MY REVIEW:
I thoroughly enjoyed The Road to Happenstance, the story of a town by the same name that somehow feels like it is in an alternate universe. It is a town with delightfully quirky inhabitants who manage to bring much needed healing to the soul of widower Matthew Sadler who feels beat up by his own world.
I loved how easily Matthew became involved in the lives of the elderly Barlow sisters who quickly pull him into various projects around town. He soon learns that when he helps others his own troubles seem to disappear. Life in Happenstance is not without its problems though. Matthew finds himself drawn to a woman who reminds him strongly of his late wife but the more he is around her the more something just seems to be off about her. The plot is filled with wonderful characters, some of whom are a tad shady, a bit of mystery and deception, but most of all an enchanting and whimsical tale with a strong message of hope.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
One man running from his past, two women he’s attracted to, and a peculiar town that won’t let him go. Matthew Sadler rides his ’77 Harley into Happenstance, intent on passing through, but people and events conspire to prevent his leaving. The elderly Barlow sisters consider Matt their knight on a motorcycle. Matt is entranced by Roni, the other lodger at the Happenstance Hotel, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Matt’s beloved, deceased wife. The young doctor in town, Paula Percy, adores Matt’s motorcycle. However, she is suspicious of the woman from the hotel.As the days pass, the quaint little town, with its unique residents, begins to show its sinister side. When evidence of multiple thefts leads to Matt’s door, he must deal with a mystery and yet more false accusations. Do the old diaries of Amanda Rutherford Barlow hold the answers Matt so desperately seeks? Will Happenstance finally let him go, or does he have a reason to stay?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Janice L. Dick has been writing since 1989. Her first two historical novels, Calm Before the Storm and Eye of the Storm, won first place in the historical fiction category of The Word Guild’s Canadian Writing Awards. The third novel in the series, Out of the Storm, was short-listed for the same award. These three novels, currently out of print, will be re-released under her own imprint, Tansy & Thistle Press, in the near future.
Besides historical fiction, Janice also writes long and short contemporary fiction, book reviews, blogs and non-fiction articles.
Janice is the first winner of the Janette Oke Award, presented by InScribe Christian Writer’s Fellowship in 2016.
Janice writes from her farm home on the Saskatchewan prairies of Canada. She and her husband love farm life and enjoy their family of three married children and their spouses, and eleven grandchildren.
See more about Janice and her writing on her website at http://www.janicedick.com.
