I was unable to put this book down!

Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 5
Pace: 5
Plot development: 5
Characters: 5
Enjoyability: 5
Ease of Reading: 5

Overall rating: 5 out of 5

Sometimes you wonder if a favorite author can top her last book. This author did just that. She captured the grief process for the two women, life issues and wrapped it all up with a bow of conquering something together.
I related so much to Angela in this story, especially with her early struggles with running. Romance is not the focus of this novel, but there is hints of it all throughout. The theme would be healing, forgiveness and changing oneself.
If you have been looking for a book that will touch your heart for 2020, this is the book for you. It is such a beautifully told story, plus, you can almost hear the accents as you read it since part of it is set in New Zealand.

I obtained this book from the publisher. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Hold onto your heart as this author takes readers on an incredible adventure with characters I got to know intimately through their grief, how they learned to live and love again. This author masterfully weaves an honest, natural spiritual thread with two women who are trying to regroup their lives and find meaning and purpose they lost when their husbands died. They were brothers. A turn of events has them digging deep to uncover what they truly believe, live for and hone down what they want out of life. Will they let fear engulf them or will they seek a greater power than their own to help them get though the most gigantic wave that’s ever hit them.

I liked what this author had to say in author notes. ” Grief – whether the loss of a person, a dream, a relationship, or something else entirely – is extremely personal to everyone who experiences it. Even though I have grieved a major loss (that of my mom when I was nineteen), I admit I have not lost a husband; still, I did my best to depict how two widows might react differently to a shared loss. Please know that if you have lost a spouse and neither of these characters’ paths matches your own grief journey, I honor your process, emotions, and the daily battle you face, and I am terribly sorry for your loss.”

There was a depth and richness in the way this author went about showing how these two-woman dealt with death. It was a little bit slow in the beginning (but hang in there) as the author first introduces stuck, Eva Jamison who is just going through the motions of life. She used to arrange flowers, but all her creativity dried up with her loss.

Her basic needs were being met but how to go forward and live a real life without her partner. She had no clue. How did her sister-in-law do it with three kids to care for? An unexpected call changed everything. She had to talk to her sister in law, this could help them both.

Angela’s world was altered dramatically, it went from staying home and teaching her children, to becoming the breadwinner of her family. It had been 18 months since the tragedy and things didn’t look like they’d get any better. Then Eva calls with the craziest news. She said a woman contacted her about an ultra-marathon. It’s a one hundred fifty-five miles trek across New Zealand. Runners have to complete the race in increments over seven days. I can be walked, she told Angela but of course Brent wanted to run the whole thing. Brent’s best friend Marc knew all about it, he told Eva, “He was going to surprise you. Said you guys wanted to do New Zealand together, and he was going to make plans to stay for a few weeks afterward to sight see.” Brent and Wes were like that. They lived life to the fullest. She told Angela; the money runners raised went toward the heart charity of their choice.

The brothers wanted to raise a million dollars to honor their dad. An ultra-marathon across New Zealand – something that would have taken lots of training and preparation. What an accomplishment that would have been for the brothers. Long ago both women did track it would be a huge accomplishment for them all.

Eva tells Angela how they all could finish what their husbands set out to achieve. They’d do it in their honor. Angela’s kids get all excited. Angela not so much.

The contest had strict rules about teams, they must consist of at least three people. Now if you started out as a team and one person was forced to quit during the race, that’s different. They could switch to an individual. Eva continued, “But they only have a certain number of individuals and team starting spots – and as of now, they’re all full.”

Eva says she’ll pay for everything and they should go to New Zealand. All was set each had unexpected baggage to contend with, so they were off on an adventure of a lifetime.

I enjoyed the trip as much as this family even when their world was turned up-side down. There is a richness to the story that weaves a natural spiritual thread in the mix. This was an exciting adventure that was real, honest, hopeful and fun. I liked getting to know New Zealand along with the characters. It was fascinating to learn about this astounding, grueling race. This would make a great book club pick. There is so much to discuss.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Catalogue front page www.bookfun.org

I absolutely loved this uplifting novel by Ms. Harrel! The Joy of Falling pretty much describes this book in as few of words as possible. The growth of the characters throughout the book was amazing and encouraging. If you are looking for a book that will uplift and inspire you, then this is the book for you. I have been reading Ms. Harrel since her debut and am loving anything she writes. In this book, two widows of brothers are finding life is difficult after the loss of their husbands. This book examines their journey as they walk through this time. Eva gets a life changing phone call about an ultra-marathon in New Zealand that her husband had signed up to compete in as a team. Due to their deaths, Eva and Angela are able to substitute in for their husbands. This story will inspire you through a story of hope and not losing sight of your true self. I highly recommend this book and know that you will not be disappointed to read it! I look forward to her next release!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, this is my own opinion.

A touching look at a grieving family and how everyone recovers at their own pace and in their own way. I feel like the story was rushed and there was so.much more I would have loved to know about the family and the ones they lost.

Lindsay Harrel is one of those authors where I just have to read everything she ever writes. Her books are SO good -- and this one is no exception.

It certainly doesn't hurt that The Joy of Falling splits time between NYC (one of my favorite cities ever) and New Zealand (a country I fully plan to visit #bucketlist). I caught myself fangirling constantly over location alone!

Harrel never shies away from difficult topics, either, and approaches several here with grace. Whether the death of a spouse or teenage angst, she faces the reality of each head-on and points characters and the reader alike back to Christ. Realistic character development, especially given the corresponding length of the book, pairs with an intriguing plot to create a winning book I like on par with "The Heart Between Us"!

I can't say I'd want to do an ultra-marathon ... I'm much more of a couch participant! But I so enjoyed following Angela, Eva, and Marc on, truly, the adventure of a lifetime. (And hmm ... four months in New Zealand sounds right nice!)

I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Wow!
Such a well written story about two women and their loss of their husbands which happen to be brothers. It shows the journey of how two people grieve very different. It also is about courage and finding their way through this tragic event.
I recommend this book and am thankful for the ARC from netgalley and the publisher.
This is my own opinion.

"They may have started out doing this for their husbands and family, but somewhere along the way it has also become about them. About fighting for a new life that didn't have to end with the tragedy that had overtaken them. About finding joy in the journey."

Eva and Angela are sisters-in-law, united not only by their marriage to brothers, but in their grief over the loss of both their husbands in the same accident. While this should draw them together, they're dealing with their loss very differently and find it difficult to share the common ground peacefully. When Eva convinces Angela to attempt an ultra-marathon in New Zealand, in memory of their husbands, they will each need to face their grief, their loss, and their fears, in order to face their future.

There was a lot of depth and emotion in this book; it didn't gloss over the journeys each woman had to travel through her grief, even though the timeline was perhaps compacted for a novel-length story. It really highlighted how differently people can process loss, and how that might look quite different on the outside than what they're actually feeling inside. The temptation to idealize the departed is prevalent, but the reader can see the characters work through their guilt over their less than perfect relationships and acknowledge the gaps, and learn from their mistakes.

I give this book 4 stars. It had depth without feeling heavy with its look at grief and learning to live again.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

This was a beautiful story of loss and how we move forward from it. Lindsay Harrel did a great job of showing how grief is different for each person. While the women in the story were dealing specifically with the loss of their husbands, the lessons Harrel provides can be applied to any loss (and even loss that isn't a person... the loss of a dream for instance). I found myself cheering on Angela and Eva as they trained for their race. This book inspired me to get out there and run even though I've already learned from having trained for and run a half-marathon that I abhor running. LOL The setting was stunning and I felt like I was there with them. I found myself growing irritated with both women at times in how they were not opening up, but quickly realized that I was irritated because I have done the same when dealing with loss. I would recommend this to anyone who is dealing with loss and is struggling with how to move forward from it, as well as to those looking to learn how to help others in their grief.

The Joy of Falling is a book about finding joy. It's also about processing grief. The main characters are sisters-in-law, Eva and Angela, whose husbands have died together in an accident a year-and-a-half previously. They discover that their husbands had signed up with a friend to run an "ultra marathon" in New Zealand in about 6 months. They decide to take on the challenge with their husbands' friend as a team, to honor the memory of their husbands. And so, not long before Christmas, they temporarily move to New Zealand to train for a few months.

The New Zealand setting was interesting to me, particularly since the characters were Americans trying to learn the culture. All the training, day after day of exercising and running mile upon mile just wore me out reading about it! The story climaxes with the actual week-long "ultra marathon" which was a whole story in and of itself.

The Joy of Falling includes elements of faith and romance, but it's just an all-round good story.

"The Joy of Falling" is yet another excellent, life-affirming novel by Lindsay Harrel. Set around the themes of grief, courage, and joy, Harrel crafts a story of two widows who must learn how to go on after the deaths of their husbands. I really enjoyed this book!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Excellent book! Ms. Harrell has written an amazing book about two sister-in-laws and their hard and complicated journey through grief to joy.
The feeling and insights into these two people who have each lost a husband in the same accident are very different. The author explores all the feelings so thoroughly one would have thought she had gone through the same experience. She is a very gifted storyteller. It is a wonderfully written book.. I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley but the opinions are entirely my own.

THE JOY OF FALLING by LINDSAY HARRELL is the story of two young widows who had been married to brothers who died in a terrible accident.
Eva Jamison's husband, Brent, loved to live dangerously, and he is the one who encouraged Angela's husband, Wes, to try out dangerous things. Whereas Eva idolised Brent and followed his lead in everything, Angela blamed Wes for putting his life at risk when he had her and their children depending on him.
A phone call from New Zealand changes their lives. This leads to them taking Brent and Wes's places in an ultra marathon, with Marc, Brent's best friend who is the other member of the team. This adventure leads to all kinds of relationship problems being sorted out as the two women deal with their grief in their different ways. Starting out to honour their dead husbands, the race takes on a more personal meaning for everyone involved. I love the running theme and the way the author describes their struggles, making us feel we are right there with them. I feel that a marathon is synonymous with our life's journey, with the ups and downs we all go through. I like Stella, the girls' mother in law's, strong faith and her gentle reminder that, although it may not seem like it, God is watching over us and can bring good out of bad situations if we let Him.
It is a story of forgiveness, love, hope and courage, and of letting go of the desire to control and to rather let God have His way in our lives.
It is a sensitively told story and one I can highly recommend.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.