Shattered Dreams at Rainbow’s End

Book excerpt: Drawn from real life, Shattered Dreams at Rainbow's End is the story of a World War II hero, Donald, a foot soldier, who returns from combat, meets the Depression-born Mary, and marries her. They have two children, baby boomers Danny and Deborah, and then a third child, Charles, part of Gen X. Patriarch Donald's dream of having the family all sitting around the fire at Christmas time in the Rainbow's End farmhouse reflected “family values.” He died before seeing his dream fulfilled. None of the children, despite apparent successes, end up meeting the parents' expectations. Mary's second husband's brief five-year presence and leadership helped get the family back on the track of family values. Her third husband could do little to promote family values. Despite his affection for Mary, his luxurious lifestyle and personal wealth mattered more than family values. The tragedy of Shattered Dreams is not just the multifaceted emotional drama surrounding Mary's three husbands but the breaking of at least one rule in the patriarch's moral code by each of his children. Informative: psychologically, legally, historically...shows passion and a great will to overcome. - Coach B., English teacher and hall of Fame wrestling coach. Very interesting story with spiritual implications like the Bible verse in Jeremiah 33:3: "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" – Hyrine O.