Alisa Stewart feels like she's lost two sons: her youngest to a terrible tragedy and her eldest, Kurt, to a life ruined by addiction. But now Kurt has checked himself into rehab and found a healing faith that seems real. It's like he's been raised from the dead. But then a detective arrives at Alisa's door asking questions about a murder--the death of a drug dealer before Kurt entered rehab. Alisa fears losing her son again, and when she finds evidence linking him to the killing, she destroys it. Her boy is different now. He's changed and deserves a second chance. But when another man is charged with the crime, Alisa finds herself facing an impossible choice: be silent and keep her son or give up everything for the truth.
Cushman's (Waiting for Daybreak) latest faith-based novel begins with a jolt. As a police officer arrives on the doorstep of Alisa Stewart's home, she fears that her only living son, Kurt, has been killed in the course of his dark lifestyle, living on the streets and using drugs. Her terror is calmed when she learns her son is only needed for an investigation into the beating death of a local dealer, and she's further assuaged when Kurt himself calls to say he is now in rehab. Latching onto this unexpected and desperately needed ray of hope, Alisa is deceived by her own optimism. As past secrets are revealed, she is forced to consider justice and mercy's conflicting demands. Though Kurt's struggle dominates the novel, Alisa faces additional personal crises— her husband threatens divorce and she's tempted by the possibility of an affair. The number of crises facing her is overwhelming and at times distracts from the power of the central conflict. However, the novel offers a denouement that will satisfy evangelical Christian readers with its resolution while maintaining its reality. (Oct.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(4.5 out of 5 stars)
8 of 13 Reviews Showing:(View All Reviews)
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Brenda Crawford (Rossville, GA), January 28, 2010
This book, Leaving Yesterday, was chosen for our Book Club. We were supposed to read just 50 pages for the next meeting. I could not put the book down. I read until I could no longer hold my eyes open. As soon as I had eaten breakfast the next morning, I began again, and could not put it down until I finished it. The book has affected all of us profoundly. The story shows how each person involved had a disconnect because of a tragedy in their lives. We often do not see or even feel how we are reacting to others. We shut down in an effort to survive. We also do not realize how everything we do, say, and feel affects the ones we love. Now our group wants to reach out to others who may need help to work through things that are overwhelming their lives. The book has moved us to action.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by robin prater (missouri), January 21, 2010
Leaving yesterday behind is not so easy. We all have pasts, but sometimes it is those very pasts holding us back from moving forward. Alisa is the mother of three children. She has lost a son who has been murdered on a missionary trip, a young daughter at home, and a son who after the death of his brother, lost his way. This young man, Kurt, has become an addict. He has been away from home for a while now. The tragedy of her son's death has brought tremendous grief in many ways. Alisa is now separated from her husband, a husband who believed in tough love. A husband who blames himself just as much as Alisa blames herself. Alisa is involved in the church as a teacher and speaker. She reaches thousands with her stories of healing, anger, and honesty about her feelings of the death of her son. The murder of a drug dealer comes to Alisa's door, with the police now asking the whereabouts of her son, who is wanted for questioning. What is a mother to do? How far will a mother go to protect her son? We find redemption of the prodigal who left home, and has returned. We find forgiveness and healing in this family. This book takes a turn, a twist if you will. It leaves you guessing and hoping for this family to return as it once was. We find that through their trials, the church family surrounds them with support, but will they now as the truth is coming out? We hear again that wise saying," The truth shall set you free", and indeed it does. I enjoyed picking up this one. For the mother of prodigals, it gives great hope. This book was a gift from Bethany House for its review.
2.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Patricia (Reno, NV), January 11, 2010
The last few years in Alisa's family have been rough to say the least. So when a police car pulls up in her driveway, Alisa can only think the worst. Her remaining son Kurt has been addicted to drugs since the death of his older brother, and Alisa is sure this is news that she has lost another child. But when the detective tells her he is merely looking for Kurt for questioning about a recent murder, she is able to breathe a slight sigh of relief. She know her son would never hurt anyone, let alone kill someone. These thoughts are confirmed when Kurt calls her from a rehab center miles away and tells her he is finally getting clean and turning his life around. Alisa feels like she has gotten her son back, but when she finds an undeniable piece of evidence in Kurt's things, it changes everything she ever thought she would be capable of. How far should a mother go to protect her son?
This novel brings up some interesting issues. Alisa is a grief counselor, but has failed to counsel herself or her family out of their own tragedy. The story moves along slowly giving information about what happened to her oldest son, Kurt's fall from grace, and ultimately to the night where it went horribly wrong. It shows the unimaginable lengths that a mother may go to protect her son, and leaves you reading to the end just to see what happens. Unfortunately, even what seem like backslides and moments of conflict turn out to be exactly what they are said to be, leading to no real climax in the story. The most interesting debates are wrapped up in neat, boring bows, and the punishments simply don't fit the crimes for the sake of keeping the heroes safe. Alisa's inner dialogue and anguish never gets the chance to go to a dark place, and certainly don't reflect her choices. The rest of the characters are simply there to validate Alisa, and make a potential hit into a made for T.V. movie.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Crystal (Caney, KS), December 22, 2009
Wow! This was a very interesting book! This is an example of how much a mother loves her children and how far she will go to protect them from themselves. Alisa Stewart is quite a mom! She has been through so much with the death of one son and the separation from her husband. Her remaining son, Kurt, has been walking the path of a drug addict. All of a sudden he calls and tells his mom that he is clean and in a drug rehab. In the same time frame a detective shows up with Kurt’s name on a list of money owed to a drug dealer that has recently been beaten to death. There are many twists and turns in this story and in order to keep from giving something away I can’t say more about the plot I enjoyed reading this book and found it hard to put down! I enjoyed the author’s style of writing and I look forward to reading more from her. I would like to thank Bethany House for providing me the opportunity to review their books and the free copy that I received.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Cathy (Lebanon, OH), December 19, 2009
This was an interesting book. About a third of the way into the book, I didn't think I liked it very well. The lead character, Alisa, made some choices and decisions that I didn't like at all and I just didn't like the way it was going. I put the book door for a couple weeks and then finally went back and read it. I'm glad I did. Yes, she made some decisions that I don't think I ever would, but it was for love of her son. I still don't think I could make those choices, but it does really make you think and wonder about how far would you go to protect your child. It was also about how so many times in life we "fake" our faith. We try to make everyone believe everything is okay with us, when really we are falling apart. And how we need to give up the pretense and just be real with each other. All in all, this was a pretty good book.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko (Kalispell), November 13, 2009
Alisa Stewart is a mother, a writer, a gifted church speaker. She has taken the things that have made her life hard and turned them into good, the perfect story of turning trials into gold. But when the police officer showed up at her door, her heart just about quit. Her son Kurt has made bad choices and she is just sure he is going to be dead one of these times. When the police surprise her that they are not notifying her of his death, the relief quickly turns to fear for her son when they need to talk to him. As this story progresses, you become engrossed in the story of this mother's love for her son who is not making good choices and is possibly a murder suspect. You feel her joy as she sees him making good choices and agonize with her over each new development.
This book is skillfully written and was one of those books where you knew what the right thing for the character to do and I found myself talking to Alisa more than once!! This book will for sure challenge your thought processes on how far will you let love go and when is it more loving to let someone learn on their own without stepping in and making more messes for others in your family.
I highly recommend this novel to encourage you and think deeply as it is for sure a deep thinking inspirational fiction novel. The writing is excellent and will draw you into their lives to feel the pain of a mother and maybe understand why people make choices for love, even when they know better.- Martha
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Bonnie Leon (Roseburg, Oregon), November 08, 2009
Once I started reading, I couldn't put down "Leaving Yesterday". What a wonderful book!
It's more than a prodigal story, though it is that. There's so much about faith and courage and God's sovereignty in this story. I grew to love and care about each of the characters and read late into the night because I had to know what happens to them.
Kathryn did a wonderful job of revealing who the characters are and intermingled the plot in such a way that our discoveries about the people in this story felt natural. Great pacing.
I'm definitely going to read more of Kathryn's stories.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Debbie (Huntsville, AL), November 02, 2009
Leaving Yesterday, by Kathryn Cushman, is a story of hope and tragedy and of struggling family relationships.
Alisa Stewart is recently separated from her husband. She has one son that died tragically and another who seems to be lost to his drug addiction. In a surprising turn of events, Alisa is elated that her son, Kurt, has checked into rehab. and is seeming to turn his life around. Then she discovers that he may have been involved in a recent murder. This riveting story tells of Alisa’s conflict between believing in and doubting her son, between helping him succeed in his new life or digging deeper to find a truth that may not be pleasant.
This book was hard to put down. The characters were very real and the story compelling. I appreciated the way the main character’s faith was both strengthened and challenged by her difficulties. Highly recommended.
I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers for review purposes.
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