HOME ANOTHER WAY. Parrish, Christa.
NCLA Review -Sarah Graham believed her parents had died in a car accident when she was a toddler. Her grandmother was raising her but showed her little love or affection. Sarah learns the truth at twelve; her father had murdered her mother and was in jail. Thinking she was unlovable, Sarah became a selfish, self-destructive person. Then she receives notification that her father has died. One of the stipulations of receiving her inheritance is that she must live in small town Jonah for six months. Sarah learns a lot from the people of the town and eventually comes to find herself, a secret from the past and the Lord. Rating: 4 —VJ Bethany House 2008, 350p, paper, 9780764205231, $13.99 [FIC] ( )

This is one of the only Christian fiction books I have ever read (most likely the only one, actually); I decided to give it a chance since I received it as an ARC, and hey, it is only a couple hundred pages long. I was surprised to get drawn into this well-written story in the first couple of chapters, and I pretty much read it straight through. Sarah had a tough life; her father murdered her mother, leaving her to be raised by a resental grandmother, and she is coming to Jonah after a failed marriage and a stillborn child. In order to receive her inheritance from her estranged father, she has to spend six months living in Jonah. This was actually a wise condition from her father as I don't think Sarah would have given him a chance of a relationship or forgiveness when he was still living. By staying at her father's cabin and interacting with the people of Jonah, she gets to learn who her father really was and who she really is. She did grow emotionally through this process, but the book did not end with her becoming a saint with a perfect life - she still has a ways to go and some things were left unresolved...I felt this was a good choice by the author, I do not always like when everything is predictably wrapped up by the last chapter, plus it leaves the door open for a second book to continue her story. I am looking forward to reading more about Sarah. ( )

If you are someone that thinks that Christian fiction is always positive, with sunny, happy characters who are willing to drop everything to help out whoever walks by, you need to read this book. It will definitely change your mind about the genre. This book isn't your typical Christian fiction book. The town of Jonah, New York has been a safe haven for Sarah Graham's father and now after his death, it has become hers. I enjoyed reading about her becoming acquainted with the small town and its cast of characters. Also the discovery about the truth of the situation involving her parents is painful yet life changing for her. The chemistry between Sarah and Jack is really excellent, and I really liked his character.

Sarah is an extremely prickly character. Throughout almost the entire book, she is nothing but mean, snippy, rude and always trying to get a rise out of a person just for the fun of it. I understand where her hostility comes from. If I had to live the life she went through, with a mother killed by your father who then abandons you with a grandmother who tells you everyday you are worthless, I'd be angry and sullen too. However her attitude continues throughout the entire book and her continual rebuffs at those who try to help her make it very difficult to actually like her as a character. I found myself several times in the book wanting to yell at her to just listen to what the other person had to say before making snap judgments about them.

I did feel that the ending was rather abrupt and leaves the reader with a sense of incompleteness. I honestly felt that there could have been more, not necessarily a neat and tidy ending, but at least a little bit more closure than what we were given. It made me almost feel as if the time I invested in the book seem to have vanished almost immediately. I really liked the entire Watson family and would have liked more closure with them as well. That being said though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is not preachy at all and the storyline sucks you and keeps you wanting to read more. This is an absolutely wonderful debut novel and I am looking forward to reading future works from Christa Parrish. HIGHLY recommended. ( )

Was unable to read this book all the way through. It didn't capture my interest. ( )

I hate to say but I didn't care for this book, and just couldn't finish it. I thought the writing was awkward, and I didn't like the main character.

Sorry, but it just wasn't for me.