My Thoughts:
The Splendor of Ordinary Days, written by Jeff High, unfolds around you like a warm blanket on a chilly night. It just makes you feel. good. Cedar Cove, Gilmore Girls and Mitford fans will want to get their hands on this book as well as the rest of the series! I'll admit that I was originally charmed by the cover of the book but I was further enchanted by the vividly captured residents of small town Watervalley, Tennessee as well as the clever, heartfelt and entertaining dialogue. I'd love to step into the pages of this book and take up residence...
I have to confess something, though. (I'm only half-way though this book.) I don't want to rush through the story! I'm thoroughly enjoying every page and also deciding who I'll cast for each character. Yes, indeed. The Splendor of Ordinary Days should be, needs to be, created into a movie. Get your hands on this book and you'll see why. The book has mysteries to be solved, wounds that need to heal, love stories that must be told, and lives that long to be lived. The delightfully quirky characters: elderly Beatrice McClanahan who rides around on a mower, irritable Luther Whitmore who can't speak a kind word to save his life, Vietnam veteran Gene Alley who converses in song titles as well as multiple endearing town members will take hold and steal your heart. Take a peek at how I see a few of the characters in my mind. :)
Luke Bradford- main character, local doctor, very attractive, good hearted, righter of wrongs
Christine Chambers- Luke's girlfriend, teacher, classically gorgeous, intelligent, independent
Leyland Carter- The reason I first fell in love with this book. Older gentleman, lives alone, wise, good listener "It's always by a thousand cuts. A half truth, an unspoken word, an overlooked injustice; they float by us like falling leaves. We ignore them, become blind to them. But we don't forget them, and as the years pass, we lose sight of the splendor of ordinary days."
Luther Whitmore-"Villain", publisher of the town newspaper, fabulously developed antagonist (you'll love to hate him), enigmatic, long suffering? (this remains to be seen)
Rebecca and Levi- Young Mennonite couple inadvertently involved in "ghosts" from the past.
Karen Davidson- The new town vet, tomboyish, petite, shy, ex-military, animal lover, begins book by saving a man's life
I need to catch up on my reading, sweet friends! I hope you get a chance to read The Splendor of Ordinary Days as it's perfectly delightful! Taking a peek at Christine's diary entries from when she was a little girl will take you back to the days when you used to have a lock and key of your own and the banter of sisters Connie and Estelle will have you laughing out loud! Off I go! The second half of the story is calling my name and I must seize the moment. :)
(Thank you for writing this wonderful story, Jeff High, and for signing my copy!)
One grand prize winner will receive:
- Signed copies of all three Watervalley books
- A Kindle Fire HD 6
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 27th. The winner will be announced October 28th on Jeff’s blog.
About the book:
The Splendor of Ordinary Days (NAL, October 2015)
The pastoral charm of small-town Watervalley, Tennessee, can be deceptive, as young Dr. Luke Bradford discovers when he's caught in the fallout of a decades-old conflict.
After a rocky start as Watervalley's only doctor, Luke Bradford has decided to stay in town, honoring the three-year commitment he made to pay off his medical school debts. But even as his friendships with the quirky townsfolk deepen, and he pursues a romance with lovely schoolteacher Christine Chambers, several military veterans' emotional wounds trigger anger and unrest in Watervalley.
At the center of the clash is the curmudgeonly publisher of the local newspaper, Luther Whitmore. Luther grew up in Watervalley, but he returned from combat in Vietnam a changed man. He fenced in beautiful Moon Lake, posting "Keep Out" notices at the beloved spot, and provokes the townspeople with his incendiary newspaper.
As Luke struggles to understand Luther's past, and restore harmony in Watervalley, an unforeseen crisis shatters a relationship he values dearly. Suddenly Luke must answer life's toughest questions about service, courage, love, and sacrifice.
The Splendor of Ordinary Days (NAL, October 2015)
The pastoral charm of small-town Watervalley, Tennessee, can be deceptive, as young Dr. Luke Bradford discovers when he's caught in the fallout of a decades-old conflict.
After a rocky start as Watervalley's only doctor, Luke Bradford has decided to stay in town, honoring the three-year commitment he made to pay off his medical school debts. But even as his friendships with the quirky townsfolk deepen, and he pursues a romance with lovely schoolteacher Christine Chambers, several military veterans' emotional wounds trigger anger and unrest in Watervalley.
At the center of the clash is the curmudgeonly publisher of the local newspaper, Luther Whitmore. Luther grew up in Watervalley, but he returned from combat in Vietnam a changed man. He fenced in beautiful Moon Lake, posting "Keep Out" notices at the beloved spot, and provokes the townspeople with his incendiary newspaper.
As Luke struggles to understand Luther's past, and restore harmony in Watervalley, an unforeseen crisis shatters a relationship he values dearly. Suddenly Luke must answer life's toughest questions about service, courage, love, and sacrifice.
About the author:
After growing up on a farm in rural Tennessee, Jeff High attained degrees in literature and nursing. He is the three-time winner, in fiction and poetry, of an annual writing contest held by Vanderbilt Medical Center. He lived in Nashville for many years, and throughout the country as a travel nurse, before returning to his original hometown, near where he now works as an operating room RN in open-heart surgery. He is the author of the Watervalley novels, including More Things in Heaven and Earth and Each Shining Hour.Connect with Jeff: website, Twitter, Facebook
*I was given a copy of this wonderful book by Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.*
No comments:
Post a Comment