Sunrise on the Battery

By Beth Webb Hart

She wanted her husband to attend the town’s society-driven church. God answered her prayer in a radical way.

An emptiness dogs Mary Lynn Scoville. But it shouldn’t.

After all, she’s achieved what few believed possible. Born in the rural south, she has reached the pinnacle of worldly success in Charleston, South Carolina. Married to a handsome real estate developer and mother to three accomplished daughters, Mary Lynn is one Debutante Society invitation away from truly having it all.

And yet, it remains—an emptiness that no shopping trip, European vacation, or social calendar can fill.

When a surprise encounter leads her to newfound faith, Mary Lynn longs to share it with her husband. But Jackson wrote God off long ago.

Mary Lynn prays for him on Christmas Eve . . . and her husband undergoes a life-altering Damascus Road experience. As Jackson begins to take the implications of the Gospel literally, Mary Lynn feels increasingly isolated from her husband . . . and betrayed by God. She only wanted Jackson beside her at church on Sunday mornings, not some Jesus freak who evangelizes prostitutes and invites the homeless to tea.

While her husband commits social suicide and the life they worked so hard for crumbles around them, Mary Lynn wonders if their marriage can survive. Or if perhaps there really is a more abundant life that Jackson has discovered, richer than any she’s ever dreamed of.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Oct 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9781401686628

Book preview

Reviews for Sunrise on the Battery

[oldriverbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sunrise on the Battery is a contemporary Christian novel. Beth Webb Hart has written this novel from different points of few inside this family. The mother Mary Lynn, the father Jackson and the oldest daughter Catherine. While this family struggles to be the best and attain the best social status all the pressure starts to cause problems. Each point of view shares with us their turning points. If you are looking for a well written novel with defined character development, christian theme and a heartwarming experience this is the novel for you. I received this book as a giveaway from Goodreads.

Now that she's arrived at her ultimate address, will Mary Lynn's longed-for view of the harbor satisfy the craving of her heart?

At last, Mary Lynn and Jackson Scoville are living the life they've dreamed of. Two self-described "small town bumpkins" from Round O, South Carolina, they made a small fortune selling the little gems of lowcountry real estate Jackson inherited and now they are living in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, carefully working their way up the social ladder in hopes of meeting their ultimate goal: to give their three daughters the life they themselves never had.

But the long-forgotten God of Mary Lynn's childhood seems to be trying to get her attention in clear and unusual ways. So clear and strange she can no longer deny it. When Mary Lynn prays for Jackson to open his mind and heart to God, her prayers are answered beyond her wildest imaginings. Now Jackson's dramatic conversion (which includes street witnessing, giving away a lot of money, and inviting poor, desperate and marginalized people into their home) is threatening their social status as well as their family mission statement. Is she willing to go along with him?

What would it be like to go "all out" for God? Jackson, a sharp and focused Type A man, is unafraid and willing to go all the way. Mary Lynn has her doubts.

[kelleyand · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Rich, privileged, on the verge of being accepted into Charleston's elite social clubs, Jackson and Mary Lynn Scoville have worked hard to provide the kind of life for their three daughters that they never had. But does having everything really make you happy? Jackson is distant and domineering, Mary Lynn has become the kind of wife that has to bite her tongue, and the daughters have issues with insecurity, drugs and sneaking out. That is until two miracles happen.Sunrise on the Battery is a moderate paced Cinderella story in reverse. Instead of the poor miserly princess getting the prince, the perfect family finds God. The descriptions of Charleston are beautiful, the language is kept natural and flowing. While the plot was somewhat predictable, Beth Webb Hart makes her characters change wildly from materialistic selfish people to outgoing radical evangelists. I was a little uncomfortable with this wild transformation, but it did make for a good story.The overall spiritual message of the book was very inspiring. I could see a lot of my habits and downfalls in the characters and the life path that they choose spotlighted where my walk with Jesus could be better.Overall, the book is a quick and easy read with a story that is a wholesome diversion.I received this ebook free from Booksneeze.com

[debr56 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First off let me say I loved this book. Ms. Hart has a way of writing that makes each character easy to relate to. Even when their actions are not always what you think they should be and their desires are opposite to each other I found myself pulling for them. Ms. Hart gives you a view of what radical faith would look like today and how a society based on social status and appearance would respond to it, while also asking readers to consider where faith fits into their life. It's an absorbing story of a family whose desire to fit in almost costs them everything they value most.The story will have you inspecting your motivations for what you do and what you want in life. What do you pray for and what happens when your prayers are answered in ways you are not expecting? The story was developed nicely and the imagery is strong. The characters are complex and believable. Their emotions and actions are authentic. The relationships and dialogue were genuine. Sunrise on the Battery is a novel with strong characters and a well-written plot. This is a great read about a realistic family. I would highly recommend it!Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mary Lynn and her husband, Jackson, have long-term goals for their family. They push their children to do their best in school. In their social standing, they long to be one of the elite. They strive to improve themselves in every way. But they are not satisfied – ever. When Mary Lynn finds comfort in a new church, she longs for Jackson to share her experience. But when he does find God, he does it in a big and unexpected way. An impromptu announcement at a school assembly pretty much seals their fate, and not in a good way. The kids are now wondering if Dad is crazy, and Mary Lynn is weighing her options for her future. This tale has its moments, and some are hilarious. But it doesn’t quite hit the mark.

[booksintheburbs · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mary Lynn and her husband both grew up from humble families and both became rather wealthy and live in the plush town of Charleston, SC. Both deal with their own inner demons, while their oldest daughter Katherine tries to please her father, deals with severe anxiety, and begins to take pills to deal with her own demons as well. There were quite a few very realistic scenarios in this story as Jackson grapples with handling his success and keeping up with Jones’, wanting the best for his children, and dealing with the death of his mother (who he lost at 9 years old), all while also questioning his own spiritual existence and relationship with God. While I really thought this story dealt with some very real and raw issues that all families deal with, even Christian families, I felt that some of the issues weren’t addressed fully and that the story ended too perfectly. For example, Mary Lynne recognizes some changes in her daughter Katherine and suspects something is going on with her when she sees Katherine’s hands often shaking. However, she never quite addresses the issue and Katherine soon stops using and instead focuses on her studies and running. I felt that there was a huge piece of the storyline missing. It would also have been helpful to have seen more of the struggles Jackson and Mary Lynne experience as a result of their spiritual walk, or lack thereof. While Mary Lynne was attending church, it would have given a more realistic portrait to what a family experiences when one partner chooses not to embrace faith and spirituality. I also wanted more surrounding Mary Lynne’s miracle. Nonetheless, this was a good read and one I would recommend to those who enjoy reading Christian fiction. Keep an eye out for this Christian author…she has a gift for writing! Maybe just adding an extra 100 pages would be helpful for my inquiring mind ;)