Shelter Us: A Novel

by Laura Nicole Diamond

Overview

Gorgeously written and deeply felt, this heartrending, ultimately hopeful narrative about motherhood, loss, and the meaning of life becomes a true page-turner. Lawyer turned stay-at-home-mom Sarah Shaw is struggling to be present for her two young sons and law professor husband, three years after the death of their infant daughter. Then one day, walking in L.A., Sarah’s heart catches at the sight of a young homeless mother and toddler, and saving them becomes her secret, obsessive mission. When tragedy threatens them, Sarah discovers she is capable of deceptions and transgressions she never imagined. Her lies unleash a downward spiral that will threaten her marriage, family, and her sanity. Shelter Us speaks to the quiet joys and anxieties of parenthood, and illuminates the shadowy space between unconditional love and fear of unbearable loss.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631529702
Publisher:	She Writes Press
Publication date:	06/08/2015
Pages:	266
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Laura Nicole Diamond is a writer and civil rights lawyer, and the editor of the anthology Deliver Me: True Confessions of Motherhood. She lives in Los Angeles with her family. She writes on her website, www.ConfessionsofMotherhood.com.

Editorial Reviews

A sensitively told exploration of layers of loss, isolation, motherhood, and marriage. Diamond knows there are no easy answers and her portrait of Sarah is drawn by a skillful, compassionate hand.”
—Aimee Bender, author of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake and An Invisible Sign of My Own

“Shelter Us is beautiful novel that strikes every emotional chord—hope and fear, love and loss, betrayal and forgiveness. Laura Nicole Diamond is a talent. Her moving story will resonate with anyone who has ever walked past a homeless person and wondered, Could I make a difference? With flawed characters who come alive on the page, Diamond captures her readers with honesty and heart.”
—Lori Nelson Spielman, author of The Life List

“A watercolor portrait of a family at a crossroads, Shelter Us is a deftly rendered narrative of the everyday joys and devastating heartbreaks of parenthood, love, and loyalty. Laura Nicole Diamond's is a new voice that rings with an old truth: the only way to survive life is through the grace and kindness of the living.”
—Gina B. Nahai, author of The Luminous Heart of Jonah S.

“Shelter Us is about characters in search of refuge both literal and metaphorical, seeking comfort, safety, and a sense of belonging. In spare, unsentimental prose, Laura Nicole Diamond explores how grief can divide people, how the bonds of marriage can twist and fray under pressure, and how consolation can be found in the unlikeliest places. I couldn’t put this lovely book down.”
—Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train

“Recommended for book groups interested in discussing issues relating to women, the loss of a child, and family relationships.”
—Library Journal

From the Publisher