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Children’s Corner — I’ll Love You Till The Cows Come Home

14 Dec

My husband and I had our almost 3 year old granddaughter for two weeks! She lives far away, and our interactions with her are limited to brief visits and FaceTime (thankful for that technology). So to have her stay with us was a huge treat, and a great way for us to cement our bond. We tried to recreate her regular nighttime routine which includes books — LOTS of books! LOL!. I found I’ll Love You Till The Cows Come Home by Kathryn Cristaldi at a local independent bookstore and immediately knew she would love it. It’s whimsical illustrations and fun rhyming narrative were perfect for the time just before bed. We both loved every bit of it, but I especially loved the ants with their little ant grins and crumbs on their little ant chins. 😉 We read it every night she stayed with us. She took it home with her — excited to share it with mommy and daddy. This book makes a wonderful addition to your home library.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: toddlers and preschoolers.

(I purchased this book from a local bookseller. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

This book extends the saying “I’ll love you till the cows come home” to the humorous extreme. Along the way there are yaks in Cadillacs, sheep setting sail, frogs on big-wheeled bikes, and more, in this great read-aloud.

I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home is filled with warm, funny art and rhythmic, romping text, perfect for curling up with your little one at the end of the day…or anytime you want to express your love.

I will love you till the cows come home from a trip to Mars through skies unknown, in a rocket ship made of glass and stone… I will love you till the cows come home.

Kathryn Cristaldi is a former children’s book editor. She is the author of Baseball Ballerina, Samantha the Snob, Even Steven and Odd Todd, and I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and daughter. Though there are no cows in her neighborhood, Kathryn has dressed up her dog in a cow costume on more than one occasion.

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Mini-Review: Dead Fall

8 Dec

Nancy Mehl always delivers a shivery good read! Dead Fall, the second book in her Quantico Files series, steps it up a notch! The creep-factor is strong with this romantic suspense. The FBI’s BAU is back to uncover what is behind some truly bizarre suicides. Or is is murder? Kaley Quinn, the main character from the first book in the series, shows up, but the novel centers on Alex Donovan who looks up to Kaely as a mentor. The strange technique that Kaley employs intrigues Alex, but it opens up a lot of spiritual issues that Mehl does a good job exploring. The crimes are chilling, especially since they seem very much in the realm of possibility. This book gave me a lot to think about! While the suspense narrative is the main emphasis of the novel, there is a romantic thread. I like when the romance is second to the suspense — this book does it right. 😉 If you are looking for a thrilling novel to keep you up all night, then this one is for you.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults

(Thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary copy. All opinions are mine alone.)

He has a deadly endgame in mind–and he’s already chosen each victim . . . including her.

After putting to rest the most personal case of her career, Alex Donovan is ready to move on and focus on her future at the FBI’s elite Behavioral Analysis Unit. When the BAU cofounder is discovered dead in his hotel room, the FBI is called in to work on the strangest case they’ve ever faced. How do you find a killer who murders his victims from a distance?

When it becomes clear that the killer is targeting agents in Alex’s unit, they are ordered into lockdown, sheltered in the dorms at Quantico. Alex bunks with controversial agent Kaely Quinn, and as they work together, Alex discovers in Kaely the role model she’s never had–despite being warned away. 

As Alex questions the type of agent she wants to become, things get personal when the brilliant killer strikes close to home. Now Alex will do anything to find the killer–even at the risk of her own life.

Nancy Mehl lives in Missouri, with her husband Norman, and her very active puggle, Watson. She’s authored thirty books and is currently at work on a new FBI suspense series for Bethany House Publishing. 

All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “It’s a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.” 

You can find out more about Nancy by visiting her Web site at: http://www.nancymehl.com. She also is active on the Suspense Sisters: http://www.suspensesisters.blogspot.com and on FaceBook!

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Mini-Review — Driving Force

7 Dec

Driving Force is a collaborative effort by Kate Angelo, the primary author of the novel, and Lynette Eason, the creator of the original Elite Guardians series. The result is a great book by a new-to-me author combined with a favorite series. I loved the fresh voice Angelo brings to the novel. A fast-paced romantic suspense, it kept this reader on her toes trying to decide just whodunit. There seems to be danger around every turn as the characters try to deny the chemistry between them — a perfect combo for lovers of this genre. I especially loved that the the female lead is a highly trained bodyguard and the male lead is a determined and accomplished disabled veteran. The military working dog/service dog is a big plus for animal lovers. The novel immediately grabbed me and kept me engaged until the last page was turned. Do you love great romantic suspense? Then this one is for you. Recommended.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

He’s the last client she wants to protect…

Elite Guardians bodyguard/former sniper CHRISTINA SHERMAN has protected uncooperative clients before—but this time, well her client is bossy, headstrong and occasionally eats off the floor. Yes, he’s a highly trained military working dog, but certainly her skills could be put to better use, right?

Not according to former Special Forces Air Commando GREY PARKER. He needs her help to protect his dog while he undergoes an experimental surgery that could restore his ability to walk. He just needs someone to keep his canine partner safe. Most of all, Grey wants back on his feet so he can track down a deranged scientist known as The Scavenger who unleashed a nerve agent that left Grey sidelined in a wheelchair.

When an attempt is made on Grey’s life, and dead bodies begin piling up—with evidence the same toxin is responsible—suddenly Christina is tasked with keeping both dog and soldier alive…and with them, the secrets that could stop a terrorist attack.

But this time, even Christina might be in over her head.

Kate Angelo is an author, minister, and public speaker from Southwest Missouri who works alongside her husband strengthening and encouraging marriages and families through their ministry. As the mother of five mostly grown children, she is fluent in both sarcasm and eye rolls—subjects she never intentionally taught while homeschooling. With her chihuahua taking up half of her desk space, she writes suspenseful stories of imperfect people who encounter hope and healing through Jesus. Kate is a tech enthusiast, coffee lover, productivity guru, accomplished knitter, avid boater, prayer warrior, and known klutz. 

Visit her at https://kateangelo.com.

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Book Review: The Blackout Book Club

5 Dec

I really loved the WWII home front setting of The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green. The small town feel with the community coming together to do their part was a great backdrop for the stories of the four main characters. If you like WWII-era novels, give this one a look.

In 1942, an impulsive promise to her brother before he goes off to the European front puts Avis Montgomery in the unlikely position of head librarian in small-town Maine. Though she has never been much of a reader, when wartime needs threaten to close the library, she invents a book club to keep its doors open. The women she convinces to attend the first meeting couldn’t be more different–a wealthy spinster determined to aid the war effort, an exhausted mother looking for a fresh start, and a determined young war worker.

At first, the struggles of the home front are all the club members have in common, but over time, the books they choose become more than an escape from the hardships of life and the fear of the U-boat battles that rage just past their shores. As the women face personal challenges and band together in the face of danger, they find they have more in common than they think. But when their growing friendships are tested by secrets of the past and present, they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost.

Amy Lynn Green is a lifelong lover of books, history, and library cards. She worked in publishing for six years before writing her first historical fiction novel. She and her husband live in Minnesota, where she teaches virtual classes on marketing at writer’s conferences, engages with book clubs, and regularly encourages established and aspiring authors in their publication journeys. Connect with her on Facebook or Instagram (@amygreenbooks), or sign up for her newsletter at amygreenbooks.com to get quarterly emails filled with bookish fun.

My Impressions:

I really enjoyed The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green. How could I resist a book with a library setting and a book club element?! This WWII-era novel focuses on the home front as America enters the war. The historical details bolstered the fictional narrative bringing the time and place of small town Maine to life. The community is busy sending their men to war, while ramping up needed manufacturing, and installing military operations. It’s a time of uncertainty. The POVs of the four main characters explore the era and provide a unique perspective. But this book is more than a look at what was happening in the US during its early involvement in WWII; the four women could have lived in any era. Their struggles are universal and resonated with this reader. Bringing the four very different personalities together through a book club pleased my book-loving heart. And the fact that the books they read helped the characters to grow was a huge bonus! The book club minutes are a hoot too! (For those of you fellow book nerds, the book provides a reading list at the end 🙂 .) The characters face past regrets and present fears. I loved how the main characters, and the community as a whole, come together to lift up, encourage, and support each other — truly heartwarming and a good lesson for modern-day readers.

The Blackout Book Club is the perfect choice for your book club as well — lots of great discussion starters. I highly recommend this one!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: Honor’s Refuge

2 Dec

Honor’s Refuge (book 3, Love And Honor series) by Hallee Bridgeman is the first book I’ve read from this new-to-me author. But it won’t be the last. In fact, my book club is reading Honor Bound, book 1, in January 2023. I found this romantic suspense to be real. It is gritty, not shying away from exposing the ugliness of this world. But it is also a book of hope. I highly recommend it!

When she was just five years old, Melissa Braxton watched her father take her mother’s life. Separated from her sister, Lola, at that time, Melissa grew up with a strong desire to help those stuck in abusive relationships. It’s why she became a family therapist and opened a domestic abuse shelter.

After losing a leg to a gunshot wound in the line of duty, Phil Osbourne has felt like a man without a purpose–until he hears Melissa’s story and decides to use his Special Forces contacts to track down her missing sister. He knows what he discovers will break Melissa’s heart. What he doesn’t realize is that helping the women reunite will bring the cartel down on them like the Category 5 hurricane striking Miami.

Bruised yet not quite broken, Melissa and Phil battle the storm and the cartel, calling on strength they didn’t know they had to escape death, save the innocent, and–just maybe–find healing in each other’s arms.

Hallee Bridgeman is the award winning and USA TODAY bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee settled with her husband in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she’s not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide her.

Get a free ebook when you sign up for Hallee’s newsletter: http://www.halleebridgeman.com/newsletter.

My Impressions:

I found Honor’s Refuge by Hallee Bridgeman to be an intensely powerful novel which was not afraid to portray the ugliness of the world while showing the promises of hope-filled futures. Main characters Melissa and Phil have wounds that would break many. Melissa is a survivor of extreme family abuse and Phil continues to face the challenges of his injuries during wartime. The author did a great job of developing their characters — they felt real and relatable to me. They could have easily become stereotypes, but the author added vulnerability to their strengths, courage in their challenges, and a faith that continued throughout the darkest times. With a romance that progressed naturally, the suspense builds to a breaking point. A cartel leader bent on revenge, a Cat-5 hurricane bearing down, and compromised federal agents couldn’t help but contribute to the page-turning, octane-laced action. I let out a few gasps along the way — there were a lot of things I didn’t see coming. This was such a good story!

While Honor’s Refuge is the third book in Bridgeman’s Love And Honor series, I never felt lost. But . . . I do have plans to go back and read the first two books. Book 1, Honor Bound, is my book club’s first selection of 2023. Can’t wait to dive into another great book by a new must-read author.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Audiobook Mini-Review: A Stranger’s Game

28 Nov

My book club chose A Stranger’s Game by Colleen Coble as our selection this month. I have to be honest and say this romantic suspense was just okay. I did like main characters Torie and Joe (and Joe’s daughter was a delight), and they made a good couple as they sought to discover the source of a number of threats. I guess the author believed that stalkers, attacks, and a couple of murders, etc. — all seemingly unconnected — would prove hard for them and the reader to discover just whodunit. I figured out a couple early into the novel. I wanted to shout “check out so-and-so”! 😉 The Jekyll Island setting was wonderful as it is one of my favorite places to visit. It was easy to visualize all the places the characters went, since I’ve been there too. While the suspense was too easy to solve (in my opinion), the romance was good. I genuinely liked Torie and Joe, and liked how they overcame obstacles and doubts to choose a future together. Specific to the audiobook: I think the narrator did a good job with accents, pacing, and expression.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Wealthy hotel heiress Torie Bergstrom comes to Jekyll Island certain her friend Lisbeth’s death wasn’t an accident—but Torie gets more than she bargained for when the killer begins to play mind games with her in this gripping new novel from USA TODAY bestselling author Colleen Coble.

Even though Torie Bergstrom hasn’t been back to Georgia since she was ten, she was happy to arrange a job for her best friend at one of the family properties on Jekyll Island. But when Torie learns that Lisbeth has drowned, she knows it is more than a tragic accident: Lisbeth was terrified of water and wouldn’t have gone swimming by choice.

Torie goes to the hotel under an alias, desperate to find answers. When she meets Joe Abbott and his daughter while they are rescuing baby sea turtles, she can only hope they are as trustworthy as they seem. And when someone begins to play mind games with her, proving they know her real identity, Torie couldn’t be more grateful to have an ally.

The more Torie and Joe dig, the more elusive the truth seems. But one thing is clear: someone will risk anything—even another murder—to keep their secrets buried.

Best-selling author Colleen Coble‘s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 4 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. Visit her website at http://colleencoble.com.

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Book Review: The Paris Betrayal

23 Nov

I love a good spy novel! I read them exclusively when I was in high school. So when I found a Christian fiction author who writes so well in the genre, I was sold. The Paris Betrayal by James R. Hannibal is on its face a political thriller with the balance of world power at stake. The twist is that it is inspired by the book of Job. That takes it to a whole new level. I used it in my Faith And Fiction Bible Study — we loved the inventiveness of this retelling. Recommended.

After a rough mission in Rome involving the discovery of a devastating bioweapon, Company spy Ben Calix returns to Paris to find his perfectly ordered world has collapsed. A sniper attack. An ambush. A call for help that brings French SWAT forces down on his head. Ben is out. This is a severance–reserved for incompetents and traitors.

Searching for answers and anticipating a coming attack, Ben and a woman swept up in his misfortunes must travel across Europe to find the sniper who tried to kill him, the medic who saved his life, the schoolmaster who trained him, and an upstart hacker from his former team. More than that, Ben must come to grips with his own insignificance as the Company’s plan to stop Leviathan from unleashing the bioweapon at any cost moves forward without him–and he struggles against the infection that is swiftly claiming territory within his own body.

Former stealth pilot James R. Hannibal is no stranger to secrets and adventure. He has been shot at, locked up with surface to air missiles, and chased down a winding German road by an armed terrorist. He is a two-time Silver Falchion award-winner for his Section 13 mysteries, a Thriller Award nominee for his Nick Baron covert ops series, and a Selah Award finalist for his Clandestine Service series. James is a rare multi-sense synesthete, meaning all of his senses intersect. He sees and feels sounds and smells and hears flashes of light. If he tells you the chocolate cake you offered smells blue and sticky, take it as a compliment.

My Impressions:

Ben Calix is at the top of the game as a spy with the Company, a US spy agency that is super secret. Until he’s not. After a botched mission, Ben is cut off and has no idea why. With super-villains tracking him, his own teammates abandoning him, and the Director who he reveres keeping silent, Calix makes it his new mission to save the world and prove his innocence. The Paris Betrayal is pure adrenaline-laced action that will appeal to those who love a good spy novel. This reader soon became deeply engaged with Ben’s plight, hoping against hope that his spy-craft would keep him alive as he sought to redeem himself. Action-packed, on the surface this novel is a rousing good read. But if you look a little deeper you will see parallels to the Book of Job. I actually discovered the connection after about 30 pages — I snuck a peek at the back of the book. The Author’s Note details the inspiration for the the character and the story line. I found it very inventive, as well as a great what-if of Job’s life in the modern-day world. I also included it as a the book club portion of my Faith and Fiction Bible study. My group had fun discussing the book in light of what we had studied the previous weeks. The book has few references to faith, but its Christian worldview shines through. I very much enjoyed the wild ride I took with Calix. I would love another book starring Ben, Clara, and the intrepid Otto (the cutest dog in fiction this year 🙂 .

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Revell and LibraryThing for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Book Review: Targeted

16 Nov

Not one, not two, but three of my favorite romantic suspense authors are represented in Targeted. Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters present novellas featuring minor characters from one of their books. All three stories are full of all the good stuff you love from these authors — chase scenes, danger around every corner, and of course some serious romantic sparks. Targeted is perfect for holiday reading when you want a fun book, but may not have all the time or energy to devote to a full length novel. I loved it!

Get ready for triple the excitement, intrigue, and romance with three heart-stopping stories from your favorite romantic suspense authors! 

In On the Run, Lynette Eason introduces you to IT Specialist Daria Nevsky, a highly skilled FBI agent with the ability to hack any computer. She must go on the run to find out who wants her dead–and Dr. Ryker Donahue refuses to let her do it alone.

In Deadly Objective, Lynn H. Blackburn throws physical therapist Emily Dixon and Secret Service Agent Liam Harper into an impossible situation. They don’t know why the vice president’s son seems to be in the crosshairs of a killer, but they’ll sacrifice anything to keep him safe.

In Caught in the Crosshairs, Natalie Walters pits former Army PSYOPS officer Ari Blackman against his colleague, CIA officer Claudia Gallegos, when Claudia is implicated in the murder of a Saudi prince. Can he prevent a coup that would put America at risk?

Award-winning, best-selling author, Lynette Eason writes for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line and for Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Her books have hit the Publisher’s Weekly, CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won numerous awards such as the prestigious Carol Award, the Selah, the Daphne, the IRCC award and more. Lynette is married, has two children, and lives in Greenville, SC.

Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she’s a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she’s sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas! 

She is a frequent conference speaker and has taught writers all over the country. Lynn lives in South Carolina with her true love and their three children. You can follow her real life happily ever after by signing up for her newsletter at LynnHBlackburn.com and @LynnHBlackburn on Bookbub, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

From Natalie Walters via Amazon:

My world revolves around GIJOE and our three adult (or almost adult) children who keep my life anything but predictable. Our boots hit the ground wherever the Army sends us but home is when we’re all together no matter the zipcode. My passion is writing stories where adventure meets love and share my belief that life rooted in purpose is a story worth telling.

My Impressions:

Targeted is a novella collection from 3 of my favorite romantic suspense authors. It was fun revisiting some of their series through the stories of secondary characters now transformed as mains. I have read all the books that these characters played a role in, but knowledge of their history isn’t a must. In fact, the stories would be a great introduction to those authors you may not have read before. All 3 novellas are quick reads full of octane-laden action, but each has a unique storyline that will keep you turning the pages. As in most novellas the plot is quick to build and fast on resolution. Characters may not have been as developed as in full length novels, but I found each of them appealing in their own ways. And if you are a fan of romance, then you will love this collection. There is definite sizzle between the couples! Faith is an important element as well — natural, yet not preachy.

At this busy time of the year, I appreciate being able to escape into a book, yet not be so committed that I neglect holiday chores that really do need to be accomplished. You can read each in a 2-3 day span. Or if you are a binger, 1 a day is definitely doable. 😉

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Mini-Review — The Gown

14 Nov

I was in England during the week of mourning for Queen Elizabeth. It was a unique experience to see the throngs of people who came out to honor their monarch. There were everyday people from everywhere — she certainly touched a lot of lives. My book club chose The Gown by Jennifer Robson, which didn’t feature the then Princess Elizabeth as a main character, but rather all of the fanfare surrounding her wedding and in particular the making of her gown. The book is told in two timelines with fictional main characters that were true reflections of the era — two women finding a way in the world after the devastation of WWII. The novel brought the time and place to life with rich historical detail. I would call The Gown women’s fiction because of its emphasis on women’s changing roles in a new world, while fighting against obstacles and prejudices from the past. Both characters face struggles, some heart-breaking, with determination and an eye to a hope-filled future. The modern day thread is a smaller part of the book, yet I found it be a wonderful way to bring all the storylines to a satisfying conclusion. (Special note, including a spoiler: for regular readers of my blog, this is a general market offering. There is a scene that features some sexual abuse some may find triggering.)

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I purchased this book for my Kindle. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

London, 1947: Besieged by the harshest winter in living memory, burdened by onerous shortages and rationing, the people of postwar Britain are enduring lives of quiet desperation despite their nation’s recent victory. Among them are Ann Hughes and Miriam Dassin, embroiderers at the famed Mayfair fashion house of Norman Hartnell. Together they forge an unlikely friendship, but their nascent hopes for a brighter future are tested when they are chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime honor: taking part in the creation of Princess Elizabeth’s wedding gown.

Toronto, 2016: More than half a century later, Heather Mackenzie seeks to unravel the mystery of a set of embroidered flowers, a legacy from her late grandmother. How did her beloved Nan, a woman who never spoke of her old life in Britain, come to possess the priceless embroideries that so closely resemble the motifs on the stunning gown worn by Queen Elizabeth II at her wedding almost seventy years before? And what was her Nan’s connection to the celebrated textile artist and holocaust survivor Miriam Dassin?  

With The Gown, Jennifer Robson takes us inside the workrooms where one of the most famous wedding gowns in history was created. Balancing behind-the-scenes details with a sweeping portrait of a society left reeling by the calamitous costs of victory, she introduces readers to three unforgettable heroines, their points of view alternating and intersecting throughout its pages, whose lives are woven together by the pain of survival, the bonds of friendship, and the redemptive power of love.

From Jennifer Robson (via Amazon):

An academic by background, a former editor by profession, and a lifelong history geek, I am lucky enough to now call myself a full-time writer. I’m the author of three novels set during and after the First World War: Somewhere in France, After the War is Over, and Moonlight Over Paris, and a contributor to the forthcoming anthology Fall of Poppies…Stories of Love and the Great War.

I first learned about the Great War from my father, acclaimed historian Stuart Robson, and later served as an official guide at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial at Vimy Ridge, France. I studied French literature and modern history as an undergraduate at King’s College at the University of Western Ontario, then attended Saint Antony’s College at the University of Oxford, where I obtained my doctorate in British economic and social history. While at Oxford I was a Commonwealth Scholar and SSHRC Doctoral Fellow.

For a number of years I worked as an editor but am now fortunate enough to consider myself a full-time writer. I am represented by Kevan Lyon of the Marsal Lyon Agency.

I live in Toronto, Canada, with my husband and young children, and share my home office with Ellie the sheepdog and Sam the cat.

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Book Review: Where The Blue Sky Begins

10 Nov

Where The Blue Sky Begins is the first book I’ve read by Katie Powner, but it will not be the last! Probably the best book I have read all year, this general fiction novel touched my heart in so many ways. And I laughed and cried and laughed again. It is wonderful. Read. It!

Sometimes the hardest road of all is the road home.

When confident and handsome Eric Larson is sent to a rural Montana town to work in the local branch of his uncle’s financial company, he’s determined to exceed everyone’s expectations, earn a promotion, and be back in Seattle by the end of summer. Yet nothing could prepare him for the lessons this small town has in store.

At forty-six years old, eccentric and outspoken Eunice Parker has come to accept her terminal illness and has given herself one final goal: seek forgiveness from everyone on her bucket list before her time runs out. But it will take more courage than she can muster on her own.

After an accident pushes Eric and Eunice together, the unlikely pair is forced to spend more time with each other than either would like, which challenges their deepest prejudices and beliefs. As summer draws to a close, neither Eric nor Eunice is where they thought they would be, but they both wrestle with the same important question: What matters most when the end is near?

Katie Powner is an award-winning author who lives in Montana, where cows still outnumber people. She writes contemporary fiction about redemption, relationships, and finding the dirt road home. Katie is a mom to the third power (biological, adoptive, and foster) who believes every child deserves a loving family. Visit http://www.katiepowner.com.

My Impressions:

Oh. My. Goodness! There are so many words to express just how good Where The Blue Sky Begins by Katie Powner is. But of course, this is one review where I will struggle to get them all out. Here are a few — beautifully written and plotted, quirky characters you will love, a setting that feels like home, and a message that resonated deep in my heart. This general fiction offering is probably the best book I have read all year!

Eric Larson is sent by his uncle to a small Montana town to work in his company’s local financial services business. Eric, bless his heart, believes he has it all to make the office successful and to win his position on the 10th floor of the corporate headquarters. Eunice ( pronounced You-Niece and that’s important) is the next door neighbor who blackmails him into driving her to make peace with those she believes she has wronged. Eric believes he is doing the eccentric woman a favor, but Eunice is who helps shape him into the man he becomes by the book’s end. Along the way there’s a crazy chicken, some wise home health nurses, an octogenarian receptionist, some clients in need of financial help, and a thrift store owner that impart important lessons to both Eric and Eunice. This book made me laugh and laugh and then cry and then laugh again. Powner creates a wonderful balance between life’s joys, absurdities, and grief. It is wise and deeply moving. And I regretted turning the last page.

Where The Blue Sky Begins will be on my best of 2022 list, and will be on yours as well as soon as you read it. 😉 What are you waiting for?

Very Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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