A Gift Forever (Paperback)

Based on a real life incident in her own childhood, Diane Craver’s A GIFT FOREVER will touch your heart and impact your life forever in this must-read story of love’s triumph over adversity. Justin Reeves is a man who has it all: a good job, a loving wife and children who are the center of his universe. Justin also has a secret he’s hidden from everyone his entire life. Quite innocently seven-year-old Debby, stumbles upon her father’s secret on a summer night in 1957. She confronts her father with the awful truth. Justin is touched by her concern and offer of help. When nothing is done by any of the adults in the family, Debby prays to Jesus for someone to help her father. Not only is her eloquent prayer instrumental in changing her father’s life, but it starts a chain reaction in each family member’s life. The older sister, Gail, is in love with a man Debby doesn’t like. Her middle sister, Kathy, who wanted to be a dancer, struggles with the physical infirmity that has crippled her every bit as much as their father’s once-secret flaw limits him. Debby’s brother, Carl, worries about the future because of his commitment to the army. Even their mother, Lucille Reeves, although devoted to her husband and children, now hopes to broaden her personal horizons. Justin, his wife and children all are blessed by positive life changes because of Debby’s prayer. Father and daughter together embark upon a journey which takes Justin from the darkness of shame into the light of victory. When he finally accomplishes what he wanted his whole life, Justin reaches out to his family in a special way on Christmas Day. His gift to his wife, daughters and son influences them all for a lifetime.

As the youngest in the family, growing up on a farm in Findlay, Ohio, Diane often acted out characters from her own stories in the backyard. In high school she was the student sitting in class with a novel hidden in front of her propped up textbook. Before starting on her writing career, Diane was a school teacher and play director. She met her husband while teaching at an orphanage, and they married three years later. While raising their six children in southwestern Ohio, Diane started writing nonfiction. Later, she decided it would be a nice escape to write fiction. Several non-fiction articles of Diane's have been published in Woman's World Weekly, The Catholic Telegraph, Virtue, Down Syndrome Today, WritersWeekly.com, and several other publications. Her book, The Christmas of 1957, was reissued under the title A Christmas Gift. It placed second in the 2010 Preditors & Editors Poll (novel category) and received 5 stars from the Midwest Book Review. A Joyful Break (Dreams of Plain Daughters, Book One) received 5 stars and was a reviewer's top pick from Night Owl Reviews as well as receiving a 5 star review and January 2013's CTRR Reviewer's Recommend Award from Coffee Time Romance and More. Additionally, it finished in fifth place in the "other" novel category of books in the 2012 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll. She writes Amish romance, contemporary romance, inspirational mainstream, chick-lit mystery, and non-fiction books. Her novels have received great reviews from readers and reviewers. Diane has published through a variety of houses, including Publishing by Rebecca J. Vickery, Samhain Publishing, Whimsical Publications, and Victory Tales Press. Recently, Diane has self-published several novels. She writes fun and inspiring stories filled with memorable characters. Learn more about Diane and her books at http: //www.dianecraver.com