About the book:
Rediscover the power of story to open the doors of our hearts
Betty Sweet never expected to be a widow at forty. With so much life still in front of her, she tries to figure out what's next, never imagining what God had in mind.
When her estranged sister returns to town, Betty finds herself taking on the care of a five-year-old nephew she never knew she had. In 1960s small-town Michigan, they make an odd pair. Betty with her pink button nose and bouffant hair. Hugo with his light brown skin and large brown eyes. But more powerful than what makes them different is what they share: the heartache of an empty space in their lives. Slowly, they will learn to trust one another as they discover common ground and healing through the magic of storytelling.
My review:
This was a bittersweet story as Betty is grieving her husband, yet discovering a nephew she never knew she had and the joy he brings to her life. We discover more of her life through her memories scattered throughout the story; she had a hard childhood but filled with good memories, too, and had married a wonderful man. Betty was such a sweet woman, taking care of her sister in her childhood and when she comes back to her. They had a hard time of it, with a mother who had some issues, and being poor besides. It seems that her sister might have some of the same problems as their mother and I can't imagine how hard that would be to deal with, for everyone involved. I loved how Betty wanted to give her nephew a happier life and a real childhood, instead of being worried and uptight. It was sweet how she made up stories that tried to teach him life lessons while being fun and imaginative. She also had a strong faith and would pray throughout the story, as well as go to church. There was also a great discussion with her father-in-law about not worrying and trusting God. He was quite a the character and very funny. They were such a wonderful family; her sister-in-law and brothers-in-law were so caring and watched out for her. It was interesting how her eyes started to open to events happening in the country and around the world, including the civil rights movement. This was a story about everyday people trying to make their world a better place. I would recommend it if you like touching stories that are filled with hope.
I received this book free from Revell. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
The Author
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Bree Rose Photos Susie Finkbeiner
Susie Finkbeiner is the CBA bestselling author of All Manner of Things, which was selected as a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, as well as A Cup of Dust, A Trail of Crumbs, and A Song of Home. She serves on the Fiction Readers Summit...
Continue reading about Susie Finkbeiner
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