Heart of the Country ~ Review

Heart of the Country
By Rene Gutteridge 
    and John Ward


Sometimes to go forward, you have to go back

Faith has lost herself.  Her marriage is seemingly at an end after her husband Luke finds himself caught up in a Ponzi scheme.  Her family has been left behind years ago when she traveled to New York City to pursue her dream.

Luke was determined to make his own name in business and not rely on the Carraday family name to do it.  But he ignored his own judgment and the advice of his family, risking everything for wealth and prestige.

Sometimes a fairytale romance doesn't end in happily ever after unless you are willing to fight for it. The question is - are Faith and Luke willing to fight for it?  Or was their love merely a whirlwind like their romance?

Faith returns to her childhood home, to the father and sister she left behind all those years ago following the tragic death of her mother.  As the three rebuild their relationship and deal with the wounds that Faith's absence left healing seems to be within Faith's grasp.

As Luke deals with the fallout of his choices, he turns to his family.  He is surprised that not only do they support him publicly but in private as well.

This is a true prodigal son tale as both Faith and Luke return to the families they left behind in the search of their dreams.

Each chapter is told from a different character's viewpoint.  First there is Catherine, Faith's mother, her story is told as she is being rushed to the hospital following her accident.  Then there is Olivia, Faith's older sister; Luke and Faith.

I liked how in the case of both Luke and Faith their fathers did not speak against them, trying to drive a wedge between them.  Which in the case of Faith's father Calvin is really saying something as he had never met his son-in-law.

Calvin's insights into Faith and Luke I think were actually a turning point for Luke and his growth as a person.  When Calvin observes that they are both runners, I think it made Luke realize that in order to truly have what he wanted meant he would have to stop running from his mistakes and troubles.

I really liked this book and think that this is a book that will touch the hearts of all who read it.

I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:
Faith and Luke Carraday have it all. Faith is a beautiful singer turned socialite while Luke is an up-and-coming businessman. After taking his inheritance from his father’s stable, lucrative business to invest in a successful hedge fund with the Michov Brothers, he’s on the fast track as a rising young executive, and Faith is settling comfortably into her role as his wife.

When rumors of the Michovs’ involvement in a Ponzi scheme reach Faith, she turns to Luke for confirmation, and he assures her that all is well. But when Luke is arrested, Faith can’t understand why he would lie to her, and she runs home to the farm and the family she turned her back on years ago. Meanwhile, Luke is forced to turn to his own family for help as he desperately tries to untangle himself from his mistakes. Can two prodigals return to families they abandoned, and will those families find the grace to forgive and forget? Will a marriage survive betrayal when there is nowhere to run but home?

Movie Trailer:




Releasing on DVD December 3, 2013

I was provided an advanced copy of this DVD by Tyndale and I was interested to comparing the movie with the book.  Yes, there are differences as there are with all book/movie experiences, but it works and doesn't detract on either format.

Whereas the book starts with Catherine and her awareness of her coming death, the movie starts with Faith and Luke and the ponzi fallout.

The movie is really very well done when compared to the book.  The book adds a dimension to the characters by sharing their thoughts and while the movie doesn't do this (sharing the thoughts) it is well portrayed through the actions and small dialog changes so that you still get the same basic feel.

Unlike many family movies you don't come away wondering how Faith and Olivia managed to not kill each other because they so totally hated each.  Faith and Olivia have issues but you can tell that they truly care about each other (this is more obvious in the book).

With a December release date this would make a great present to share with your family this upcoming holiday season.