Christina Suzann NelsonRezensionen

What Happens Next by Christina Suzann Nelson is a complexly structured novel that explores what happened after a child goes missing. Even with two timelines and three POVs (Heather, Dora, and Faith), I never felt lost within this story. Did I have questions that demanded answers just as the main characters did? Oh, yes! Podcaster Faith spends her summer back in the small town where her childhood took a turn. Faith’s best friend went missing and there are no answers to the mystery until Faith starts asking questions. Dora believes her daughter is still out there somewhere and lives her life waiting for her return. Life has gone on around her, but she is stuck in the past. Both of these characters do not forget the pivotal event that changed their lives. The story shifts between the present day and the summer when Faith went missing. Faith, the missing friend and daughter, tells her story in a first person voice. I loved that. Faith becomes real, not a long gone character that others tell about. Perspectives from adults and children are important to understand just went on that summer. This truly is a story of what comes next after tragedy and loss, even when no answers are to be found.

What Happens Next is an excellent book. Perfect for a book club discussion, you will want to talk about this book!

Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

What a fantastic book! Beautifully written with wonderful characters. It openly addresses terminal illness and how it affects families. It also reminds the reader that God is in control- very encouraging. I highly recommend this book!

Amazing book! I read it in one day because I just had to see how it ended!

A podcaster investigated theinvestigated the Disappearance of a childhood friend. She has been visiting her grandmother and makes a best friend. Later the girl disappears. Trays later she is doing a true crime podcast and asked to investigate the friends disappearance. She finds herself much more involved than expected.

What Happens Next follows podcaster Faith Byrne, as she's contacted to find out what happened to her childhood best friend as she went missing after that initial summer they spent together.

The alternating points of view and timelines, and cast of characters make this book really enjoyable. It is also a story of grief, and how it can shape your life. You really get to know the characters and want to know where their stories continue. Luckily the story does wrap up and it doesn't leave you hanging, but you still want more from the storyline.

This was my first book to ready by this author and I found it really well written and wanting to read more.

I don’t think I have read a book by this author but now I will be looking for more from her. This story is emotional and filled with tragedy that pierce’s the soul. What would you do if your child disappeared? There is no trace of them and after awhile the case isn’t important to the police. As a mother Dora has never give up hope. She knows her daughter is out there somewhere.
Her family wants Dora to go to grief counseling when years have passed and she still has a big birthday dinner for her missing daughter. I have been to grief counseling and found it to be very comforting. The process of grief is different for everyone and I liked how the author illustrated how each one handles it.

I liked the way the author gave us points of view from three people as we follow them in the story. Faith has never understood why her parents never told her that her best friend disappeared. All these years she thought Heather had rejected her and didn’t want to be her friend anymore, what a burden for a child to carry into adulthood. Now she has decided to investigate her friend’s disappearance and hopefully find closure fir her and Heather’s family.

Lastly we get to know Heather better as the author shares her story as a child. She was full of life and loved playing with her friends. We get to see Heather enjoying bike riding and other things that kids love to do. I loved. getting to know Heather but I will say it was hard to read.

The story does shine a light on faith and hope as we watch grief take hold and bring characters to a place where they need to address grief in order to heal and let go. A must read for those who love stories that center around healing emotionally.

I received a copy of this book from Early Readers Program from Librarything. the review is my own opinion.

As someone whose Jr high/high school years were in the 80s, I enjoyed the nostalgia in Christina Suzann Nelson’s What Happens Next. But this book had so much more to it.

This book is an examination of some of the different ways people handle grief though a missing persons case more than 30 years old. Nelson gives readers memorable characters. I wanted to hug Dora, cheer Faith and her investigation on, and just sit with Heather throughout this story.

The mystery is unfolded so well, I just had to keep reading to find out what happened and who was involved. And despite some tough discoveries, there is much hope woven into the threads of these people’s lives. I can’t believe this is the first book by this author I’ve read, but I guarantee it won’t be the last.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.

Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out!

Faith finds herself middle-aged, and newly divorced because her husband wants to marry someone else. He is whisking away their two children to Hawaii for the summer--and for them to watch his re-marriage. That is when she is contacted by Brooke, the sister of her childhood best friend, Heather Crane.

Instead of Heather dropping Faith like a hot rock when she moved away, she is told that Heather vanished right after Faith left in 1987. Her disappearance has gone unsolved. Their family has never functioned normally since, especially her mother, Dora. Brooke begs Faith to use her podcast to solve this mystery, and hopefully allow their family to finally move forward.

Faith is shocked that her family never told her the truth about Heather. The summer Faith spent with Heather was the best time of her life.
Despite this being very different from her normal podcast fare, she agrees to help the family. But it will involve moving back to the little town she lived in when Faith knew Heather, and dealing with the awful fallout that has been destroying the Cranes ever since.

Will Faith's investigative skills be of any use on a thirty-plus-years-old cold case? Would the things that are uncovered have been better left alone? Can there be a happy ending for this mystery, especially for the Cranes?

The reliving of the girl's friendships is bittersweet, and will keep you asking, "what happened to Heather?" It is clear the pain Dora has lived with since has had a negative effect on her and each family member. I was glad to see the help that their church gave them. This five-star book will appeal to fans of mysteries and thrillers.

Thank you, Bethany House for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own.

Thanks to LibraryThing and Bethany House Publishers for an advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I was captivated by this novel from the first chapter. Some people call it Young Adult, some a thriller. It’s also a dual timeline mystery, with themes of family, grief, loss, forgiveness, and healing. I couldn’t put it down.

The 1987 summer that Faith met Heather, when they were 10 years old, was life-changing. Heather befriended the lonely girl and they became inseparable. Heather’s family was all that Faith wished for: a loving mother, a caring father, older siblings who all treated Heather kindly as the youngest in this warm-hearted family. And they welcomed Faith and included her in ways her own parents never did.

After Faith and her family move away just before the school year begins, she writes several letters to Heather, expecting to continue their friendship. Years pass and Heather never responds. Faith is hurt and “assumes her friend just didn’t care, that she was self-absorbed and couldn’t be bothered with a mess like Faith.”

Over 30 years later Faith is a newly divorced mother of two with a popular podcast. “She started her podcast ‘What Happens Next,’ as a way to use her journalistic skills to highlight the great endurance of the human spirit. Week after week, she shined a light on stories of resiliency, on people who found a way to go on even though they faced devasting situations, making positive impacts on the world.

“‘What Happens Next’ wasn’t a true crime show, at least not in the traditional sense. Her listeners expected stories of hope and healing, of people who fought through loss to come out stronger and still maintaining compassion and wholeness.”

Faith is surprised and shocked when Heather’s older sister Brooke contacts her to ask if she would feature Heather on her podcast. It turns out that Heather disappeared about a week after Faith moved away and there has been no trace of her since 1987. Brooke hopes that this last effort could prompt someone to come forward with information about what happened to her sister.

Faith moves into her grandmother’s house, which is just down the street from Heather’s parents’ home. She allocates the summer to producing a podcast called “Bringing Heather Home.” The novel is told in flashbacks, juxtaposed with the current day efforts of Faith to discover what happened to Heather.

Despite the tragic loss of a young girl, this was an inspirational, well-written story that I highly recommend.

Twin sisters grow up in the same difficult home life, but each takes a different path as adults. After years of not seeing each other one sister is in a desperate situation and the state has stepped in to take her children. The other sister is contacted by them and asked to help, but she didn’t even know they existed. She has recently married, bought her first home and is starting a business and this decision puts everything in jeopardy. Then there is a third woman who has reached out to the mother and is trying to help her, even as she works through the grief of losing her own daughter. All 3 are pushed to their limits as they look at what sacrifice means to their own families and the cost of unconditional love. This story rings true, I’ve been there and recognized so much of what each one was going through. There is a lot in here, and more characters that are equally well written. I liked the ending which could have gone so many ways and yet the author stayed true to the story.

I feel that the less you know about What Happens Next, the better, so I won’t offer a synopsis. But I will tell you it held my attention from beginning to end.

I’ve read one other book by this author, so I had no doubt I’d enjoy it. Just as in the other book, there are three women’s points of view. I love seeing different perspectives, giving me a well-rounded, in-depth story.

Faith, Dora, and Heather are interesting and complex characters, and I had no trouble connecting with each of them—especially Heather. I enjoyed the dual timelines so much, especially the 80s, and the host of memories and nostalgia it brought.

This is a touching story with elements of heartbreak, mystery, grief, friendship and underlying themes of forgiveness and healing. I love a story that makes me feel deeply, and this one certainly did.

First Line: Faith Byrne’s carefully laid plans took advantage of unplanned distractions and skipped tow, never to be seen again.
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Christian Fiction
Author: Christina Suzann Nelson
Page Count: 352

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.

I enjoyed every aspect of this book as I love the originality of this author. She makes me think deeply about the complexities of the situations and has me feeling what the characters are going through. I found myself identifying with Dora as I’m watching my sister navigate life after losing her daughter. It is a difficult journey and is handled so well in this story. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Heather and it kept me engrossed trying to figure it out. I liked how Heather had a voice in the story retelling what happened that summer before she disappeared. It reminded me of the show cold case files where the victim had a voice. It was heartbreaking to learn the outcome but also satisfying and left you with hope. Healing is a difficult journey for all involved but possible when closure and unanswered questions come to light. This is a keeper to be read again. I highly recommend putting on your must read pile asap.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

Amazon does not allow for (DNF) no rating. I rate three stars as it I normally will not rate a story I did not finish. I do not feel it fair to give one star or five stars as I was not able to fully rate the story if I did not finish it.

Faith Byrne is going through a divorce; her daughters are leaving for the summer to be with their dad. She’s emotionally barely hanging on and wondering how she’ll make it over the next few months when she gets a letter, from the sister of a childhood friend named Heather, saying the family needs help finding out what happened to Heather. But Faith didn’t know Heather was missing; she thought that she just didn’t want to be friends anymore. Faith was a journalist and now has a podcast that tells the stories of families who have gone through tragedies and found some hope after what happened. This isn’t the type of story she’d normally do but with her popularity it may help get the word out. If only it were that simple, because when Faith returns to the small Oregon town where she spent the summer with Heather, it unlocks her memories and for the people in town who are still haunted by their own memories. Very good, even though I figured out the mystery, there were still a lot of twists that kept me turning the page. For me it is more about grief and how people handle loss; and the mystery about Heather holds it together.

A child missing for 36 years. How could Faith not help discover what happened to her friend Heather. Someone must know something. “After all these years, there was no time to waste in finding them. A family needed answers. Faith needed answers.”
This was an exceptional story written from three points of view: Heather tells of her summer of 1987. Her mother, Dora, and her best friend, Faith, are looking back at that fateful summer.
Dora has not navigated the last 36 years well. Her other daughter, Brooke, asks for help from Faith who does a podcast called WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. Finding herself at loose ends for the summer, she agrees to return to Deep Valley, Oregon to try and find those answers that were never resolved.
This book is more than a mystery. It is a look at types of grief and how grief is handled or mishandled. And a continuing look at how grief shapes our lives. It poses solutions for coping through steadfast faith.
I have enjoyed several books by Ms. Nelson and she always makes me rethink my priorities as well as spinning an intriguing and complex story.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

This is my favorite one of her novels so far! I loved everything about this story; friendship, innocent childhood summers, mystery, podcast and the character just cracked me up through out the story. Faith's childhood summer friend disappeared right after she had moved away with her mother. This had been her most favorite summer and she is hurt that she had to leave Heather, who became her best friend. The summer was innocent with biking, fireworks, movie rentals and the usual childhood adventures of playing in the creeks and checking out new contribution sites. Heather's sister then shows up on Faith's door step to ask for a large favor. Her mother needs help, and she feels that Faith is the only one who might be able to bring closure to the family and to help Heather's mom move on from years of holding onto hope that her daughter will one day walk through that door again. Not like her usual podcasts Faith cannot say no and as she journeys back to her grandmothers town and into her past, she might just learn a little about herself along the way as well. I really loved this one and this novel had me laughing and sad and hopeful through it all. Thank you to the author for the free novel and allowing me to be part of the launch team.

What Happens Next is a solid Christian mystery. It centers around Heather Crane, who disappeared in 1997. She was never found and was presumed dead. Her family, however, without a body, was never able to have closure. When her sister, Brooke, reaches out to Heather's best friend Faith (present day), she's hoping the former investigative reporter-turned true crime podcaster can help find the truth behind her sister's disappearance. Told in three POVs--Faith (present day), Dora (Heather's mom, present day), and Heather (past), the reader gets a picture of the crime as well as the resolution. There's a poignant picture of grief here: of a family who is trying to move on and a mother who can't let go. The Christian aspect is low key--I love that it's there, but it's not something that a non-believer would feel interferes with the text. It's a solid whodunnit and I'd be interested in looking up other books by this author. Special thanks to Bethany House and LibraryThing for providing a free ARC in exchange for a review.

I don’t normally read true-crime stories, but since I was asked to be an influencer by the publisher, and I’ve read all the author’s novels and enjoyed them. I thought I’d jump in.

It’s been 36 years since Heather had gone missing. Her sister, Brooke Crane asks Faith Byrne to do some investigating. Faith tells her this is not her normal venue, but she would use her reporter skills, for the sake of their friendship. Faith was shocked by the news and the fact her parents and friends never told her of Heather’s situation. She had written her several letters which had gone unanswered. This explained so much. Faith hoped that by doing this podcast it would help bring closure to this family.

The main character Faith Byrne was visiting her grandmother the summer 10-year-old. Heather went missing. Heather lived next to Faith’s grandma and became fast friends as they spent a lot of time together that summer, which included male pal Nate, who had a crush on Faith. Telling the story through the eyes of Heather (the missing girl), Faith and Dora (Heather’s mother) added a depth to the story, with an element of mystery. and suspense.

I appreciated that the story did not get super graphic. Faith starts digging through the cold files and interviews people, hoping to gain a new insight. The towns people are not fond of this digging. They knew who did this deed, no need to stir the pot. They kept an eye on the man and made his life miserable.

Through the search, Faith discovered she had to deal with some grief of her own. She realized she needed to find hope, mourn her divorce, learn to live in her new normal and find forgiveness along the way. This story is well-written and heartfelt. It shows how one person (Dora the mother) in a family can get stuck in the past while other family members try to move on. The disappearance affected their lives in every way. It’s not that they don’t love Heather, but there were other children and a husband to love.

The author shows how emotionally damaging it can be to hold onto grief, anger, and the past. The investigation was very well written, I liked how she dropped clues throughout the journey. This plot will tug at your heart, make you tear up in parts, and cause you to wonder. There was a splash of romance, a dash of hope, and a trail of new beginnings.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

What Happens Next by Christina Suzann Nelson is a very highly recommended mystery

Faith Byrne is a popular podcaster of "What Happens Next" where she tells stories of people overcoming tragedy and going on to embracing hope and healing. With her ex-husband taking their girls to Hawaii for the summer, she makes the decision to accept the request of a former friend's older sister, Brooke, who sent her a distressing letter. Apparently her childhood friend, Heather, disappeared after the summer in 1987 when they were best friends. Faith, who wrote many letters to her, thought Heather was ignoring her. No one told her about Heather's disappearance the day Faith left. Now, with her girls gone for the summer, Faith has decided to return to Deep Valley, Oregon, and look into the cold case of Heather's disappearance.

The narrative is told through chapters from three different points-of-view: Faith, Heather, from that summer in 1987, and Dora, Heather's mother who is still hoping her daughter will return home. The multiple narratives work well in this novel, with Heather covering the events from the summer of 1987 she spent with Faith, and the chapters with Faith and Dora covering the present day. Nelson takes the novel deeper than the surface mystery, looking into grief regarding Dora's denial of Heather's almost certain demise, but also the failure of Faith's marriage and her unhappy childhood.

Characters are all portrayed as realistic individuals and are well-developed. Heather's narrative does an excellent job capturing her happy family life, routine, and her mother Dora, as well as her friendship with Faith during that time, before they both entered 5th grade. Dora's present day chapters do sharply contrast with the Dora/Mom Heather talks about from 1987.

After a slow start, the novel begins to take off and the interest will too. The subtle messages in What Happens Next are well integrated into the story, making it a perfect choice for those who enjoy and appreciated Christian novels (no language warning needed, etc.). Any discussion of faith is uplifting and positive, allowing for failings of individuals but acknowledging grace. It could also be appreciated as a novel for teens. After the cold case is beginning to be looked into and solved, the novel focuses on solving the mystery, but it never loses sight of the humanity, struggling, and suffering of the characters involved.

Admittedly, I read a lot of mysteries and had a good idea whodunit or at least who was involved early on, but that didn't diminish may enjoyment of What Happens Next. Part of the enjoyment was found in the exceptional character development and depth. I cared about what happened to these people and wished then all healing.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Bethany House via LibraryThing.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/01/what-happens-next.html

I could not put this book down. Read it from start to finish in one day.

Faith, a podcaster who's ex is taking there kids to Hawaii for the summer. He is getting remarried. So she finds herself feeling alone.
Standing at the mailbox she opens a letter from the sister of her 10 year old childhood friend (Heather) whom she thought abandoned there friendship. Only to find out she went missing the summer they were 10 and her family never told her.

Heather, Faith's childhood friend, lets us know what that summer was like in her own words.

Dora, Heather's mother in all her grief try's to carry on with her life but the rest of the family can't deal with her not letting go.

Faith returns to that town to help Heather's family find closure and we are brought back to that summer.

Each chapter is told from each of these different people until the climax ending.

Don't let this one go without reading it. This was a terrific story!

A powerful tale of women’s fiction, this novel is an emotional journey full of great character depth and development. There were hard topics discussed, including broken relationships and hurtful pasts, but there was also a thread of hope in the story. There are themes of forgiveness, redemption, and finding hope despite grief. The writing is engaging and raw and it easily brought forth emotions for me as the reader. I also liked the mystery woven in the novel and thought the plot was unpredictable; despite a slow start, I liked the how the pieces in the different times periods came together near the end of the novel. My favorite part was the present day interactions of Faith and Dora. If you are looking for great women’s fiction, definitely check out this novel!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Christina Suzann Nelson has been a favorite of mine since her first book. This book covered many emotional topics, insecurities, jealousy, feelings of not being wanted, and doing everything in one's own strength. A quote sums this up: "Those are lies you let get into your heart and mind. You were so worried about what everyone else thought,... It was like you were always trying to make up for something, and all the while, you were loved perfectly for who you were." Wise words we all need to hear.
In Christina's stories, God is always working everything for our good and His glory. Those are the best kind of stories.

I love books by this author and this did not disappoint. From beginning to end the pages flew as I looked for answers.

A read that is told from several points of view and is melded together beautifully.

One glorious summer three young kids, one boy and two girls, spend as much time as possible together. Faith is visiting her Grandmother for the summer, and becomes best friends with Heather, but shortly after Faith has gone to her new home, Heather turns up missing.

Thirty six years later a mother is unable to move on, she can't keep hoping her daughter is out there.

When Heather's sister asks Faith, now a pod caster, for help, we hope that bringing this case back into the news will turn up answers.

What a journey, and I kept hoping they would find Heather alive, but after 36 years!

Was I right in my assumptions? Well, partly, but there are answers coming, along with big surprises!

This was such a great read, and wished I could continue on in the lives of these people, I now cared about, but the story does wrap up with a lot of answers!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

The first time she opens her eyes, Eve gazes on One whose beauty nearly blinds her, whose breath is in her lungs. Her Creator takes her hand and gives her to one like her and yet different. Together, she and Adam experience pure joy as they explore Eden. But her favorite moments are when the Creator comes to walk with them, day after day.

Until everything changes. With one act of disobedience, Eve finds that her world is no longer a friendly place. With remorse in her heart, she must face the unknown futurethe births, the deaths, the sacrifices, the loss of the one home she has ever known. Perhaps worst of all is the loss of trust, not only with her Creator but with the man who shares her life. How will they ever survive out of Eden?

Bestselling biblical fiction author Jill Eileen Smith imagines the life of the first woman to ever live, unspooling a story of love, loss, and the promise of redemption.

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Christian Fiction, General Fiction, Historical fiction, Fiction and Literature
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Revell (Publisher)
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Zara is loving this season of her life - newly married, starting her own business, moving into a new house. Everything seems to be coming together - until the news comes. First she finds out the results of a genetic test that undermines her dream of starting a family. Then she gets news about her twin sister Eve that means she must make a life changing decision. Meanwhile the reader also meets Tiff, a woman coping with the loss of her own child to the streets. Tiff copes by helping street walkers, hoping give help to another mother's child that wasn't given to her own. When she encounters a woman caught in an abusive situation she reaches out to help - much to the consternation of her husband. Still she can't abandon this woman and her children. The woman Tiff is helping turns out to be Eve and the reader must read on to find out if Eve will be successful in turning her life around and if Zara will reach out to help her and her children. I loved the realistic look at people tackling tough situations through a lens of faith in this story. However I thought it all wrapped up a little to neatly at the end. Fans of Christian fiction that tackles contemporary issues should give this debut a try.½