Laney Coleman and her minister husband, Noah, live in a Cape Cod house with their five sons. Summer is coming and they’re extra busy this year because Noah’s brother will be having his wedding ceremony on their property. With the wedding plans comes other issues, both good and bad: one son is being bullied at school, Noah’s father is getting old, and there are a couple of family health scares. Through love and faith the family pull through.Ordinarily I would probably find a book like this a bit too preachy. Not only is the husband a minister: we’re also exposed to several of his sermons. Not my usual cup of tea. However, the family seemed so genuine that the sermons didn’t turn me off. In fact, I really enjoyed the message in one of them so much (and I’m an atheist!), I’m going to quote part of it here. Noah was talking about what a blessing it is for humans to not know, for the most part, when some task or ritual in our life occurs for the very last time. He talks about his ritual of reading bedtime stories to his youngest son: “Every night… night after night… reading—I remember it all as if it were yesterday. But then, a night must’ve come… when I wasn’t paying attention… when we didn’t do it. What night was it? It’s a good thing I didn’t realize, at the time, it was the LAST time… because it would have broken my heart.”How true! It made me think: what was the last book I read to my kids at bedtime? When did we stop? WHY did we stop? If I’d known it was going to be the last reading of Big Red Barn, would I have done something differently? Would I have shed a little tear?OK, so I got all sentimental, and the book was a bit sappy, and some of the issues that were introduced seemed to mysteriously come and go for no apparent plot reason (Laney’s health scare anyone?!). But overall it was fine as a light, enjoyable beach type of read. Besides, you've got to like a book that places such a high importance on the pet dogs! Laney loved August. It was her birthday month and she always spent it in Georgia with her brother Lyle at her grandparents farm. Pacey's Peaches and Pecans was a special place for her and she promised her grandparents she would help them run the farm when she got older. Her grandfather chided, "what happens when you go away to college and meet a cute New England fella?" Laney replied, "Never Gramp, because you are my heart's favorite love." Years later, at the Falmouth Road Race on Cape Cod, Laney meets Noah and he falls in love with her at first sight. Studying to become a Minister, he explains to Laney, "I'm always happpiest when I am helping people." Laney, undecided as to being a teacher, a marine biologist or return to Georgia and help run Pacey's Farm, decides to become a teacher and marries Noah. Years pass, The Colemans home on Cape Cod is always bustling with activity. The five boys, ages (almost) 8 to 20, an old lab named "Mennie", short for Amen, (who stole my heart), a new puppy, Hallie" a.k.a. " Halelujah", and their cat, Lucky. They were gathered for bluebery pancakes, warm, buttery and drizzled with maple syrup , Noah's specialty, when he announces he had said yes to Micah, his younger brother, and Beryl when they asked if they could have their wedding on the beach at their home. Shocked and surprised, Laney was used to these unannounced announcements from her husband. She was dealing with a health issue and was keeping it secret from Noah, She would go along with wedding plans if the family helped. Plots and sub-plots evolve covering Laney's scare with breast cancer, Asher, her youngest being bullied at school, a serious health issue with Noah's dad, Asa, and a serious relationship between E and Chloe, which involved Christian beliefs. I loved so much about this book and re-read many chapters and made many notes to keep in my Journal. Best of all were the high fives, then kissing each other palms. A trick they learned from the little raccoon in the children's book, The Kissing Hand. That way, later, when they were missing each other, they could press their palm against their cheek and feel the kiss. Noah's sermons were sweet, on target and brought home clearly how important it is to notice each moment that make up our lives. Outstanding job, Ms. Rossiter.
What do You think about Under A Summer Sky (2014)?
Like her books but this one was a little to preachy for me.
—becky
