Friday, May 31, 2013

Book Feature - The Widower - Ryan LaForge

The Widower


Title: The Widower

Author: Ryan LaForge

Publisher:  Published March 1st 2013 by Career Upshift Productions
ISBN:  B00B6QQD08
Copyright: 2013
Pages: 166

Synopsis: Young lawyer Jacob McKinley–Old Charleston money and socialite–had it all until God took his loving new bride, Leah, in an instant.

Dr. Bill Foster, dynamo pastor and Leah’s father, empowers Jacob to find a way forward in his battles with his resentful widowed mother, a sister-in-law who blames Jacob for Leah’s death, ruthless business partners–and God.

Spunky grad student Rachel Anders sparks Jacob from prolonged malaise and self-perceived guilt for his incomplete work as a husband. When Jacob gets a chance to save the life of Rachel’s teenage brother, bonds form. But what about these feelings he’s developed for Rachel? Is there a timetable on loving another?

God lays the path back to faith, life, and love in Jacob’s lap. If only the silver-spoon boy can step up and become a man again.
 Author, Ryan LaForge
Author Biography: Kairos Prize-finalist Ryan LaForge writes contemporary fiction for one reason: for fun. He hopes you'll have fun with his stuff too. Oh, and if there's a decent message along the way, that's even better.

When Ryan is not watching movies or Clemson and Gonzaga sports, he's usually chasing around his two killer kids, Elle and Jacob. He lives with his wife, Shanda, and the fam in Greenville, S.C.

Please visit Ryan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/laforgeryan

Reviews:   5.0 out of 5 stars Touching Story of the Journey from Grief to Life, March 19, 2013
By Hammock Librarian (Paraguay, South America) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Widower (Kindle Edition)
I opted out of reading the book summary before finishing the book, and am I glad I did! Yes, this is a loved-and-lost-and-loves-again story, but it's so much deeper than that. Jacob has barely gotten his feet under him as a married man, as a Christian, and as a reformed party-boy bachelor, when his wife is killed. How he continues on his journey without her physically there to help him is really what this book is all about.

I've come to find that I prefer reading a love story written by a man, especially if a man is the main character, and Mr. LaForge does not disappoint. He provides just enough details that you know something more is there, just waiting to be revealed. I wondered how long I'd have to wait before finding out how Leah died, and the suspense kept me flipping digital pages.

The author also has a strong command of vocabulary, and there was never a point at which I felt I could just skim through some pages or skip spots because they were fluff. What my high-school English teacher would refer to as "50-cent words" were sprinkled over every page, making me dig out a dictionary a time or two. Considering that Jacob is an intelligent, successful lawyer, this writing style fit the overall mood of the book.

On a personal note, I'll be recommending this to all my Lowcountry friends, as Mr. LaForge really did his homework before he set his book in Charleston, SC. Life as someone who comes from multiple generations South of Broad is unique to this historical city, and I held my breath when I realized the author had chosen that as the birthplace of his blue-blooded main character. Colloquialisms, local haunts, food, culture--he hit the nail on the head in all the fine details, down to common first and last names in Charleston society.

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, April 8, 2013
By Jeff - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Widower (Kindle Edition)
What a great story - masterfully told, with a solid underlying message. I would recommend this book to anybody: guy, girl, young, or old. Emotional - but not a tear jerker, powerful - but not preachy. I'm ready for his next book!!

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