It has often been said that authors write about what they know, thus putting a bit of their own lives into their literary work. One of the topics in the book for this week's review is suicide. At the end of the book, the author, Rosemary Hines, reveals the profound impact her father's decision to end his life had upon her entire family. Drawing upon that, she penned Out of a Dream: Sandy Cove Series Book 1.

Michelle and Steve Baron, a young upwardly mobile couple, have relocated to Oregon. Having been very close to her family, Michelle is not adapting well and has fallen in with the "New Age" crowd. Michelle searches for explanations for her nightmares and tries to find greater meaning in life through Yoga and New Age teachings. As she sinks deeper into the trappings of the "universal consciousness" teachings, she grows closer to one of her gurus and further away from her husband. Hines shows how a few innocent decisions can have a huge impact on a person's life.

At the same time Michelle's story line is unfolding, the reader is given glimpses into the lives of her parents and her husband. While Michelle strays further and further away, her husband, Steve, has discovered Christianity. Her mother comes to visit, and becomes concerned with the extent to which Michelle is relying on the New Age. Having made the decision to let their children decide their own paths, Michelle's parents had not given them a strong Christian foundation. Nonetheless, Michelle's maternal grandparents were pastors, so her mother recognizes something is amiss. The reader is then given glimpses into the legal trouble facing Michelle's father because of funds he embezzled, and his mindset leading up to his attempted suicide. The power of prayer holds a prominent place in the latter part of the book.

Out Of A Dream was a quick read. The characters of Steve and Michelle Baron and their troubles were easy to relate to, yet at times, the story felt rushed and fell flat. As part 1 in a series, it was a complete story, and the book can stand alone which is a plus. Overall, the story was enjoyable, but I did not find myself engaged enough to want to purchase the second book, but that is not to say that you would not. We all have our own preferences.


Suicide has an unimaginable impact upon the family and friends left behind. They often wonder if it was their fault, if they missed the signs, what they could have done to stop it. The latest statistics from the World Health Organization estimate 1 million people worldwide commit suicide each year.(https://www.befrienders.org/suicide-statistics). If you, or someone you know, is suffering from depression and having thoughts about death, there are Christian counseling hotlines available such as Grace Helpline....1-800-982-8032 (United States).

Out Of A Dream is available from online retailers such as Amazon.



Disclaimer: I purchased this book for the express purpose of reading it in order to write a review. I was not approached by anyone associated with the author or publisher who attempted to influence the review.