Julia DeSmit can't wait for her life to begin. After her mother leaves when Julia is nine years old, she's raised by an unassuming, gentle father and a saintly, matriarchal grandmother until her father dies just as Julia is becoming a young adult.
For anyone who’s ever wanted to start over . . .
Julia DeSmit’s life has been marked by loss. After her mother leaves and her father dies when she’s just sixteen, Julia is determined to escape the confines of her gossipy, conservative Christian town.
When her best friend and first love, Thomas, breaks her heart, Julia leaves for college-the perfect place to reinvent herself. But one wrong decision changes her forever, and she returns to her grandmother’s farm, weary and defeated.
Yet hope takes root in unexpected places, and Julia discovers that starting over looks nothing like she imagined.
“In her promising debut novel, Baart writes compellingly about a young girl’s struggle with loss, love, identity and faith…Sparkling prose makes this new novel a welcome addition to inspirational fiction.”
- Publishers Weekly
“Debut author Baart’s writing is evocative and beautiful…”
- Romantic Times BOOKreviews
“The author displays a strong grasp of the nuances of relationships and the details of Julia’s inner life…for readers who enjoy a sensitively written coming-of-age story about a captivating young woman, this book is well worth reading.”
- CBA Retailers + Resources
“What happens to [Julia DeSmit] in After the Leaves Fall, a fine coming-of-age novel, is perfectly believable because she is so precisely drawn, her story so deftly told. Nicole Baart’s lyrical prose is a joy, and this deeply moving novel promises much more from its young and gifted author.”
- James Calvin Schaap, author of Romey’s Place
“…After the Leaves Fall is so emotionally gripping and true to life, readers will find it hard to put down and even harder to forget. The message-that all the bad stuff that happens to us ultimately makes us stronger and causes us to be brought closer to a loving God-is something that certainly rings true….”
- Christianbookpreviews.com
“This is not a book you read, but a book you feel. This book will touch your heart while sharing in Julia’s coming of age story. I strongly recommend this first time author, Nicole Baart.
- Laurel Wreath, Christian Women Online
“After the Leaves Fall gathers an array of powerful emotions and gently arranges them in all their vibrancy. Each page throbs with realism, as the main character walks tentatively through a life filled with a remarkable blend of heartache and hope…After the Leaves Fall is a novel that soars with significance.”
- In the Library Reviews
“Great tenderness and tragedy make Nicole Baart’s debut novel,After the Leaves Fall, an emotional journey…Descriptive and detail-oriented accounts are well- crafted and stimulating, making this first novel a winner.”
- Compulsive Reader.com
“It touches your heart and leaves your heart feeling that refreshed.”
- Lori Plach, Lori Reads and Reviews
“…I could not put this one down. What a great read!”
- Becky, inthepages.blogspot.com
“After the Leaves Fall is so impressively introspective with its gorgeous prose that words are inadequate to describe it….[T]his is one of the most emotional and wonderful books I’ve ever read and it has impacted my heart deeply. I can’t recommend it highly enough….”
- Michelle Sutton, Edgy Inspirational Blog
“I loved this book….I don’t often read such complex emotions written with such credibility. I believed every word. After the Leaves Fall is the kind of book that leaves you wanting more….”
- Ane Mulligan, Novel Journey Blog
“…This book is so different than the norm. It is a beautiful book, full of less than perfect people…and grace and forgiveness. It is a book that I thoroughly enjoyed.”
- The Peer Review Blog
“Brimming with engaging and authentic characters, After the Leaves Fall is beautifully written and a stunning tribute to Nicole’s talent as a writer.”
- Relz Reviewz Blog
