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susan_loves_stories's review
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
alstrath's review
4.0
Sadie, who is in the throes of a serious case of empty-nest depression, haunted by events of the past, realising her husband is slipping away from her, decides on the spur of the moment to fly across the country to surprise her college going daughter working in Yosemite.
Lauren, her daughter, decides to take her mom on a short walk in the park to see Tenaya Lake.
Without warning, they find themselves in the middle of a thunderstorm and when it stops they are completely lost.
Forced into survival mode, Sadie finds herself totally out of her comfort zone; confronted by various realities and she has to dig deep into herself to save her child, to save herself, to review her memories of Jacob, the child she could not save.
Getting lost ultimately turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to Sadie.
This book explores a couple of topics - the death of a child and its impact on each parent; their marriage and subsequent children. It also touches on the challenges of international adoptions and building that relationship. It also explores the personal struggles of someone who feels lost and isolated in her family and needs to be in control of everything and everyone in her world but ends up in a situation she can't control.
I didn't think I'd enjoy this book, but by the end it had moved me to tears and left me with a lot to mull over and contemplate. I didn't really enjoy the ending that much - it felt a bit rushed and flat to me. But other than that, it was a beautiful read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.
Lauren, her daughter, decides to take her mom on a short walk in the park to see Tenaya Lake.
Without warning, they find themselves in the middle of a thunderstorm and when it stops they are completely lost.
Forced into survival mode, Sadie finds herself totally out of her comfort zone; confronted by various realities and she has to dig deep into herself to save her child, to save herself, to review her memories of Jacob, the child she could not save.
Getting lost ultimately turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to Sadie.
This book explores a couple of topics - the death of a child and its impact on each parent; their marriage and subsequent children. It also touches on the challenges of international adoptions and building that relationship. It also explores the personal struggles of someone who feels lost and isolated in her family and needs to be in control of everything and everyone in her world but ends up in a situation she can't control.
I didn't think I'd enjoy this book, but by the end it had moved me to tears and left me with a lot to mull over and contemplate. I didn't really enjoy the ending that much - it felt a bit rushed and flat to me. But other than that, it was a beautiful read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.
vhardman's review against another edition
5.0
Dancing with the Sun is a beautiful poignant novel of loss, bewilderment, soul-searching, fear, victories, love and family. How do you handle grief? Do you shut out those around pretending everything is fine or do you just find ways to keep moving forward? This story is full over adventure and wonder.
Kay Bratt has you running the gamut of emotions while reading this book. It’s beautiful and sad, wonderful and a bit scary. The incredible words and that give you visuals so you actually feel as you are part of the story is incredible.
I personally loved this book. From the imagery to the immense feelings this is truly a book that needs to and should be read. I highly recommend this book to everyone!
Thank #netgalley and #lakeunionpublishing for allowing me to read this book for a fair and honest review.
Kay Bratt has you running the gamut of emotions while reading this book. It’s beautiful and sad, wonderful and a bit scary. The incredible words and that give you visuals so you actually feel as you are part of the story is incredible.
I personally loved this book. From the imagery to the immense feelings this is truly a book that needs to and should be read. I highly recommend this book to everyone!
Thank #netgalley and #lakeunionpublishing for allowing me to read this book for a fair and honest review.
lsmoore43's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishers and Kay Bratt for this beautiful book.
This story will take you on a journey of the soul. One you won’t soon forget. The love, loss, fear, sadness, emptiness, desperation, determination and much more. There are so many emotions in this story that you will do them all at once and each at it time. I’ve never read a book like this one. It touches on things that made my heart break and heal within minutes. The fear a mother has. The strength she has. The fears and the love. Above all the love. Losing a child is the ultimate pain. What would you do to keep from losing a second child? Sadie knew she had to do whatever it took to make sure Lauren was going to be ok. To ensure that she brought her out of this journey safe and alive. She knew she would never survive the loss of another child. The strength she had while battling the pain, the physical pain she lived with and the pain of the losses she had suffered with for so many years, was beyond comprehension. Her love for Lauren far outweighed the pain she felt. The hunger she felt and the thought of losing the love of her life.
They went through a lot and you will feel the pain they feel. The tears they shed in fear and in letting go of the past. Lauren helped her mother in ways that surprised Sadie. To let go of the pain, as much as a mother can, of the loss of her son so many years ago. The grief she held onto. She learned how to celebrate the child’s short life. And to forgive herself and her husband who she loved more than even she knew at this point. The love was there but the pain was greater. Tom was the love of Sadie’s life and she pushed him away for so long.
The thought of a love dying when it could have been so much stronger. Two people who need each other so much yet blame themselves for the greatest loss of their lives. Can they find their way back to each other or are they destine to be alone. To continue to grieve for each other and the child they lost. Can the daughter they adopted bring them back together through the love they both have for her.
I love when I see the part of a book that tells me why it has the title it has. I have two quotes that I loved: (1) It sounded remarkable if it were true. No wonder the boy had made her fall for him. Jetting her off to France. Watching flowers dancing with the sun. And (2) in the EPILOGUE: after a moment of silence and a few sniffles, Tom cut the seriousness by making them sway, as though they moved to music. Sadie smiled, happiness flooding through her as she realized that for the first time all together, they danced with the sun.
To me that was perfection at it’s best.
At the end is the From the author the story behind the story. A must read after you finish. It’s heartwarming and so touching and explains so much.
This book was truly a beautiful one. The characters are wonderful. You fall in love with them. The scenery is told so you feel like you are there. I felt the wind, rain, cold and love. The love is always the best part. Finding your way back where you belong.
It’s such a good book. Rarely do I find one that actually truly touches me like this one did. I’ve loved lots of books but this one was different. It was like nothing I have ever read before. The feelings, the descriptions. It was wonderful. I loved it from cover to cover. And what was written at the end was perfect and so touching. It is hard to find the right words to express but just know it’s my favorite book this year!! Hands down.
A big, huge, 5 stars for this wonderful book. I loved it from start to finish. Thank you Kay Bratt for writing such a beauty for us.
This story will take you on a journey of the soul. One you won’t soon forget. The love, loss, fear, sadness, emptiness, desperation, determination and much more. There are so many emotions in this story that you will do them all at once and each at it time. I’ve never read a book like this one. It touches on things that made my heart break and heal within minutes. The fear a mother has. The strength she has. The fears and the love. Above all the love. Losing a child is the ultimate pain. What would you do to keep from losing a second child? Sadie knew she had to do whatever it took to make sure Lauren was going to be ok. To ensure that she brought her out of this journey safe and alive. She knew she would never survive the loss of another child. The strength she had while battling the pain, the physical pain she lived with and the pain of the losses she had suffered with for so many years, was beyond comprehension. Her love for Lauren far outweighed the pain she felt. The hunger she felt and the thought of losing the love of her life.
They went through a lot and you will feel the pain they feel. The tears they shed in fear and in letting go of the past. Lauren helped her mother in ways that surprised Sadie. To let go of the pain, as much as a mother can, of the loss of her son so many years ago. The grief she held onto. She learned how to celebrate the child’s short life. And to forgive herself and her husband who she loved more than even she knew at this point. The love was there but the pain was greater. Tom was the love of Sadie’s life and she pushed him away for so long.
The thought of a love dying when it could have been so much stronger. Two people who need each other so much yet blame themselves for the greatest loss of their lives. Can they find their way back to each other or are they destine to be alone. To continue to grieve for each other and the child they lost. Can the daughter they adopted bring them back together through the love they both have for her.
I love when I see the part of a book that tells me why it has the title it has. I have two quotes that I loved: (1) It sounded remarkable if it were true. No wonder the boy had made her fall for him. Jetting her off to France. Watching flowers dancing with the sun. And (2) in the EPILOGUE: after a moment of silence and a few sniffles, Tom cut the seriousness by making them sway, as though they moved to music. Sadie smiled, happiness flooding through her as she realized that for the first time all together, they danced with the sun.
To me that was perfection at it’s best.
At the end is the From the author the story behind the story. A must read after you finish. It’s heartwarming and so touching and explains so much.
This book was truly a beautiful one. The characters are wonderful. You fall in love with them. The scenery is told so you feel like you are there. I felt the wind, rain, cold and love. The love is always the best part. Finding your way back where you belong.
It’s such a good book. Rarely do I find one that actually truly touches me like this one did. I’ve loved lots of books but this one was different. It was like nothing I have ever read before. The feelings, the descriptions. It was wonderful. I loved it from cover to cover. And what was written at the end was perfect and so touching. It is hard to find the right words to express but just know it’s my favorite book this year!! Hands down.
A big, huge, 5 stars for this wonderful book. I loved it from start to finish. Thank you Kay Bratt for writing such a beauty for us.
zitahk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
prpltrtl946's review
4.0
So much more!
I expected adventure and I got it, but there is so much more here! It got a little church-y for me, but that moved on quickly to spirit instead of building. The family dynamics are wonderful!
I expected adventure and I got it, but there is so much more here! It got a little church-y for me, but that moved on quickly to spirit instead of building. The family dynamics are wonderful!
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