Oh. My. Goodness. Such a heart warming gripping story. Reese is running from what he does best of all. He's very good at hiding who he is from others. Then, there's the adorable seven year old little girl, Annie, who sells lemonade and has faith that puts most to shame. So as not to spoil the story, I won't say what Reese is running from, or what Annie saves her lemonade money for. The entire town loves this little girl, whom her aunt is raising. I can promise you will be blown away by this story.
This was just an absolute wonderful story that will draw you in. Highly recommend it!
I was given an advanced ecopy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC e-book for review. All opinions are my own.

This was a perfect book. The characters were all developed and all had a full-circle moment - they each had an issue at the beginning of the book that was solved by the end. I learned, I laughed, I cried, I felt uplifted. I was captivated by the book and read it quickly because I had to know what happened to the character..

Reese is a widower in his mid-thirties who is a bit of a mystery. He is a stand-up guy with a shadowed past he doesn't speak of. He has suffered a great trauma in his life and because of it has sworn off the one thing he was born to do. That is until Annie, a young girl with a heart condition, enters his life and challenges him to be the miracle she needs in her life.

I loved all of the the relationships in this book - the (mostly) easy-going friendship Reese shares with his brother-in-law despite their past, the unconditional love he gives to Annie even though she reminds him so much of his deceased wife, the trust Annie's aunt gives to Reese when he takes on Annie's care, and the way he gently takes Termite, a rudderless young man, under his wing.

I have read a few books by Charles Martin and have always enjoyed them. I know Martin is a Christian author but I didn't find this book to be overly so.

4.5 stars

What a sweet heart warming story about a little girl with an unhealthy heart and the doctor who would give anything to save her. It was a nice feel good story that I could hardly put down, easily 5 stars!

What an emotional roller-coaster. When Crickets Cry is a second chance story, but not in the way you might expect. There's paid, heartache, medical story lines, and a little girl who needs a heart. I sobbed and it may take several days to recover from this one. Love love loved it.

We listened to this story on a road trip. It was family-friendly and beautifully narrated. Everyone enjoyed.

When Crickets Cry
by Charles Martin book.
Pub Date: april 2, 2006
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
Martin is an auto buy for me and I have enjoyed all of his books. This was a good reread and I recommend it for new fans of his work.
From New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin comes the moving story of a heart surgeon who's hiding his own heart, a little girl whose heart won't last much longer, and a shared journey toward healing for both of them--for fans looks for the emotional depth of Fredrik Backman and the Southern atmosphere of Delia Owens.

While When Crickets Cry isn’t a new release, it was a moving, heartfelt read that I’ll carry with me. Charles Martin has such a beautiful way of writing emotion without overdoing it. The story weaves together themes of grief, healing, love, and second chances—but also survival, purpose, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going when life feels broken.

This book reminds us that even in our deepest pain, there’s still hope—and sometimes a calling to step into something bigger than ourselves.

I was deeply touched by the characters, especially their capacity for connection, community, and healing. This is the kind of novel that stays with you, long after the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley & Thomas Nelson publishing for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I usually avoid books with a medical based storyline, but this is Charles Martin! How could I pass this book by? I am so glad that I didn't. The beautiful language in this book is a key reason for not missing out on When Crickets Cry. The intriguing storyline is another reason. It moves between the main character's earlier years and his present day circumstances, allowing readers to understand the decisions that led him to live the life he is currently living, a life that has seemingly lost purpose and meaning. The story explores the theme of hope, its perseverance in lives where one might see little reason for its continued presence, and its resurgence when it would appear all hope is lost. The heart in this story is viewed not only as an organ that gives the body life, but also as a spiritual organ that impacts how one lives the life they've been given. There are many lessons here for one whose heart is inclined to listen.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of When Crickets Cry from Thomas Nelson without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I know if people read my reviews they believe I rate every book as the best I have ever read. But once again I need to give a book 5 stars. When Crickets Cry was a moving and touching story. I do not want to put in spoilers, so I will just write that Charles Martin can grab hold of the reader's heart and really give it a tug ... or two ... or three! What a great story of love and dedication and forgiveness. Definitely take the time to get involved in the story of Annie and all of the people who are part of her life. You will not want to put the book down...even after you have read the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

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Once I got past the first couple of chapters, I didn’t want to put it down. It’s part mystery and a lot medical. Highly recommend it.

When Crickets Cry made feel so many emotions. Ultimately, it made me cry--from sadness, joy, and awe..
I love second chance stories.
I love everything I've read by this author!!
You can't go wrong with Charles Martin.

This is my first Charles Martin book. I enjoyed the writing and story overall, but the descriptions went on for what seemed like years. Descriptions of everything, not only the human heart which were fascinating. The story was also very predictable. 3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

When Crickets Cry is a touching story of loss, healing, and redemption. Charles Martin weaves a beautifully emotional tale centered on a man with a painful past and a brave young girl with a failing heart. While a bit predictable at times, the writing is lyrical and sincere, making it a powerful read for anyone who enjoys heartfelt, faith-tinged fiction.

This book is one of the most heartfelt stories I’ve ever read. The characters are lovable, determined, and relatable. Reese, now using his middle name and hiding behind an unkempt beard, seeks to disguise his true identity as a renowned heart surgeon. Growing up, Charlie was his best friend, while Emma, Charlie’s younger sister, battled a defective heart. Reese and Emma fall in love, marry, and Reese dedicates himself to becoming an exceptional heart surgeon in order to save her. However, when Emma dies, Reese becomes a recluse, living by a lake near Charlie, who is now blind.
Annie, a six-year-old girl living with her aunt after the death of both her parents, also has a heart defect. To raise money for the heart transplant she will eventually need, Annie sells lemonade in her small town.
I have read other books by Charles Martin, and each one has captured my heart from the very beginning. This book is no exception. It is beautifully written and filled with charming characters that take the reader on an emotional journey. Themes of faith, forgiveness, and perseverance resonate throughout the story and lingered with me for days after I turned the last page.
I received a complimentary copy of this book; all opinions and comments are my own.

When you this author’s name on a book, grab it (or download it) ASAP. As usual, you get a great tale which shows excellent research, produces three dimensional characters, and produces emotional and spiritual responses.

I knew within the first page that I would need tissues at some point while reading this story and I wasn't wrong. Boy did it pull on the heart strings and make me cry, all in a good way of course.
I feel like story is not the right word to describe this book, maybe saga is better. There was depth and emotion, it was a page turner I did not want to put down ... but picking it up meant feeling all the emotions too. The characters were varied and detailed and taught about dedication, restoration, forgiveness and that a true friend, or brother, never gives up on you. I felt like I was pulled into the story and became invested in the characters' lives and had to know what happened next.
I'm not going to write out a synopsis for you as there are plenty of reviews that do that but did want to mention the medical detail in the book which, as someone working in health, I really appreciated and felt was pitched at just the right level.
I have seen books by Charles Martin on the Amazon Christian Fiction best-sellers list and wanted to read them as they have interesting titles and look like classic and ageless books. This is the first book I have read and it definitely won't be my last! It reminded me of books by Francine Rivers in style and depth of the message. 5 stars.

WHEN CRICKETS CRY by CHARLES MARTIN is a well written story with .besutifully poetic prose. It is slow reading until near the end when things become really hectiic! It is a classic and needs to be read as such. I found the information on the heart, both medical and spiritual, fascinating, and loved the quotations throughout the book.
I really enjoyed When Crickets Cry,, with the unforgettable characters, the deepth of character analysis, and the underlying Christian message.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson.. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Premise: Reese is a man haunted by memories and guilt, living quietly as a boat repairman. His life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Annie, a precocious seven-year-old who sells lemonade and wears a heart monitor strapped to her chest. What begins as a chance encounter soon unravels into a poignant journey where Reese must confront his past and the pain he has long buried.

This is a deeply emotional, tenderly written novel that delves into themes of grief, redemption, love, and the transformative power of second chances. Set in a small Southern town, the story follows Reese, a mysterious man with a tragic past, and Annie, a spirited young girl battling a life-threatening heart condition.
The prose is lyrical and atmospheric. The setting is written in such rich and descriptive detail. The pacing allows the emotional beats of the story to land with power. The heart-wrenching scenes that don’t feel overly sentimental, balancing hope and sorrow with grace.

Overall one of my absolute favourite reads, I would recommend this to everyone!

"When Crickets Cry" gave me serious Everwood vibes (for those who remember the early 2000s TV series). I jumped at the chance to read it when it was available as an ARC on NetGalley. I hoped it would be the perfect summer read.

The first thing I want to point out about this book is: there is a storyline in there somewhere - I promise. But as several readers have noted, this book is packed with lists and detailed descriptions of objects, places, and activities—it sometimes feels like reading a manual. And there's a lot of it. I love fun facts and have nothing against reading non-fiction. In fact, I think this author could write engaging and informative books on various subjects. Unfortunately, this overshadowed the actual story in the book - a story that had so much to say.

I have little to criticize about the characters. Most of them came across as strong personalities, and their stories were engaging. With more narrative and less factual content, I think this could have been an outstanding novel. But as it stands today, I can only give it 3 stars. However, it has a lot of potential, and I believe it can find its right reader out there. I would without doubt recommend this book to other people. It just was not for me.

When I read a Charles Martin book, I know I'm in for an emotional story that will leave me thinking of the story and its meaning long after the last page. The scene is set from the first page for the collision of two worlds, leaving the questions of mortality and what happens to an individual reader's beliefs. The pacing is slower than most readers are used to. Martin builds his stories to make an impression. WHEN CRICKETS CRY will definitely leave an impression.