Books

There's something about this book that makes me resolve to move to Camel-by-the-Sea, cook and bake, have an enormous flower garden, and spend the rest of my days painting huge swathes of light on the beach. That aside, this is one book I’ll have to read again. It’s going on the shelf. I rarely blubber over a book anymore. I used to do it when I was younger, but I toughened up as I have aged. Even when a book evokes strong feelings, I don’t really cry. Well, Reine put an end to that today. I cried like I was 15 again, felt foolish doing it, but felt clean and warmhearted afterward. She also made me laugh, but the crying part - wow. The characters are just so real. I don't know how to describe it. Just go read it.

“Grief and joy can coexist”. This is the lesson Peyton Chase learns in the second book of the Pioneer Ranch Saga, “First Sons and Last Daughters”. The story continues 20 years later with Peyton Chase now married and mother to 2 adult children. Family dynamics, sibling rivalry, struggles, despair, hope, love, loss, and grief all play a role in building an immersive experience for the reader. In telling the story, the author again writes vivid, detailed descriptions of people, places, and situations. Characters are complex, relatable, and intriguing so the reader can develop an emotional connection. The setting is also an important aspect of the story and scenes are beautifully descriptive. The writing is so uniquely expressed that it is easy to imagine what it’s like to be with the character or experience what they are experiencing. This is a powerful story; thought- provoking, inspiring, suspenseful, and entertaining. The book is a page-turner and even though I was constantly tempted to continue reading to find out what happened next, I intentionally stretched it out to savor it. Now I find myself thinking about the characters and looking forward to the final book in the series.