Characters didn't seem well-developed. didn't like the dialogue. Or the ending. ( )

This was a wonderful book. There is one thing though that did irk me. I noticed that every decision that was made, had to pass Julia's approval. That was a little annoying. Made her seem a little demanding. But it was still a 5 star book. A very beautiful story. Can't wait to get to book 3. ( )

Sequel to After the Leaves Fall--and if would definitely be a good idea to read that one first, if you haven't already. Summer Snow picks up Julia's story--pregnant after the events of the first book, she has now dropped out of school and is living with her grandmother and working at the local grocery store. There she struggles with feeling of shame and wonders if anyone will accept her. Those worries--and her precarious financial situation--become the least of her concerns when her mother reappears--with a 5 year old boy, Julia's half brother. Julie is suspicious of her mother's motives and finds it hard to trust her. The author does a wonderful job of letting us into Julie's inner world, which feels entirely honest. I especially enjoyed the way she related to God--and the way you could sense Him at work behind the scenes, despite the imperfections of the characters. Definitely give this series a read if you like Christian fiction that explores the challenges of real life. ( )