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A Sundog Moment is not a traditional romance novel. It begins with Elizabeth Whittaker in the hospital as she is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Her husband, Michael is stunned, and relieved that she doesn’t have a brain tumor.
Elizabeth has always been the perfect wife, mother, and hostess. Suddenly, her whole life is changed. Her body no longer is under her control. She fights giving up the perfect image and hides the progression of her illness from Michael and her mother. Yet, they do everything they can to take care of her, including giving away all her high-heeled shoes, without informing her first. This independent woman hates becoming dependent, and fears Michael’s disapproval if she can’t get over this illness. But, MS is both chronic and incurable.
Michael is bewildered. His whole life is collapsing around him. All his plans and hopes for the future with his wife have to change. He doesn’t realize the hurt he causes when he makes decisions for Elizabeth without consulting her. He just wants to make things easier for her, and doesn’t comprehend what he’s doing wrong.
Elizabeth’s mother, Virginia Mae is always at the center of everything. She believes the world revolves around her, and expects Elizabeth to remain the strong supportive daughter she’s always been. She tries to be supportive in her own way, but more often than not, Elizabeth ends up comforting her.
Elizabeth learns about Sundog Moments during a sermon. Her pastor talks about the rainbows that appear next to the sun prior to a major weather change. The sundog becomes a metaphor for her life. And she watches for them, but they are elusive. As the tale progresses, Elizabeth has to fight for her ability to make decisions for herself, and then live with the consequences of them. Michael has to come to terms with a less than perfect wife, then how to cope when Elizabeth moves out.
Sharon Baldacci has written a wonderful tale that is profoundly moving and rich in faith. Each person in the story has to come to terms with change, faith, and acceptance. This is not a book I would normally read because of its focus on chronic illness, so I am glad for the opportunity to review it. If you too would not normally read this kind of story, I suggest you try this. For overriding all the other issues is hope and love, and as the Bible says, “Now abide these three, faith hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.”
Reviewed by Nancy Riggins-Hume
for The Road to Romance
June 9, 2004
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Elizabeth Whittaker has suddenly developed some mysterious symptoms that have her husband and doctors baffled. Afraid of a brain tumor, they run test after test, relieved to find out that a tumor isn’t what is causing her problems. Something incurable is. Her husband, Michael is devastated to learn his wife has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Beautiful, talented Elizabeth laughs the diagnosis off. She’ll be fine. Okay, she has a few problems, but they’ll go away. She doesn’t seem to understand why everyone is so concerned. Her daughter has just left to attend college, now Elizabeth’s life is ahead of her.
Once the truth sinks in, the shock is total and the fear overwhelming. Now, Elizabeth must travel down a road she would have never chosen to travel if given a choice. Facing tough physical, emotional and spiritual challenges, Elizabeth searches for relief by making some decisions—and the decision she makes threatens everything she holds dear.
A SUNDOG MOMENT is a beautiful first book written by a talented author. Elizabeth and Michael are a very realistic couple, in love with each other, even after years together. I was saddened by Elizabeth’s diagnosis and hoped the doctors would be wrong.
A SUNDOG MOMENT is a bit thick, but well-worth the time to read. The story is beautiful, told with humor mixed in with truth. Even when the night seems the darkest, God doesn’t let you walk the path alone. I couldn’t read this book in one sitting, I had to pick it up and read some, then put it down and think about what I read. A SUNDOG MOMENT is probably best read in small doses, so you can consider everything.
Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton
for The Road to Romance
June 30, 2004
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