A Christmas Homecoming
by MaryAnn Diorio
4 stars
Description
Seven Christmases have passed since Sonia Pettit last heard from her daughter Jody. Since Jody’s departure, Sonia’s world has been turned upside down. Her husband has died of a broken heart, and her son, bitter over his sister’s destructive actions, has become rebellious.
Her greatest desire is to have her family together at Christmas, but after what Jody has put them all through, can Sonia truly forgive her daughter?
Jody Pettit O’Dair ran away to experience a life of adventure and excitement, but since her
departure, her world has been turned upside down. She’s been abandoned by the man she met and married, lost her job, and is unable to care for her two children. With nowhere else to turn, this prodigal daughter begins the long journey home and prays she will be welcomed after walking away so long ago.
Will Jody find forgiveness in the arms of her family as easily as she received it from God?
This book can be purchased at the following locations:
Amazon | Christian Book Distributors | Harbourlight Books
Dr. MaryAnn Diorio is an award-winning author, novelist, and poet. She writes novels, novellas, short stories, and poetry for both adults and children. She is also a fine artist and works in oils, acrylics, pastels, colored pencil, and pen-and-ink.
In 1979, MaryAnn accepted the call of God on her life to become a writer. Since then, she has written several hundred articles, short stories, and poems that have appeared in over 100 national magazines, newspapers, and journals, including The Saturday Evening Post, Billy Graham’s Decision Magazine, The Press of Atlantic City, and Human Events. She also served as head writer for a regional television series entitled Teen Machine.
MaryAnn’s popular syndicated column, Winning with the Word, was published for several years in newspapers throughout the state of New Jersey. It is now published via the Internet. To subscribe to this free weekly devotional, click here.
MaryAnn has also served as a syndicated columnist for the AMY Foundation Internet Syndicate. She has authored five books: A Christmas Homecoming (Harbourlight Books, 2012), Selling Yourself On You: Discovering God’s Will for Your Life, A Student’s Guide to Nathaniel Hawthorne, A Student’s Guide to Herman Melville, A Student’s Guide to Mark Twain, and the e-book You Were Made for Greatness, and has been a contributor to seven others: My Turn to Care(Thomas Nelson), Religious Writer’s Marketplace (Abingdon Press)),The Young Generation Book of Short Stories, Rest Stops for Busy Moms, Rest Stops for Teachers (Broadman & Holman), The Heart of a Teacher (Bethany House), God Answers Moms’ Prayers (God Allows U-Turns series, Harvest House, 2005), and Mastering the Art of Success(Insight Publishing, 2011). MaryAnn has also authored five booklets:Dating Etiquette for Christian Teens, Balancing Your Budget God’s Way, Making Your Marriage Work, Writing Fiction for Children, andWriting Non-Fiction for Children.
In 1990, MaryAnn won the $4000 Third Place Award in the Annual AMY Writing Awards Program for her article entitled “From Feminism to Freedom.” Her short story entitled “The Birthmark” placed fifth in the 1990 National Writers’ Club Short Story Contest and ranked in the top 100 in the 1990 Writer’s Digest Short Story Contest. She has also received an Honorable Mention award from TAKE ONE Radio Theatre for a radio script. In 1992, she was awarded the Second Place Prize in the Novel Category at the St. Davids Christian Writers’ Conference. In 2006, she placed third in the ACFW Genesis Contest Women’s Fiction category for her novel Sicilian Sunrise. In 2009, her novel placed second in the Inspirational Category of the East Texas RWA Southern Heat Contest. In 2011, her novel, under the new title of The Madonna of Pisano, won First Place in the Inspirational Category of the Colorado RWA Heart of the Rockies contest and First Place in the Inspirational Category of the Spacecoast Launching a Star contest. It also placed Second in the Historical Category of the 2011 Romance Writers’ InkWhere the Magic Begins contest.
MaryAnn has appeared on several radio, television, and Internet talk shows, including the popular Christian Authors Show with Danielle Hampson, the nation-wide LeSea Alive program hosted by the late Dr. Lester Sumrall, By the Book hosted by Debbie Williams, and Women of Grace hosted by Kelly McCausey. She has also been interviewed on WDAS (Philadelphia), WIBG (South Jersey), and WNNN (South Jersey). Articles about her writing have appeared in The Press of Atlantic City,The Daily Journal, The Millville News, The Bridgeton Evening News, and The Times Herald of her hometown of Norristown, Pennsylvania.
MaryAnn has served as a distinguished judge for the annual AMY Writing Awards Program, the annual Capitol Writers Writing Contest (Washington, DC area), the annual American Christian Fiction Writers’ Genesis Contest., and the ACFW First Impressions Contest. She is listed in International Who’s Who, Who’s Who in the East, International Authors and Writers Who’s Who, Dictionary of International Biography,The World Who’s Who of Women, Who’s Who in the World, The International Who’s Who of Professional and Business Women, The National Register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in Finance and Business. Most important of all, MaryAnn rejoices that she is listed in The Lamb’s Book of Life!
A graduate of the University of Kansas where she earned the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in French and Comparative Literature, MaryAnn also holds the Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) degree in Christian Counseling from Christian Leadership University. She has taught Italian at the University of Kansas, French at the Pitman High School in Pitman, New Jersey, English, French, Spanish, and Creative Writing at the Fairton Christian Center Academy in Fairton, New Jersey, French and Italian at Cumberland County College in Vineland, New Jersey, and Writing and Public Speaking at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. She also served as Assistant Professor of Italian and Spanish at Camden County College in Blackwood, NJ, as Adjunct Professor of Biblical Business Principles at New Life Bible College in Millville, NJ, as Adjunct Professor of Writing at Nottingham-Trent University (United Kingdom), and as Adjunct Online Professor of French at Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA. She is currently Online Adjunct Professor of Fiction Writing at Regent University.
MaryAnn has served on the faculty of several writers’ conferences, including the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference, the St. Davids Christian Writers Conference, the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers’ Conference, the Sandy Cove Christian Writers’ Conference, and The New Jersey Society of Christian Writers’ Seminar. She is a graduate of the three-year program of Rhema Correspondence Bible School, a diplomate of The Institute of Children’s Literature, a graduate of CLASS(Christian Leaders, Authors, and Speakers Services), a graduate of the Association of American Christian Counselors’ Light University’s Caring for God’s People program, and a graduate of The Life Coach Institute.
In 1984, MaryAnn founded Daystar Communications, later known as Daystar Ministries International. She ran this ministry until 2005, at which point it was incorporated into MaryAnn’s other ministries. In 2011, she changed the name to MaryAnn Diorio Ministries.
MaryAnn owns and operates TopNotch Communications Group, LLC, a multi-service firm with three divisions that provide writing, coaching, andtranslation services for individuals and businesses. MaryAnn is also a Certified Life Coach, a Certified Behavioral Consultant, and a Certified Biblical Counselor as well as a gifted Bible teacher and speaker whose heart’s desire is to help people become all that God created them to be.
In her Life Coaching practice, MaryAnn helps people–especially writers, artists, and business owners–define their mission in life and fulfill it. You can learn more about MaryAnn’s coaching services atwww.TopNotchLifeandCareerCoaching.com.
Dr. MaryAnn is a member in good standing of the following organizations:
My Review ~
MaryAnn’s popular syndicated column, Winning with the Word, was published for several years in newspapers throughout the state of New Jersey. It is now published via the Internet. To subscribe to this free weekly devotional, click here.
MaryAnn has also served as a syndicated columnist for the AMY Foundation Internet Syndicate. She has authored five books: A Christmas Homecoming (Harbourlight Books, 2012), Selling Yourself On You: Discovering God’s Will for Your Life, A Student’s Guide to Nathaniel Hawthorne, A Student’s Guide to Herman Melville, A Student’s Guide to Mark Twain, and the e-book You Were Made for Greatness, and has been a contributor to seven others: My Turn to Care(Thomas Nelson), Religious Writer’s Marketplace (Abingdon Press)),The Young Generation Book of Short Stories, Rest Stops for Busy Moms, Rest Stops for Teachers (Broadman & Holman), The Heart of a Teacher (Bethany House), God Answers Moms’ Prayers (God Allows U-Turns series, Harvest House, 2005), and Mastering the Art of Success(Insight Publishing, 2011). MaryAnn has also authored five booklets:Dating Etiquette for Christian Teens, Balancing Your Budget God’s Way, Making Your Marriage Work, Writing Fiction for Children, andWriting Non-Fiction for Children.
In 1990, MaryAnn won the $4000 Third Place Award in the Annual AMY Writing Awards Program for her article entitled “From Feminism to Freedom.” Her short story entitled “The Birthmark” placed fifth in the 1990 National Writers’ Club Short Story Contest and ranked in the top 100 in the 1990 Writer’s Digest Short Story Contest. She has also received an Honorable Mention award from TAKE ONE Radio Theatre for a radio script. In 1992, she was awarded the Second Place Prize in the Novel Category at the St. Davids Christian Writers’ Conference. In 2006, she placed third in the ACFW Genesis Contest Women’s Fiction category for her novel Sicilian Sunrise. In 2009, her novel placed second in the Inspirational Category of the East Texas RWA Southern Heat Contest. In 2011, her novel, under the new title of The Madonna of Pisano, won First Place in the Inspirational Category of the Colorado RWA Heart of the Rockies contest and First Place in the Inspirational Category of the Spacecoast Launching a Star contest. It also placed Second in the Historical Category of the 2011 Romance Writers’ InkWhere the Magic Begins contest.
MaryAnn has appeared on several radio, television, and Internet talk shows, including the popular Christian Authors Show with Danielle Hampson, the nation-wide LeSea Alive program hosted by the late Dr. Lester Sumrall, By the Book hosted by Debbie Williams, and Women of Grace hosted by Kelly McCausey. She has also been interviewed on WDAS (Philadelphia), WIBG (South Jersey), and WNNN (South Jersey). Articles about her writing have appeared in The Press of Atlantic City,The Daily Journal, The Millville News, The Bridgeton Evening News, and The Times Herald of her hometown of Norristown, Pennsylvania.
MaryAnn has served as a distinguished judge for the annual AMY Writing Awards Program, the annual Capitol Writers Writing Contest (Washington, DC area), the annual American Christian Fiction Writers’ Genesis Contest., and the ACFW First Impressions Contest. She is listed in International Who’s Who, Who’s Who in the East, International Authors and Writers Who’s Who, Dictionary of International Biography,The World Who’s Who of Women, Who’s Who in the World, The International Who’s Who of Professional and Business Women, The National Register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in Finance and Business. Most important of all, MaryAnn rejoices that she is listed in The Lamb’s Book of Life!
A graduate of the University of Kansas where she earned the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in French and Comparative Literature, MaryAnn also holds the Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) degree in Christian Counseling from Christian Leadership University. She has taught Italian at the University of Kansas, French at the Pitman High School in Pitman, New Jersey, English, French, Spanish, and Creative Writing at the Fairton Christian Center Academy in Fairton, New Jersey, French and Italian at Cumberland County College in Vineland, New Jersey, and Writing and Public Speaking at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. She also served as Assistant Professor of Italian and Spanish at Camden County College in Blackwood, NJ, as Adjunct Professor of Biblical Business Principles at New Life Bible College in Millville, NJ, as Adjunct Professor of Writing at Nottingham-Trent University (United Kingdom), and as Adjunct Online Professor of French at Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA. She is currently Online Adjunct Professor of Fiction Writing at Regent University.
MaryAnn has served on the faculty of several writers’ conferences, including the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference, the St. Davids Christian Writers Conference, the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers’ Conference, the Sandy Cove Christian Writers’ Conference, and The New Jersey Society of Christian Writers’ Seminar. She is a graduate of the three-year program of Rhema Correspondence Bible School, a diplomate of The Institute of Children’s Literature, a graduate of CLASS(Christian Leaders, Authors, and Speakers Services), a graduate of the Association of American Christian Counselors’ Light University’s Caring for God’s People program, and a graduate of The Life Coach Institute.
In 1984, MaryAnn founded Daystar Communications, later known as Daystar Ministries International. She ran this ministry until 2005, at which point it was incorporated into MaryAnn’s other ministries. In 2011, she changed the name to MaryAnn Diorio Ministries.
MaryAnn owns and operates TopNotch Communications Group, LLC, a multi-service firm with three divisions that provide writing, coaching, andtranslation services for individuals and businesses. MaryAnn is also a Certified Life Coach, a Certified Behavioral Consultant, and a Certified Biblical Counselor as well as a gifted Bible teacher and speaker whose heart’s desire is to help people become all that God created them to be.
In her Life Coaching practice, MaryAnn helps people–especially writers, artists, and business owners–define their mission in life and fulfill it. You can learn more about MaryAnn’s coaching services atwww.TopNotchLifeandCareerCoaching.com.
Dr. MaryAnn is a member in good standing of the following organizations:
- American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW)
- Faith, Hope, and Love Chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA)
- Romance Writers of America (RWA)
- New Jersey Chapter of Romance Writers of America (NJRWA)
- Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA)
- The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI)
- New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (NJSCBWI)
- The New Jersey Society of Christian Writers (NJSCW) (Founder & Director)
- ThChristian Coaches Network
- The Better Business Bureau
- The National Association of Scholars
- The Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Career Coaches
My Review ~
Christmas has arrived once again, and Sonia Pettit prays she will find her daughter back home with her family. Seven years earlier Jody left home with no explanation aside from a brief note stating that she needed her own space. She left behind her mother, father and 15-year-old brother who were devastated, having no idea where she might be or if she would return. Grief totally consumed her father, eventually leading to his death attributed to a broken heart. Her mother has prayed daily for Jody's return, and every Christmas her highest hope is to see her daughter walk up the sidewalk to the front door. Her brother, however, retreated into his own world of video games, eventually going to college where his last year has been spent partying and drinking. His feelings toward his missing sister are bitter and unforgiving. Experiencing the effects Jody's leaving had on the family over the years he is angry that his mother would even hope for her return. When Jody's life crumbles around her she wonders if her family would welcome her home after all this time. This story is based on hope, forgiveness and grace surrounding the selfish acts of a self-indulgent daughter.
Mary Ann Diorio has written a short story of a family consumed with anguish over the absence of their only daughter. The characters in this story are a bit under developed due to the brevity of the story, but it's a heartwarming story of hope that is based on a mother's capacity to forgive. This is a great little Christmas story that can be read in an evening relaxing beside a fire with a hot cup of cocoa. Hope, forgiveness and grace shine through in difficult family circumstances.
Disclaimer: I received an electronic copy of this book through Book Fun at The Book Club Network and Pelican Book Group in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.
Sounds like a very good book. Loved your review on it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Juanita!
DeleteThank you for sharing another great review, Nancee!
ReplyDeleteAnother good review and a new author to me. Sounds like a good one to read. Thanks, Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
ReplyDelete