Haven

By: Sherry Gomes

Narrated by: Whitney Dykhouse

Length: 14 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

"There was one thing she knew. This would not be the end. She would not give up, not ever. Nico might have the victory now, but she would find a way to turn the tables on him. Holding her head high, she vowed that somehow, someday, Rosie would be with her again".

Elizabeth Bennett arrives in Haven Valley, seeking healing after her emotionally abusive, unscrupulous ex-husband uses his family’s political influence to gain sole custody of their daughter, solely on the basis that Elizabeth is blind.

At Haven Valley Church, Michael Kelly’s grief for his wife is fresh as when he lost her three years ago, but he focuses on his love for the son he is now raising alone. A good man, a good father, and a good pastor to the community, he deeply longs for companionship and love.

These two people, nearly broken by disaster, meet on a snowy night that will change their lives. Through this town, its people, and two very special children Michael and Elizabeth begin to create their safe haven, though the past relentlessly places stumbling blocks in their path.

Can they keep the love and healing they’ve found?

©2021 Sherry Gomes (P)2022 Sherry Gomes

A Sweet Romance with a Happy Ending

I met Sherry Gomes recently when she joined Behind Our Eyes, a writers’ organization to which I belong. I’ll be interviewing her during a book launch event we’ll be sponsoring at the end of the month.

The believable characters and great plot twists in this book kept me turning virtual pages long into the night. The Audible narrator does an excellent job giving each character a distinct voice.
I especially like the way Sherry portrays Pastor Michael as an ordinary guy, dispelling any negative stereotypes readers may have about clergy. Also, Sherry doesn’t over-emphasize Elizabeth’s blindness, only giving readers information they need in order to understand how she’s doing things in a scene.

I also like the way Elizabeth’s guide dog is handled. Again, this is not over-emphasized, but readers are given just enough information about how such a service animal functions in certain situations.
This book has some romance, and one thing I love is that Elizabeth and Michael decide not to have sex until they’re married. This delivers a crucial message that relationships aren’t just about love-making. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a sweet love story with a satisfying conclusion.

A fantastic book

Such a good story! I couldn't put it down! Can't wait for book 2 in the series!!!

a beautiful, peaceful, refreshing and safe story

This story is special somehow. There is a story line, because there has to be one, but to me it is all about the characters and their time together, their conversations, their anecdotes, their love and their joy. It almost felt like a diary sometimes. I very much enjoyed their company, and I will miss them. It is a safe and sweet fantasy full of details about how the characters perceive each other through their feelings, their reactions and their words in a way that feels very close to home. I think Ithan was my favorite character. The narrator was outstanding. I am happy there is a place for stories like this. Thank you, Sherry Gomes, for sharing it with us.

Amazing!

This book was absolutely incredible! Spoiler alert: I loved how there wasn't drama around the relationship itself. With most romance books, the couple gets together, breaks up, then gets back together. There were plenty of opportunities for the relationship between Liza and Michael to fall apart, but their relationship only grew stronger. With the drama with the church stuff, plus the custody case, things could've gone badly. I loved how natural the relationship progressed, and how they were so strong for each other when it counted.

I cried so much throughout the book, and laughed just as much. I really hope Gomes writes a lot more novels, especially in Haven. I'd love an update on the characters, and maybe there could be a Haven series, with different characters highlighted while keeping us up to date with Michael, Liza, and the kids. Being blind myself, I appreciate how Liza was portrayed, and wish to be half the person she was. Thank you so much for such an amazing book. The narration was amazing, too. Please don't stop writing!

I laughed, cried &

I enjoyed this book so much! I couldn’t put the story down. I listened to the story while cleaning out a shed, driving home for almost 300 miles, and sometimes till 3:00 in the morning. I loved the characters, except that wretched ex, what a jerk. It was a great story about a woman who had some horrible life experiences, who just so happened to be blind & had a guide dog. It’s focus was on her & her relationship in getting to know the people of Haven Valley. Now my daughter wants to read it. Great job, Sherry! Is there going to be a sequel? Lol!

An all around great book

What a fantastic book! I really liked all the characters. The author did such a good job portraying Elizabeth and her struggles. Haven Valley Seemed like such a nice place visit! If you want a good feelgood romance with characters that are believable and interesting then read this book. I can’t wait for the sequel!

Looking for a new author? Ms. Gomes is it!

Don’t wait till summer to put this book on your reading list. Read it now! You won’t be sorry! It is apparent from the start that Sherry Gomes has some serious writing chops. This didn’t at all read like an author’s first book. It is an in-depth look at the struggles after loss and how real people with different personalities and beliefs work their way through it. For Elizabeth, the loss is of her trust of men after her first marriage and loss of custody of her young daughter, and for Michael the loss is of his first wife and raising his son on his own. It is a book of strong emotion from joy to heartbreaking sorrow and Sherry makes her readers feel every bit of it.

If you typically do not read books with a religious thread to them, don’t let that discourage you from reading this one. I was surprised at the balanced approach Ms. Gomes took allowing her characters to hold differing beliefs about religion which is of course, very much like real life. And if you do like books with a religious thread, I believe you will be pleased with this one as well. That’s how balanced her approach is to dealing with this subject.

Another point of excellence for this author is the way she handles the issue of blindness for the main character. This is not a book about blindness or disability. It is a book about Elizabeth who is blind. Ms. Gomes neither over- or under-plays the role of blindness in Elizabeth’s life, but accurately portrays how an adult woman goes about her life without vision and the varied reactions people she encounters have to her, both positive and negative, and how she deals with that.

Finally and perhaps the most important point of all, this book will grab your attention early and keep you reading till you learn all there is to know about the lives of the characters in Haven Valley and will leave you wanting to know more! We’re waiting for the next one, Ms. Gomes!