Family Blessings

By: LaVyrle Spencer

Narrated by: Emily Sutton-Smith

The classic New York Times best seller

Lee Reston has a fulfilling life imbued with the love of her three wonderful children. Then a shattering event - the loss of her oldest son, Greg - tears her world apart. In her anguish, she turns to police officer Christopher Lallek, Greg's best friend. Their shared mourning develops into friendship, and then something deeper. But life is never simple. The family that was once the core of her existence becomes a mixed blessing, as Lee explores where family ties end - and her needs as a woman begin.

©1993 LaVyrle Spencer (P)2022 Tantor

Beautiful Story

This author is my favorite!! I have read many of her book. They grab ahold of you and dont let go until the end.

A Heartfelt Tale of Love and Healing

Family Blessings, a touching novel by LaVyrle Spencer, delves into the complex emotions of grief, love, and the courage to pursue happiness against all odds. Narrated with skill by Emily Sutton-Smith, this audiobook takes listeners on a journey of healing, self-discovery, and the transformative power of love.

The story revolves around Lee Reston, a widow devastated by the tragic loss of her oldest son, Greg. Amid her overwhelming grief, Lee finds solace in an unexpected source: Christopher Lallek, a compassionate police officer and Greg's best friend. What begins as a shared mourning between two acquaintances soon blossoms into an extraordinary bond, filled with friendship, understanding, and mutual support.

LaVyrle Spencer's narrative expertly explores the delicate nuances of Lee and Chris's evolving relationship. As they navigate the depths of their grief together, a profound connection emerges, awakening feelings they never thought possible. Despite their age difference and the reservations of Lee's family and friends, the pair finds solace and strength in one another, defying societal expectations and embracing their love.

One of the standout aspects of Family Blessings is the rich portrayal of Lee's family dynamics. Spencer deftly portrays the conflicts and tensions that arise as Lee faces opposition from her loved ones regarding her relationship with Chris. The author explores the timeless question of where family loyalty ends and personal happiness begins, painting a realistic and thought-provoking picture of the challenges faced by individuals in similar situations.

LaVyrle Spencer's storytelling is poignant and emotionally charged. She seamlessly weaves together themes of loss, grief, and healing, offering a realistic portrayal of the complexities of life. Her characters are well-developed, each with their own unique struggles, hopes, and fears. The reader is drawn into their world, experiencing their pain, growth, and ultimately, their triumphs.

Emily Sutton-Smith's narration adds an additional layer of depth to the audiobook. Her voice captures the range of emotions experienced by the characters, bringing them to life and immersing the listener in their journey. Sutton-Smith's skillful delivery enhances the overall experience, making it a delight to listen to Family Blessings.

At its core, Family Blessings is a heartfelt exploration of the human spirit's resilience and capacity to heal. LaVyrle Spencer's masterful storytelling and Emily Sutton-Smith's engaging narration make this audiobook a compelling and memorable experience. It is a tale that will tug at your heartstrings, leaving you inspired by the transformative power of love and the courage to follow one's heart, regardless of societal expectations.

If you are a fan of emotionally charged narratives that tackle profound themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, Family Blessings is a must-listen audiobook that will leave a lasting impression on your heart and mind.

great book

what a difficult book. it starts very sad, but it gets better as the book goes. it was nice to see real human emotions described in the book and be touched by it. it teaches you to be strong and continue living the best life.

Enjoyed this story.

Another one of LaVyrle Spencer’s masterpiece novels thick with romantic tension, family and relationship issues and a love that can’t be withheld. The writing is amazing. Her characters are so well developed, scenes so picturesque that you are right there feeling everything. But this is how Mrs. Spencer’s books always are—-well written. This one is no exception. Excellent story and narrator.

Loved it!!!

Always so wonderful to listen to LaVyrle Spencer novels…such a blessing and so wholesome, even when dealing with difficult subjects. Enjoyed this stirring story about Lee and Christopher and their beautifully emotional love story. Honestly, can’t say enough good things about it, it was so perfect. And of course, Emily Sutton-Smith as the narrator is always spectacular and on-point with the narrative performance. Totally recommend!

We’ll done

I thought the story was well written and the characters realistic. Life is unpredictable but you have to make each day count

Feelings of others

If you want to read a book that has you crying from start to finish this is the one I never cried so much from sadness to happiness

Wish I loved it, but I didn't

I have read everything Ms Spencer has written and consider her to be a fabulous writer. However, I almost didn't read this book because I thought the subject matter might be too depressing. I was right. Almost half the book was involved with the grief process and the pain of loss. Although Spencer's novels are usually between a soap opera and Hallmark movie, but with more substance, this one was so cliche that the outcome was predictable. The leading characters were more perfect that real life: Lee, widowed mother of three teen age and adult children, was perfection herself, beautiful, brave, loving, and caring. Christopher, best friend of Lee's recently accidentally killed oldest son was also understanding, gentle, lonely, admiring, and caring, in spite of an abusive childhood. The story progressed slowly about the Lee-Christopher relationship and essentially eliminated Lee's surviving two children.
When the two go off swimming together, to the disapproval of Lee's adult daughter, I thought: "Oh no! Not another one of those older woman, younger man love stories." It was, explicit sex scenes and all. Fifteen hours of this was too much. An experienced, excellent author like LaVyrle Spencer is capable of and has produced much better.