MY REVIEW:
For lovers of small-town fiction, “The Splendor of Ordinary Days” is not to be missed. Even the title has that perfect, poetic, lazy summer day feel to it. With distinctive characters who run the gamut from the young doctor/hero to the DJ who speaks in song titles, to the old lady who”loves Jesus but drinks a bit because it keeps her regular”, and too many others to name, this story held my attention from the opening page until its very end.
It is a charming tale that has a sweet romance, a bit of mystery, and a touch of a ghost story plus just the right amount of humor, drama and action. As Dr. Luke interacts with his patients and the townspeople, he finds himself in the unique position to not only learn some old secrets but to help reconcile some long damaged relationships. The author sensitively relates the very real problems experienced by men and women returning from war. I gained a new understanding of their struggles.
Not promoted as Christian fiction, “The Splendor of Ordinary Days” does contain a word or two that might offend some readers and it is honest about the struggles of an engaged couple to remain chaste until marriage. I personally found the beautiful story of reconciliation, frequent eloquent quotations filled with wisdom, and the absolutely magical prose to far overshadow any of those insignificant issues.
I would recommend this book and will probably try to read the previous books from this series if I can find the time. Very good!
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
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.
Learn more and purchase a copy.
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.”
Find out more about Jeff at http://www.watervalleybooks.com/.
