Rorey's Secret (Country Road Chronicles #1) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Leisha Kelly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2006

The Worthams and Hammonds are as close as two families could be, sharing almost everything on their Depression-era Illinois farms. So when a raging fire breaks out and threatens to destroy the Hammond farm, both families are affected by the tragedy. But how did the fire start? Several of the kids know the truth, but no one is talking. As the families try to overcome aching loss, misplaced blame, troubled relationships, and an upsetting secret, they once again find themselves clinging desperately to their trust in God. In this compelling tale of faith, hardship, and community, acclaimed author Leisha Kelly continues the much-loved story of the Wortham family, who with courage and determination discover the power of forgiveness to restore and heal.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Kelly begins the new Country Road Chronicles trilogy with this novel, catching up with the Wortham and Hammond families on their Illinois farms seven years after Emma's Gift ended. Most of the Depression-era story takes place over two days, in which Thelma Hammond goes into labor, Franky Hammond gets into a mysterious fight, Rorey Hammond behaves strangely and the family barn burns down—by accident?—wounding Samuel Wortham. There's enough material here for a compelling story, but the overall effect is mediocre, as Kelly endlessly recites each day's incidents. (One recurrent theme: toddler Georgie pulling pans out of the kitchen cupboard.) While the characters face some challenging circumstances and hint at the questions those unearth, Kelly fails to mine the depth of these situations, resulting in a predictable story. The narrator switches every chapter, and the narrative voices are similar enough to lead to confusion. However, the strength of the small community of family and friends is refreshing, and Kelly picks up the pace toward the end to finish on a high note. Fans of the characters will appreciate the story's continuation, as will those looking for a simple, faith-affirming read. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

ARC copy: The Worthams and Hammonds are as close as any two families can be, sharing almost everything on their neighboring farms in Depression-era Illinois. But despite their trust and faith in each other and in God, someone is harboring an upsetting secret-a secret that could bring trouble to their enduring friendship. When a raging fire breaks out and threatens to destroy the Hammond farm, both families are affected by the tragedy. But how did the fire start? Several of the kids know the truth, yet no one is talking. As the families approach the daunting task of rebuilding what was lost, their faith in God is tested yet again. Aching loss, misplaced blame, and troubled relationships stand in the way of forgiveness. Will the Wortham and Hammond families find the courage and strength they need to overcome such hardship? Or will this secret mean the end of a trusted friendship? Rorey's Secret is a compelling tale of faith, community, and redemption in which acclaimed author Leisha Kelly continues her much-loved stories of the Wortham family. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press (June 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786286199
• ISBN-13: 978-0786286195
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,103,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A novel that examines how children respond to tragedy, August 23, 2005

By 

FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rorey's Secret (Country Road Chronicles #1) (Paperback)

Although touted as the first book in the "Country Road Chronicles" series, ROREY'S SECRET will feel more like a follow-up to Leisha Kelly's first three novels, which spin the story of the Wortham family in the Depression years.

If you haven't read Kelly's earlier books --- JULIA'S HOPE, EMMA'S GIFT and KATIE'S DREAM --- put this review down now and read them first. In JULIA'S HOPE, we are introduced to Samuel and Julia Wortham and their young family as they come to Illinois during hard times, looking for work and a place to live. Through the generosity of the elderly Emma Graham (EMMA'S GIFT), they find stability of sorts and community on a farm in rural Illinois. KATIE'S DREAM explores issues of trust as the Worthams add another child to their family. The Hammond family, with its multitude of rag-tag children living on a neighboring farm, provides plenty of chaos to keep the story chugging along.

ROREY'S SECRET takes place over a few days, but there are plenty of crises. Sam Hammond's wife Thelma arrives at their house with their two-year-old active toddler, Georgie, just in time to go into labor with their second child. The doctor is nowhere to be found (a stock device in so many novels). It's up to Julia to deliver the baby. Meanwhile, 13-year-old Rorey Hammond is up to no good with 18-year-old bad boy Lester Turrey, whose influence bodes ill for the young girl. When the Hammonds' barn and crops go up in flames, Rorey's best friend Sarah Wortham realizes that a secret Rorey has told her could hold the answer as to who is responsible. Samuel Wortham is injured in the fire, and the rest of the story revolves around his recovery (which takes place in an unbelievably short time).

Without proof of who caused the fire, the scripture-spouting Franky serves as a scapegoat. He also serves as a Christ-figure, even down to the wounds in both hands and his talent at carpentry, but the allegory is obvious rather than subtle. Franky seems too good to be true, and more dimension in his portrayal would have been welcome.

This recent offering in the Illinois family saga shows evidence that the Worthams' story may be wearing a bit thin. The many changes in points of view from chapter to chapter, which worked well in JULIA'S HOPE, seem almost superfluous here --- one wonders if a single narrator could have made for a more powerful read. Kelly has done a good job in earlier novels letting the characters carry the story, but the reliance on too many big crises (childbirth, a fire, a life-threatening injury) too fast, and a father (George Hammond) who seems too gullible and unfeeling to be credible mar this installment.

These problems aside, Kelly does a good job examining the response of conscientious children to tragedy (Sarah believes that her father's injury is her fault, since she hid Rorey's secret). Kelly once again also wrestles with the problem of bad things that happen to good people through the character of Julia. "Why Lord? Why did this have to happen? Samuel's been so good. And he's gone through so much in his life. It doesn't seem right." Anyone who has watched a good family go through hard times will resonate with her feelings.

Readers of the series will enjoy the happy ending that brings various estranged family members back together after years apart. Although this is the weakest of the four books in the series, Kelly's loyal readership will enjoy catching up with the lives of the characters.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby. Contact Cindy [...]

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An emotionally moving story about faith, hard choices, and the healing power of forgiveness, January 10, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rorey's Secret (Country Road Chronicles #1) (Paperback)

Rorey's Secret is a novel about two families who find their faith in God severely tested by the destruction of a raging fire. One woman harbors a disturbing secret about what really caused the fire, yet she is trapped at a crossroads between telling the truth and betraying a promise to a close friend. An emotionally moving story about faith, hard choices, and the healing power of forgiveness unfolds. Also recommended are author Leisha Kelly's previous novels, "Julia's Hope", "Emma's Gift", and "Katie's Dream".

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've read all four books., October 2, 2005

By 

Sibyl White "Sibyl" (TN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rorey's Secret (Country Road Chronicles #1) (Paperback)

I love the continuing story of the Worthams and the Hammonds. Helping a large family when they have next to nothing is heartwarming and their creativity is very interesting. There's a lot we can learn about living simply and it definitely shows how important love is. I hope there will be another in the series.