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Summary: A time not so long ago..
Review: As a woman who grew up in the 50's I was taken back to the ideas, mores and habits of that time through the words in this book. While I did not grow up Catholic, a close friend of mine did and this book echoes many of the memories she has shared with me about her Catholic girlhood and that of a relative who became a Catholic nun. I think this book will be a step back in time for many "over 50 year olds" who grew up Catholic.
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Summary: INSPIRATIONAL
Review: I thought it was very spiritual, but inspirational. I felt all of the emotions throughout the book. I'd recommend this book to my family and friends, and readers everywhere.
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Summary: Sweet and Simple
Review: Then Came Heaven is my first Lavryle Spencer novel. And, unfortunately, I can only report mixed reactions. I have nothing but praise for the author's tender and heartwarming portrayal of 1950's small town Mid-western life, and clearly well researched and very compelling portrayal of life amongst an order St. Benedectine nuns. Spencer does a wonderful job of developing a cast of strong, credible and diverse characters. My only complaint is that the plot's romantic development was simply not executed as skillfully as the other aspects of the story. I had a hard time believing that just weeks after the heart-wrenching loss of his wife (my copy of the novel now suffers a little "water" damage in the early chapters)Eddie was already succumbing to his sister-in-law's seduction attempts. And it made me uneasy that Regina seemed so intent on emulating so many little aspects of Eddie's late wife. Too often the budding love affair between Eddie and Regina seemed like more of a continuation of his life with his wife than the beginning of a "new" life with a "new" woman. Overall, this is a good read. And I'll hope my next Lavryle Spencer might be just a little better developed.
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Summary: SMALL TOWN SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST BOOK
Review: This book had too many unrealistic plots. Yes nuns left the convent in the 50's but I don't think it would have been as easy as it was portrait in the book. I don't think the small town would have let her get away with marrying someone in their town and think it was ok. Small towns today would have a problem with this also. If it had been any other situation this probably would have flowed. I still enjoyed the book. I have read all of Lavyrle's books. I am sorry that this is the last one. I will miss her. I have all the tapes to the book so I will continue to hear her. My husband enjoys her also.
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Summary: This book was enjoyable, but not one of her best.
Review: I have read 7 of LaVryle Spencer's novels and this is problably the worst one yet. Usually I can't put her books down, this one took me over a week to read (usually I read one in 2 days). It was a nice story but I loved her other books so much this one just didn't stack up. I recommend YEARS, MORNING GLORY, and SEPERATE BEDS.
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Summary: Happy ending obvious
Review: Just in case you haven't read this book, I put some spoilers in this review. Although you generally know that Spencer's books will turn out happily, this one made it way too obvious way too early. And it really didn't seem like anyone in the town or in the Catholic Church was all that upset that Sister Regina ditched her vows (albeit with a lot of thought and prayer). Just seemed like no one thought about it at all. OK, nun one day, wife a little bit later, whatever. I was raised Catholic, and I can tell you that in my home parish, that type of thing happening would have been gossip fodder for weeks. And frankly, the wedding night at the end was kind of creepy to me. Can't quite pin down why, but it just came off as weird. A nice light read, but I've liked some of Spencer's other books a lot better.
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Summary: Light enjoyable Romance
Review: This is the 2nd Lavyrle Spencer book I have read and I enjoyed it much more then "That Camden Summer". A perfect light summer read that gets better and better as you go.
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Summary: Great end to a wonderful career
Review: In LaVyrle Spencer's last book before retirement, she brings you back to 1950 Bowersville, MO. Eddie Olczak's beloved wife Krystyna has just been killed and he and his two daughters are mourning her death. Eddie turns to Sister Regina, a nun battling her own problems. Although Sister Regina would love to comfort Eddie and his two daughters, Holy Rule forbits any contact. She battles with her feelings and her feelings toward Eddie. This is a book less about romance and more about soul searching. Always a fan of Ms. Spencer, I found this book to be a good end to a great career. We'll miss our beloved LaVyrle!
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Summary: Her last book. It was great.
Review: I have read every book Lavryle Spencer has written I was shocked when she announced this was her last. It has been some time ago since I read it but I would love to read some more. Most of her books I have read several times. This book had tragedy, love, family dynamics and we could all recognize ourselves somewhere.
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Summary: Disingenuous, anti-Catholic, and superficial
Review: Though the plot is predictable and the characters are superficial, the real problem with this novel is the author's thinly veiled prejudice against the Catholic Church. Though I'm not a Catholic, I am told there are many misrepresentations of the life in a convent. The heroine of the story ends up married, however, what is the point of passing from one patriarchical institution to another? I think that the author ended up with half of a novel; it would have been more interesting to follow the lives of the characters afterwards in a reality-based setting.
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