Unabridged audio, finished only because this was a new genre for me.

Interesting premise, so I thought I’d give a whirl. If this is an example of the genre, I’m not sure I’ll read more.

I found the heroine completely unsympathetic and irritating. She becomes a total wuss when life gets tough. She gets angry at her loved ones when they pick up her slack. She’s not very forgiving or sympathetic to others’ difficulties. Personally, I think her husbands are too good for her, but I will finish this out in hopes she turns into a good example of Christian love, strength and forgiveness.

Finished: The heroine did not improve. She found herself in a difficult situation; and essentially whined and cried about it until the guys decided how to resolve it. She was unbelievably self-centered. Every obstacle was bemoaned over how it effected her or made her life harder. Ugh. The only character I disliked more was her bitchy mother-in-law.

I guess I need to look elsewhere for female characters -religious or otherwise - who have a spine and breathe a little fire now and then. ( )

I have been reading some really good books lately and this one I must say is right up there with the best. I will say be sure to read this with a box of kleenex by your side because as you get to the end you will need them. It was a powerful message of love and how God will work things out for good, even when we mess up by trying to make decisions on our own without Him. The characters seemed so real (they all had flaws and differing emotions at times and you could sympathize with each one of them) that I almost could think I was reading a real-life story.

Daria Camfield and her husband Nate are missionaries in a remote village in South America. When Nate is reportedly killed Daria comes back to the States with alot of heartache, but the comfort of knowing she is pregnant with Nate's child. Fast foward to her getting a job at a veterinarian's office and working for Colson Hunter, and trying to raise her little girl. Fast forward again to Daria and Cole falling in love and getting married and being one happy family, with another child on the way. Then comes the news that her first husband Nate is not dead and has been found and is coming home. Now Daria must decide which man she must choose, when she loves them both.

The author did such a good job with this story. It was an interesting plot and she handled it so well! You felt for Daria and Cole and Nate and the dilemna they were in. I won't spoil the ending, but I will say WELL DONE Deborah Raney. This is a book I will not forget and will be thinking about for awhile. I closed the book with tears in my eyes as there was no happily ever after without someone getting their heart broken. But God can turn this tragedy around for His glory. And I think book 2 in this series will hopefully show me how He continues to work all things out for His good. ( )

Beneath a Southern Sky was my first experience with Deborah Raney. Just reading the blurbs inside the front cover really encouraged me to read this book, and it was like nothing I have ever read! Deborah tells a story of a young couple, the Camfields, serving as missionaries in Columbia. Very quickly into the story, there is a horrible fire in a nearby village and Daria Camfield finds out that she has lost her husband forever. She returns to her hometown in Kansas, where she eagerly awaits the birth of her child, a child that her husband will never have the chance to know. A year or so goes by, and Daria gets some shocking news. Her husband, Nathan Camfield, has been found alive. What should be a joyous reunion for the two of them is going to be pure agony once Nathan learns that Daria has remarried. How will Daria be able to choose between two men that she has loved so deeply? This book is such a remarkable story about trusting in the Lord, even when everything in you wants to move in another direction.

Beneath a Southern Sky is definitely a page-turner, and will have you burning the midnight oil to find out what happens. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! ( )

Daria is very much in love with her husband, Nate. They are both Christian missionaries in South America when he disappears and is assumed dead. She heads back to the United States certain she is carrying Nate's child. After giving birth, she gets a job in a veterinarian's office and falls in love with her new boss. A little voice in the back of her mind tells her to wait but ignoring it she accepts his proposal and gets married. Unknown to Daria, Nate didn't die. He was very sick and held prisoner in South America. He's never stopped loving Daria. Daria's world starts to fall apart when Nate returns.

Beneath a Southern Sky is a Christian romance that I really enjoyed. The characters are very believable and unlike some Christian novels, they aren't perfect. They have faults and those faults make them all the more lovable and endearing. The story is very well written and I could easily feel all the emotions Daria experienced mourning her first husband and the torment she felt when her first husband came "back from the dead". It wasn't an obvious choice between the two men and I had a really hard time figuring out what her choice would be.

This is a really good book that will appeal to lovers of romance and Christian books. It's not an overly preachy book or one where everyone is spouting salvation stories every other page. I think this would appeal to people who don't regularly read Christian stories as well as those that do.