It All Comes Down To This: The unforgettable story of three sisters discovering the truth about the past

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The beginning wasn’t all that interesting, but the longer I read, the more I became invested in these characters’ lives. It didn’t blow me away, but it was a nice, slow weekend read. The Geller sisters, too, had particular aims. They had certain expectations, desires, long-held beliefs. They had no idea that everything safe and familiar would be undone at the intersection of a man and a house and a secret—not C.J.’s, but another’s. Of course, each of them had their own secrets, too, hidden and protected by long and careful habit. Revelation is risky; suppose it leads to a fall? Enter C.J. Reynolds, an enigmatic southerner ex-con with his own hidden past who complicates the situation. All is not what it seems, and everything is about to change.

I found this a really entertaining and compelling read, full of complicated family bonds, secrets and lies in need of untangling. All three sisters have their own struggles, flaws and secrets, each yearning for the missed opportunities that could’ve led to a far different life than the one they’ve found themselves in. He’d also wondered whether Jesus, who he believed had been a real person who’d done at least some of what was credited to him, would approve of all the ways he (Jesus) was being put forth as the personal savior of a lot of hardened criminals who really only hoped the connection might help get them paroled. C.J. had not relied upon Jesus to aid in his defense; for that, he’d spent a good deal of money on an attorney whose relationship with Jesus (if any) was unknown to C.J., but whose relationship with law, evidence, and specific judges was certain and solid. This had not, however, been enough to keep him out of prison. It had perhaps made it so that he wasn’t in prison longer, and this was worth far more to him than the money he’d spent. Dr. Tony Evans says this concerning the command to make disciples: “The effectiveness of a church is therefore evaluated—not in the number of its members—but by its disciple-making. It’s the absence of discipleship that keeps a church impotent and ineffective, because by not taking up Christ’s mission of discipleship, its people cannot draw on Christ’s authority.” Well said, Dr. Evans. Church, let us not be impotent and ineffective! Let us develop disciples! In the meantime, Arlo looks up to C.J. as a father figure, who lost his parents in a plane crash, and Ms. Callaghan is worried about his future since she is getting up in age and bad health. Arlo and CJ develop a strong bond—love these two together with the grandmother. CJ also has a grown daughter who lives in Portland. With her keen eye for human foibles and emotional truth, humor and deep feeling, acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Therese Anne Fowler delivers a stylish, insightful take on the dysfunctional family dramedy.He is now out of prison and has money left from his grandmother and wants nothing more than to buy a secluded lake home in Mount Desert Island, Maine, to paint since he is an artist. Meanwhile, a man has returned to the island seeking a home, staying at the home of an old friend. He wants to buy the sister’s family cabin. But he shares a history with one of them, and it won’t be working in his favor. There’s not really much going on in the terms of plot. It’s more of a domestic slice-of-life story.

Remember, a lot is happening at this time. Some of the followers of Jesus may still need to understand a little clearer what is going on here.Jesus didn’t want His followers to stay in Galilee, although the go did include Galilee. Jesus doesn’t want us to stay in Bartow or Polk County, although the go does include Bartow and Polk County. Oh. Well. I just tried some of that marijuana you brought me. Do you have any for yourself? Are you a secret smoker? If you aren’t, you should be! It will make you feel m-u-u-c-h better.” Remember at the very beginning of Matthew as Matthew pointed to Jesus’ birth and its fulfillment of prophecy. Matthew 1:23 says, “See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated ‘God is with us.’” [on screen] Though this novel wasn’t my favorite by this author, I will still be eagerly awaiting her next book, hoping that it’s more in line with A Good Neighborhood. When blast-from-their-past C.J. Reynolds, a Southerner with secrets of his own, enters the picture as a potential buyer, EVERYTHING gets more complicated. Will this trio be able to reconcile the past, their present, and move toward a united front in the future...however twisted, tangled, and unnerving their new paths may be?

Well, just like a little newborn horse that stands up on its legs and tries to practice walking, so also, practice the mission this week. Pray for a missionary, offer to pray for someone in the community, serve someone else and tell them that you’re doing so because you love Jesus and Jesus loves them, share the story of how Jesus has changed you with a friend or neighbor; practice the mission. Remember, as you do so, Jesus is with you, to the very end. Marti Geller knows she will be dying soon. It’s only a matter of days. She has organized everything herself, including the directive to sell her summer cottage to lessen the burden on her daughters after she’s gone. There’s just one final secret that she’s ready to tell them.eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus was sent by the Father to the earth, He was given a mission by the Father, He fulfilled that mission, and He now has full authority to pass on God’s mission to His followers. I received an ARC from NetGalley called 'It All Comes Down to This' by Karen English, and here is my unbiased review. I felt Therese captured all the qualities I had anticipated—yet, the plot was spinning in so many directions, no one thing ever happened that became the ‘main’ focus of the book.