Piece by Piece
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- $20.99
Publisher Description
A grieving mother learns to heal in Amish country, in this heartfelt, beautifully told novel from national bestselling author Laura Bradford.
Danielle Parker is a gold-medal mom—the kind who volunteers in her children’s classrooms, shuttles them between activities, throws legendary birthday parties, and has a remedy on hand for any emergency. Whatever her husband, Jeff, and their children need, Dani is there, always.
Except for one day.
On that day—the day that Dani reluctantly takes some “me time” while her mom and Jeff drive the children to the park—the unthinkable happens. The car crash leaves no survivors. Somehow, Dani gets through the funerals and visits, accepting neighbors’ sympathy and dropped-off meals. All the while, guilt and grief make her wish the accident had claimed her life too. Then a call comes from Lydia Schlabach, an Amish woman Dani befriended in childhood. In addition to condolences, Lydia offers Dani something more: a place to escape to.
In Pennsylvania’s Amish country, Dani’s days take on a new rhythm, marked by the clip-clop of buggies and the bustle of chores. Lydia gives Dani space to mourn, to think, and to realize how long it’s been since she felt like a person in her own right. And with the help of friendships old and new, Dani learns about the ways life continues to surprise us—even after the deepest loss—with joy, love, and second chances. . . .
Praise for Portrait of a Sister
“Laura Bradford is a master storyteller; this book will stay with you for a long, long time.”
—New York Times bestselling author Tasha Alexander
“A charming, well-told story of love and devotion between sisters.”
—New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this tender story, Bradford (A Killer Carol) examines the roles of faith and friendship in healing. Thirty-five-year-old Dani has three beautiful children, a loving and attentive husband, and a great relationship with her own mother. Then her entire family is killed in a car accident. In her grief, she flees to Amish country to reconnect with Lydia, a friend she met while visiting Lancaster County as a child. As Dani watches Lydia's attentive parenting, she becomes overcome with guilt; but when Dani discovers she is pregnant, she grows in faith and begins to see her second chance at motherhood as part of God's plan. She also gets to know Lydia better, and Lydia's grace, understanding, and humor give Dani the support she needs. While some readers might find Dani's unrelenting pain difficult, her rationalizations, guilt, and road to recovery are believable and elegantly rendered. Fans of Vannetta Chapman should check out this moving tale.
