After All, by Deborah Raney
Reviewed by: Jennifer Roman
Genre: Romance, Christian
Publisher: Howard Books
Publication Date: 5/1/2012

After losing her husband, a firefighter, in a fire at the homeless shelter she runs, Susan Marlowe has to help her sons heal while setting up a new shelter for the clients. She faces a great deal of opposition from the community, including from fire chief Pete Brennan. In addition, she finds out that her husband was having an affair when he died. How can she deal with all of these issues while maintaining her sanity? She always comes back to God.

Realizing that God is her rock and her strength, Susan helps her son come to terms with his father’s death and indiscretions. She starts spending time with Pete in the hopes that she can not only change his mind about the shelter, but about his lack of a relationship with God, too. She is able to confront Andi, her husband’s “friend,” about their in appropriate relationship. While reading about this, we also get to meet several ancillary characters who help the story. We learn about their backgrounds and faith and see that just because someone is God-fearing, it does not make him or her without fault.

Even though this book is the last in the Hanover Falls series, readers are easily able to jump in to the story. We get enough background information so that we understand what is happening and who is who. Nothing is really confusing, as some books in a series are. Instead, readers are rewarded with complex characters, tough situations, and interesting relationships.

Because this book deals with mature themes, it is not suggested for younger readers.

Rated PG: This book discusses alcohol abuse, violence and addresses adult themes.

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