Yesterday's Embers (Clayburn Novels Series #3) [Paperback]

Deborah Raney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 24, 2009

On Thanksgiving Day, Douglas DeVore kissed his beloved wife good-bye, unaware that it would be the last time he'd see her -- or their precious daughter Rachel. Left with five kids to raise on his own, and already juggling two jobs to make ends meet, Doug wonders how he'll manage moment by moment, much less day after day, without Kaye's love and support.

When Mickey Valdez, a daycare teacher, hears of the tragedy, she offers to lend a helping hand. After all, it isn't like she has a family of her own waiting for her at home. Her brothers are all happily married, but love seems to have passed her by.

Then a spark ignites...but will the flame be too hot to handle?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Yesterday's Embers, with its realistic portrayals and emotionally engaging characters, is a book that will linger in the back of one's heart long after the final page is turned. Anyone who has loved and lost...and dared to love again...will celebrate Doug and Mickey's journey." -- Kim Vogel Sawyer, bestselling author of My Heart Remembers

"With characters so real they feel like family, YesterdayÕs Embers will stir your heart with sorrow, compassion, and joy as you journey with the characters down a road too many have to travel. More than just a good read, YesterdayÕs Embers offers greater understanding and insight to the challenges of others. A must read!" -- Diann Hunt, author of For Better or For Worse

"Yesterday's Embers took me through a roller coaster of emotions with the characters tugging at my heart throughout. I wanted so badly for things to turn out well for Doug, Mickey, and the children. I should have known that Deborah Raney wouldn't fail her readers -- or her characters. Yesterday's Embers is another winner." -- Robin Lee Hatcher, bestselling author of When Love Blooms and A Vote of Confidence

About the Author

Deborah Raney's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, was awarded a

Silver Angel from Excellence in Media and inspired the acclaimed World Wide

Pictures film of the same title. Since then her books have won the RITA Award,

the HOLT Medallion, and the National Readers' Choice Award; Raney was also a

finalist for the Christy Award. She and her husband, artist Ken Raney, make

their home in their native Kansas.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (March 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416593098
• ISBN-13: 978-1416593096
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,053,427 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I went from full-time stay-at-home mom for 20 years to pretty much full-time author. My passion is my family-my husband and I have been married for 37 years and have four kids, and four darling grandkids! But since, if a mom does her job right, she eventually puts herself OUT of a job, I'm delighted to have the privilege of working as a novelist. I absolutely love the writing life.

I've had a couple of non-fiction books published and contributed to some anthologies, as well as writing magazine articles. But my first love is fiction. I have written more than 25 novels and am now working on a new book for Howard/Simon & Schuster. A typical writing day begins early-often before 6 a.m.-with the business side of things: answering e-mail and reader mail, updating my Web site, reading for research. We're new empty-nesters so our routine is much quieter than it was when we had four kids at home. When my writing time begins, I have a routine that sets the stage, starting with lighting scented candles, choosing mood music on Pandora, and brewing a pot of coffee. Lately I've been enjoying coffee our son sent me from Germany. I have a cozy office that looks out over our front yard where I can watch for the UPS man and the mailman. But since I write on a laptop, I often take my computer to the kitchen counter or a chair by the fireplace, or, if the weather is nice, out on the deck where my feline friend keeps me company. I try to wrap up the day's words (usually 1000-1500 a day) by dinnertime.

Believe it or not, my first choice of activities for the evening is READING-a great novel, of course! As much as I enjoy the actual process of writing, I am an extrovert by nature, and doubt I'd last long in this business were it not for the company of several wonderful online writers' groups, the joy of connecting with other authors at retreats and conventions, and meeting aspiring writers when I teach at conferences around the country.

Probably the most exciting event in my writing life so far was when my first novel was made into a film by World Wide Pictures. Certainly a dream come true! I believe writing is a calling from God on my life-one I've felt since I was a twelve-year-old girl-and I feel blessed beyond words to have answered that call.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Yesterday's Embers, July 23, 2009

By 

J. Brady "oregonreader" (Eugene, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yesterday's Embers (Clayburn Novels Series #3) (Paperback)

Doug DeVore is suddenly widowed when his wife and daughter tragically die. He is left with five children and very few resources. He turns to Mickey Valdez, his children's day care teacher, a thirty year old single woman. For a lesser writer, this storyline would be a feel-good romance, a "love conquers all" exercise. But Deborah Raney offers more than that. She looks beneath the surface at what motivates DeVore, his loneliness, his feelings of being overwhelmed at caring for his children, his need for someone to take care of him as his wife had done. Kayeleigh, at 12 the oldest child, struggles with the loss of her mother along with normal adolescent insecurities and her resentment of Mickey drives a lot of the story. Mickey worries that life is passing her by, that she will never have the marriage and family she desires. How their relationship develops, and all the problems they encounter, from religious differences, the demands of so many children and money problems, to extended family pressures, give a sense of reality to their story. I had a real sense of getting to know this family. There is a strong Christian element to the story which motivates the characters and drives their decisions but this does not overpower the story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Yesterday's Embers, May 14, 2009

By 

R. A. Taylor "avid reader" (FL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yesterday's Embers (Clayburn Novels Series #3) (Paperback)

Yesterday's Embers by Deborah Raney is the story of Doug DeVore and Mickey Valdez. Doug's wife and one daughter die in an accident on Thanksgiving Day, leaving him with five other children to raise on his own. Mickey is the kind-hearted single day-care worker who is already familiar with the family because three of the children already attend her day-care. Mickey provides some respite from Doug's somber mood with her humor and her willingness to help. Soon a relationship begins and in no time, Mickey and Doug decide to marry, although both have misgivings about the speed with which this happens.

I found this to be a very easy read with extremely likeable characters. However, I wanted to warn Doug and Mickey away from a plan which seemed rash at the very least. I think the courtship was handled very well, but the marriage and the problems that arouse because of it were kind of rushed. At several different points, hints were given that Kayleigh, the 12-year-old, was developing an eating disorder, but then was never mentioned again.

All in all, I enjoyed this book, but wish more time had been spent on the marriage and the ways Doug and Mickey worked things out.

If I were able to give 1/2 stars, I would rate this 3-1/2 stars

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars interesting family drama, April 19, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yesterday's Embers (Clayburn Novels Series #3) (Paperback)

On Thanksgiving Day, Kaye DeVore and her five years old daughter Rachel died from monoxide poisoning. The grieving widower Doug understands the irony of their deaths as an EMT he has warned about the hidden dangers of monoxide poisoning. However, he has no time to mourn as he must raise five children with the oldest Kayeleigh being only twelve.

Mickey Valdez knows the DeVore kids and their late mom as she runs a day care center that include the family's youngest Harley. As Doug struggles to make enough money to support them, he relies heavily on Kayeleigh to take charge of her siblings while also is always late for picking up his kid from the daycare center. Mickey takes Harley home and Doug invites her to join his family with their take-out meal. Harley, Sarah, Sadie and Landon are thrilled to have Mickey eat with them, but Kayeleigh resents her. When the two adults meet at a wedding that Doug wanted to skip but Kayeleigh insisted on attending, the townsfolk sense a spark and begin matchmaking though Kaye is only gone less than three months and the tweener resents the intrusion.

This is an interesting family drama in which six people struggle with a sudden death of two loved ones when the patriarch begins courting another woman. The story line is character driven as the kids react differently to Mickey entering their lives and she and Doug have major doubts as each knows it is to soon for him and his children. Though somewhat similar in tone to REMEMBER TO FORGET, the poignant reactions of the children refresh this deep inspirational Clayburn, Kansas novel (see LEAVING NOVEMBER).

Harriet Klausner