A Million Miles From Home

by Mike Dellosso

After suffering tragic loss, Ben Flurry must confront the past and his own grief to become the father his child needs. Ben and Annie Flurry have the perfect family, until an accident takes Annie's life and leaves their daughter severely injured. Now Ben struggles to come to terms with his own grief and guilt. As the past he tried to leave behind threatens all he holds dear, Ben makes the difficult decision to move back to his childhood home to seek the help of his mother — and the father he remembers as abusive and an alcoholic. His mother claims his father is a changed man, but Ben isn't so sure. Can he find the strength to be the dad and man his father never was? Or will the wounds of the past ruin Ben's chance to love again? We would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of this book. Your encouragement is an inspiration to this author and the staff at LPC. * Marie, member of Deer Lick Union Church * Anonymous Christian who appreciates good, clean literature.

Genres: Fiction, Grief, Family, Christian Fiction

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2018

About the author

Mike Dellosso is the author of numerous novels of suspense, including Kill Devil, Centralia, Darkness Follows, Darlington Woods, and Scream. Mike is a popular conference and workshop teacher and an adjunct professor of creative writing. He lives in Hanover, PA, with his wife and five daughters. Mike is also a healthcare worker and survivor of colon cancer.

Reviews

[Susan Snodgrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

'I was already bitter and angry, and not just angry but downright mad. Both at God and myself.'

I have read every single one of Mike Dellosso's books. He has a special gift of drawing the reader right down into the characters' hearts. He can cross genres seamlessly as well. This one I read in hours! It broke my heart, made me burst into tears several times and get leaky eyed at others. It was very full of emotion that my heart filled right up to the brim and splashed over.

Ben Flurry, his wife Annie and 7 year old daughter Lizzy are incredibly happy in their home and life in Pennsylvania. They have created something special. Ben has loved Annie since he was 13 years old and she would come to his tree house after her dad beat on her, which he did regularly. Ben vowed to always protect Annie. But a day came when he could not. A horrific car accident takes Annie from him and horribly injures sweet Lizzy. Ben is so incredibly bereft he can't even see straight. He can't understand why this happened and doesn't see how in the world he can go on, especially now that Lizzy has such a long road of recovery ahead. He decides to go back to their hometown of Boomer, NC, where his parents still live. This is a move which takes a lot of courage because Ben's alcoholic dad was always verbally abusive to him, all his life. But his dad has suffered a stroke and Ben's mom says he is a changed man and has found Christ. Ben very much doubts it and sees no point in trying to form a relationship with his dad after all this time. But Ben is struggling and desperately wants to not be the kind of dad his own dad was. Will Ben allow bitterness and unforgiveness to mar his own future? Can he find the strength and grace to open his own heart?


Written with such a depth of feeling, this book is destined to be read over and over again and is definitely one for the keeper shelf. Mike Dellosso writes with such heart and compassion and grief that it moves the reader in ways they never expected. Truly, this book touched my heart in a profound way. It will be one of my top reads of 2018. Highly recommended.

[Heavenly Readings · Rating 4 out of 5]

ENG/ESP

Encontré esta joyita de libro gratis en Kindle Amazon y desde la primera línea me atrapó por completo. Lo escogí porque el autor es hombre y es muy refrescante poder ver e imaginar la historia desde la perspectiva masculina. Esta es una historia totalmente opuesta a lo que comúnmente leo y no me arrepiento para nada. Fue un gran respiro de aire fresco y disfruté el personaje masculino principal: Ben, un padre de familia que perdió a su querida esposa Annie en un accidente y en el cual también él y su hija Lizzy salieron heridos, física y emocionalmente. Luego de la pérdida, ambos se van a vivir a casa de los padres de Ben a comenzar una nueva etapa de sus vidas, ambos viviendo el duelo de diferentes maneras. Hay tantas emociones encontradas, especialmente en el personaje de Ben ya que además de sobrellevar la culpa por la muerte de su esposa y su enojo contra Dios, también enfrenta a su padre, con quien no tiene buena relación debido al maltrato que sufrió de su parte pero que según su madre él ya no es el mismo desde hace tiempo, a lo que Ben reacciona con incredulidad y dureza en su corazón. El perdón, las nuevas oportunidades y la esperanza son elementos de esta increíble historia de drama familiar. Lo único con lo que no estuve de acuerdo fue la necesidad de incluir romance en la historia, (a excepción de los recuerdos del pasado con su esposa, que fueron hermosísimos) porque pienso que sale sobrando y hace un lado todo el proceso de duelo que vivió Ben por la muerte de su esposa, me pareció muy precipitada esa decisión y además la escogencia del interés amoroso de Ben, fue súper engañoso ya que se quedó con la persona que menos esperaba y definitivamente no me agradó mucho. Pero bueno, lo más resaltable para mí fue el tema del aprendizaje emocional de todos los personajes, las relaciones familiares, el perdón y la sanidad espiritual. Una historia inolvidable y única. Recomendada al 100%.

ENG*
I found this little gem of a book for free on Kindle Amazon and from the first line it completely grabbed me. I picked it up because the author is male and it is so refreshing to be able to see and imagine the story from a male perspective. This is a totally opposite story to what I commonly read and I don't regret it at all. It was a great breath of fresh air and I so enjoyed the nuances of the main male character: Ben, a family man who lost his beloved wife Annie in an accident and in which he and his daughter Lizzy were also hurt, physically and emotionally. After the loss, they both go to live at Ben's parents' house to begin a new stage of their lives, both grieving in different ways. There are so many conflicting emotions, especially in Ben's character, as in addition to coping with the guilt over the death of his wife, his anger towards God also he resents his father, with whom he does not have a good relationship due to the abuse he suffered from him but who according to his mother is no longer the same person he was for some time, to which Ben reacts with disbelief and hardness in his heart. Forgiveness, new opportunities and hope are elements of this incredible family drama story. The only thing I didn't agree with was the need to include romance (except for the memories of the past with his lovely wife, which were very beautiful) in the story, because I think it's superfluous and it puts aside the whole grieving process that Ben went through because of his wife's death, I thought that decision was too hasty and also the choice of Ben's love interest was super deceitful since he stayed with the person I least expected and definitely didn't like that very much. But well, the most remarkable thing for me was the theme of emotional learning of all the characters, family relationships, forgiveness and spiritual healing. An unforgettable and unique story. 100% recommended.

[Joleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many things happened to this little family — some wonderful, some heartbreaking. But God was right there with people to love on them and share wisdom, or just support them through their trials.

Moving from present day to the past to give the reader a glimpse of what life was like for Annie and Ben, we see abuse, both verbal and physical from both their fathers. We see bullying at school for years. But in a loving relationship with their Savior, they were able to get beyond that history and be the people God intended.

What a heartrending and heart-warming story. Annie and Ben were the love of each other's lives, and to add to this blissful existence, a beautiful baby girl blessed them.

Then tragedy struck and life as they knew it became an abyss to wade through and make sense of.

Tom is my favorite character. A large black janitor from the hospital becomes like a father figure/best friend to Ben, reminding him that God is there, offering such wisdom that would run through Ben's mind when he needed it most.

“He doesn’t have to earn your trust, son. It’s already due Him.”

Speaking to Tom about Ben's father...
"This house was filled with tension and heartache because of him. It’s a miracle I didn’t wind up just like him. I can’t just erase that and act like it never happened. It did.”
“And you feel like you’re the one to punish him for it, is that it?”
“No. I don’t know. Maybe.”

Quick read and totally worth the time to read it.

[Mike Fegter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book totally caught me off guard. It isn't in the normal vein of Dellosso's writings. What an emotional ride! As a father of a 14-month old daughter, I was immediately pulled into this story. I could relate to the fears Ben had holding the infant Lizzy. I guess what really sucker punched me was taking the journey with Ben through thoughts and fears I myself have had about the uncertainty of the future.

Thank you Mike for yet another amazing book. Keep on writing and I'll keep buying them! :)

[Patrick Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book. lol

It was probably one of the saddest books I have ever read in my life. It was really hard at times to just stop reading. It was just that sad. But awesome at the same time. Forgiveness and a new life in the end.

With so many deaths surrounding us and the world we live in. Life can change in a second.

Cherish every second you get. Don't sweat the silly stuff. It can all be gone in a blink of an eye.

[Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’ve found that there are two ways people react to suffering. They either run to God or run away from him."

Mike Dellosso, best known for writing Christian horror novels, switches genres and the result is an emotional roller coaster that focuses on suffering, grief, and ultimately redemption. I cannot tell you how many times I felt on the precipice of tears with this book. Like one of my favorites, Charles Martin, Dellosso pens many, many lines in this book that hits you like a gut punch, causing you to feel the raw pain and emotion of the book's characters. While Dellosso often writes in a quick, no-filler style, he makes the most of less is more and somehow deliver more emotion and impact than most authors out there. "A Million Miles From Home" is one of those books that will stay with you for many years and many miles to come.

One of the things that impacted me so immensely was the relationships in this book. First, the relationship between Ben and his daughter Elizabeth Grace, whom he calls Lizzy. I will admit I might have been impacted more than the average reader with this because I have a young daughter named Grace Elizabeth! *A quick side note, I am simultaneously reading Tim Downs' Head Game about father who loses his wife and has a daughter named Grace, so it's been a rough, emotional week of reading for me!* The love, the pain, the joy, the sorrow between Ben and Lizzy felt so real that I definitely feel like Dellosso wrote their parts perfectly. Along the same lines, the love between Ben and his wife Annie was special and again, the grief was evident and portrayed well by Dellosso. He did a stellar job writing about Ben's father and I liked the redemption aspect of it as well as Ben's journey of self-discovery with that relationship.

But one of my favorite relationships in the book, and one I wish was explored a little more after Ben's move back to North Carolina, was between Ben and Tom. They had this wonderful back and forth friendship where Tom provided both a physical and emotional shoulder for Ben and his family to lean on, always providing words and encouragement. The character reminded me a little of Big-Big in Charles Martin's masterpiece "Long Way Gone." One the phrases of Tom that really stuck with me dealt with Ben's anger toward God about the loss of his wife. "I think God is a big enough God that he can take a little rantin’ and ravin’ from us. He knows your heart, son, and he loves you more than you could ever love him back. He knows this is somethin’ you’re gonna need to wrestle with a bit. You just keep on wrestlin’, you hear? Can’t promise you’ll get your answer but it’s in the wrestling that we learn to surrender.” And it's in these words that Ben's journey ultimately lies. How to go from blaming and being angry to God to turning to God, even when we don't or can't understand. Because there are two ways that we react to suffering...we either run to God or run away from him.

For more of my reviews, please visit my blog:
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[Sara Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

** “God, he understands the cries of a broken heart. He’s been there. … Yep, I think God is a big enough God that he can take a little rantin’ and ravin’ from us. He knows your heart, son, and he loves you more than you can ever love him back. He knows this is somethin’ you’re gonna need to wrestle with a bit. … You just keep on wrestlin’, you hear? Can’t promise you’ll get your answer but it’s in the wrestling that we learn to surrender.” **

Mike Dellosso steps away from his usual supernatural thriller fare with his latest novel, “A Million Miles From Home,” a heart-wrenching story of resentment, redemption and restoration.

Benjamin and Annie Flurry have been in love since they were 13. Both fleeing abusive homes, they leave North Carolina and begin their married life in Pennsylvania. After having their miracle baby, Lizzy, life is good. Ben loves his job with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Annie delights in homeschooling their daughter.

But that all comes to a crashing halt one night when a terrible accident takes the life of Annie and severely crushes Lizzy’s legs. To pick up the pieces, Ben is forced to move back home to North Carolina. Will Lizzy be able to heal physically and will they both be able to heal their hearts? And will Ben be able to redeem the relationship with his formerly abusive father?

“A Million Miles From Home” is a deeply emotional novel, filled with very real and raw moments as Ben and Lizzy deal with the grief and loss of their wife and mother. This story shows how each person deals with impending storms differently, and what we can learn from each other’s responses. It reminds us that suffering is, unfortunately, a part of life, but that God has a plan for us; sometimes it feels like God has abandoned us, but He is always there; we can choose to either run to or away from God during difficult times; the importance of forgiveness; and the image of being made new.

Dealing with the storms of life is a major theme, and Dellosso reminds us that God will always walk us through those storms.

Written in a reminiscent tone, like your friend is telling you his story while rocking on the front porch, the story switches back and forth between the present and situations in Ben’s past. Besides the lovable Ben, Annie and Lizzy, Dellosso writes some great characters, including the amazingly supportive Tom, the hospital’s maintenance worker Ben meets after the accident and who basically becomes a member of the family. Dellosso writes his characters with very real, relatable flaws.

Even though this story is very different from Dellosso’s usual offerings, “A Million Miles From Home” is an incredible novel that will wrench your gut and make you wonder how’d you get through a similar situation.

Fans of authors like Nicholas Sparks, Richard Paul Evans, Jodi Picoult and even Billy Coffey will enjoy this novel.

Five stars out of five.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not many authors can pull off the ability to write in different genres, but Mike Dellosso proves that it can be done even among the fans of his Christian horror and suspense work.  (Yes, there is such a thing and Dellosso is one of the masters.)  

"A Million Miles From Home" is about the tragic loss of Ben Flurry's wife and childhood sweetheart in an automobile accident that left his seven-year-old daughter severely injured.  Ben's struggle to deal with his own grief and guilt is magnified by the task of consoling and caring for his daughter.

Making the decision to go back home to his parents' home after fighting so hard to get away from his verbally abusive dad was almost as difficult as dealing with his loss, but Ben knew that in order for Lizzy to heal, physically and emotionally, he had to swallow his pride and do the right thing.

Ben did not realize that doing the right thing would mean forgiving all of the people in his past who had hurt him and Annie.  He didn't know that the hardest part of the healing process was forgiveness for himself and others.  

Whether writing Christian horror and suspense or heart-melting stories of pain and hope, Dellosso doesn't disappoint when it comes to character development, descriptive scenery or pulling you into his stories through first words and sentences.  Even though we only get to know Annie in the first couple of chapters, she is woven throughout the book and we learn why Ben is lost without her.  We also know that, because of her love, Ben can move on.

[Deb Brammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben and Annie grow up together in abusive homes and later marry. They have a daughter and are determined to leave their past behind and build a loving home. But tragedy forces Ben for face his past and work toward forgiveness.

I seldom give 5 stars to books, but Dellosso does a good job of telling this emotional story. The story is told from Ben's point-of-view and goes back and forth between the past and present, but the author handles this well so that you feel like you are with Ben, feeling what he is feeling. A couple characters seem to have no flaws, but generally his characters are well-rounded and realistic.

A couple of times the author talks about baptism "washing away a person's sin," which clashes with my personal viewpoint. But the book is moving and well-written, though fairly sad throughout.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Excellent Soul Searching Story

I have read many books that make you stop and think about God, forgiveness, and reconciliation with others, but this tops my list. From child to adult you harbor hurts, and cruel injustice of those around you . You believe in your heart you have dealt with them when in reality they are still there influencing your life. These characters help you to see the harm that can come from forgiveness anger, and pain it can do you! Great book!

[Terry Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author. He can describe a scene in 3 sentences and make you feel like you're in the middle of whatever is going on. This book isn't his normal genre. It's a romance with a lot of depth and substance. The spiritual content was my favorite. All you women who read romance novels, give this one a try. You won't be disappointed.

[Sandra B. Culbertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming

Although I enjoyed this novel , I did not realize that it would have such a religious theme. I am not a fan of religious stories and would not have selected this had I known. It had a good story line of forgiveness and acceptance of loss and worth reading if you are a fan of this genre.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different

This book was different than the other books I have read by this author. It was an emotional book, very sad at times. I am not sure how I feel about it right now. It was well written.

[Sally Spoelstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle, healing read

This is a good offering for help with healing of sorrow and for letting go of the past. And it is a nice story with a Christian message. Not at all preachy.

[Pamela J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

predictable, but pleasant

The story of a widowed young dad was predictable, but a pleasant read. I enjoyed Tom, the wise stranger who offered the comfort with which he was comforted. And he continually nudged his youngefriend toward truth and reconciliation.

[Susan Moody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful

This book was a beautiful story of grief, healing, and forgiveness. Many tears were shed as I journeyed through the story. I would have given this book 5 stars but the ending just didn't feel right to me.

[Jacki Prettyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional

When you lose someone you are so in love with and your life and faith are shattered, how do you carry on when you feel a million miles from home? A moving story of tragedy in the life of a husband and father and how he found his way back home.

[Kathy Gambill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!!

Loved reading this. I like to read a book with Godly and family values. This book is both of those!

[Janet L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching story of love, loss and forgiveness.

[Evonne Hutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do you overcome the loss of your love? Can you?
Do you become fixated on what you have lost and rail at God or do you accept His Mercy and Grace?
This storyline will make you think

[Marilyn James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good Christian book.

Mr Dellosso is a wonderful writer, the unexpected things that happen in a person 's life sometimes make you bitter but with God's help we can overcome.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story!

This story reminded me that life has its mountains and it's valleys, but if we will just have the courage to let go and embrace the Lord, we will make it through.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

A sweet story which follows a family through a traumatic time. Although it's emotional, this is an easy and uplifting read - expediting this quarantine

[Tressan Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smiling

I have a smile on my face after reading the end . This is a God story about loss, moving on, forgiveness and God's love. It's sad but also full of hope

[babrara wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

God's love and forgiveness

A great story about how God yeses different trails to bring you some rest and love. Hard to put down such an

[Richard H. Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book. Interesting.

[Eric Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dellosso has shown he is a master of suspense, while also touching on emotion, grief, loss, and redemption. Here, he explores some similar themes but from a whole different angle. And succeeds in every way.

[Dini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended read!!! Got me hooked from the first page and couldn't put it down. Emotional read, loved it!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good one! I really enjoyed it. It shows how God holds us together and comforts us when the unthinkable happens.