One Tuesday Morning

One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury

This book is written by a Christian writer, which I did not know when I picked it up. I grabbed it from the library and the cover looked new and in good shape.........so that's how I ended up with it. Once I figured out it was written as Christian literature I was interested to see what it would be like. I heard that Christian pulishers were sticklers for cleanliness.

The book is about two families whose lives entertwine during the events of September 11th. One family's father/husband is Eric. He is a high powered business man that has let work take over his life. He loves nothing more than power and money, which he freely admits. The other family's father/husband is a firefighter for New York City. This part really hit home for me and that is why I was interested. The fireman (Jake) is an awesome dad and husband and a dedicated Christian. Both men end up in the towers as they are about to fall. They bump into each other in a stair well, Eric fleeing the building and Jake going up the stairs to rescue victims of the tragedy. Eric stumbles into Jake and his helmet falls to the ground. The two men look at each other and realize they look like twins. Eric sees into the top of Jake's fallen helmet, which contains a picture of Jake's little girl. Eric realizes that Jake is climbing to his death. Each man resumes their direction. Eric knowing that Jake is climbing to his death, begins to be repentant of the way he has been leading his life. He begins to pray to make it from the building alive so that he may have one more chance with his family.

*Spoilers*

Jake dies praying with other firemen and victims, knowing that he is going to meet his maker, but having peace with that.......the only regret is that he won't be with his family.

Eric makes it out of the building just as it collapses and blows him under Jake's firetruck. A little far fetched, but it makes the story go.

Eric is found near the fire rig and is thought to be Jake, because they look so much a like. Even more far fetched. He is taken to the hospital with head injuries and burns and Jake's wife is called to come be with him. When he wakes he remembers nothing. Convenient.

To help him remember his life Jake's wife Jamie gives Eric Jake's journal and Bible. Eric learns how to be a good husband, father and Christian by trying to become Jake in hopes that his memory returns. Jamie is also converted to Christianity through this as she has not been a believer up to this point.

Finally Eric/Jake remembers who he is. He is reunited with his family as the man that they always hoped he would eventually be.

This book was pretty good. It was hard to read at parts, knowing what was going to happen......the World Trade Centers, and the fact that you knew Jake was dead and Eric was Eric. I really did enjoy the characters. I didn't feel like the book was too preachy, although if you are not Christian I can't imagine why you would want to read this anyway.

I give the book a 4.

Also the book is rated G. I was happy to see that the book was entirely clean yet you still had great emotions for the love between the couples.