OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Here Today Gone Tomorrow" by Carlene Havel.]
Here Today Gone Tomorrow is a fictional story about Casey, a woman who's husband has left her for another woman. Not willing to risk that kind of pain and hurt again, Casey is determined to never get involved with another man. Pouring everything she has into her work, she lives her life day by day, not really thinking too much about the future, except knowing that she will spend it alone. She can't have children, because she's had a hysterectomy, so she thinks that even if she wanted to find a new husband, no man would want her.

Carlos is the mysterious man who moves in next door to Casey. From the very beginning she is irritated by him, and his loud, little dog. Instead of getting to know the man herself, Casey forms her opinions of him based on assumptions and neighborhood gossip. However, through a series of events that throw them together, Casey and Carlos begin to form a friendship. Unfortunately, Casey keeps holding onto some of those assumptions.

I thought this book was okay. I liked the story, and the way it all played out, but I felt that there was a lot missing. There were scenes and chapters that seemed to end rather abruptly. I was interested in what was going on, and then it was suddenly over and the story had gone on to something else. I was left wondering what happened. I felt the story would have benefited by letting the reader in on more of the details.

There were also parts where I was left confused because a new person or detail was mentioned, that needed some sort of explanation for the reader to understand who or what it was, but the explanation came afterwards. I found myself going back to read parts over, to see if I had missed something. This didn't seem to be to build suspense, or as a way to build the plot. It just seemed like some things were out of order, or just plain missing.

There were also a few typos I noticed throughout the book. They weren't overwhelming, but they were there.

On a good note, I thought the Christian theme that ran throughout the book was handled pretty well. I didn't find it cheesy or unrealistic, as I so often find in Christian fiction. The way the characters acted and spoke about it seemed normal.

Overall, I gave this book 2 out of 4 stars. I think it was a good story with a lot of potential, but there was just too much detail missing for me to give it a higher rating.

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I noticed that the majority of the books I have been reading by new/newer authors tend to have that same habit of ending abruptly, providing too much detail when not relevant leading to confusion, or providing not enough detail when necessary leading to frustration. I am looking forward to the new system showing if the author has been rated before, as I think it may help letting us know what we are getting in to.

I have had two that I also rated similarly because if the authors goes back and revisits the story, it is quite possible that a bad story can be changed to a great one. I really hope they take another look at their work once they receive these completed reviews.

Thanks for reviewing this. It is too bad about the lack of flow and explanation, as working Christian themes into a novel in realistic ways is very rare indeed, as you say. I hope the author will continue to develop.