Prodigal Lives Kick-Off Package

About the Book

Book: Prodigal Lives

Author: Carol McClain

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Release date: April 1, 2022

Life keeps piling problems on Meredith Jaynes. She loses her second foster child—one she was scheduled to adopt. Then Parker Snow refuses to marry her. With only her goats and artisan soap to support her, life will get no better.

If she is honest, though, she still has Crystal. Her funny, happy, loveable toddler makes the sun shine and reminds her of the never-failing love of God.

Pearl Solomon loves her life with her grandfather Guy, but every one of her triumphs is overshadowed by her sisters’ lives. With Mama Meredith, they live a life she envies. Because of her jealousy, she refuses to contact them.

Years later, life for both families twist down paths they do not wish to travel. Pearl knows she’s lost what was most precious in life but has no means of fixing things. Left to her own devices, she spirals out of control.

Meredith finds it harder to mask the despair infertility has brought to her life.

Both families believe they must reconcile themselves to their fates as reality shatters their dreams unless they dig deep for the promise of love.

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About the Author

Carol McClain is the award-winning author of four novels dealing with real problems. She is a consummate encourager, and no matter what your faith might look like, you will find compassion, humor and wisdom in her complexly layered, but ultimately readable work.

Aside from writing, she’s a skilled stained-glass artist, a budding potter and photographer. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and growing farm. Inspired by Meredith Jaynes, she owns two goats. One will kid soon.

You can connect with her at carolmcclain.com.

On goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14030286.Carol_McClain

On BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/carol-mcclain

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.Carol.McClain

More from Carol

Have you ever thought you’ve seen yourself in a novel?

If you know an author, you probably have.

For years I worked with recovering addicts and those helping them in organizations like Celebrate Recovery, a Christian-styled support group like AA. If I read the events of these people’s lives in a novel, I would say, “Too fake to believe.”

Their lives are tragic, funny, heartbreaking, heartwarming.

Many of their stories made it into my latest novel Prodigal Lives (modified, disguised, and novelized).

I not only incorporate others into my work, but I live through my characters’ lives (Please don’t suggest a sky diving protagonist).

In Prodigal Lives one of my main characters owns goats. For years, I begged my husband too let me have a goat or two. He promised. Then, he wimped out, so I created Meredith Jaynes a successful artisan specializing in goat soap and raising Nubians.

Prodigal Lives is a sequel but can stand alone (reading both books amplifies your enjoyment, of course). This book follows the loss Pearl and Meredith feel as Pearl is adopted by her grandfather. Pearl becomes jealous of her sisters who stay with Mama Meredith, and they lose touch. Although they hear nothing from each other, neither is forgotten.

I believe in redemption. All my work illustrates that no matter how far you fall, a loving Father is going to make a way to redeem you. He’s done it for me, and I was an impossibly problematic child of the King.

I hope you enjoy Prodigal Lives. Sign up for my newsletter and blog and never miss a new release, my Biblical thoughts or an appearance I’m making. Believe me, I wouldn’t live, my blog and newsletter are fascinating.

MY REVIEW

The story does delve into some sensitive subjects which may be hard for sone readers. I will say the author does an excellent job of allowing readers to discover the turmoil Meredith goes thru. Being a foster parent has many ups and downs. The children feel unloved and unwanted. Their normal lives have been uprooted and are placed with strangers. How do you reach a child who has gone through so much in their young lives?

I loved the wedding of Meredith and Parker. There were quite a few people wanting to give their opinions about how the ceremony should be. It did make for some funny moments. In the end all went well and they could start their lives together. It was nice to see how the family’s joined together to celebrate the happy couple.

The adoption of Crystal and Roxie is looming and poor little Roxie is having a hard time being patient. She needs to have this adoption so she can feel secure. The child is desperate to have a family and finds it hard to be patient. Parker does a good job of calming Roxie down where there is a delay and reassures her that everything will be fine.

The story also follows Pearl and her grandpa. It was hard for Pearl at times not to be with Meredith but since her grandpa showed up, she had to go with him. The author does a good job of showing how Pearl feels left out from the home she used to live at. She misses Roxie so much and at times is a bit jealous of her. When her dad finds out where she is, the mood changes in the story. Larry has been in jail with a drug problem but is trying to make amends. For a child it must be hard to understand why she should be cautious trying to reunite with her dad. Her granddad has warned her not to trust her dad but she wants to be loved and wanted by him so bad she lets her feelings overtake her doubts.

Pearl’s life takes a horrible turn when a tragedy occurs. Now her father has taken over everything and slowly Pearl finds herself doing drugs. The atmosphere she lives in is dangerous and she needs to escape from her dad. Her granddad always told her to never trust her dad but she wanted so bad to believe he had changed. Her road is filled with disappointment, broken trust , a father who has not changed and a life that is spiraling out of control.

The author shows what happens when drugs take over your life and the pain of trying to find your way back to a better life. Pearl has moments when she wants to give up, but then a small bar of soap gives her hope. I can’t wait for readers to find out how the story ends. It is an emotional time where unconditional love and forgiveness takes place. Acceptance and finding a home will bring happiness to those who want a real family. God in His infinite wisdom leads Pearl back to where she will find what she needs most.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.