Customer Reviews

Separation of Faith: A Novel

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"Separation of Faith" is a terrific story and one you definitely haven't read before. The tale is very well told, fascinating to the very last. It is unfortunate that the title is confusing and
possibly misleading as to the content. This is not a religious book, but a darn good mystery/romance.

"Separation of Faith: A Novel," by Cheri Laser begins in the year 1945 post World War II, as Abby Ryan, formally referred to as Sister Mary Abigail was brutally attacked. This took place in the gazebo on the grounds of Lady of the Valley Convent, a painful memory that will never escape her mind. A handsome army captain, by the name of Sinclair Mellington tried to stop the attack but by then it was already too late. He was very accommodating in trying to help Sister Abby. Sinclair does become a very important player in Sister Abby's life both emotionally and legally.

Her dear lifelong friend Tess, also known as Sister Veronica was there to comfort her and offer support. This was a devastating event in Sister Abby's life and was a turning point in her decision to what she really was "called" to do. Sister Abby felt this was a sign from God that perhaps she needed to look at a different path. She was suffering guilt, shame, fear, and confusion. With much prayer, reflection, and serious thought, Sister Abby chose to leave the convent for obvious reasons. Naturally, her friend Tess was disappointed. Although Tess wanted Abby to be a part of the convent life as a nun, she also respected her decision.

Abby goes to her parents' home in Seattle to recover physically and emotionally from her attack. Ironically, Sinclair and his family also live in Seattle. After Sinclair's active duty was over, he decided to resume his studies at the University of Washington, in which he eventually became a prominent lawyer with his own law practice. Both Abby and Sinclair keep in touch throughout the years.

October 2008, Isaiah who is also an attorney found a secret letter his father Sinclair wrote. In the letter Sinclair who is now deceased, stated he needed Isaiah to go to Kettle Falls when Sister Abby dies to take care of a legal issue. Isaiah called Tess a day before Sister Abby did indeed pass away. Isaiah then drove to Kettle Falls as his father requested. Cheri Laser did a fantastic job in generating curiosity as to what was the secret of the letter. Isaiah really thought this would be a simple legal issue that could be straightened out with Sister Abby's estate, being that she lived a cloistered life for 24 years. However, Isaiah learned from Tess that Sister Abby has two daughters by the names of Zoie Gerard and Rosabella, also referred to as Rosa. To make matters even more complicated he had the unduly task to notify these women that their mother had passed away and to inform them of the funeral arrangements. You can imagine what an awkward position Isaiah was in. Not knowing if the daughters even knew about their mother, or if they knew about one another? Additionally, Isaiah is a complete stranger.

I found many interesting twists in turns in this book that will keep the reader always on the edge of their seat. Learn why Tess is no longer a nun. See how important Sinclair becomes in helping Abby fight a legal battle with a very powerful family, the Whitmores, and how both Caroline and Tess were able to help Abby through a difficult time in her life. Read about how Isaiah, who always puts women at arm's length, is considered to be a bit of a commitment phobe, meets Ava while at Kettle Falls. She helps him through his research regarding Sister Abby and her children and they began to form a special bond. Find out how Zoie and Rosa reacted to each other when then they finally meet. Learn how Zoie becomes instrumental in helping Isaiah start writing again.

"Separation of Faith" is an intricate novel. Cheri Laser's prose is simply outstanding and her characters crackle with realism--they become utterly real people. The storyline never drags, and at no point does this novel ever fail to completely engulf my attention. Laser also does a terrific job incorporating aspects of the Catholic faith into her story to add richness and dimension. The reader does have to be prepared for the occasional jumps back in time from 2008 to the 1940's. I think the author was fairly successful in doing this. Isaiah's research would bring the reader into a different era; although a few times in the beginning I felt it was not completely clear. Overall, Laser wrote so much detail about the surroundings and the motivations of her characters. I would highly recommend this book for anyone loving nostalgic, moving and detailed descriptions along with a fresh outlook on the humanity side of the past.

The story revolves around the life of Abby, a former nun who is now deceased.

Isaiah, an unemployed attorney, has been sent by his late father to settle Sister Abby's estate, a task he expects to complete in a couple of days. As he begins, Isaiah quickly discovers that Abby had many secrets and many different lives. The "secrets" unfold in a gripping succession of twists and turns which keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

As Isaiah works through the intriguing and sometimes tragic web that was Abby's life, he confronts some past demons of his own. He is helped along this difficult path by a romantic interest who shows him true intimacy, something he's never known before.

In summary, you won't be able to put this book down. I couldn't!

While the title, Separation of Faith, by Cheri Laser has a somewhat religious title--and a few nuns as characters, I found the overall drama was the major drawing point for potential readers--Drama at its Finest!

The story centers around the life of Abby Ryan and begins when she has died. Better said, it moves between her early life in the mid-40's and the present. Abby is being buried as Sister Abby and at her funeral, Father Moynihan who had known her since she had been young, had said:

"Her life's mission and purpose only became clear to her when she stopped trying to define and direct herself and began, instead, to listen..." (p. 294) As with all of us, we spend so much time proceeding to "do," that we sometimes never achieve the life that we could have or should have had. In Abby's case, it wasn't that she totally ignored what she was to do with her life--it was more that things just kept happening to her!

Tess and Abby had been friends throughout school. Tess had always talked about becoming a Nun, while Abby would try to talk her out of it. But after Tess had gone, Abby was invited to spend some time there to learn more about Tess's calling.

While she was there, she was most of the time separated from Tess, but Abby did begin to feel a peace and contentment that she could not remember ever having experienced.

But during that time, two men had broken in and attacked her. Fortunately soldiers back from the war were also there for a retreat and they pulled the men away from Abby. She immediately changed her mind and went back home.

One of those soldiers, Sinclair Mellington, became Abby's life-long friend as well as her lawyer.

Abby had at one time planned to become a journalist, so once the trauma of the attack was over, she entered school and later with excellent recommendations, began working, fortunately for a woman who became her mentor as well as a good friend. It was on an assignment, where she had needed to attend on her own, that she met the man who would later physically assault her...

It was only upon seeing his engagement announcement soon after that Abby became strong enough with anger, to call Sinclair and share what had happened. Sinclair immediately contacted the family and negotiated not only a settlement, but the parents agreed to use their considerable influence to get Abby a job. In turn, Abby was required to give up all legal rights to the baby that had been born from that earlier assault...for the family decided that "their" child, no matter how it had occurred, should not be put up for adoption, as Abby had planned.

Abby's job would be at a prestigious newspaper in Washington, D.C. At least that had been what the agreement indicated. But when she arrived at the newspaper office, Abby was immediately sent to a branch office in another state for a "Special Assignment." It wasn't hard to figure out that she really didn't have that job that had been promised!

When Abby was alone or talking to Father Moynihan, she had begun to think about what types of things were happening to her. Was it possible that Abby's life's mission was really to have become a Nun? Now Abby was in North Carolina, having finished the special assignment that she learned would never be published and finding the newspaper would continue to pay her but really had no work at that time. She obviously had no other option, she resigned. But Abby had already been pulled into the lives of the individuals with whom she had been working and when an emergency and subsequent death occurred, Abby agreed to stay for awhile to help...before she again returned to the Church to become a nun.

The Mellington family were wealthy and Sinclair's death left Isaiah and his mother to go on alone. Isaiah was 58, had never really worked much at the family law firm, but had spent most of his time helping his mother with her many social and charitable obligations. So, it was a complete surprise when he was contacted by Tess to come and deal with the funeral arrangements and legal issues, as arranged by Sinclair and Sister Abby. Isaiah discovered that he had to act immediately because Abby's work in her community had been so well-known and effective that it was expected that there would be crowds coming and separate services would be held for the Church and the community.

And that began the most amazing few weeks as seven individuals were pulled together by the death of Sister Abby, and into lives that would be forever changed! This is one fantastic story--prepare to cry, laugh and be amazed by what can happen to families when one individual is called of God--and He expects and continues to wait for the right answer! I loved it. If you ask me, this is a must-read! For so many reasons!

G. A. Bixler

After reading Cheri Laser's first book, "The Truth About Cinnamon", I found myself impatiently waiting for the publishing of her second. The wait was well worth it! "Separation of Faith" did not disappoint. From the beginning, it captured my curiosity and kept me turning the pages to discover the secrets that lay ahead.

Ms. Laser's understanding of the era and locales she wrote about added a layer of believability and richness to her story. Coupled with her masterful use of the English language, I was drawn in and glued to the characters and the plot. She is a truly talented writer and it shows on each and every page.

I will now impatiently wait book number three.

I was a bit tentative about reading Ms. Laser's novel when my wife first told me about it. I didn't think that it would appeal to a guy like me who has worked construction all his life and is used to being around carpenters on a daily basis who are rough around the edges to say the least. I'm here to tell you that I was wrong! I couldn't put it down. The author's writing is so descriptive that I keep referring to the book as a movie when talking to others about it.

In the past, I've only reviewed tools and building materials. But I felt compelled to review 'Separation of Faith' because it's so exceptional. Guy or gal, this one's definitely worth the read! Bob Gustavson

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading Separation of Faith, I was only briefly the reader, as I found myself crawling into the story and absorbing the personalities of the characters and the charm of the setting. As I read, I began to understand the term "the craft of writing" as each sentence is beautifully constructed having the power to hold attention and bring forth vivid images, emotions and thoughts.

Through the rich substance of the characters it isn't long before you find yourself fully vested in discovering what has occurred in their lives and the outcome that will follow. At some point in the story I found myself choosing to put aside tasks at hand- as I crossed an invisible boundary, which found me compelled to understand the entire story. With lady-like dignity interspersed with interesting historic references I followed this story to the completion and was given the gift of continuous surprises along the journey.

LUSCIOUS, SUSPENSEFUL, INTRIGUING, WARM, NOT TO BE PUT DOWN FOR LONG!

I WON'T SAY MUCH AS I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY EVEN ONE LITTLE SURPRISE, BUT THIS LOOK IS LUSCIOUS (that's just the word that keeps coming to mind) AND CAN'T BE LEFT ALONE WITHOUT YOUR RUSHING BACK TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ "SEPARATION OF FAITH" BEFORE IT WAS AVAILABLE TO YOU "THE LUCKY READER".

I FELL IN LOVE WITH MS LASER'S FIRST BOOK, "THE TRUTH ABOUT CINNAMON" AND HAVE BEEN WAITING" IMPATIENTLY" FOR HER NEXT BOOK. FINALLY, IT WAS COMPLETED AND I LOVED IT EVEN MORE THAN THE FIRST. WELL, NOT MORE, IT'S JUST DIFFERENTLY EXCELLENT! I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE THAT IT IS NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND "THE WORLD"! JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, I'VE ORDERED MANY FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS.



ENJOY

GAIL