Customer Reviews

Things Worth Remembering

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Another great book by Jackina Stark!! This book gripped me from the first page.I wanted to stretch it out and savor the characters, but I couldn't put it down. I finished it in two days! It is unlike any other book I have ever read. I absolutely loved it!! Jackina's style is fresh and creative and honest. This book made me want to be a better wife, mom and friend.

Forgiveness. Is it really important? "Things Worth Remembering" is a beautiful example of how important forgiveness is. Kendy loves her only daughter Maisey more than life itself and until Maisey was 13 they had the perfect mother / daughter relationship. Then Kendy entered a very dark period in her life and the relationship they had was destroyed beyond repair and Kendy doesn't know what to do to fix it. The problem is that Kendy doesn't have all the information, or rather Maisey has more information than Kendy realizes she does. Too much information can be a very bad thing and Maisey has never been able to forgive her mom. Now she is getting married to a wonderful man and everything comes to a head. What will happen when the darkness finally sees the light?

Jackina Stark has an amazing way of delving deep into her characters and bringing them to life. Kendy and Maisey are incredible people in their own rights and then Luke (Kendy's husband) and Marcus (Maisey's soon to be husband) are wonderfully strong secondary characters that many times are the reason the story moves forward. The overall theme of the book, how unforgiveness will change who you are and destroy your happiness, is so well spoken in Jackina's voice that I will recommend this book strongly to any woman's fiction lovers. Excellent.

Things Worth Remembering by Jackina Stark is another beautifully written, poignant novel by the author. For the first thirteen years of Maisy Laswell's life, she and her mother, Kendy, were connected at the heart, with a relationship most mothers and daughters would love to have. After witnessing something the summer she turned thirteen, their bond is shattered and now nine years later as Maisy prepares for her wedding, their distance is only accentuated. Stark has a unusual talent for creating multi-layered characters were unexpected depth. Both Kendy and Maisy are equally sympathetic, and the reader can't help but ache for both of them, as well as be inspired to take a closer look at their own relationships. There's a powerful message about forgiveness and redemption; the longer we hold on to anger and hurt, the more power it gains over us, eating away at the very soul. I dare the reader to make it through the final chapter without crying! Stark is definitely a new author to watch; she only seems to get better with each book.

Things Worth Remembering by Jackina Stark is a slow and steady story that resonates with real life. I enjoyed my time spent reading this novel. It's a novel that shows us the importance of forgiveness of both others and ourselves in order to move on and live our lives to the fullest.

Things Worth Remembering alternates between mother and daughter, Kendy and Maisey. Kendy was told she couldn't have children so when Maisey was born it was a very big event. Kendy adored her daughter more than life itself and they had the perfect relationship until one day as Maisey was approaching her teenage years something happened and then they didn't. Maisey witnessed something that changed the very way she felt about her mother and not in a good way.

At this time Kendy was going through a hard time with depression caused by a few things in her life. She withdrew completely from her husband Luke and Maisey. She didn't get out of bed, didn't open the curtains, didn't cook and most importantly shut her daughter right out of her life. For Maisey, especially after having her illusions of her mother shattered, this was the last straw. She began spending time with only her father, turning to him for everything. She spent time with her friends and swimming - she learned to fill her time - she didn't need a mother anymore or so she thought.

After a while Kendy feels better and starts to come back into her life but is it too late? Maisey has definitely moved on. Now she does everything she can to avoid talking to her mother or spending time with her. For Kendy's part, she's bewildered but then again she has no idea that Maisey saw something that destroyed a part of her where her mother was concerned.

Now Maisey is grown up and getting married. She hasn't wanted Kendy to be a part of any of the plans and of course Kendy is hurt but she hasn't stirred up any trouble; this is Maisey's time. However Maisey's soon to be husband Marcus isn't one to let things go that are troubling him and he has no problem telling Maisey that he doesn't like how she treats her mother. This sets off a chain of events from which there is no return. The only way is forward to forgiveness and healing.

This is a Christian fiction novel but not in an overwhelming way at all. Towards the end of the novel is really more where you notice the Christian element in learning to trust our faith and learning to forgive. It's a good story with a good lesson; bitterness will eat you up but forgiveness will set you free.

This is a beautifully written novel about the relational devastation that occurs when families keep secrets. Maisey and Kendy are the two main characters and the author uses their voices to unfold the family history to the reader. The narrative begins with Maisey returning home for her wedding. She barely speaks to Kendy, her mom, let alone includes her in the preparations. Maisey decided a long time ago that it is her job to punish Kendy and protect the family, especially her father, from Kendy's secret. Kendy, unaware that Maisey "knows", is hurt, confused, and emotionally struggling. As memories return, and shared with the reader, we come to understand and empathize with both Maisey and Kendy.

There are strong supporting characters in the fiancée Marcus, husband Luke, and Kendy's cold and driven mother. Luke delivers a memorable line to Maisey, "Children of dust, Maisey, children of dust. That's not an insult to the human race; it's just a fact. Making mistakes is unavoidable; we are created, not the Creator. But it is also a fact that God loves us, despite our frailty. And it's a fact that life is good when we too choose love and forgiveness."

This book encourages those who believe damaged relationships and broken hearts are beyond the healing had of God.

Kendy Laswell's daughter Maisey is coming home to get married. This should be a joyous time for a mother and daughter who used to have a very strong bond, but for the past nine years, Maisey has been pushing her mother away. Kendy is unsure why their bond was is so broken, but she wants nothing more than to have her daughter back. Maisey's childhood was a happy one filled with memories of her loving parents, but the summer she was thirteen, it all changed for her and she has not been able to forgive her mother.

It took me probably less than ten pages to fall in love with this book. This book was particularly touching for me because my mom passed away when I was twenty-two years old, the same age Maisey is in this story. There were many moments of pure frustration for me in this book. I wanted to reach into the pages and shake Maisey and say to her, "This is your mother! How would you feel if she was gone tomorrow?" I couldn't imagine being that angry with my mom, ever. The love that Kendy has for her daughter reminded me so much of the love my mom had for me. This book moved me so much; I wish my mom was still here so I could tell her how much I love her.

In addition to Things Worth Remembering being a touching story about the strong bond between a mother and daughter, it is about forgiveness, healing, and redemption. I was moved to tears by this book because it was written with such heart and emotion. This book will remind us how important it is to forgive and how we all deserve a second chance. I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend it, but keep the tissues close.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House.

Things Worth Remembering was an touching story about redemption. It stresses the importance of forgiveness in both the offender and the offended's lives. Written in alternating mother and daughter points of view, you learn of a relationship gone astray nine years ago. The story covers the week prior to daughter Maisey's wedding. The tension is high between the two women, and as the week progresses they each remember moments before and after their relationship changed. Thus we learn how they have changed, and in a pivotal confrontation, we learn why.
At first I wasn't sure if I liked the voices; I felt Kennedy (the mother) was a bit whiny, and Maisey just spoiled or selfish. However, the story progressed well, and as they started to remember and reveal, they each grew on me. I loved the secondary characters of Kennedy's husband and Maisey's fiance, and Luke and Marcus were crucial to the resolution.
I enjoyed having both main characters' perspectives. It added fresh layers to the plot and narration. This book does not fit the mold. It is unique and inspiring. I would, without hesitation, recommend Things Worth Remembering. [...]

Sometimes you read a book from an author and you can't wait for the next one to only find it disappointing. This is no such book! I was pulled in immediately to the story of Kendy and Maisey, slowly finding out more information as to why their relationship is on thin ice. This story is a wonderful example of love and forgiveness, and once again, Jackina leaves many nuggets from God's Word. She has difinitely become one of my new favorite authors, and I look forward to her next novel!

Maisey's wedding is a just a week away and even though she is home in body, the distance between her and her mother Kendy is overwhelming. There was a point in their lives when their relationship was a model example of the perfect mother/daughter bond. Now Kendy struggles to understand what caused the chasm between them. She only wants her daughter to have a perfect wedding day ~ and longs for restoration between the two of them....but is it even possible?


My Thoughts


Jackina Stark has done a wonderful job weaving the importance of communication and also forgiveness into Things Worth Remembering. An event that happened over ten years prior has virtually destroyed the relationship between a mother and daughter. Because it had gone undiscussed, bitterness had taken root in the relationship.

With her daughter on the verge of her own marriage, everything comes to light ~ and while it seems like difficult timing, it was something much needed and eventually a big blessing.

"Things Worth Remembering" by Jackina Stark is a beautifully written book about a damaged mother-daughter relationship, forgiveness and redemption. Kendy and her daughter, Maisey, had a wonderful relationship until one summer when when Maisey was a teen and everything changed. Kendy never really understood what happened and it isn't till Maisey is back home before her wedding that she shares a secret that she has carried for years. Can Maisey overcome the pain in her heart and forgive her mother?

I loved this book. It was a fast read, and I found myself drawn to wanting to find out what happened between mother and daughter to so drastically change the relationship. What could a mother do to so drastically change her daughter's feelings about her? And now Maisey, about to take her own vows of marriage, is forced to look at issues that have plagued her for sometime. What do marriage vows really mean? Can we truly forgive other's indiscretions?

After reading this book, I felt uplifted. Relationships, no matter how severely damaged, can be mended. Stark does an excellent job of gently intertwining scripture with real life without sounding preachy. I look forward to reading more by Stark.

As a blog reviewer for Bethany House, they have provided me with a copy of this book to write an honest review. I received no other compensation for this review.