A Heartfelt Story of a Mother's Love, May 25, 2016
By JW

This review is from: When Angels Fly (Kindle Edition)
I read this book after the author appeared on the We Love Memoirs group, Spotlight on Sunday. The story is a very moving account of the authors life and most importantly the story tells of her son Eli who becomes sick with cancer and subsequently dies. The book is in four parts with the third part being told from her diary recounting the months of Eli's illness and his passing away. The first two parts of the book set the scene and show how Sarah's life has been hard with an abusive mother throughout her childhood and then marrying a husband who is also abusive. As I read I felt very much that the mother was a psychopathic narcissist at best and the husband was an abusive alcoholic who had no feeling for his family and his only love being the bottle. Sarah has a very hard road which many of us would not survive I am sure. Her faith though does give her solace and even though it wavered at times in the end does help her through. I enjoyed reading the book but not so much the diary format although this was a way of telling the story day by day. I admired Sarah's love and devotion to her children and her loving heart comes through. How she managed to cope with the mother's ongoing abuse through her son's illness is beyond belief. I will refrain from saying too much more as don't want to give more away as there are many other aspects to this heartfelt story.

This book is truly inspiring. I can honestly say that no book that I have read in recent times has had the emotional impact on me that this book has had. I rode right alongside this mother
from the first diagnosis of her child's illness, right through to the conclusion. Even before her child's illness, I had to keep asking myself; are there really parents out there who treat their children as horrifically as this woman's mother and her family had treated her? She went from an abused child, to a loveless marriage filled with physical, mental and sexual abuse, to losing her first child to a stillborn birth and then finally reaping the rewards with two beautiful young boys.
Life was finally looking up for her before little Eli was struck down with cancer. We follow his journey, step by step as the young mother attempts to keep her sanity, split her time between one child in the hospital and one two hundred and fifty miles away. You can really feel her anguish and pain in every page. All the while, the very people who should have been helping to ease her burden; her mother, her siblings and her soon to be ex-husband were so busy plotting and planning on how they could benefit from this turn of events, she was left to struggle along with support only from some special friends. This book is a harrowing read, make no mistake, but it is also incredibly rewarding. To anyone who has ever complained about how hard their life is - I say; read "When Angels Fly". To anyone who has ever said their life sucked - I say; read "When Angels Fly". When you have seen the courage, the fortitude and the immense challenges that this woman and her beautiful son faced you can't help but be uplifted and reminded just how much we all have to be grateful for.
This book reveals our indomitable human spirit in such a powerful and uplifting way. The book is in a large part a daily journal of Eli's time in hospital but I totally understand the need the author felt to document every day - every day with her son was so very precious. This book had a powerful impact on me as a reader. I was truly moved by and genuinely felt everything this poor woman had to endure... mostly alone. There was no way I could not give this book five stars. The memories of Sarah, Noah and Eli will live in my memory well after I've consigned this book to the "read" shelf. I feel privileged to have shared Sarah's harrowing journey. When Angels Fly does exactly what it sets out to do I believe - it reminds us that "There but for the grace of God, go I". I recommend this book to all.... it will make you cry, but it will also uplift you. Well done. ~ Grant Leishman, Author, The Second Coming

I highly recommend When Angel Fly
By susan.vance on June 22, 2015
Format: Paperback
Tissues are a must. A true story about pain and suffering. Life is not the same for anyone, and in this case it is so very tragic. A heartwarming story. I don't want to give anything away, but once you sit down to read it, you won't put it down. This is a must read book and a must share when you are done. I highly recommend When Angel Fly...

A Heartfelt Story of a Mother's Love
By JW on May 25, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
I read this book after the author appeared on the We Love Memoirs group, Spotlight on Sunday. The story is a very moving account of the authors life and most importantly the story tells of her son Eli who becomes sick with cancer and subsequently dies. The book is in four parts with the third part being told from her diary recounting the months of Eli's illness and his passing away. The first two parts of the book set the scene and show how Sarah's life has been hard with an abusive mother throughout her childhood and then marrying a husband who is also abusive. As I read I felt very much that the mother was a psychopathic narcissist at best and the husband was an abusive alcoholic who had no feeling for his family and his only love being the bottle. Sarah has a very hard road which many of us would not survive I am sure. Her faith though does give her solace and even though it wavered at times in the end does help her through. I enjoyed reading the book but not so much the diary format although this was a way of telling the story day by day. I admired Sarah's love and devotion to her children and her loving heart comes through. How she managed to cope with the mother's ongoing abuse through her son's illness is beyond belief. I will refrain from saying too much more as don't want to give more away as there are many other aspects to this heartfelt story.

Excellent read. Tragic story of a woman and the ...
By JRN on May 17, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Excellent read. Tragic story of a woman and the abuse she suffered growing up and later in marriage. This book shows the struggles she faced while in an abusive marriage, losing two children, and one child's battle with cancer. She tells of hospital life while sitting by her sons bed and having to be miles away in distance from her other child. And how she finds true love and a man to love, cherish, help her through, and spend the rest of her life with.

4.0 out of 5 starsMoving
By KAREN INGALLS on May 13, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Haunting and moving account of a young woman's abusive life first with her mother, then her husband. Her three sons are precious gifts that hold her life together, but unfortunately two of them die. The story is told in a diary form which took away from the story for me. Yet, I do appreciate that the mother kept accurate daily records of Eli's long illness, delayed diagnosis, many hospitalizations, and eventual death. I cannot imagine the pain that she went through. I admire how she was at his side always his champion, and yet constantly reaching out to her older son who was at home being cared for by a friend. A beautiful, faith-restoring story.

Good read of life and death are the effects on us all
By P.S. Winn on March 28, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This is the story of Sarah and those who touched her life in good ways and bad. The story is told mostly through the recollections that were written down in a type of diary, so it is a day by day account of life and loss. Sarah has an abusive family and then when she leaves to get married it is to an abusive husband. After losing her first child before birth, she is blessed with two boys, sadly one is extremely sick. This is the story of what happens to Eli and how it effects his mother, his brother Noah and even the abusive dead and the rest of the dysfunctional family. Interesting read that may tear at a few heart strings.

Incredibly moving and emotional
By Julie Haigh on March 29, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
This memoir is so moving and emotional even from the very first page. No one should have to go through what the author has gone through. Such a sad tone, yet beautifully expressed. In her memoir the author tells of caring for a very sick son, who had been diagnosed with cancer. The author’s son was between 4 and 5 years old when he was diagnosed and going through chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It just doesn’t bear thinking about how awful this is-yet there are people going through this all the time. Being with her son at the hospital meant being separated for long periods from her other child who had to stay with a carer 230 miles away. It’s so hard. Add to that marriage ructions, arguments, lack of support of any kind from her family/mother and you just can’t imagine how it was for this lady. Unimaginable. She tells of hospital life, at her son’s bedside via entries in her journal at the time. How some people cope and still retain hope is incredibly inspirational. She now can appreciate the good she has had in her life, eg. her sons, even if she only had them a short time-and she now has a wonderful partner-she can see the difference as she's experienced such bad times too. She's a child in the 60s-same era as me. She rushed into marriage with a man who was far from ideal to get away from abuse at home by her own mother. From one lot of abuse into another with a violent, drunk husband. This is such a heart-tugging book. It's certainly not an easy read but you are carried along wanting to know more-how bad could it get, how many more things could be thrown at this woman and how would she ever get through them? The first part of the memoir was a more flowing style of writing then it jumps to where Eli is fighting cancer: These bits are told exclusively through diary entries. This section tends to be a bit repetitive sometimes but that reflects just what they’re going through-they have to do a lot of the same things every day, they’re in limbo, they don’t know if he’ll improve or not, it’s one long road of diagnostic tests, chemo, radiotherapy treatments and surgeries, blood test results daily etc. This is a very hard read. A very hard read indeed. One can only imagine the extent of the sorrow when something like this happens, when you’re right in the middle of it, going through it, living it. This is incredibly moving, you can't fail to be touched intensely by the final scenes. There is a good, hopeful ending after all the anguish though. The author is certainly a survivor. With all she has gone through, wow, I have no words, her memoir speaks volumes.

A Must Read
By vicki draneon April 25, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
I was incredibly moved by this raw and genuine memoir. It is a story of strength in coping with terminal illness of a child. Hauntingly beautiful and profound, the author gives us an intimate look into her life, struggle, and heartbreak. I was inspired by her resilience and faith. It is a story I will always carry with me.

Amazing and heartbreaking book all in one
By Tonia Soldanon October 20, 2015
Format: Paperback
I was given this book to read by the author and I will say it has given me a whole new insight on the person that she is . She made it through a lot of heartache ,abuse and the death of her children by the grace of God and her faith in God . Amazing and heartbreaking book all in one.

This book will touch your heart and make you count your blessings
By Kris Ballon August 31, 2015
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
This book was heartbreakingly wonderful, painful and beautiful at the same time. The authors take you on a devastating journey and invite you in to share in their suffering. A must read-just make sure to stockpile tissues before you begin this book!