The Gray Season: The summer of Salvation written by Dianna Donnely is a novel offering encouragement in a time of loss. Lily expected perfection from herself. The stress of reaching for perfection brought on multiple health problems, growing numerous tumors in various parts of her body. Lily Marie Eastbrook Rhodes found her life changing in 2004 when her father, Nick, was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. In the midst of the Eastbrook drama came the news that Lily’s mother in law, Maggie, had cancer. Nick and Maggie passed away only twenty days apart. After loss comes the time of mourning, a time of dealing with emotions and changes in life. The most important change in Lily’s life was her introduction to Jesus Christ. She’d always thought of him as a wise man with a message but Priscilla, a new friend, explained what it means to be a Christian. “He is not just some man who was wise. He is the son of God. A Christian is a believer in Jesus Christ and His teachings, someone who is transformed by the spirit of God, not just someone who says yes to a set of beliefs or goes into a church.”

The Gray Season: The Summer of Salvation is an inspiring book. While it deals with death, grief and change it also offers hope of salvation. Dianna Donnely is a talented author. I quickly connected with Lily, Priscilla and Ryan. I admired the way Lily and Ryan were there for each other through their pain and loss. They were also supportive in each other’s career. I also found it heartwarming the way Lily reacted when Ruby began to date again. One of the lessons to be learned from this tale is that material objects hold little meaning or gratification. The author has provided scripture at the end of each chapter. Her ending words will stay with me for a very long time: “You don’t want to miss your miracles when they occur. Be sure your heart is open and you are actively seeking God, and that you honor Him each and every day.” I highly recommend this book for anyone struggling with loss and change. You might just miss a blessing if you miss this tale.

The passing of a parent is something that everyone must face, but few are well-equipped to handle the emotions that arise. Dianna Donnely has provided wonderful insight into the process of grief and coping with the devastation of loss in her book The Gray Season: The Summer of Salvation, a fictional account of Lily Eastbrook Rhodes. Lily and her husband Ryan are confronted with the almost simultaneous diagnosis of cancer affecting both her father and his mother and spend almost one year trying to make the remaining time with their parents memorable and meaningful. Throughout the ordeal, Lily is searching for a deeper meaning in her life – a way to fill a hole that she can’t quite identify or understand. Through the acknowledgement of ‘Open Door’ moments where she allows herself to be led to do the right thing at the right time, Lily gets closer to knowing that God has a plan for her – all she has to do is to accept Jesus and have faith.

The Gray Season: The Summer of Salvation by Dianna Donnely offers gentle encouragement to anyone to open their heart to the love and comfort of Salvation through Jesus. Appropriately titled, The Gray Season represents a time in a person’s life when things seem bleak. Through quiet acceptance of heartache and heartfelt appreciation for the blessings in life, Lily is able to make peace with her circumstances by admitting true faith in God and accepting Jesus as her Savior. This book is wonderfully written without preaching. It serves as a suggestion and an invitation that anyone can follow to achieve a sense of purpose and peace, no matter what life has to offer.

Lily's spiritual journey has many twists and turns but somehow she keeps an open heart. Dianna Donnely's, The Gray Season: The Summer of Salvation, describes grim health challenges along with charming and heartwarming moments. The wistful, gray painting of a cloudy day on the shore sets the scene for quiet reflection. Lily has been to church as she grows up but she has always wanted to know more. "I'd always felt I believed in God, I simply had no idea how to experience His Presence." She has been on a stressful, corporate career path since moving to the big city. Then Lily's father, "Iron Nick," is diagnosed with cancer and the family pulls together. Lily and her husband go back to the small, quirky town of Beachville, Oregon. The couple renovates the large, historic River Rock House in the process. She even opens a shop in town that features organic cotton clothing called Calla Lilies.

Dianna Donnely shows Lily responding to difficult circumstances with courage and humanity. Bible verses punctuate emotional milestones in an artful way. She promotes a healthy, organic diet for her family members in the book. I liked the description of the tangy, chicken stir-fry the best. She even includes a recipe for wholesome and hearty vegetable soup along with healthy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. The Gray Season: The Summer of Salvation by Dianna Donnely gives humble testimony to Lily's spiritual awakening. I'll be looking forward to her next book in the series called The Yellow Season: A Rainbow Revelation.

The Gray Season - The Summer of Salvation by Dianna Donnely is a compelling novel. Lily loses her father to cancer. She and her husband have to help her mother overcome the loss and they go through the healing process together. The healing process fills the void in her heart that has been plaguing Lily for a long time and it gives the answers to questions that have been bothering her for a while. The book justifies the color in the title through the narration. The book is dedicated to the author's father and mother-in-law, whose deaths change her perspective on life.

I would suggest this novel for those who are undergoing loss in their lives and are struggling to come to terms with it. The spiritual support in the book is given by passages quoted from the Bible throughout the story. That makes the story more uplifting. Though the story has many ups and downs, it slowly winds up in a positive ending where Lily is at peace with herself after battling her inner demons. Readers can relate to the author's emotional turmoil and anxieties.

The author shows us how to find inner peace through her experiences. The metaphorical effect of the color of the gray season lingers throughout the story, which flows well. This book is the first of a series. The story will help readers meet challenges and problems head-on and handle things in a positive way, finally finding the much needed peace they seek. A spiritually uplifting story that can be a guide during times of pain and loss.