Since You've Been Gone

Written by Christa Allan

Narrated by Sophie Amoss

A Selah Award winner.

One moment, Olivia Kavanaugh is preparing to walk down the aisle and embrace her own happily ever after. The next, she learns that her fiancé, Wyatt Hammond, has been in a fatal car accident. Then comes a startling discovery: Wyatt’s car wasn’t heading toward the church. He was fifty miles away—with a baby gift in the backseat.

Her faith shaken, Olivia pores over the clues left behind, desperate to know where Wyatt was going that day and why. As she begins uncovering secrets, she also navigates a tense relationship with her judgmental mother and tries to ignore the attentions of a former boyfriend who’s moved back home. But when she starts receiving letters written by Wyatt before his death, she must confront a disturbing question: Can we ever know anyone fully, even someone we love?

When an unexpected path forward—though nothing like the life she once envisioned—offers the promise of a new beginning, will she be strong enough to let go of the past and move toward it?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Oct 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781531837433

Christa Allan

A true Southern woman who knows any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux, Christa Allan is an award-winning author who writes stories filled with hope, humor, and redemption. Her novels include Test of Faith; Threads of Hope; Walking on Broken Glass; Love Finds You in New Orleans, Louisiana; and The Edge of Grace. Christa is a mother of five and grandmother of three, and she recently retired after twenty-five years spent teaching high school English. She and her husband live in New Orleans in a home older than their combined ages. They spend their time dodging hurricanes and pacifying their three neurotic cats and Herman, their dog.

Reviews for Since You've Been Gone

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Whew! I was an emotional mess as I finished Christa Allan’s latest book, Since You’ve Been Gone. Allan took me on a roller-coaster — sad, mad, tickled and hopeful. This novel is not for the feint of heart, but it is for the reader who wants an authentic story full of flawed characters, real-life happenings, and an unchanging God. So come prepared with a few tissues and a few hours to spend with this unputdownable book.Olivia is hit with the unthinkable — her wedding day ends not with a happily-ever-after, but with grief and seemingly unanswerable questions. When she finds out she is not only a bride without a groom, but a soon to be mother, Olivia finds herself struggling to make sense of why God is silent.As I stated above, Since You’ve Been Gone is not an easy read. It does have its moments of levity as only Allan can bring. That’s a relief, because Olivia faces loss upon loss within this book’s pages. I won’t spoil it for you, but while Olivia faces more than she thinks she can handle, it is not more than many real life people have to bear. As Olivia’s grandmother, Ruthie, puts it — life can be wonderful and also very, very hard. The story is told in Olivia’s first person voice which works well to see into her character and circumstances. Supporting characters are treated pretty fairly by Olivia, yet no one can truly know the hearts of others. I found myself really liking Ruthie and Evan, Olivia’s ex-boyfriend. Olivia’s mother, Scarlet, not so much. But the reader finds in the end everyone faces loss and grief and responds in many different ways. Wyatt, the one character who cannot speak for himself, is revealed in a very unique way. Well done, Ms. Allan!While God is largely silent in Olivia’s life, He shows up in what Ruthie calls God-incidences. Olivia and the reader are reminded that while we may not understand what is going on, God is not really absent or not working in the midst of tragedy. He often sends just who we need just when we need them.I really liked Since You’ve Been Gone. It is one of those books that will make you feel and think and then think again long after the last page is turned. This one is a highly recommended read.Highly Recommended.Audience: adults.(Thanks to the author and publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[harley0326 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

How to start my review? I guess the best way is to say that the story was riveting, emotional and so powerful that I never put the book down until I finished it. I have not read a book from this author before, but wow does she have a way to make a story come to life. Her characters were so real, I felt like I was sitting beside Olivia as each painful journey she took was mixed with tears and disappointment. On the day you are to be married, you realize your groom is not going to show up, so what do you do? For Olivia that day will forever be a painful, and sorrowful day. Why did her fiancé not show up? As you read the story you begin to see the man Wyatt , her fiancé was. He loved Olivia with everything he had, but on their wedding day, a trajedy happens that will bring secrets to the surface. I loved Olivia instantly and thought her character was someone I would want to be friends with. She is smart, pretty and full of life. There is one thing she is struggling with , though. She has a hard time understanding why her parents believe in God. Her mother is very critical of her and their relationship was difficult at times. I loved the scenes when they argued as it brought realism to the story. Parts of the story really hit home for me and I knew I was going to cry before I finished the book. It is hard to love someone who always says negative things to you. As their fights became an almost daily thing, Olivia was beginning to distance herself from her mom. I loved how the story showed us that forgiveness can tear down bitterness and restore relationships. Olivia's journey to trust in God is very well written and I enjoyed reading her transformation. She endures tragedies and feels like God is punishing her. Have you ever felt that way? Throughout the story , Olivia's grandmother is a very gentle person who reminds Olivia that God does not hate her. The story is filled with deep emotions and the ending is one you won't forget. I'm so glad I read this story because it reminded me how fragile life is. Take time everyday to tell those you love how important they are. Remember that God is always there and forgiveness will set you free. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The review is my own opinion and I was not compensated for it.

[cwhisenant11 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was outstanding! I loved the writing style and the characters--especially Ruthie. The story was uplifting and full of life lessons. Life is hard and filled with adversity but joy is a choice regardless of circumstance. What a great message!I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When you read about this book it is almost a gasp, what, bride left at the altar, groom dead, accident heading away from the wedding.Poor Olivia, how could so much happen to one person, and then there is more, and parents with good intentions, hiding things from her. How do you go on, living in the home that you choose together, and yet know he was heading in the wrong direction on your wedding day? You can cry a few tears reading this one, and I found some sweet chuckles when we are with Mia and her little one.How does one get over such tragedy, only one way and that is through God, and yet I was never sure where Livvy’s faith is, and yet I could see his hand on her. What surprised me is the character Laura, and really I am not sure of her thinking, and yet it worked into the story.The book quickly became a page-turner, and wanting to know why and where and who, and wanting to give Scarlet and shake, Livvy’s mom, and then we find reasons.I enjoyed this book, and it kept my attention, but that being said it is a very emotional and at times painful read.I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Waterfall, and was not required to give a positive review.