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Quand nous étions heureux
Jill et Cade, vingt et un ans, sont étudiants et amoureux. Ils semblent promis à un avenir radieux. Malgré leur relation fusionnelle, Cade refuse de présenter Jill à sa famille, qui vit dans un coin reculé du New Hampshire. Lorsque Jill tombe enceinte, ils décident de passer l'été là-bas. Bien que la famille de Cade se révèle très éloignée de celle dans laquelle elle rêvait d'élever son enfant, Jill parvient à établir une relation avec chacun de ses membres. Eddy, le père de Cade, diminué par une attaque ; Candy, la sœur aînée, très croyante ; Dodge, le beau-frère, réactionnaire et raciste ; Leela, la mère qui passe ses journées à confectionner des drapeaux américains destinés aux familles de soldats. Mais c'est surtout d'Elias, le frère de vingt-trois ans, jeune vétéran souffrant de stress post-traumatique, que Jill se rapproche. Entre eux, une complicité ambiguë va s'installer. Peu après que Jill a accouché, Elias se tire une balle dans la tête. Cet événement tragique bouleverse la famille et les projets de Jill et Cade, qui renoncent alors plus ou moins tacitement à leurs rêves. La situation empire, jusqu'au basculement final dans la tragédie.
390 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
9 people are currently reading
1032 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Coleman
26 books91 followersreceived her B.A. in English literature from the University of Maryland at College Park and speaks to writers' groups on the subjects of creative writing and publishing. A native New Yorker, she now lives and works near Washington, D.C.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
December 12, 2012
It was good, but didn't really grab my attention that much.
August 30, 2015
Jill and Cade are a college couple, smart and handsome and in love. When Jill becomes pregnant, their life is put on hold and they move in with Cade's family, hoping to save some money and pick up where they left off after the baby is born. But what was thought to be a temporary situation becomes a long ordeal enmeshed in the family drama in rural New Hampshire. Cade's brother Elias is a suffering combat veteran struggling to resume civilian life. Their sister Candy spouts fundamentalist rhetoric while her husband Dodge exemplifies the anti-establishment gun-toting backwoodsman. This is a scary combination, and when tragedy strikes, Cade is influenced to become the man he thought he would never be. His previous ambition becomes focused on something much more sinister, and Jill can only observe as her husband becomes paranoid, delusional and dangerous.
I felt a great deal of sympathy and empathy for Elias as he was suffering with PTSD and either could not or did not get the help he needed. And, his family just seemed to exascerbate and amplify his disability to the point of no return. Actually, his younger life was in great upheaval as well.
These characters are flawed, but Coleman provides a thorough background on their lives to validate their fallibility. They each carry their burdens differently. Cade's mother is stoic and resigned, Candy is piously defiant, Dodge is arrogant and blameless, and Cade is stubborn yet malleable. They make very stupid decisions, especially Jill who meekly sits by while the insanity escalates. As I witnessed the intensification of events, I wanted to reach into the pages and slap some fools around. It was frustrating at times, but that was the driving force of the book. Cade's complicity to let Dodge warp his mind culminates in a very riveting dramatic conclusion.
A good book with good characterizations.
I felt a great deal of sympathy and empathy for Elias as he was suffering with PTSD and either could not or did not get the help he needed. And, his family just seemed to exascerbate and amplify his disability to the point of no return. Actually, his younger life was in great upheaval as well.
These characters are flawed, but Coleman provides a thorough background on their lives to validate their fallibility. They each carry their burdens differently. Cade's mother is stoic and resigned, Candy is piously defiant, Dodge is arrogant and blameless, and Cade is stubborn yet malleable. They make very stupid decisions, especially Jill who meekly sits by while the insanity escalates. As I witnessed the intensification of events, I wanted to reach into the pages and slap some fools around. It was frustrating at times, but that was the driving force of the book. Cade's complicity to let Dodge warp his mind culminates in a very riveting dramatic conclusion.
A good book with good characterizations.
December 31, 2012
Jill puts her college education on hold when she becomes pregnant to Cade Olmstead, the handsome, ambitious fellow student whom she loves. Financial constraints mean Jill and Cade must move to the Olmsteads' New England farm until after the baby is born.
The farm is remote and run-down, and the family support Jill has hoped for is not forthcoming. Instead, she finds a household of survivalists with a deep reluctance to engage with mainstream society. Cade's beaten-down mother looks after his ailing father. Cade's sister is a religious fanatic, her husband a redneck bigot and their children are running wild. Into this mix comes Cade's brother Elias, who may be Jill's only real ally. But Elias has recently returned from a gruelling overseas deployment with the US army, and he's carrying a crippling burden.
I can't say much more without spoilers, but I will say Heaven Should Fall is both gothic in its setting and characters, and utterly realistic in this day and age - indeed, it's especially relevant right now with the debate raging over gun ownership in the US. The chapters are written in different viewpoints, mostly alternating Jill's and Cade's, but also giving us a glimpse into the minds of other family members. The story is absolutely gripping - this is a book you'll stay up all night to finish. It makes a very powerful statement about the damage suffered by combat veterans and the lack of proper support for them on return to civilian life.
Heaven Should Fall would be an excellent book club choice. The edition I bought, from Harlequin Australia, has book club questions in the back. Library Journal suggested this might appeal to fans of Jodi Picoult, and I agree.
The farm is remote and run-down, and the family support Jill has hoped for is not forthcoming. Instead, she finds a household of survivalists with a deep reluctance to engage with mainstream society. Cade's beaten-down mother looks after his ailing father. Cade's sister is a religious fanatic, her husband a redneck bigot and their children are running wild. Into this mix comes Cade's brother Elias, who may be Jill's only real ally. But Elias has recently returned from a gruelling overseas deployment with the US army, and he's carrying a crippling burden.
I can't say much more without spoilers, but I will say Heaven Should Fall is both gothic in its setting and characters, and utterly realistic in this day and age - indeed, it's especially relevant right now with the debate raging over gun ownership in the US. The chapters are written in different viewpoints, mostly alternating Jill's and Cade's, but also giving us a glimpse into the minds of other family members. The story is absolutely gripping - this is a book you'll stay up all night to finish. It makes a very powerful statement about the damage suffered by combat veterans and the lack of proper support for them on return to civilian life.
Heaven Should Fall would be an excellent book club choice. The edition I bought, from Harlequin Australia, has book club questions in the back. Library Journal suggested this might appeal to fans of Jodi Picoult, and I agree.
September 27, 2012
I couldn't put this down. Another great novel!
September 26, 2012
Fiat justitia ruat caelum
"Let justice be done though the heavens should fall"
Jill Wagner and Cade Olmstead are the quintessential college couple, in love, idealistic and working hard to create their brightly imagined future together. When Jill falls pregnant, the pair are determined that it will not derail their plans but when Cade isn't able to find work over the summer break he reluctantly concludes that it makes financial sense for them both to move in with his parents until the start of the next semester. Heaven Should Fall explores the tragedy of the Olmstead family whose failures are crystalised by the return of their son, Elias, after military service in Afghanistan.
Heavens Should Fall unfolds from the first person perspectives of Jill, Cade and Cade's mother, Leela shifting into the third person point of view to reveal Elias, Cade's brother, struggles with PTSD.
Though the favoured child in his family, Cade always wanted more than life in New Hampshire could offer him. Ambitious and determined, Cade's plan involves graduating with a master's degree in Economics and forging a career in politics with an eye to running for Congress, Jill at his side. Despite his attempts at distancing himself from his family he becomes mired in their dysfunctional dynamics when forced to temporarily return home. Resentment builds as the world seems to conspire against Cade's future plans, with his career stalled and facing mounting debt, he is pushed to his limit when tragedy strikes. Cade's devolution is not quite as convincing as it could be, though clearly under enormous stress his extreme reaction seems abrupt even given the influence that the militia rhetoric of his childhood must impose. Guilt plays a part and as everything spiral out of his control Cade's feelings of failure are twisted into a need to see justice done.
Jill is not as certain about her career goals as Cade but she is sure that her future lies with him. Jill is thrilled when circumstances force the couple to temporarily relocate to New Hampshire, it's been three years since her mother died and she is eager to be part of a family, dismissing Cade's warning's about his family's odd lifestyle. Even as it becomes clear that the Olmstead home is poisoned by extreme views on authority, religion and family loyalty, Jill clings to the notion that the family is all bark and no bite. It takes a tragedy for her to begin to lose faith in Cade and reconsider the needs of herself and her son, though she it risk of leaving it too late to save them all.
While Cade and Jill's story drives the novel it is Elias's that is its catalyst. After three years of military service in Afghanistan he returns home haunted by the stress of battle. Holing up in the Olmstead home, the military offers him little else other than medication to keep his demons at bay. Coleman makes a bold, honest statement about the struggles returning soldiers face as they attempt to reintegrate into civilian life. Elias displays the classic symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder - hyper alertness, nightmares, agrophobia and depression. Elias's personal history makes him particularly vulnerable and his family's denial about his condition exacerbates the risk of tragedy. Jill's attempts to help Elias unintentionally add to his burdens rather than lighten them.
Though at times I felt the pace dragged a little I found myself considering the issues the novels raises at odd times after I had finished it, especially in regards to the lack of assistance for returned soldiers. Heaven Should Fall is a grim and compelling tale whose finely crafted characters reveal a thoughtful study of an insular family stunted by extremist views and shocking tragedy.
October 16, 2012
I have thought and thought about how to describe this book to you. It contains so many different genres – some romance, some hard times, some suffering, some action and some thriller element. Possibly the best way to describe this is that it’s just like real life. You don’t always know where you’re going, and sometimes it’s a bumpy ride.
Why would you want to read a book that reflects real life? For starters, it’s a more dramatic turn of life events than I hope I’ll ever have plus it’s a darn compelling book. Rebecca Coleman has produced a book that towards the end, you just don’t want to put down.
The story of Heaven Should Fall starts innocently enough, describing the relationship between Jill and Cade, both university students. When Jill falls pregnant, they take some time out at Cade’s family farm in New Hampshire. There, Jill witnesses a string of odd events – Elias, Cade’s brother, haunted by his time in the army after returning to civilian life; Candy, Cade’s odd sister, who stores food for impending doom and the relationship breakdown between members of Cade’s family. What starts as a romantic fiction starts to turn darker with the departure of Elias. This unhinges Cade and he changes his plans for a political career for revenge…
The book is told from varying first person point of views – mainly Jill, but also Cade, Leela (Cade’s mother) and Elias (in the third person). Sometimes it was confusing remembering who was speaking. There wasn’t a great deal of difference in the language used by each of the characters, although Jill came across as the strongest character. Perhaps that’s because we learned more of her difficult backstory or the simple fact that she wasn’t ruffled by much. However, I was surprised by Jill repeatedly giving things ‘one more chance’ when it was obvious she’d been brought up to be a strong and independent woman.
I found that this book got more interesting as I progressed. The finale, although being hinted at earlier, is tense and gripping. The epilogue didn’t sort out all the issues though and the reader is left to wonder what happened to some of the characters. I would have preferred knowing exactly what happened to them all!
If you’re looking for a light romance, this is not for you. This is a taut thriller that makes some powerful statements about America. In particular, the lack of free/affordable health care is an issue at several times – it’s interesting that a first world country makes affordable prenatal care difficult. The treatment of returned soldiers and their physical and mental wellbeing is also explored, along with PTSD. Finally, it’s a story about dysfunctional families and when love isn’t enough.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Why would you want to read a book that reflects real life? For starters, it’s a more dramatic turn of life events than I hope I’ll ever have plus it’s a darn compelling book. Rebecca Coleman has produced a book that towards the end, you just don’t want to put down.
The story of Heaven Should Fall starts innocently enough, describing the relationship between Jill and Cade, both university students. When Jill falls pregnant, they take some time out at Cade’s family farm in New Hampshire. There, Jill witnesses a string of odd events – Elias, Cade’s brother, haunted by his time in the army after returning to civilian life; Candy, Cade’s odd sister, who stores food for impending doom and the relationship breakdown between members of Cade’s family. What starts as a romantic fiction starts to turn darker with the departure of Elias. This unhinges Cade and he changes his plans for a political career for revenge…
The book is told from varying first person point of views – mainly Jill, but also Cade, Leela (Cade’s mother) and Elias (in the third person). Sometimes it was confusing remembering who was speaking. There wasn’t a great deal of difference in the language used by each of the characters, although Jill came across as the strongest character. Perhaps that’s because we learned more of her difficult backstory or the simple fact that she wasn’t ruffled by much. However, I was surprised by Jill repeatedly giving things ‘one more chance’ when it was obvious she’d been brought up to be a strong and independent woman.
I found that this book got more interesting as I progressed. The finale, although being hinted at earlier, is tense and gripping. The epilogue didn’t sort out all the issues though and the reader is left to wonder what happened to some of the characters. I would have preferred knowing exactly what happened to them all!
If you’re looking for a light romance, this is not for you. This is a taut thriller that makes some powerful statements about America. In particular, the lack of free/affordable health care is an issue at several times – it’s interesting that a first world country makes affordable prenatal care difficult. The treatment of returned soldiers and their physical and mental wellbeing is also explored, along with PTSD. Finally, it’s a story about dysfunctional families and when love isn’t enough.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
July 30, 2012
Both Jill and Cade are intricate characters, but it was Jill who took my hand and walked me through this beautifully haunting story. The last line of the second page resonated in me throughout the whole book, always ringing in the back of my thoughts as the story unfolded, "the slow erosion of my husband". There is a promise here, a hint of what will come. But as drawn as I was to Jill, Leela came to visit me in a couple of dreams. Maybe it's because I am a mother of grown children and know how each decision we make shapes them into who they will become.
October 20, 2012
I would give this book 4 1/2 stars if I knew how. I received this book as a win, and I am so glad. The story revolved around Jill and Cade, two college students, who drop out unexpectedly due to Jill's unplanned pregnancy. They move to rural New Hampshire to stay with Cade's strange family. Cade's brother is suffering from PTSD and things begin to spiral out of control. Heaven Should Fall is extremely well written and told from each persons point of view. I highly recommend this book.
May 23, 2013
Much like her previous book, Kingdom of Childhood, Coleman explores the family dynamic of a very dysfunctional family and the impact it has in their lives. I enjoyed how the story was written from the different perspectives of the characters in the story, and I also enjoyed how Coleman explored the idea that it's how an individual reacts to their situation, not necessarily the situation itself that shapes the individual and their life. Great story!
June 27, 2013
TCL Call Number: F Coleman R
Adam's rating: 4 stars
Don't be fooled by the little girl with the American flag on the cover -- this is intense psychological fiction like Piccoult and Delinsky. It follows a couple in their 20s who have everything going for them, but when they get pregnant unexpectedly, they move back to be with his out of the ordinary family and everything goes haywire. The story is told from several different family members' points of view.
Adam's rating: 4 stars
Don't be fooled by the little girl with the American flag on the cover -- this is intense psychological fiction like Piccoult and Delinsky. It follows a couple in their 20s who have everything going for them, but when they get pregnant unexpectedly, they move back to be with his out of the ordinary family and everything goes haywire. The story is told from several different family members' points of view.
Want to read
August 17, 2012In the Shelf Awareness article about Harlequin MIRA. Interesting?
November 6, 2012
After reading Rebecca Coleman's "Kingdom of Childhood" last year I couldn't wait for her next book, and this one did not disappoint! I love this author.
October 9, 2012
A great book. Demonstrates how people get embroiled in dysfunction of all types in a family setting.
Great characters and great plot.
Great characters and great plot.
December 11, 2012
A haunting novel that leaves you thinking about the characters long after you've closed the covers. A good conversation starter for PTSD treatment for veterans and their families.
February 9, 2013
So glad I picked up this book! This author knows her stuff. The conflict and pain and guilt among these family members sets the stage for disaster. I was riveted from beginning to end.
October 23, 2012
Heaven Should Fall: Rebecca Coleman
The story begins in an interesting way as we hear the voice of Cade Olmstead talking about his life, his career goals, his father and his hopes for the future. Graphically spoken, straightforward and no holds barred we meet him as he is recounting his job as a campaign volunteer, where this will take him and his ideas about the future of the country, graduating with an economics degree and then hopefully if the candidate wins get a job in his administration. Pretty idealistic but you just never know. From the tone on page one throughout the start of the novel you can feel the tragic story unfolding. Heaven Should Fall relates a story about life, society and the secrets we want to stay hidden. Families often intertwine and not always in a good way. Beliefs can fire up dissent and losses can destroy the glue that holds families together. Then we meet Elias and we begin to get some insight into what happens when someone returns from war as Cade relates how his brother changed, his quiet demeanor and his responses to the ordinary. Telling about himself, his hopes and dreams he hoped to draw him out. The conversation at times heavy yet Cade tried to lighten it up. Spending time with Cade, Elias seemed distracted, despondent and definitely unsure of where his life was going.
Jill is Cade’s girlfriend and we get to know her next. She is smart, levelheaded and has a great deal of understanding how to deal with difficult situations. Jill lived with a recovering alcoholic and can see when someone is headed for a downward spiral. Jill’s mother lived her life an alcohol and hoped that one day she would become sober. Jill knew that life would not be easy and she did not want to wind up the same way as we hear her inner most thoughts, feelings and words in Chapter 3. Believing in signs her mother might have made her a believer too and yes, it is never too late to start over. Relationships do not always blossom as we often predict and although Jill wanted to spend the holidays with Cade he never asked.
Jill and Cade belong together you might say. Although he seems more committed to his job and getting a position in the candidate’s administration than understanding just what having a real family during the holidays would mean to Jill. Jill becomes pregnant and now things have to change as the once illusive family that she never had becomes part of her life. Living with Cade’s family is definitely enlightening and hoping to save money before their child is born. Sometimes what you wish for you might be sorry when it comes true. Living with his family was supposed to be short lived. Cade’s brother is factor and he is in need of help. But, money is an issue, which can put more than just a minor strain on anyone, and the medical bills accrued and the changes in the many you love become a combination for disaster. Take a match and watch as it ignites slowly on the embers of a fireplace. The fire starts to rise slowly and then envelops the wood logs or chips hidden beneath the flames. As Cade evolves his life becomes part of the cinders or ashes remaining when the fire goes out. Destroying all that he has and those that care for him dearly.
From the start you get to understand how much Jill cares about Cade as she has dinner with Cade’s competition for the assistant’s job and learns more about Drew and Cade at the same time. Ambition can often blind you to what is really important in life and as Drew highlights Cade’s personality and goals to Jill she abruptly leaves, and the reader is then enlightened about her life as a child with a mother who never told it straight. Even her mother’s death seemed surreal to her and the way she describes it like it was just an incident that happened to someone else. Christmas Day has always been hard for her and being with her friend Dave would sometimes ease the pain and lessen the reminder of her mother’s death. As Dave reflects along with Jill on Cade’s discounting her feelings about meeting his family and wanting to shield her from them. Added in she still has not revealed to herself or anyone else that she is pregnant. When she does tell him his reaction is quite different than you would expect and his attitude would definitely make someone else have it alone.
Most people always find a sibling or a friend to confide in for some reason Cade found his brother as the only person he could trust with this information. Advising him not to alert his parents and feeling sorry for himself rather than facing his responsibilities head on. Getting to know Cade’s family you meet his sister Candy and her husband Dodge whose methods of teaching their children and homeschooling are questionable. Elias seems fine at times and yet lives his life as if he’s still at war keeping his gun loaded and ready to secure the house in case of trouble. As Jill gets to know Leela his mother and begins to understand the family she starts to fit in with some of them and not with others. You hear Leela’s voice as she describes each of her children, her problems with Candy and her feelings and relationships with each one and how she tried to protect them from their father and his rages. Candy was the most difficult and was into religion, Dodge the brother in law had issues with the government and Elias seemed to the one Jill confided in and connected with. Serving in Afghanistan he tried to live a normal life but one bag delivered from the pharmacy would enlighten at least Jill to the fact that he was anything but okay. But, no one said anything and no one realized he needed help. Jill without any real family decided to embrace this dysfunctional one.
With a sister that preaches religions, and a brother in law that is cruel and does things that are illegal and another suffering from PTSD and no one noticing it at all, what will the end result be? When will Elias get the help he needs? Cade is now seems to be under Dodge’s influence and wing. As Jill and Elias connect the relationship appears to be turning in a different direction as Jill realizes that Elias has feelings for her but does not express them. But, things get worse and now we hear from Leela who describes her relationships with her children from birth and how each one was different yet if you think about it they are all the same. Anger wells deep within each of the Olmstead children in different ways. Cade with his feelings of hate, rejection and anger as to not being able to provide for Jill, his newborn son and to leave the life that his parents are living. Candy who is stuck in her own ways and living her life the way her husband chooses her to with homeschooling her sons but not exactly the right way. Elias whose pent up anger, fears from early on come through as he relates his experiences in the army, his feelings when he comes home and the fact that he realizes his life is hopeless. The anger within him spills over to others but no one realizes the gravity of his PTSD and no one except Jill tries to really help him. It is a family that is not united and a family where each member is only concerned about themselves and the end result cannot be anything but tragic.
With funds low and the baby on the way Cade still planned to attend college in the fall. With no one really concerned about the vets returning home, jobs not available these unusual people tried hard to live a normal life. As tragedy strikes this family in many different ways Jill comes to understand more about the anger, rage and revenge pent up not only in Cade but the rest of his family too. When the harsh reality sets in and the final accounting is discussed Cade aligns himself with Dodge and thinks take on more than just a sour turn. Bonding with Leela and helping her overcome her grief allows Jill to have a real mother figure if just for a short time.
Determined to escape the life his parents lived Cade promised to do better but what happens and the anger within him create another side or the Mr. Hyde side of Cade and then Jill needs to reassess her alliance with him and decide if she needs to get away from him and his family for the sake of her son.
Returning from a camping trip in the woods Cade asked Jill to marry him and they finally tied the knot. Helping Leela with her projects, trying to support Cade and dealing with Candy and her worried her. Her home schooling techniques were definitely strange and her demeanor not exactly what Jill thought it should be. Then a connection to a family member that was estranged and the reaction quite revealing letting you know that forgiveness does not play a strong role with this family. But, Jill realizes the changes in Cade and needs to find someone in the family she can trust. Explaining the situation with Dodge and his hold on Cade she hopes to find a way to help him but can she?
A family so torn riddled with anger and an ending that will tear at your heart and make you wonder just how far someone will go for revenge and just how much one woman can take before Heaven Falls.
This is a must read for anyone whose son, daughter, wife or husband came back with PTSD. You need to pay closer attention and make sure they get the help they need. One outstanding novel that will make you think about the decisions you make in life and whether revenge is the answer for everyone. Author Rebecca Coleman brings to light many issues besides PTSD but revenge, hate, bitterness and defeat. Let’s dedicate this to all of our Veterans: Men and Women.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
The story begins in an interesting way as we hear the voice of Cade Olmstead talking about his life, his career goals, his father and his hopes for the future. Graphically spoken, straightforward and no holds barred we meet him as he is recounting his job as a campaign volunteer, where this will take him and his ideas about the future of the country, graduating with an economics degree and then hopefully if the candidate wins get a job in his administration. Pretty idealistic but you just never know. From the tone on page one throughout the start of the novel you can feel the tragic story unfolding. Heaven Should Fall relates a story about life, society and the secrets we want to stay hidden. Families often intertwine and not always in a good way. Beliefs can fire up dissent and losses can destroy the glue that holds families together. Then we meet Elias and we begin to get some insight into what happens when someone returns from war as Cade relates how his brother changed, his quiet demeanor and his responses to the ordinary. Telling about himself, his hopes and dreams he hoped to draw him out. The conversation at times heavy yet Cade tried to lighten it up. Spending time with Cade, Elias seemed distracted, despondent and definitely unsure of where his life was going.
Jill is Cade’s girlfriend and we get to know her next. She is smart, levelheaded and has a great deal of understanding how to deal with difficult situations. Jill lived with a recovering alcoholic and can see when someone is headed for a downward spiral. Jill’s mother lived her life an alcohol and hoped that one day she would become sober. Jill knew that life would not be easy and she did not want to wind up the same way as we hear her inner most thoughts, feelings and words in Chapter 3. Believing in signs her mother might have made her a believer too and yes, it is never too late to start over. Relationships do not always blossom as we often predict and although Jill wanted to spend the holidays with Cade he never asked.
Jill and Cade belong together you might say. Although he seems more committed to his job and getting a position in the candidate’s administration than understanding just what having a real family during the holidays would mean to Jill. Jill becomes pregnant and now things have to change as the once illusive family that she never had becomes part of her life. Living with Cade’s family is definitely enlightening and hoping to save money before their child is born. Sometimes what you wish for you might be sorry when it comes true. Living with his family was supposed to be short lived. Cade’s brother is factor and he is in need of help. But, money is an issue, which can put more than just a minor strain on anyone, and the medical bills accrued and the changes in the many you love become a combination for disaster. Take a match and watch as it ignites slowly on the embers of a fireplace. The fire starts to rise slowly and then envelops the wood logs or chips hidden beneath the flames. As Cade evolves his life becomes part of the cinders or ashes remaining when the fire goes out. Destroying all that he has and those that care for him dearly.
From the start you get to understand how much Jill cares about Cade as she has dinner with Cade’s competition for the assistant’s job and learns more about Drew and Cade at the same time. Ambition can often blind you to what is really important in life and as Drew highlights Cade’s personality and goals to Jill she abruptly leaves, and the reader is then enlightened about her life as a child with a mother who never told it straight. Even her mother’s death seemed surreal to her and the way she describes it like it was just an incident that happened to someone else. Christmas Day has always been hard for her and being with her friend Dave would sometimes ease the pain and lessen the reminder of her mother’s death. As Dave reflects along with Jill on Cade’s discounting her feelings about meeting his family and wanting to shield her from them. Added in she still has not revealed to herself or anyone else that she is pregnant. When she does tell him his reaction is quite different than you would expect and his attitude would definitely make someone else have it alone.
Most people always find a sibling or a friend to confide in for some reason Cade found his brother as the only person he could trust with this information. Advising him not to alert his parents and feeling sorry for himself rather than facing his responsibilities head on. Getting to know Cade’s family you meet his sister Candy and her husband Dodge whose methods of teaching their children and homeschooling are questionable. Elias seems fine at times and yet lives his life as if he’s still at war keeping his gun loaded and ready to secure the house in case of trouble. As Jill gets to know Leela his mother and begins to understand the family she starts to fit in with some of them and not with others. You hear Leela’s voice as she describes each of her children, her problems with Candy and her feelings and relationships with each one and how she tried to protect them from their father and his rages. Candy was the most difficult and was into religion, Dodge the brother in law had issues with the government and Elias seemed to the one Jill confided in and connected with. Serving in Afghanistan he tried to live a normal life but one bag delivered from the pharmacy would enlighten at least Jill to the fact that he was anything but okay. But, no one said anything and no one realized he needed help. Jill without any real family decided to embrace this dysfunctional one.
With a sister that preaches religions, and a brother in law that is cruel and does things that are illegal and another suffering from PTSD and no one noticing it at all, what will the end result be? When will Elias get the help he needs? Cade is now seems to be under Dodge’s influence and wing. As Jill and Elias connect the relationship appears to be turning in a different direction as Jill realizes that Elias has feelings for her but does not express them. But, things get worse and now we hear from Leela who describes her relationships with her children from birth and how each one was different yet if you think about it they are all the same. Anger wells deep within each of the Olmstead children in different ways. Cade with his feelings of hate, rejection and anger as to not being able to provide for Jill, his newborn son and to leave the life that his parents are living. Candy who is stuck in her own ways and living her life the way her husband chooses her to with homeschooling her sons but not exactly the right way. Elias whose pent up anger, fears from early on come through as he relates his experiences in the army, his feelings when he comes home and the fact that he realizes his life is hopeless. The anger within him spills over to others but no one realizes the gravity of his PTSD and no one except Jill tries to really help him. It is a family that is not united and a family where each member is only concerned about themselves and the end result cannot be anything but tragic.
With funds low and the baby on the way Cade still planned to attend college in the fall. With no one really concerned about the vets returning home, jobs not available these unusual people tried hard to live a normal life. As tragedy strikes this family in many different ways Jill comes to understand more about the anger, rage and revenge pent up not only in Cade but the rest of his family too. When the harsh reality sets in and the final accounting is discussed Cade aligns himself with Dodge and thinks take on more than just a sour turn. Bonding with Leela and helping her overcome her grief allows Jill to have a real mother figure if just for a short time.
Determined to escape the life his parents lived Cade promised to do better but what happens and the anger within him create another side or the Mr. Hyde side of Cade and then Jill needs to reassess her alliance with him and decide if she needs to get away from him and his family for the sake of her son.
Returning from a camping trip in the woods Cade asked Jill to marry him and they finally tied the knot. Helping Leela with her projects, trying to support Cade and dealing with Candy and her worried her. Her home schooling techniques were definitely strange and her demeanor not exactly what Jill thought it should be. Then a connection to a family member that was estranged and the reaction quite revealing letting you know that forgiveness does not play a strong role with this family. But, Jill realizes the changes in Cade and needs to find someone in the family she can trust. Explaining the situation with Dodge and his hold on Cade she hopes to find a way to help him but can she?
A family so torn riddled with anger and an ending that will tear at your heart and make you wonder just how far someone will go for revenge and just how much one woman can take before Heaven Falls.
This is a must read for anyone whose son, daughter, wife or husband came back with PTSD. You need to pay closer attention and make sure they get the help they need. One outstanding novel that will make you think about the decisions you make in life and whether revenge is the answer for everyone. Author Rebecca Coleman brings to light many issues besides PTSD but revenge, hate, bitterness and defeat. Let’s dedicate this to all of our Veterans: Men and Women.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
January 25, 2018
I have to start by saying that this book is not for the people who are looking for anything fast paced or action packed. This book is more for the people that are into the tear jerker type of entertainment. I thought that this was a midstream sort of book. What I mean by that is it wasn’t a bad book. But it also wasn’t a great one. It was just a middle of the road, nothing bad nothing good type of deals. The caratchers were all realistic which was good. But they were the type of people that would have to be around each other, because nobody else could stand to be around them. You have the arrogant jerk Cade. Candy,the mother who can’t even bring herself to love her own daughter, Leela. Speaking of Leela, The delusional, Jerky, Dodge and the wormy, sleazy friend who only wants to worm his way into the main heroine’s heart. There is also the seemingly unlucky in love Jill. She goes from a sniveling, back stabbing, cowardly piece of garbage to a opprutunistic piece of trash that spends the whole book trying to worm his way into her heart. So if you like such shows as Jerry Springer or some of the trashier reality shows that litter the air waves then you will love this book. For others It’s worth a trip to the library for it but nothing more.
October 14, 2012
Jill Wagner has been alone since her mother’s death. Then she meets Cade Olmstead, a passionate political advocate and they fall head over heels in love. They are the typical university couple – young idealists, their whole lives ahead of them. Cade wants to escape his small-minded family and their New England farm. University was his big chance to map his life out so that he never had to go back.
Then Jill got pregnant.
Everything changes in an instant then and they are forced to retreat to the farm until the baby is born and then they can regroup and Cade can try and finish his studies and get a job that will once again, take them away. Jill, who has no family, isn’t sure why Cade was so dead-set against her meeting his and especially going back there but when she arrives on the farm, it doesn’t really take her long to see why. Cade’s mother tends to his father, cowed by a stroke that stopped him being the bully he was when Cade was young. Cade’s older brother Elias is back from Afghanistan and he’s damaged by what he saw and was party to over there. Cade’s sister is overly-pious and completely dotes on her bigoted husband’s every word.
It is only Jill who senses that Elias’s problems are much deeper than anyone else thinks. Cade can’t see his combat-veteran brother as the type of person who might suffer from something like depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder and the rest of the family seem content to let Elias live his life on the couch. Jill, heavily pregnant now, tries to help Elias as best she can and they form a fragile friendship that also only serves to remind Elias of what he does not and will never have.
But it isn’t enough and Elias’s way out of his nightmare changes things in the Olmstead family. Cade, once bright, passionate and dedicated turns inward in bitterness and seething resentment. He finds more time to spend with his brother-in-law when before he couldn’t tolerate him. Jill gets the idea that Cade is planning something stupid and dangerous with the brother-in-law and she knows that she needs to get herself and her newborn son out of there before she gets dragged down with Cade and the rest of this family.
Jill lacked a family growing up. Her mother raised her alone, a recovering alcoholic who also cut off her own parents, alcoholics of the non-recovering variety. Jill’s whole upbringing revolved around the twelve steps and when her mother died in a light plane crash when Jill was in University, it left her adrift in the world without anyone to really count on except Dave, a man who ran the summer camp Jill worked at as a counselor over several summers. Then she met Cade and the two of them knew they wanted to be together. Jill was interested in meeting Cade’s family, seeing as they planned to get married someday but it seemed as though Cade was always putting that off, avoiding taking her out there. When Jill got pregnant, they apparently had no choice but to go back there – Cade’s volunteering for local congressman, representatives and state senate campaigns haven’t netted him an internship and they have no income. Once they arrive at the remote farm, Jill is surprised that the family is not at all what she expected.
I found Elias’s story the most interesting and Jill’s attempt to help him, which she struggles to do without making it seem like she’s pitying Elias, or coddling him. There’s a sort of barrier between Elias and Jill, given that Jill is his brother’s pregnant girlfriend but Elias can talk to her more than he can talk to anyone else in the family. I felt that Jill really did try her best to help Elias but the situation they were in made it difficult for her (and also for him) and it seemed like Jill was really the only one trying, except for a family friend. Everyone else seemed preoccupied with other things and after all, Elias was a soldier. It seemed like most people felt he should be able to handle it.
Where I couldn’t connect with this book was in the after, where Jill becomes suspicious of her husband’s activities and just what he’s getting up to out in the shed. She knows what he’s doing (or at least has a pretty good idea) and she just…sits there. And does nothing. She has more than one chance to leave, she has several people that tell her they will help her and her small son anytime she needs it but she doesn’t go. It’s wrapped up in waiting for an operation for the baby, but if that was me and my child and my husband was in that sort of business, I would be gone. You can get a new operation date. The most important thing is the safety of your child and the environment had become (or perhaps, had always been) toxic. I felt like Jill was being really ridiculous, especially the way in which she indulges Cade towards the end of the book, intimately. I know that being raised without a family made Jill want one desperately and perhaps idealise what it was like to have one, but you have to be smart about things and she really was not very smart at all. And that disappointed me, because I prefer strong women who aren’t afraid to make tough decisions.
Heaven Should Fall felt like a good idea to me and I quite enjoyed parts of the story but it really felt like Cade’s disintegration morally was a bit of a stretch of the imagination. It didn’t feel real or genuine to me and neither did Jill’s response to it.
Then Jill got pregnant.
Everything changes in an instant then and they are forced to retreat to the farm until the baby is born and then they can regroup and Cade can try and finish his studies and get a job that will once again, take them away. Jill, who has no family, isn’t sure why Cade was so dead-set against her meeting his and especially going back there but when she arrives on the farm, it doesn’t really take her long to see why. Cade’s mother tends to his father, cowed by a stroke that stopped him being the bully he was when Cade was young. Cade’s older brother Elias is back from Afghanistan and he’s damaged by what he saw and was party to over there. Cade’s sister is overly-pious and completely dotes on her bigoted husband’s every word.
It is only Jill who senses that Elias’s problems are much deeper than anyone else thinks. Cade can’t see his combat-veteran brother as the type of person who might suffer from something like depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder and the rest of the family seem content to let Elias live his life on the couch. Jill, heavily pregnant now, tries to help Elias as best she can and they form a fragile friendship that also only serves to remind Elias of what he does not and will never have.
But it isn’t enough and Elias’s way out of his nightmare changes things in the Olmstead family. Cade, once bright, passionate and dedicated turns inward in bitterness and seething resentment. He finds more time to spend with his brother-in-law when before he couldn’t tolerate him. Jill gets the idea that Cade is planning something stupid and dangerous with the brother-in-law and she knows that she needs to get herself and her newborn son out of there before she gets dragged down with Cade and the rest of this family.
Jill lacked a family growing up. Her mother raised her alone, a recovering alcoholic who also cut off her own parents, alcoholics of the non-recovering variety. Jill’s whole upbringing revolved around the twelve steps and when her mother died in a light plane crash when Jill was in University, it left her adrift in the world without anyone to really count on except Dave, a man who ran the summer camp Jill worked at as a counselor over several summers. Then she met Cade and the two of them knew they wanted to be together. Jill was interested in meeting Cade’s family, seeing as they planned to get married someday but it seemed as though Cade was always putting that off, avoiding taking her out there. When Jill got pregnant, they apparently had no choice but to go back there – Cade’s volunteering for local congressman, representatives and state senate campaigns haven’t netted him an internship and they have no income. Once they arrive at the remote farm, Jill is surprised that the family is not at all what she expected.
I found Elias’s story the most interesting and Jill’s attempt to help him, which she struggles to do without making it seem like she’s pitying Elias, or coddling him. There’s a sort of barrier between Elias and Jill, given that Jill is his brother’s pregnant girlfriend but Elias can talk to her more than he can talk to anyone else in the family. I felt that Jill really did try her best to help Elias but the situation they were in made it difficult for her (and also for him) and it seemed like Jill was really the only one trying, except for a family friend. Everyone else seemed preoccupied with other things and after all, Elias was a soldier. It seemed like most people felt he should be able to handle it.
Where I couldn’t connect with this book was in the after, where Jill becomes suspicious of her husband’s activities and just what he’s getting up to out in the shed. She knows what he’s doing (or at least has a pretty good idea) and she just…sits there. And does nothing. She has more than one chance to leave, she has several people that tell her they will help her and her small son anytime she needs it but she doesn’t go. It’s wrapped up in waiting for an operation for the baby, but if that was me and my child and my husband was in that sort of business, I would be gone. You can get a new operation date. The most important thing is the safety of your child and the environment had become (or perhaps, had always been) toxic. I felt like Jill was being really ridiculous, especially the way in which she indulges Cade towards the end of the book, intimately. I know that being raised without a family made Jill want one desperately and perhaps idealise what it was like to have one, but you have to be smart about things and she really was not very smart at all. And that disappointed me, because I prefer strong women who aren’t afraid to make tough decisions.
Heaven Should Fall felt like a good idea to me and I quite enjoyed parts of the story but it really felt like Cade’s disintegration morally was a bit of a stretch of the imagination. It didn’t feel real or genuine to me and neither did Jill’s response to it.
July 22, 2024
Really liked this book! This was a vacation book for me and the story had me pretty hooked the whole time. The family dynamic is incredibly realistic and I really loved the way it showed how quickly people can fall apart, especially when regarding mental health issues.
September 22, 2012
3 1/2 stars
My review
Heaven should fall was an engrossing story in which we are shown the life of a soldier who returns home after his post the influence others can be on each other and how life can change so dramatically.
We see the difficulties of many characters and how paranoia can affect the way of thinking and way of life now. How a man that use to be, no longer exists and a shell of that man now exists.
A complicated family life if you may call it that, every character has issues and some more than others. Dysfunctional maybe not the ideal word to use - but every turn of events affects someone within this family. Not a well functioning family life due to the circumstances brought about.
How life affects each and every person involved and how Bitterness and paranoia sets in. We watch from the sidelines as this family Begin to loose themselves. At times you had to really wander what they were up to and why ....
This I found very sad - it grasped at my heart and made me feel sad for them all. Cade changed into a man he never swore he would be, living in such an environment did nothing but create dramas amongst the family. I wasnt overlly fussed On Cade towards the end. But it was certainly an ending I wasnt really prepared for.
I've watched how certain events in life can certainly send someone in a different direction . So when I see the family trying to deal with it I saw there pain,anger and anguish. The author certainly put forth this well in this story.
The saddest part of the story is - certain parts of it can be true to life.. and is for many.
Life was certainly not like it used to be for everyone involved within this family. We are given an insight into every character in this book and the author certainly hasn’t held back in showing us there flaws including any background information relating to these characters to give a little justice I suppose as to why they are like they are.
I found the story compelling, the need to read on to find out how this family ends up. The storyline progresses at a gradual rate – and certainly does suck you into the pages to find out where each and every character goes.
The influence that Dodge has over Cade is kind of scary – but we are brought to an ending that is somewhat quiet engrossing and very powerful and of course gut wreching . Not what I expected and I was unsure how to feel towards his wife - I think deep down she had been waiting for it.. However I would like to have seen a little more insight into her thoughts.
Quiet an emotinoal read and for all those with the militia background or an insight into what can happen to the ones around us after serving.
Also how someone;s influence can send someone in a direction they never thought possible. Second chances for some.
Not normally a genre I would read but It certainly made me think a little after reading . I didnt go into the storyline much with this review, read the blurb and read it for yourself.
Thank you to Harlequin for supplying me this book for review for my honest opinion.
My review
Heaven should fall was an engrossing story in which we are shown the life of a soldier who returns home after his post the influence others can be on each other and how life can change so dramatically.
We see the difficulties of many characters and how paranoia can affect the way of thinking and way of life now. How a man that use to be, no longer exists and a shell of that man now exists.
A complicated family life if you may call it that, every character has issues and some more than others. Dysfunctional maybe not the ideal word to use - but every turn of events affects someone within this family. Not a well functioning family life due to the circumstances brought about.
How life affects each and every person involved and how Bitterness and paranoia sets in. We watch from the sidelines as this family Begin to loose themselves. At times you had to really wander what they were up to and why ....
This I found very sad - it grasped at my heart and made me feel sad for them all. Cade changed into a man he never swore he would be, living in such an environment did nothing but create dramas amongst the family. I wasnt overlly fussed On Cade towards the end. But it was certainly an ending I wasnt really prepared for.
I've watched how certain events in life can certainly send someone in a different direction . So when I see the family trying to deal with it I saw there pain,anger and anguish. The author certainly put forth this well in this story.
The saddest part of the story is - certain parts of it can be true to life.. and is for many.
Life was certainly not like it used to be for everyone involved within this family. We are given an insight into every character in this book and the author certainly hasn’t held back in showing us there flaws including any background information relating to these characters to give a little justice I suppose as to why they are like they are.
I found the story compelling, the need to read on to find out how this family ends up. The storyline progresses at a gradual rate – and certainly does suck you into the pages to find out where each and every character goes.
The influence that Dodge has over Cade is kind of scary – but we are brought to an ending that is somewhat quiet engrossing and very powerful and of course gut wreching . Not what I expected and I was unsure how to feel towards his wife - I think deep down she had been waiting for it.. However I would like to have seen a little more insight into her thoughts.
Quiet an emotinoal read and for all those with the militia background or an insight into what can happen to the ones around us after serving.
Also how someone;s influence can send someone in a direction they never thought possible. Second chances for some.
Not normally a genre I would read but It certainly made me think a little after reading . I didnt go into the storyline much with this review, read the blurb and read it for yourself.
Thank you to Harlequin for supplying me this book for review for my honest opinion.
November 1, 2012
When you first start reading Heaven Should Fall, you're somewhere in the future. After that, you're thrown back in time to before Jill gets pregnant and before a traumatic death in the family occurs. Jill Wagner and Cade Olmstead are in college, living their lives as blissfully as they can. Jill has always wanted to meet Cade's family, but Cade thinks that his family is crazy and doesn't want Jill to think that, that is who he is. That where he comes from doesn't shape the man that his is and will become. When Jill becomes pregnant, they decide that the best plan is to stay with Cade's family until they can get back on their feet again. But what starts off as determination to get on their feet as soon as possible turns into months of trials and tribulation at the Olmstead farm.
There was a lot that I liked about this book. The characters for one. I felt like they were real. Very put together in a sense. Every character was its own and they stood out in their own ways. Even minor characters that are only mentioned but a few times, had their own little personalities that you can see with just one conversation. I also liked that this book had different POVs. You get to see different POVs and the thoughts behind that. Though I do wish some characters had a little more "me-time" with their POV. One of the things I didn't like, which also ties in with the POVs, is that there were often flashbacks to reminisce about the past or to simply explain something more. I could have done without so many of those.
If there's one thing that I don't do, is talk about religion or politics. This book, from beginning to end, is religion and politics. Though not in the bible-thumping-maniacs kind of religion and not the Americans-will-kick-your-ass-we-are-the-best kind of politics. But, even that can be debated. I might not be a fan of discussing these two things or reading about them but, to each their own.
I would recommend this book. Love women's lit? Looking for a book to pass the time and lose yourself in a family with issues far worse then your own? Then this book is for you.
There was a lot that I liked about this book. The characters for one. I felt like they were real. Very put together in a sense. Every character was its own and they stood out in their own ways. Even minor characters that are only mentioned but a few times, had their own little personalities that you can see with just one conversation. I also liked that this book had different POVs. You get to see different POVs and the thoughts behind that. Though I do wish some characters had a little more "me-time" with their POV. One of the things I didn't like, which also ties in with the POVs, is that there were often flashbacks to reminisce about the past or to simply explain something more. I could have done without so many of those.
If there's one thing that I don't do, is talk about religion or politics. This book, from beginning to end, is religion and politics. Though not in the bible-thumping-maniacs kind of religion and not the Americans-will-kick-your-ass-we-are-the-best kind of politics. But, even that can be debated. I might not be a fan of discussing these two things or reading about them but, to each their own.
I would recommend this book. Love women's lit? Looking for a book to pass the time and lose yourself in a family with issues far worse then your own? Then this book is for you.
December 17, 2014
C'est grâce à la masse critique Babelio que j'ai pu découvrir ce livre. J'ai attiré par ce roman au résumé si triste.
Les premières pages nous narrent la rencontre entre Jill et Cade. Cela nous laisse envisager un avenir heureux. Mais Cade refuse de présenter Jill à sa famille. Mais Jill tombe enceinte et sans ressources, le couple est obligé d'aller vivre chez les parents de Cade.
La famille de celle-ci est assez bizarre et j'ai l'impression que personne ne se soucie de l'autre. La preuve la plus flagrante est Ethan, le frère de Cade, jeune vétéran qui rentre de trois ans en Afghanistan. Il est victime comme beaucoup de soldat du syndrome su stress post-traumatique. Pourtant personne ne s'en soucie et on le laisse s'enfoncer dans une dépression qui va le pousser au suicide. Pourtant j'ai trouvé que le sujet était juste effleuré et pas assez approfondi, de même j'aurai amé connaitre davantage Ethan car c'est le personnage le plus attachant du livre.
Je n'ai pas adhérer aux autres personnages comme Cade ou Dodge. Ce dernier est antipathique, raciste et en plus il force sa belle-famille à stocker des tonnes de vivre en prévision d'une guerre alors que cette famille n'en a pas les moyens. Cade, lui semble un être rationnel au départ mais après la mort de son frère, il plonge dans un délire de vengeance poussé par son beau-frère.
Jill, elle suit son compagnon et le père de son futur enfant en pensant qu'elle ne va rester que quelques mois. Elle est la seule à se soucier d'Ethan et va nouer avec lui une relation ambiguë. Elle voit son couple se dissoudre mois après mois et décide de partir en sentant que son compagnon ne tourna pas rond et prépare un mauvais coup. Elle a bien raison.
C'est une histoire qui nous plonge dans les extrêmes de l'être humain. Pourtant, le manque d'approfondissement du personnage d'Ethan et de sa maladie, m'ont laissé sur ma faim. J'ai apprécié cette lecture mais pour moi cette famille est trop bizarre pour être réelle (du moins j'espère !).
Les premières pages nous narrent la rencontre entre Jill et Cade. Cela nous laisse envisager un avenir heureux. Mais Cade refuse de présenter Jill à sa famille. Mais Jill tombe enceinte et sans ressources, le couple est obligé d'aller vivre chez les parents de Cade.
La famille de celle-ci est assez bizarre et j'ai l'impression que personne ne se soucie de l'autre. La preuve la plus flagrante est Ethan, le frère de Cade, jeune vétéran qui rentre de trois ans en Afghanistan. Il est victime comme beaucoup de soldat du syndrome su stress post-traumatique. Pourtant personne ne s'en soucie et on le laisse s'enfoncer dans une dépression qui va le pousser au suicide. Pourtant j'ai trouvé que le sujet était juste effleuré et pas assez approfondi, de même j'aurai amé connaitre davantage Ethan car c'est le personnage le plus attachant du livre.
Je n'ai pas adhérer aux autres personnages comme Cade ou Dodge. Ce dernier est antipathique, raciste et en plus il force sa belle-famille à stocker des tonnes de vivre en prévision d'une guerre alors que cette famille n'en a pas les moyens. Cade, lui semble un être rationnel au départ mais après la mort de son frère, il plonge dans un délire de vengeance poussé par son beau-frère.
Jill, elle suit son compagnon et le père de son futur enfant en pensant qu'elle ne va rester que quelques mois. Elle est la seule à se soucier d'Ethan et va nouer avec lui une relation ambiguë. Elle voit son couple se dissoudre mois après mois et décide de partir en sentant que son compagnon ne tourna pas rond et prépare un mauvais coup. Elle a bien raison.
C'est une histoire qui nous plonge dans les extrêmes de l'être humain. Pourtant, le manque d'approfondissement du personnage d'Ethan et de sa maladie, m'ont laissé sur ma faim. J'ai apprécié cette lecture mais pour moi cette famille est trop bizarre pour être réelle (du moins j'espère !).
October 15, 2012
Rebecca Coleman has done it once again. She has taken what appears to be a normal college kids and a New England family and has laid them bare and shown us all their flaws. The thing that I find amazing about her writing is how, when she writes about these flaws, she makes them appear seemingly normal. The issues that are raised, in this case, most notably, the lack of assistance to returning soldiers, stay with you and resurface long after the book has ended.
Cade has tried to keep Jill separated from his family, but circumstances no longer enable him to keep them separated. The circumstances have actually thrown them all together on a New England farm. Jill and Cade, along with Cade's sister Candy, her husband and three boys; his brother Elias, recently home from a tour in Afghanistan, and Cade's mom and dad. Whew - talk about crowded! And as I mentioned before, this isn't really a normal family.
Cade's dad was once the meanest guy in the county - part of the reason Cade left and hadn't returned - but he has had a series of strokes which has mellowed him out some, but left him dependent on Leela, his wife. Candy and Dodge are not your normal couple. Candy very much fits her name, and Dodge, being much older, has always been able to take advantage of her to his benefit. Cade, being back in this environment, also begins to be swayed by Dodge and his warped view of life. Elias, suffering from PTSD, makes an unhealthy connection with Jill, which only adds to the tragedy.
I loved The Kingdom of Heaven and this one is a close second to it. If you are a fan of "happily ever after" then I would have to tell you to avoid this book! Of course, if you have a little bit of a sadistic bent that you allow out in your readings, then pick this one up next!
Cade has tried to keep Jill separated from his family, but circumstances no longer enable him to keep them separated. The circumstances have actually thrown them all together on a New England farm. Jill and Cade, along with Cade's sister Candy, her husband and three boys; his brother Elias, recently home from a tour in Afghanistan, and Cade's mom and dad. Whew - talk about crowded! And as I mentioned before, this isn't really a normal family.
Cade's dad was once the meanest guy in the county - part of the reason Cade left and hadn't returned - but he has had a series of strokes which has mellowed him out some, but left him dependent on Leela, his wife. Candy and Dodge are not your normal couple. Candy very much fits her name, and Dodge, being much older, has always been able to take advantage of her to his benefit. Cade, being back in this environment, also begins to be swayed by Dodge and his warped view of life. Elias, suffering from PTSD, makes an unhealthy connection with Jill, which only adds to the tragedy.
I loved The Kingdom of Heaven and this one is a close second to it. If you are a fan of "happily ever after" then I would have to tell you to avoid this book! Of course, if you have a little bit of a sadistic bent that you allow out in your readings, then pick this one up next!
December 7, 2012
Rebecca Coleman's second novel, Heaven Should Fall, is the captivating story of Jill Wagner, a woman who has longed for the belongingness and camaraderie that comes with a family since her mother died when Jill was still a child. She hopes to find it with her fiance, Cade Olmstead, and his family, but Cade is intent on keeping Jill from meeting them.
When the couple discovers that Jill is pregnant, they realize that they can no longer postpone the trip to the Olmsteads' remote New England farm. Jill befriends Cade's brother, Elias, who is battling Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after a tour in Afghanistan. She quickly learns that Elias's life has become a painful tragedy, and this, among other things, leads Cade and his family on the road to disaster. Now, Jill has to find a way to save herself and her infant son.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked it even better than Coleman's debut novel, The Kingdom of Childhood. I loved what she did with Leela's (Cade's mother) voice, in particular, which was so authentic, I could have been having a conversation with her. The climax at the end literally had my stomach doing flips. I don't always have a physiological reaction to novels, so that was most impressive to me.
Of course, Jill's character was the most developed, and to me, she was perfect. I don't think any other person could've filled her role. She needed the wilderness and shooting background to live comfortably with that family, and the isolation of having no family of her own to keep her there. She was the kind of person who could reasonably accept some of the oddball but harmless behaviors of the other characters, overlook some red flags, but still take immediate action when it became clear it was necessary. Without all that, she couldn't have possibly gotten into the predicament she was in, and still emerged a hero.
Great book!
When the couple discovers that Jill is pregnant, they realize that they can no longer postpone the trip to the Olmsteads' remote New England farm. Jill befriends Cade's brother, Elias, who is battling Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after a tour in Afghanistan. She quickly learns that Elias's life has become a painful tragedy, and this, among other things, leads Cade and his family on the road to disaster. Now, Jill has to find a way to save herself and her infant son.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked it even better than Coleman's debut novel, The Kingdom of Childhood. I loved what she did with Leela's (Cade's mother) voice, in particular, which was so authentic, I could have been having a conversation with her. The climax at the end literally had my stomach doing flips. I don't always have a physiological reaction to novels, so that was most impressive to me.
Of course, Jill's character was the most developed, and to me, she was perfect. I don't think any other person could've filled her role. She needed the wilderness and shooting background to live comfortably with that family, and the isolation of having no family of her own to keep her there. She was the kind of person who could reasonably accept some of the oddball but harmless behaviors of the other characters, overlook some red flags, but still take immediate action when it became clear it was necessary. Without all that, she couldn't have possibly gotten into the predicament she was in, and still emerged a hero.
Great book!
August 24, 2012
Jill and Cade are an ideal college couple, smart and handsome and lost in their love for each other. When Jill becomes pregnant, their life is put on hold and they move in with Cade’s family, hoping to save some money and pick up where they left off once the baby is born. But what was thought to be a temporary situation becomes a long ordeal enmeshed in the family drama in rural New Hampshire. Cade’s brother Elias is a suffering combat veteran struggling to resume civilian life. Their sister Candy spouts fundamentalist rhetoric while her husband Dodge exemplifies the anti-establishment gun-toting hick. This is a scary combination, and when tragedy strikes, Cade is influenced to become the man he promised he would never become. His previous ambition becomes focused on something much more sinister, and Jill can only observe as the man she loves becomes paranoid, delusional and dangerous.
These characters are flawed, but Coleman provides a thorough background on their lives to validate their fallibility. They each carry their burdens differently. Cade’s mother is stoic and resigned, Candy is piously defiant, Dodge is arrogant and blameless, and Cade is stubborn yet malleable. Yes, they make some very stupid decisions, especially Jill who meekly sits by while the insanity escalates. As I witnessed the intensification of events, I wanted to reach into the pages and slap some fools around. It was frustrating at times, but that was the driving force of the book. Cade’s complicity to let Dodge warp his mind culminates in a very riveting dramatic conclusion.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
These characters are flawed, but Coleman provides a thorough background on their lives to validate their fallibility. They each carry their burdens differently. Cade’s mother is stoic and resigned, Candy is piously defiant, Dodge is arrogant and blameless, and Cade is stubborn yet malleable. Yes, they make some very stupid decisions, especially Jill who meekly sits by while the insanity escalates. As I witnessed the intensification of events, I wanted to reach into the pages and slap some fools around. It was frustrating at times, but that was the driving force of the book. Cade’s complicity to let Dodge warp his mind culminates in a very riveting dramatic conclusion.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
November 4, 2012
MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT
Jill thinks she has met the love of her life when she first hooks up with Cade. He seems so conscientious and full of positive energy, something she would like to see in herself. When Jill finds herself pregnant, Cade doesn't run, but stands by her and takes her home to stay with his family at their farm. The house is crowded and the rural attitudes of his family surprise her somewhat. Cade's brother, Elias is returning home from an tour of duty and shows all of the signs of severe PTSD. Even with his depression, Jill finds him a wonderful person, but even though she tries, she can't overcome his disease and she loses him at the end.
Cade's sister Candy, religious to the extreme and her God and Guns husband, Dodge, point out exactly what Cade and Elias were trying to escape from when they both left the house. Dodge seems to overwhelming influence Cade to his point of view while Jill tries to make sense of it all. Each character is given a chance to present their point of view so you can see the different sides of each argument and story. At one point, I wanted to yell at Jill to get out of this environment but with her own story of abandonment, you can see how people can fall into this mind set. I really wasn't expecting the ending and much like The Kingdom of Childhood, it is full of little twists and turns of human emotions.
LOVED IT
Jill thinks she has met the love of her life when she first hooks up with Cade. He seems so conscientious and full of positive energy, something she would like to see in herself. When Jill finds herself pregnant, Cade doesn't run, but stands by her and takes her home to stay with his family at their farm. The house is crowded and the rural attitudes of his family surprise her somewhat. Cade's brother, Elias is returning home from an tour of duty and shows all of the signs of severe PTSD. Even with his depression, Jill finds him a wonderful person, but even though she tries, she can't overcome his disease and she loses him at the end.
Cade's sister Candy, religious to the extreme and her God and Guns husband, Dodge, point out exactly what Cade and Elias were trying to escape from when they both left the house. Dodge seems to overwhelming influence Cade to his point of view while Jill tries to make sense of it all. Each character is given a chance to present their point of view so you can see the different sides of each argument and story. At one point, I wanted to yell at Jill to get out of this environment but with her own story of abandonment, you can see how people can fall into this mind set. I really wasn't expecting the ending and much like The Kingdom of Childhood, it is full of little twists and turns of human emotions.
October 1, 2012
Heaven Should Fall is an engrossing tale that left me slightly confused from a very talented writer. Essentially this book was a bit of a mix for me - I enjoyed it immensely, yet I finished with my thoughts not completed wrapped up.
The story is very intricately woven. Heaven Should Fall jumps between several different points of views, which was nice, but sometimes I had to remind myself whose head I was currently in. Heaven Should Fall deals with a lot of heavy subject matter and the way Rebecca Coleman chose to tell the story was perfect. The part that really left me in a bit of confusion was the last quarter of the book, it seemed very off from the path the rest of the story had been going down.
All the characters were flawed and Rebecca Coleman portrayed this very well. I loved the use of multiple points of views to see the different characters from others eyes and how they all fit into the story.
Heaven Should Fall by Rebecca Coleman was an interesting mix for me. There were so many elements I really liked, yet there was enough I wasn't as crazy about to keep me from completely loving it. That aside, Rebecca Coleman is one talented author, and is an author I will be sure to be picking up more from in the future.
The story is very intricately woven. Heaven Should Fall jumps between several different points of views, which was nice, but sometimes I had to remind myself whose head I was currently in. Heaven Should Fall deals with a lot of heavy subject matter and the way Rebecca Coleman chose to tell the story was perfect. The part that really left me in a bit of confusion was the last quarter of the book, it seemed very off from the path the rest of the story had been going down.
All the characters were flawed and Rebecca Coleman portrayed this very well. I loved the use of multiple points of views to see the different characters from others eyes and how they all fit into the story.
Heaven Should Fall by Rebecca Coleman was an interesting mix for me. There were so many elements I really liked, yet there was enough I wasn't as crazy about to keep me from completely loving it. That aside, Rebecca Coleman is one talented author, and is an author I will be sure to be picking up more from in the future.
October 6, 2012
3.5 stars
Rebecca Coleman won me as a fan with her debut novel The Kingdom of Childhood hence my jumping at the chance to read Heaven Should Fall. It's another intense, thought provoking read tackling difficult subject matter, something Ms Coleman doesn't shy away from, but I did have a little trouble getting into it.
Heaven Should Fall is an intimate look at the slow erosion of a family, the trauma of PTSD not only for sufferer Elias, an Afghanistan veteran but his family and the aftermath of grief and blame fueled by inflammatory extremist views.
I didn't really connect with the characters, apart from Elias and I'm not one that has to like a character to connect, so that was unexpected. What breaks your heart is the lack of support and follow-up for returned soldiers and that being a sad reality in these so called enlightened times is a terrible thing.
While this wasn't the absorbing, emotionally challenging read of The Kingdom of Childhood, the author's insight and attention to an issue I feel strongly about kept me reading & thinking and I'll definitely pick up whatever Rebecca Coleman turns her hand to next.
Rebecca Coleman won me as a fan with her debut novel The Kingdom of Childhood hence my jumping at the chance to read Heaven Should Fall. It's another intense, thought provoking read tackling difficult subject matter, something Ms Coleman doesn't shy away from, but I did have a little trouble getting into it.
Heaven Should Fall is an intimate look at the slow erosion of a family, the trauma of PTSD not only for sufferer Elias, an Afghanistan veteran but his family and the aftermath of grief and blame fueled by inflammatory extremist views.
I didn't really connect with the characters, apart from Elias and I'm not one that has to like a character to connect, so that was unexpected. What breaks your heart is the lack of support and follow-up for returned soldiers and that being a sad reality in these so called enlightened times is a terrible thing.
While this wasn't the absorbing, emotionally challenging read of The Kingdom of Childhood, the author's insight and attention to an issue I feel strongly about kept me reading & thinking and I'll definitely pick up whatever Rebecca Coleman turns her hand to next.
November 3, 2012
Good book, great writing, seamless character development with a surprising yet believable ending.
The "dysfunctional family" thing has been done before and it's hard to keep going in the beginning, even though Coleman's writing is superb. She puts you right there with the Olmsteads in northern New Hampshire and I don't want to be! Watching train-wrecks is hard, especially when you see how people rushing headlong into it are so clueless. This is not to blame the characters but, as I said, it's been done and done.
What lifts it up and out of the obvious doomsday the family is headed toward is the crescendo's shocking secret and its denouement. And while I don't agree that a certain character is a "good woman" if she would be willing to have more children with a battering, sick man, knowing he is so, Coleman nails everyone else, completely. There are enough good guys to help balance the grandiosity and self-centeredness of others, which makes me want to read her previous novel, The Kingdom of Children, to see if she has the same keen understanding of human nature that she shows in almost every instance, here.
The "dysfunctional family" thing has been done before and it's hard to keep going in the beginning, even though Coleman's writing is superb. She puts you right there with the Olmsteads in northern New Hampshire and I don't want to be! Watching train-wrecks is hard, especially when you see how people rushing headlong into it are so clueless. This is not to blame the characters but, as I said, it's been done and done.
What lifts it up and out of the obvious doomsday the family is headed toward is the crescendo's shocking secret and its denouement. And while I don't agree that a certain character is a "good woman" if she would be willing to have more children with a battering, sick man, knowing he is so, Coleman nails everyone else, completely. There are enough good guys to help balance the grandiosity and self-centeredness of others, which makes me want to read her previous novel, The Kingdom of Children, to see if she has the same keen understanding of human nature that she shows in almost every instance, here.
November 10, 2024
After having read author Rebecca Coleman's first novel, The Kingdom of Childhood, I was eager to read Heaven Should Fall. I enjoy her style of storytelling.
Told from alternating points of view, Heaven Should Fall, is the story of Jill Wagner and her fiancée Cade Olmstead and how a set of events changes their lives forever.
I found this book just drew me in. As the story flows, there are plot twists and turns and I wondered what was going on with these people. The secondary cast of characters was well written and an integral part of the story.
I love that author Rebecca Coleman creates characters that are deep, flawed and multidimensional. When I read her stories, I always find myself immersed and unable to put the book down.
I recommend Heaven Should Fall if you are looking for an engaging read with well written characters and an interesting plot dealing with family issues.
Told from alternating points of view, Heaven Should Fall, is the story of Jill Wagner and her fiancée Cade Olmstead and how a set of events changes their lives forever.
I found this book just drew me in. As the story flows, there are plot twists and turns and I wondered what was going on with these people. The secondary cast of characters was well written and an integral part of the story.
I love that author Rebecca Coleman creates characters that are deep, flawed and multidimensional. When I read her stories, I always find myself immersed and unable to put the book down.
I recommend Heaven Should Fall if you are looking for an engaging read with well written characters and an interesting plot dealing with family issues.
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