The Joy of Falling - by Lindsay Harrel (Paperback)

While grief is the main subject matter of this story, it is not a sad book. Harrell writes real, well-developed characters who are in a journey to rediscover who they are, and their purpose in life after a terrible tragedy. The iconic backdrop of New Zealand adds beauty and wilderness to this heartfelt story of love, loss, forgiveness, renewal, and grace. This book has it all: adventure, heartbreak, struggle, victory, defeat, and a touch of romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This particular novel opens with two women connected by their marriages to their husbands. Their husbands were brothers but they were killed in a freak drowning accident while scuba diving. The younger woman, Eva, was only married to her husband Brent for about 4 years before his death. She was now volunteering her time with a medical charity with no real direction or future plans but Brent left her financially secure. She walked away from her budding career as an artistically talented florist because she just felt like her creativity had slipped away when Brent died. Angela had been married to her husband Wes for about 15 years. Angela is the single parent of three children. She was trying to make ends meet while still having time with her children but she had to rely on others to help her much of the time. She struggled daily with her teenager who seemed to be slipping away from her. Both women were dealing with their grief in very different ways and they both had some very deep emotions about all that had transpired in the last 18 months since the accident. They were brought together mostly by their mother-in-law who also lost her husband several years before her sons died. They all remained connected but their relationships were strained for a variety of reasons. What could possibly bring them together?

I absolutely love the stunning cover of this novel! Lindsay Harrell has become one of my must buy authors and I eagerly anticipate each of her book releases. The Joy of Falling tackles the emotional struggle with grief and how it has affected each of the characters in this novel. One of the things that I appreciate about Lindsay Harrell’s writing is her ability to showcase multiple perspectives about her chosen subject matter through the different personalities of her characters. It really allows the reader to find some aspect that they identify with in her books. The subject of grief could potentially be a depressing topic to tackle however this book is set against the backdrop of training for an a ultra marathon and I enjoyed that it allowed the characters and the reader something additional to be invested in other than a journey to overcome their grief. Personally I didn’t really connect with either of the heroines in this story. Angela was a bit hard to like and I found Eva to be unrealistic and impractical. However, the overall message of this book was a great one and it was uniquely told which I always appreciate!

this book is incredible i got it for my mom and she loved it shes also a big cristian these are her favorite kinds of books. thanks to target for having this book during covid-19

Lindsay Harrel delivers another inspiring book! The Joy of Falling is a beautiful book about the determination of the human spirit during a time of grief. I found the story touching and loved seeing how both Eva and Angela processed and grew closer to God through their grief. I found this book absolutely wonderful and experienced all of the emotions as both Eva and Angela went through their journey. Such an uplifting and moving read! I loved it and highly recommend! I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. It is truly a remarkable book!

The Joy of Falling was about two sisters-in-law who have lost their husbands in an accident. A year later both are still reeling from the grief and the consequences of that fateful day. Brent had left Eva better prepared in the financial department. Much better than his older brother, Wes, did for Angela and their three kids. Eva has basically made Brent a hero in her mind. Yes, he was her husband, her knight in shining armor, but he became so much more than he was in her mind's eye than when he was alive. On the flipside of that Angela is having trouble forgiving Wes for leaving and their marriage was not the happiest when he died. Both women are grieving in their own ways. Not only that but we have their mother-in-law, Sherry, who lost both of her sons and who had lost her husband a few years before. Than we have Angela's three kids, who are going through a tough time after losing their father. Especially Kylee who is fifteen and hers and Angela's relationship is certainly on rocky ground. When the chance to remember and honor their loved ones in a race in New Zealand presents itself, Eva is gung ho, while Angela is less than thrilled. But this turns out to be an adventure of a lifetime. A chance for this family to grieve and cry and cheer together. A chance for relationships to grow deeper and for new promises of romance to come true. I really enjoyed this tale of family and love. I wasn't sure how depressing it might be, but it wasn't. Author Harrel handled her characters and their grief process well. This was a lovely story. I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Captivating!!! Eva and Angela have loved and lost. In trying to find themselves again, they travel halfway around the world to try something they have never done before. If you enjoy stories about real life and overcoming obstacles, then this book is for you. I highly recommend this novel.

"What I really needed was to learn to experience the grief and realize it was okay to mourn, for life not to be perfect, for life to surprise me sometimes." This is the story of two women dealing with the deaths of their husbands and how they maneuver through their individual journeys of grief. Journeys that would appear to be the same but in reality, so very different. As Eva and her sister-in-law Angela struggle to live life without their husbands, they discover that their identities are more than just being the widows of Brent and Wes Jamison. Author Lindsay Harrel writes in her author's notes that she suffered the loss of her grandmother while writing this book and it's apparent that her own emotions flavored this story. She allows her characters to question God's Plan and she shows them in different stages of grief but she also offers them the assurance that it's okay to be happy again! The final result is a wonderful story of love, hope, and healing. The Joy of Falling isn't just about letting go of what you had; it is also about grabbing hold of what you can have again! I highly recommend The Joy of Falling to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required and these are my own thoughts.

3.5 stars " . . .if grief has taught me anything, it's that we don't know what's around the corner. It could be a dream come true. It could be heartache. And that's a scary place to be." . . . . . Fear. It has gripped the hearts of two young women who lost their husbands in a tragic diving accident. Eva and Angela are sister-in-laws, but even though they were married to brothers, their journey through grief has been anything but similar. Or, perhaps a trip to the wilds of New Zealand in order to run an ultra marathon, will make them realize that their paths to wholeness are really not all that different after all. This beautifully written story is all about steps; steps in the right direction, and steps in the wrong direction, ( and there are pages full of both )but ultimately it is about moving forward. Grief takes on many faces, does it not? And sometimes one must be willing to freefall in order to feel the joy. . . . . "But when you're worried about the future, just take the next step. Just do the next thing. And trust that God has something wonderful planned . . . "

Lindsay Harrel writes stories that captivate readers but they are also stories of hope and inspiration. Her latest release is a heart rendering story of two adventure loving brothers who die too young and each leave a wife that is struggling with their death. One wife, Eva, has her husband almost on an untouchable pedestal as the exciting adventure seeking hero who could do no wrong. The other wife, Angela, is left being a single parent to three children and has a lot of unresolved issues with her husband’s adventure seeking ways. The main one being she felt he abandoned their relationship in search of the next great adventure. One thing is certain, both women are drowning in their grief. Eva receives a life-changing phone call telling them that before the brothers were killed, they had singed up for a race of a lifetime—an ultra-marathon in beautiful New Zealand. Out of the blue, Eva begs Angela to run the race with her in their husbands’ place. Angela finally agrees, hoping to finally understand her husband's choices. This commitment means moving Angela’s family & their Mother-in-Law to New Zealand months in advance so they can prepare for the ultra-marathon. If the grueling physical training preparation was not enough, they now have to deal with the overwhelming presence of two men—Marc is Brent’s best friend who is running the race with Eva and Angela, and Simon King is a writer who is covering their inspiring story. The race makes Eva and Angela face things about themselves they have been hiding from and or burying down deep in order to keep up with the demands of daily life. They each come back with deeper personal relationships with God. What I like most about this book is that Harrel does not end this story at the end of the marathon. She allows readers to see these characters as they continue to heal and go back their normal lives. One of my favorite quotes from this book is, “Trusting God to catch you . . . that’s what life was really about.” I think that sums up what all the characters (as well as the readers) learn from this beautiful story. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

It may seem strange to say that Linsday Harrel’s book The Joy of Falling is a lovely book since lovely is not a word we use to describe grief, but I found this book incredibly lovely. Harrel has written a story of two young women who are widowed unexpectedly and their journey through grief back to some sense of wholeness. Harrel’s writing brings the reader into the middle of all the emotions surrounding loss and healing – confusion, hurt, anger, love, joy and others. Each woman is different in her coping and moving forward process, but each one is understandable. The supporting characters are also dealing with their own losses and each one is unique. There is obviously sadness in grief, but Lindsay Harrel made me feel hopeful with every page. I enjoyed this read so much and highly recommend it! I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to give a positive review.. All opinions in this review are my own.

Angela and Eva are sisters in law connected by tragedy. After losing their husbands in a diving accident, they must learn their new normal. Processing their grief and learning to live without the loves of their life proves harder than they ever thought. Eva has lost her interest in her florist business, not able to create after dealing with such loss. While money is not an issue, Eva's arms are empty, as she and Brent never were able to have children. Angela finds herself keeping busy in spite of her grief, but managing the grief of her three children proves to be more difficult, now that she's the sole provider for her family. She's working two jobs, trying to find purpose amidst the pain of losing Wes. Then they get news they never anticipated--their thrill seeking, fitness junkie husbands entered an ultra marathon in New Zealand prior to their passing. Should they go instead? With their husband's friend Marc and other supporting characters encouragement, both Eva and Angela choose to take the trip of a lifetime. Beautiful scenery and interesting topics drive this tender story of life after tragedy. Each person must traverse their own challenges, but these women learn that tough times are easier to face when you have a beloved friend by your side. The character arc is amazing and I love that Harrell chooses to face tough topics, such as her last novel that dealt with domestic violence in a real way. Grief looks different for everyone, but Harrell does a great job of processing the subtle nuances throughout Eva and Angela's journey. How do you move forward? One moment at a time. I was an early reader, thanks to Tyndale House publishers. All opinions are my own.

Such a lovely story about going on with life in the middle of grief, about moving on and looking for joy after losing a spouse. To this point, I've read and thoroughly enjoyed all of Lindsay Harrel's books. Each one deals with grief, loss, or some kind of heartache. She has a way with words that draws me in, makes me feel what the characters are experiencing. Various times as I was reading, I had tears running down my cheeks. Even though I haven't experienced grief to the point that Angela, Eva, and Sherry faced, I could imagine what it must feel like, and I empathized for them, and with anyone who goes through similar hard things. Eva learns about a major race that her husband and his brother had signed up to participate in. After her sister in law Angela begrudgingly agrees to go, the real fun begins. Training. Working together. Reaching out. Grieving. Letting go. Honesty. Love. All of these and more come together to create the lovely threads of this story. Especially for someone who has experienced deep grief, I think this story could be very relevant. (because I haven't been there, I don't know exactly what to say as far as triggers...it could be there are things written here that might cause some, so just a word of caution) Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Love love and love this story!! Grief is one of those things that unfortunately we'll never be able to escape in this life. Every one of us will go through it at some point. Each one will experience it differently too, no two journeys are the same. And that's okay, there are no rules or timelines when it comes to grieving a loss, whatever that loss may be. We may feel like we'll never be happy again, but that's just not true. Happiness is a fleeting feeling that comes and goes with the circumstances in our lives. But there is always something to be thankful for, no matter what. Joy is always around us even in the midst of devastating pain and heartache. There is joy in the journey, in the unexpected surprises that are always right around the corner. I don't think you ever truly "get over" whatever it is your are grieving over. Yes, life keeps moving on, but the hole is still there, in some cases will always be there. And that's okay, some things, especially the people that we've lost are never meant to be forgotten, they're always with us. We can choose to have joy in knowing that God is always in control and will catch us when we take that first step in faith with Him and all that He has in store for us. We're free to fall into Him whenever needed. I received a copy from Thomas Nelson, all opinions are my own.

A book that has so much emotion...and has my mind spinning. Books that make me think about life,and how a God wants us to live it...books that make me introspective are usually the five star reads for me. This gets those stars because I’m going to be thinking about this one for a while! The three main characters are really well done. The book goes back and forth between the two sisters-in-law’s point-of-view. I really liked that because it gives an insight into two people both experiencing the loss of a husband, but even they do not understand each other as they walk through the emotions of it. The plot is an interesting one, and I loved running back when I could. The place is unique, and I enjoyed that. For me,though, it was the characters that kept me turning the pages. The shared mother-in-law was a source and pretty much the source for the faith theme.There were some great quotes from her that really make the reader think about their standing before God and how we think about Him. So in the end with my connections felt to the characters...and the faith thread that brought a lot of thought about God, His ways, and learning from them, this book makes my forever shelves. It also receives the very rare five stars from me. I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Wow! Wow! Wow! I’m speechless and feel like my review can never do this one justice. We all grieve differently and there is no right or wrong way, but this is an eye opener to how our grief affects everyone around us. The characters are so identifiable and feel like old friends when you are finished. I loved the flow of the words and how they spoke to my soul. This shows how if we dig deep and find our inner strength that comes from God we can become stronger in our faith, our family, our friendships, and maybe open our hearts to find love again. Facing truth is hard but healing comes from being honest with ourselves and letting go of the hurts we carry deep inside. Ms. Harrell creates magic when she sets pen to paper. This is a must read and goes on my top books to read list this year. I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

With wonderful descriptive writing, Lindsay Harrel transports the reader from New York to New Zealand and back. Along the way, two young widows learn about their own grieving process and discovering their new normal. While training for and participating in an ultra-marathon, these characters learn lessons about themselves, their relationships and life in general. As they work through their questions, confusion and anger, their hearts are strengthened, as well as, their faith. With interesting characters and a moving story, this book is sure to gently encourage anyone who has to work through loss. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Joy of Falling is about learning how to live again after the death of a loved one, how to take one step at a time knowing everything will be ok. With heartache and grief come second chances and healing. Two sisters-in-law, Angela and Eva both lose their husbands in a scuba diving accident a year and a half ago. Angela is barely making ends meet, angry that her husband left her to raise their three children on her own. Eva unable to move forward after losing the love of her life receives a phone call that changes everything. Before their husbands died they signed up for an ultra-marathon in New Zealand. Angela and Eva decide to take on the challenge with a friend of their husbands to honor the memories of them. I recommend the book for those who are struggling with loss and wondering how to move forward. I was able to relate to the characters because I struggled with the loss of my grandma, some days are easy, some are hard. I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Joy of Falling is the story of Eva, Angela, and their families as they try and survive and eventually thrive after the loss of Eva and Angela's husbands in a diving accident. The death of the brothers impacts Eva and Angela, their MIL, Angela's kids, and best friend and business partner Marc. Told with remarkable insight, their stories are woven together and show some of the many ways people grieve. Grief is a journey. One must process and move through it in their own way and it is so different for each person as is shown in this book. But, this book is about so much more than just the "grief journey"! This book is about surviving, thriving, and moving forward while still honoring the past. It is inspiring showing the shear grit and determination, bravery, and strength of Eva and Angela beyond what they thought they would ever be capable of! I love this quote, as a widow, it really spoke to my heart... "But when you're worried about the future...trust that God has something wonderful planned even if our definition of "wonderful" might not be the same as his." 10ish years ago, my definition of wonderful was much different. How I envisioned my future was much different. But, even though this is not the wonderful I saw for myself, I have grown into a place of wonderful I never could have imagined. And, I am open to the wonderful changes and surprises that God has in store for me moving forward Lindsay Harrel writes this in the author notes: "Grief – whether the loss of a person, a dream, a relationship, or something else entirely – is extremely personal to everyone who experiences it." So true! Lindsay has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I was honored to be allowed to read this book in exchange for my honest review! I'm already looking forward to her next book...whatever it is, I know I will love it! #MakeEveryMomentCount #MyBookishLife