Need You Now by Beth Wiseman
April 10, 2012 by Thomas Nelson
Paperback, 320 Pages
Review Copy

Review Provided by Tonya, Feature Blogger for Tinasbookreviews~

When big-city life threatens the safety of one of their children, Brad and Darlene Henderson move with their three teenagers from Houston to the tiny town of Round Top, Texas. Adjusting to small-town life is difficult for the kids, especially fifteen-year-old Grace who is coping in a dangerous way. Married life hasn't always been bliss, but their strong faith has carried them through the difficult times. When Darlene takes a job outside the home for the first time in their marriage, the domestic tension rises. While working with special needs children at her new job, the widowed father of one of Darlene's students starts paying more attention to her than is appropriate. Problem is, she feels like someone is listening to her for the first time in a long time. If Darlene ever needed God . . . it's now.

Thoughts

One word, busy. Most of the time there is one big climax, but there are many things happening with Darlene and Brad. They move to the small town of Round Top TX from Houston TX. Brad still commutes to Houston but they moved into Darlene's grandparents farmhouse, wanting to fix it up. They thought it would be good for them and their kids, especially Chad who had gotten into some trouble in Houston. Their middle daughter Grace is a perfect daughter. The youngest has had some challenges so the move would be good for her too.

Darlene has a snake in her bedroom, and her new next door neighbor knocks on the door. Layla seems cold and Darlene figures they will never be friends. Darlene feels like God is calling her to befriend Layla though. Now that the kids are a bit older, Darlene gets a job at a school for special education children, where she does one-on-one with a young girl Cara. Cara has autism. Cara's mother died and so it is just Cara and her dad Dave. Dave warms up to Darlene eventually, maybe a bit too much?

Grace being the "perfect" daughter, cuts herself to release the pain she feels she can't let anyone know she has. When that situation, Dave hitting on Darlene and Darlene and Brad not communicating comes to a head, you have a colossal explosion of an ending! I am not even doing it justice. You will just need to read the book.

Beth stepped out here and wrote a contemporary work. I am so glad she did, I loved this book! Of course I adore her Amish books too, but this one was for us that aren't in the Amish community. It has marriage, friendships, relationships with our children, couldn't ask for more! Read it, TODAY!

Grade~A
Thanks to Thomas Nelson for Review Copy