Ramblings-n-Writings

One Perfect Day is an A+ book that sends the reader on an emotional roller coaster and offers a glimpse into the hearts of two women. Two women pleading for miracles. One receiving her miracle, one not.

Nora wants a perfect Christmas, the last one before her 18-year-old twins head to college and begin their own lives. Jenna wants another day, just one more with her 20-year-old daughter who’s slowly dying waiting for a heart transplant.

A tragic accident rips apart Nora’s idea of a perfect Christmas, yet offers Jenna the perfect Christmas gift.

Author Lauraine Snelling weaves a poignant tale of grief and hope by intertwining Nora and Jenna’s lives (although the two characters never meet). Alternating chapters reveal Nora’s raw, personal struggle with grief and Jenna’s joyous hope that things will be okay in the end.

While reading One Perfect Day, I was reminded of a phrase I heard not too long ago: “When your parents die, you’re called an orphan. When your spouse dies, you’re a widow(er). When your child dies, there’s no word for that.” Imagine being the “there’s no word for that” person. Nora turns her back on God, wallows in her own grief, and starts to destroy her family. With the help of a friend, she starts her journey of healing in order to restore her faith and family.

Snelling’s perfect portrayal of Nora’s dog Betsy couldn’t be any better in my opinion. She senses the family’s emotional trauma and often brought tears to my eyes as I recognized descriptions of my own Chow/Collie’s responses and efforts to comfort.

My favorite scene is when Jenna and Heather are notified of a heart transplant possibility. The action soars through this short scene leaving the reader feeling breathless as they race down the street to the airport, soar through the air, and meet strangers willing to help them beat the clock. My heart was pounding as I willed them to make it to the hospital on time.

Lauraine Snelling also sprinkles comedy and romance throughout the story creating well-rounded, believable characters and lightening the mood. When Heather goes to the hospital for her transplant, Jenna discovers love again, but I won’t spoil that part for you.

This book is one of few that I’ve finished and immediately said I want to read again (re-reading books is something I rarely do). The emotional gamut of the book is so huge that I’m afraid I missed something during the first read.

If you would like to read the first chapter of One Perfect Day, go HERE

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1. Review: Perfect Match by Susan May Warren
2. Review: Boneman’s Daughters by Ted Dekker
3. Fall into Reading 2008 Challenge Wrap-Up
4. Review: Rose House by Tina Ann Forkner
5. What Books Would I Keep?

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