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Shelter Me  By  cover art

Shelter Me

By: Juliette Fay
Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin
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Publisher's summary

In the tradition of Marisa de los Santos and Anne Tyler comes a moving debut about a young mother’s year of heartbreak, loss, and forgiveness—and help that arrives from unexpected sources.

Four months after her husband’s death, Janie LaMarche remains undone by grief and anger. Her mourning is disrupted, however, by the unexpected arrival of a builder with a contract to add a porch onto her house. Stunned, Janie realizes the porch was meant to be a surprise from her husband—now his last gift to her.

As she reluctantly allows construction to begin, Janie clings to the familiar outposts of her sorrow—mothering her two small children with fierce protectiveness, avoiding friends and family, and stewing in a rage she can’t release. Yet Janie’s self-imposed isolation is breached by a cast of unlikely interventionists: her chattering, ipecac-toting aunt; her bossy, overmanicured neighbor; her muffin-bearing cousin; and even Tug, the contractor with a private grief all his own.

As the porch takes shape, Janie discovers that the unknowable terrain of the future is best navigated with the help of others—even those we least expect to call on, much less learn to love.

©2009 Juliette Fay (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A gorgeous paradox of a book: a deep, thoughtful exploration of a young mother’s first year of widowhood that is as much a page turner as any thriller.” (Marisa de los Santos, New York Times best-selling author)

What listeners say about Shelter Me

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Beware of swearing

Swearing totally unnecessary for conveyance of the story line. Deleted from my library after hearing a few paragraphs read.

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17 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I’m glad I tried this

I saw another review that said the main character was too mean, too rude. I actually ended up enjoying that about her. Especially as her walls came down. I related to her because things can be hard sometimes and I imagine if I lost my husband I might lose my filter too. Enjoyed this one.

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15 people found this helpful

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Classic Juliette Fay

Great book by Juliette Fay. Whomever said that there was too much swearing is a prude.

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13 people found this helpful

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Excellent!

This is a story of a young mother dealing with tragedy and loss, and more importantly, get journey to forgiveness, reconciliation, compassion, and new love. I loved the well developed characters, the unexpected twists, and satisfying ending. recommended!

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10 people found this helpful

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bad words

they used the lords name in vain to many times . too many times .

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9 people found this helpful

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couldn't even finish 1st chapter

obviously the author has little imagination to begin the first book with expletives of vulgarity. when i choose a book to escape with this is not the author i will choose again

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8 people found this helpful

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Grief…honestly

At first I wasn’t sure I could listen. I have recently lost my beloved son and the story was too close. But, in a strange way, hearing of Janie’s full throttled emotions was a comfort. It was familiar, in a good and healing way. We all want to feel “normal,” whatever the heck that means, and Juliette’s story made me feel normal. And Marguerite’s reading, with all the different characters, was excellent.

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7 people found this helpful

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Heartwayrming story

Of love and friendship, heartbreaking loss and strong family bonds . Story is told Edith a great deal of humor over famil life situations and the joy of children.

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6 people found this helpful

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Not a fan

This may be an unfair review because I couldn't get past listening to the narrator; also didn't care for the language used in the part I listened to.

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Book pulls you into the world of these characters

What did you love best about Shelter Me?

The main character Janie has lost her young husband in a bicycle accident and she is angry and bitter. But you can't help but be pulled into her world and root for her. She is a devoted mom and is navigating a new world without her husband. There are some romantic missteps and working out issues with her family and friends. Stay with this story and you will be glad that you did. I hope that Juliette Fay writes some other books available on audible besides Shelter Me and Deep Down True. I have become a fan of her work.

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5 people found this helpful