The Way It Should Be
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About
After years of estrangement, the lives of Zara Mahoney and her twin sister, Eve, are suddenly intertwined again. When Eve's troubled lifestyle causes the state to contact Zara about taking custody of Eve's two children, Zara feels wholly unprepared. Besides never knowing she was an aunt, her new house, new husband, and plans for the future were meant to give her a fresh start.
Meanwhile, Eve may have a real chance at a new beginning with the help of Tiff Bradley, who, after facing a heartbreaking tragedy in her own family, is dedicated to helping women everyone else has given up on.
Over the course of one summer, all three women's hearts and lives hang in the balance as Eve desperately works toward a new life. Can they redefine their expectations of how life should be to find the hope they--and those they love--so desperately need?
Praise for More Than We Remember
"An excellent tale of how community and faith help people through difficult times."--
Publishers Weekly starred review
"Readers who are looking for faith-based women's fiction will be quickly drawn into this powerful novel that is, in turns, both heartbreaking and uplifting."--Booklist starred review
"The plot realistically portrays some of life's burdens by dealing with hard subjects like dementia, substance abuse, and death. In the end, though, the heavy drama gives way to a sliver of hope."--World Magazine
"Nelson dives into the emotional and physical toll drugs and violence take on the victims and the survivors. Through Zara, Eve, and Tiff, readers are drawn into complicated family dynamics as the characters are forced to confront questions with no easy answers. Recommended for libraries where Karen Kingsbury and Robin Lee Hatcher are popular."--Library Journal
Endorsements
"The lives of estranged sisters collide in a summer that at first seems anything but the way it should be. Christina Suzann Nelson's beautifully written tale of the complicated nature of family, the power of faith, and the ultimate cost of self-sacrifice for those we love will have readers considering complex questions long after closing the cover."
Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends
"In The Way It Should Be, Christina Suzann Nelson doesn't shy away from the horrors of addiction nor the heartache of the foster system and family brokenness. But in the midst of the hurt, Nelson offers pictures of grace, glimpses of beauty, and the hope of redemption. I loved getting to know Eve and Zara, Tiff and Bruce, and Charlotte and Sammy, and I hope for good things for all of them!"
Lauren Denton, USA Today bestselling author of The Hideaway
"Christina Suzann Nelson's books rise like cream to the top of my to-be-read pile. Her stories are always so unique and thoughtful, with characters that are as complex as they are compelling. If you want a book that will not only entertain and keep you turning pages but that will make you think deeply about what's truly important, you can't miss with a Nelson novel."
Deborah Raney, author of A Nest of Sparrows and the Chandler Sisters Novels series
"Nelson once again delivers a story with heart, grit, and compassion. The Way It Should Be reminds readers of beauty in the midst of pain, hope in the thick of adversity, and the power of love to restore and redeem. A stunning read."
Susie Finkbeiner, author of Stories That Bind Us
"According to Christina Suzann Nelson, 'everyone has vulnerable places.' And with a sensitive hand, that's just what she helps readers explore--the hurts that throb with every heartbeat. Nelson's engaging page-turner is fictional, but this story about three women searching for forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope strikes awfully close to home."
Robin W. Pearson, author A Long Time Comin' and 'Til I Want No More
The Author
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© Katey Tryon Christina Suzann Nelson
Christina Suzann Nelson (www.christinasuzannnelson.com) is an inspirational speaker and Christy award-winning author. Her first novel, If We Make It Home, was honored as one of Library Journal's top five inspirational novels of 2017, and her 2021...
Continue reading about Christina Suzann Nelson
Reviews
"Nelson dives into the emotional and physical toll drugs and violence take on the victims and the survivors. Through Zara, Eve, and Tiff, readers are drawn into complicated family dynamics as the characters are forced to confront questions with no easy answers. Recommended for libraries where Karen Kingsbury and Robin Lee Hatcher are popular."
Library Journal
"I highly recommend this book to all lovers of fiction and literature. The story is timeless and truly seeks to understand the experiences and challenges of addiction, foster care, adoption and more. In a way, it is more than a novel, and rather a testament to the work done every day by people working to change lives, from foster parents and case workers, to those in recovery."
The Corvallis Advocate