One summer in Oakville, Tessa Murphy is estranged from her husband. It seems easier to play with fire when an old flame returns to town than reignite her marriage. But with Tessa’s aging parents about to lose the family farm due to what must certainly be a mix-up, she comes face to face with reality. What will she choose?
That same summer, Tessa’s daughter Lindsay, a recent college graduate, returns to Oakville and takes on the fight to save the family farm no matter what–or who–may stand in her way. Even if the ‘who’ is a very handsome young developer intent on sweeping her off her feet.
Lindsay’s teenage cousin Andy has been getting in trouble in the city since the death of his mother. His dad, unable to come up with a better idea, sends Andy to the grandparents’ farm for the summer, where Andy is dragged into Lindsay’s plans. Trouble follows Andy wherever he goes, but an attraction to the preacher’s daughter just might help pull Andy back to the straight and narrow.
Andy’s dad (Tessa’s brother), Art, hasn’t stepped foot on the farm since an accident took his twin back in high school. With Andy following in his wild uncle’s footsteps, Art must face the past and get help from the only place he can–home in Oakville. But then there’s Dana, the town clerk who once had eyes only for Art’s brother while Art had a crush on her. Is Art ready to let go of the past–all of it–and seek a future? In Oakville?
The lives and loves of four family members intertwine one summer in Oakville, Wisconsin. Each is the main character in one of four novellas in this collection, meaning that many of the events are the same, but shown from a different person’s point of view. Each was distinct and seemed true to character. The thread running through all four stories included the parents/grandparents and the fate of the farm. The four stories were written by Lisa Lickel and Shellie Neumeier, but I couldn’t tell you who wrote which one!
Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a hundred and sixty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction. Her novels include mystery and romance, all with a twist of grace. She has penned short stories and radio theater, is an avid book reviewer and reader, writing mentor, freelance editor, and blogger. She loves to encourage new authors and is the editor of Creative Wisconsin magazine.
Married for over 20 years, Shellie Neumeier and her husband have four wonderful kiddos and two goofy greyhounds. After receiving her undergraduate degree in Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin—Madison, she went on to acquire an early childhood education certificate. Shellie also served in youth, children’s, special needs and family ministries for over twenty-two years.
Now she enjoys teaching her teens how to drive and chauffeuring her preteens across the Wisconsin countryside. And once in a while, she loves to read big people books (you know, the kind without pictures).
I received this book via a giveaway last fall and just recently read it. Opinions, as always, are mine alone.
Shellie writes because it keeps her away from her husband’s power tools and because every now and then, she doesn’t have the choice, it just takes over. Her best inspiration comes from God and the occasional walk along a country road with her greyhounds.
