end of our own. I loved it!"--Lynn Austin, author of Until We Reach Home

About the Author

Shelly Beach is a Christian communicator who speaks at women's conferences, retreats, seminars, and writers' conferences. She is a college instructor and writing consultant in Michigan and the author of Precious Lord, Take My Hand (Discovery House Publishers 2007).

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications (February 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825425417
• ISBN-13: 978-0825425417
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,647,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Morningsong, April 22, 2011

By 

Edna Tollison "Mama T" (Laurens, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Morningsong: A Novel (Paperback)

After Mona VanderMolen comes out of her coma from an accident in Lake Michigan where the water pulled her under and kept bashing her against the rocks. Most times she can't remember things and then she has these terrible headaches. She has an antique store that she tries to run with the help of a seventy five year old man Harold and a lady named Elsie who are always trying to help her.
Then there is her sister Ellen who is always drunk trying to raise a teen age daughter Hallie or is Hallie the one taking care of her mother.
Mona had a friend Adam that loves her but will she realize his love for her just the way she is. Mona has got where she tries to walk every morning but hate her neighbor's broken down cat that had been in the dryer when it was turned on. The cat has never done anything to her except sit in the window every morning as she is walking. Can she ever get to where she can ignore her physical problem in order to help her sister and niece.
As Hallie tries to get her life together and her mother is in the hospital unconscious Hallie decides that she is not going to take care of her drunk mom any longer. While Ellen is released and she and her daughter move in with Harold as they have no where in town to go too, they begin to reconcile their lives.
This book was interesting as this mixed up family and their friends make the best of a bad situation. Really interesting and this is the first time I have read anything by this author.
This book was sent to me free from Kregel Publications in order for me to review.

4.0 out of 5 stars Follow-up to Hallie's Heart renders characters in all their frailties, July 19, 2009

By 

Christina Lockstein "Christy's Book Blog" (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Morningsong: A Novel (Paperback)

Morningsong by Shelly Beach is the powerful follow-up to Hallie's Heart. You don't need to have read the previous book to love this one, but you will probably want to by the time you finish. Mona VanderMolen has been through a rough couple of years: two years ago her niece Stacie drowned in Lake Michigan and three months she herself was beaten by the waves onto rocks until she needed brain surgery and spent time in a coma. Recovery has been a difficult process that manifests in her scarred scalp peeking through her short spiky hair and her antagonism toward Miss Emily the cat. Miss Emily also walks off-kilter and her eyes don't seem to work right either. Throw into the mix an alcoholic sister, rebellious niece Hallie, and determined suitor, Adam. She tries to juggle everyone else's problems and ignore her own, but soon discovers that she can't manage any of it without God. I love how Beach gives every character an extra pinch of personality, even the police officer acts in unexpected ways without Beach telling us exactly why. Mona sums it up best when in her joy she says that her sister is perfect, Hallie is perfect, everyone is perfect and completely messed up at the same time. That's just how God sees us, and Beach makes his shine in this poignant novel.

4.0 out of 5 stars Character Flaw, July 19, 2009

By 

Sally "SmilingSally" (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Morningsong: A Novel (Paperback)

The character of Mona is believable. At times, when she clung to her stubborn solitary views, I sighed in frustration; how I wish I could sit her down for a good talking-to! On the other hand, the character of Mona's sister, Ellen, is quite unbelievable. After a life-time of heavy drinking, to a point that she ends up in a coma, and all she needs is two weeks in a rehab center? When she returns home, she is too cleaned-up, too perfect, and even though there's a small relapse, it's obscure. The male characters are all flat. Adam, Harold, and even Joe Spencer, the police officer are all too-good-to-be-true characters.

So I have a mixed review of this novel. This is the sequel to Christy Award-winning Hallie's Heart, and I'm sure the fans of that first novel will want to read this one. Read it and decide for yourself.