Saturday Morning

by Lauraine Snelling

Broken by life's disappointments, four women forge a friendship that leads in unexpected directions.

Hope Benson is determined to do all she can for the broken souls who come to Casa de Jesus, a women's shelter in the heart of San Francisco. When a difficult pregnancy forces her to relinquish control, she draws support and strength from an unlikely group of women, each struggling with her own heartbreak.

Andy Taylor, a reluctant transplant to California, was compelled to leave behind her lavender-growing business and her home of twenty-some years to support her workaholic husband's pursuit of career success. Attorney Julia Collins is searching for her teenage granddaughter, believed to be living on the streets. And Clarice Van Dam's life has been shattered by the disappearance of her husband, who appears to have relieved her of all earthly possessions except a fur coat and her overnight bag.

Drawn together at the weekend market held in the shelter's parking lot, the women pool their resources to fend off an unscrupulous conglomerate that threatens to replace the facility with a commercial development. As they fight to retain this haven for women in need, they find their own longings for home answered by the solace of faith and friendship.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Chick Lit

392 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2005

About the author

Award-winning and bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has over 80 books published with sales of over 4.5 million. Her original dream was to write horse books for children. Today, she writes adult novels about real issues centered on forgiveness, loss, domestic violence and cancer in her inspirational contemporary women’s fiction titles and historical series, including the favorite, Blessing books about Ingeborg Bjorklund and family.

Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).

Reviews

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars. Mine is not this cover. It has the cover of the E book but is most definitely a paperback. It took me a little while to get into this book but once I did, I enjoyed it. The longer it went the more involved I became. It presents a beautiful picture of a group of women from diverse backgrounds and how they are brought together by circumstances. There is Hope who runs a women’s shelter in San Francisco. Andy woman with her own marriage problems and a lavender growing business that her husband wants her to abandon for his new job. That would mean she would need to move to and live in California. There is attorney Julia searching for her granddaughter who she suspects is living on the streets and there is Clarice, recently married to a young man who has disappeared. All very different these four women come together to try and keep the women’s shelter from closing and being replaced by an unethical company with an eye to using it for more commercial purposes. It is also a story of faith. This is very firmly Christian fiction and so there is a lot of talk of God, and of prayer. Of course, there is always the unexpected miracle that finds its way into these pages. An enjoyable read and recommended for lovers of Christian fiction. Those who are not may find the constant references to God and the way he works out plans a little too overt.

[Debbie Maskus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Christian book with much mention of God and His powers. The format reminded me a little of Francine Rivers, but Snelling does not utilize the use of Scriptures and religious history as Francine Rivers presents in her novels. Saturday Morning is set in San Francisco, and presents glimmers of that magnificent city, Snelling does not delve into the psyche of the city. The story centers on the misfortunes of Clarice, Julia, Clarice, Hope, and Andy, and the stories are all interesting, but not fully developed or exposing the inner struggle that each woman faces. Where is their anger and frustration. The hardships are like a little sandtrap or a pestering gnat, just aq minor disturbance in the course of a great life. Clarice loses her life savings and home to a new young husband, Julia must attempt to find a wayward granddaughter, Hope must struggle with J House and her unbelievable pregnancy, and Andy must work out problems with her husband. The story is interesting, but the hardships are too calm for real life.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read SATURDAY MORNING by Lauraine Snelling to fulfill two Bookclub challenges - Squares on the cover and Day of the week in the title.
Initially I thought that Andy Taylor was a whiny wife, but as I delved more into the book and saw her interact with the other main characters, she seemed more caring and likeable. Hope Benson, Julia Collins and Clarice were immediately easy to like. Hope's name suited her perfectly, as she was constantly full of hope.
I appreciated the author's meandering writing style and was drawn into the problematic lives of the four ladies. This was an enjoyable read.
4*****

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four women from different parts of the country, all hurting and as unlikely to be friends as you could imagine, come together to be more than friends. They become the Girl Squad--supporting and encouraging each other, helping each other in any way they can, and most especially sending up powerful prayers when needed.

Andy Taylor has taken her hobby of making lavender sachets and turning it into a profitable lavender farm. The teas, sachets, soaps,and lotions are taking off and adding to her parents' retirement fund just as she had hoped. Oregon has been her home for over 20 years and now her husband expects her to drop her "little hobby" and move to San Francisco so that he can accept a high paid promotion with his company and continue to be a workaholic. She needs him to rethink that.

Hope Benson and her husband Roger run a women's shelter known as Casa de Jesus in San Francisco. Women of all ages and of all lifestyles go there to heal and to find a better path in life. But Hope is battling to hold on to her property as forceful buyers come knocking on her door.

Julia Collins is a successful attorney in Kansas City. She is frantic once she learns that her rebellious 16 year old granddaughter, Cyndy, has run away--back to her mother in Minneapolis which is not a good thing. Her mother has a history of drug use and is not the mothering type. In fact, Julia learns that Cyndy hit the road again to make her way to California to make it big in the movie industry.

Clarice Van Dam found happiness once again. Widowed, she thought love couldn't happen past the age of 60; but she hit the jackpot when the handsome and younger by 20 years Gregor Lucius Van Dam married her and then convinced her to pack up all her precious belongings to move to San Francisco. The plan is for her to leave Florida to visit her sister in New Jersey and he will meet her in San Francisco when she arrives.

The story was slow to start, but as each character was introduced, it began to all come together. Each of the ladies had distinct personalities and as they all managed to come together their distinct and unique talents and traits helped them to form a bond that went far beyond a casual friendship. These ladies are a force not to be tangled with. When they need something done, they get it done--by pure physical labor or by the power of prayer or by both.

This book reminded me of the Yada Yada Prayer Group series by Neta Jackson. The diverse cast of characters are flawed but they are real and their faith is real. I would so love to see a sequel (a series would be even better)that would follow up with these amazing ladies and their next adventure. Maybe these ladies could even meet up with the fabulous Yada Yada Prayer Group. I can only imagine what awesome things they could accomplish together!

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this book was not terrible... but not as great as it could have been. I believe that women can't be pastors, so that sort of turned me off as one of the main characters in the book is a female "pastor'. I also couldn't get over calling God "Big Dad". It seemed so far-fetched to me and then after a while, everyone in the story was calling God that.

I did like that it was about Christian women friends who were not afraid to pray for one another and give Godly advice to each other.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book that left me needing more depth. The 4 ladies in this book each have struggles but the issues seem to be a tad glossed over or simplified. I needed more character background and details, inner thoughts. If the beginning of each chapter was titled with the character name it was focused on that also may have helped. I did enjoy the friendships that developed.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and connected with them. It would be awesome if the author expanded with a series to follow up with each of the ladies in this story!
The title & cover don't really fit the book in my opinion & the back summary gives the pregnancy away, which could have been a surprise. The flow is a little off in places, but overall, it's surprisingly easy to keep up with the 4 main characters.
It's a reminder for me to trust God, listen for His voice, be thankful for all things - the good & bad, & share His love with others.
I liked how the author left enough suspense with each character's story to not know how things would turn out.
I would recommend this book & look forward to reading more from this author.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story and great characters! A husband and wife, Hope and Roger run a private nonprofit shelter for women and children. There housing is an old church converted into living quarters, office space, and play area - until Sunday when the play area converts into a chapel. The building has been condemned unless retrofitted for earthquakes which will cost 100's of thousands of dollars which not not be raised. 3 women come to shelter by God's hand and together with Hope the owner form the God Squad- a prayer group extraordinaire - that helps each with their private problems and the shelter's problems getting wonderful results! Love people coming together to solve problems and helping each other be strong a wonderful disciples of God.

[Allan67 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book that I read to Diana. We can't do much anymore after her stroke, so I read to her to spend time together. Diana has always loved to have someone to read to her - and I like to do just that.

An entertaining story of four women who meet in San Fransisco under less than good circumstances and grow to be fast friends supporting one another in their time of need. Diana enjoyed the story, thus four stars.

[Donna Kale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read mist of her books but somehow I have missed this one over the years, without a doubt one of the best books I’ve ever read, we can never understand the depth of women’s relationships until we reach out a befriend a person in need, how four women come together from all walks of life in need of a shoulder and understanding to get through what life as thrown their way. Highly recommend this book!

[Lisa Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I loved the characters and their distinct stories. I could identify with their worries, frustration, and anger over situations. I loved that they helped one another with prayer and encouragement and using their time and talents .

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This made me think of the Yada Yada Prayer Group books (although I think this might actually have been written first).

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

first xtian novel i've read in decades. it was fun, light hearted. good narrative about the power of friendship.

[Janette Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very moving and inspirational.

[Judy Smallwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite book

I reread this book every couple of years. The story is so uplifting and inspiring. It reaffirms the joy of friendship and our need for dai!y prayer.

[Rachel Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how everyone is intertwined in this story and willing to learn and do what needs to be done.

[Linea Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting. I do like her historicals and found this by accident

[Mandy Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about strangers becoming friends, how they were there for each other and how their faith held them up & together through the tough/ scaring times in life

[Martha Radtke · Rating 5 out of 5]

good story

[Barbara Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and moving story about 4 women from very different walks and seasons of life who are brought together in what seem to be the most random ways. Andy, Julia, Hope and Clarice are as different as night and day and yet they form a beautiful sister group as they work together to help each other. This story covers so much... marriage trouble, death, aging, infertility, abuse, addiction... as well as faith, love, surrender, peace. Excellent read!

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hope Benson provides help for women at her San Francisco shelter, Casa de Jesus, and income through the shelter's Saturday Market. She and her husband Roger have long prayed for a child of their own, but now are satisfied by nurturing the children God brings to 'J House.'

Andrea 'Andy' Taylor is beginning to realize her dreams in Medford, Oregon. Her daughters are grown and her lavender business is flourishing. The one sore point is that her husband Martin travels constantly for his job. Andy and Martin have grown apart, their relationship becoming more and more strained. When Martin is offered a promotion that includes a move to San Francisco, they have difficulty reconciling their individual desires. Julia Collins heads to San Francisco in search of her runaway granddaughter. Clarice Van Dam has been fleeced for everything she owns by a man she trusted. Desperate and with nowhere else to turn, the former wealthy woman moves into J House. These four women are drawn together by circumstances and by God at just the right time. They form the 'Girl Squad' and begin to pray through their joys and trials. Could it be that each woman is exactly where she is supposed to be, even though the road to get there has been rocky?

This uplifting and interesting story portrays four women drawn together both by their differences and by their similarities. Because two of them experience problems with men, this could easily have turned into a male bashing treatise, but it didn't. Through every ordeal, the women cling to their faith in God and pray through the circumstances. This leads to following God's direction, even when it is contrary to their own inclinations. Although each character provides a necessary viewpoint, Andy and Hope are much more developed than the others. The reader truly gets to know them, their motivations and their hearts. Though we know slightly less about Clarice, her transformation from wronged woman to discovering her strengths is believable. In contrast, Julia is mostly unknown. Though her quest to find her granddaughter is touching, it doesn't really go anywhere in the larger scope of the story.

Lauraine Snelling's writing is clear and fresh. The plot grabs the reader from the beginning and detailed characterizations keep interest high. Each woman, especially Hope and Andy, stays with the reader long after the story's completion, allowing us to mull over their choices and wonder what we would have done in similar circumstances. Saturday Morning is a treat to curl up with.

[Alisha Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some strange reason, a big chunk of the books that I win due to Goodreads or LibraryThing, tend to be Christian-Fiction. The weird thing about that is that I don't realize that they are actually Christian-Fiction. Now, if I were religious, I would be inclined to say that something like that is divine intervention. But since I'm not, I'm just going to say that I need start reading the descriptions of the books I sign up for much more thoroughly. Just to avoid reading a genre that I don't necessarily love. That way I won't feel like an idiot when I say that I didn't love a Christian-Fiction book because it was too preachy since being preachy is pretty much a staple in Christian-Fiction books.

I've read about three, maybe four Inspirational books and I've only really liked Beaded Hope because it wasn't too preachy. Obviously, prayer was a big part of the characters' lives, but I didn't feel like the author was going overboard. In Saturday Morning, every other page was about God. Again, there's nothing wrong with that, but as someone who isn't religious, it did end up being a bit much. So, those parts were sort of skimmed over.

The rest of Saturday Morning was pretty good. While I didn't truly connect with any of the characters, I did enjoy their storylines. I absolutely loved Andy's storyline with her husband. Every time he tried to get her to fit into his perfect mold, she would just dish out the "This is the way it's going to be" attitude and I just found the whole thing endlessly amusing before it turned all angsty. I also really liked the J House storyline. I was in awe at what all the women were doing to help out the less fortunate.

All in all, I thought that Saturday Morning was an okay novel. I did think the resolution of everything was a bit out there, but that just might be because of my skepticism towards the notion that prayer solves everything. Saturday Morning was a mildly enjoyable and extremely quick read, so I can't complain. I'll just have to look a little closer next time I'm signing up for giveaways.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Lauraine Snelling's Red River of the North series many years ago. Those books were a historical christian fiction series where this book is set in more recent times. This book did not disappoint. All four women in the book are all very different from one another. They are thrown together and then find that with God they can overcome anything by working together. I love the fact that all the women were so different but still managed to become good, close friends. The story kept my attention. The story moves along at a nice pace and kept my attention. If you are a fan of light, contemporary christian fiction you will probably enjoy this book

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book about a group of women with very diverse backgrounds and problems who become great friends and very important to each other for moral and prayer support. The writing reminds me a great deal of Neta Jackson's Yada Yada House of Hope series. Each woman's faith journey was different, and they all worked through their problems in a different way, but the friendship connection they developed with each other was inspiring.

[Lewestover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm only half way through the book, but I'm loving it! The unique friendship forged by four very different women, each having a different need, is something to be treasured. I am enjoying the natural role that their faith plays in the story as well. This is definitely a good read, and I'm sure I will go on to read other books that Lauraine Snelling has written.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is basically a book about four women from different backgrounds and parts of the country, who, for varying circumstances, meet at Casa de Jesus (J House), a women's shelter in San Francisco. The Lord works in each of their lives as they get to know each other through their work at J House and as they pray together weekly for J House and each other.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about four women and their relationship with each other and with God. Hope is a Pastor, Julia a lawyer , Clarice an older woman who has been taken advantage of by a gigalo, and Andy is a small business owner. They all come together in San Fransisco and become fast friends and prayer partners.

[Marla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book and how important it is for us to be able to hear that still small voice of our Lord and be obedient even when doing so is the very thing we don't wish to do. Oh, how He blesses when we are obedient.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on librarything. Great book about friendship. The book starts a little slow but once the character development is there it is very good. Everyone needs friends like these. Prayer plays a significant part in the book and gets the characters through some tough challenges.