The Second Half

A Novel

By: Lauraine Snelling

Narrated by: Joyce Bean

Bestselling author Lauraine Snelling shares a heartfelt story of a couple who put their plans for a peaceful retirement on hold to assume guardianship of their young grandchildren.

Mona and Ken Sorenson are approaching the best years of their lives. Mona's greatest concern is that Ken will learn of the surprise party she's planning for his retirement from his job as Dean of Students at Stone University. They've already been making plans to travel, spend limitless hours in the garden, and Ken is looking forward to working on his woodworking and fishing with his grandchildren. It's what they deserve after years of careful planning.

But things begin to unravel when Ken learns that office politics are about to destroy his department. Can he really just leave, abandoning the work he spent a lifetime achieving? Mona is eager to build her event planning business with Ken's help, but rather than supporting her, he expresses concern that the stress of the work will send her back into the depression she struggles with. Then, just days before Ken's last official day of work, their son, a Special Forces officer in the Army, learns he's being immediately deployed on a six-month mission in Pakistan. Since his wife left him, the only people he trusts to care for his two young children are his parents. In an instant, everything Ken and Mona spent their lives planning changes, and they will need to find strength, both physical and mental, to become parents once more. This is not the second half they wanted, and when their son fails to contact them as planned, they struggle to trust that it is God's plan, not theirs, that matters most.

Critic reviews

"Awarm novel....The story is inspiring and hopeful. Snelling tells a wonderful tale of fresh starts, resilience, loss and love in this perfect summer read."—RT Book Reviews on Someday Home

"Snelling's story has the potential to be a big hit. . ..[D]iverse and well rounded. The premise of the story is interesting and the prose is very moving."—RT Book Reviews on Heaven Sent Rain

"Snelling writes about the foibles of human nature with keen insight and sweet honesty."—National Church Library Association

"Snelling (One Perfect Day) continues to draw fans with her stellar storytelling skills. This time she offers a look at smalltown medical care in a tale that blends healing, love, and a town's recovery. . .Snelling's description of events at the small clinic during the storm is not to be missed."—Publisher's Weekly on Wake the Dawn

"Snelling's fast-paced novel has characters who seek help in the wrong places. It takes a raging storm for the for them to see that the help they needed was right in front of them the whole time. This is a strong, believable story."—RT Book Reviews, ****, on Wake the Dawn

"Lauraine Snelling's newest novel will keep you turning pages and not wanting to put the book down.. . .Wake The Dawn is a guaranteed good read for any fiction lover."
—Cristel Phelps, reviewer, Retailers and Resources Magazine on Wake the Dawn

"Inspired by events in Snelling's own life, REUNION is a beautiful story about characters discovering themselves as the foundation of their family comes apart at the seams. Readers may recognize themselves or someone they know within the pages of this book, which belongs on everyone's keeper shelf."—RT Book Reviews on Reunion

great job so real

excellent story and reader. real feelings shared. Reminder to trust at all times. thank you

aja

I thought there was too much enphasis on mona,s depression. The story line was too predictble.

Awesome story!!

I wasn't sure I was going to like this book, at first. But, the more i listened the more it wanted to listen. I am close to retirement and have a son in law in the Army. This story had a lot subjects I could relate too. I also suffer from depression and the mental battle that goes with it. I have prayed and had similar self talk conversations as in the book. The battle is real, and to hear someone verbalize how depression feels was so validating. I love that God was so important and lived out in the characters. Thank you so much for writing this!! The book has truly blessed me!!!

A good read

I thought the Story started out frustrating, but developed into a good read.
Good ending.

Great story

As a grandparent raising her grandchildren I could really identify with Ken and Mona. For
us it's been more than 3 years and we are still struggling with some of the same issues. It was not what we had planned for the second half, but there have been many blessings along the way as well