REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"I just wanted to say hey and let you know if you ever need anything, like sugar, I probably won't have it."
Stepping out of rehab and into her beloved grandmother's home on Sullivan's Island should have seemed like a fresh start, but Juniper Wilder's new beginning is missing a key ingredient, her three year old daughter. Fern was currently in her brother's custody and Junie was determined to remain sober, working her way back to motherhood. If anyone thought it would be easy, they were lying.
Where to start, when there was so much time was on her hands, that was the question. Junie slowly begins to rely on those who have her best interests in mind (avoiding those who don't), including her reclusive next door neighbor Henry, whose constant porch-side clicks on his computer keyboard were both soothing and annoying. Her days were long, her grief was deep; the past continually reared its ugly head more often than not, causing Junie to wonder if she would ever move past "south of somewhere".
This emotion filled story is both heartening and heart breaking, observing the courage that it takes for someone experiencing such deep loss amidst struggling to fill that emptiness with healthy alternatives, is a journey that no one would choose to take. Pray fervently that we would be willing to come alongside the Junies of this world, if and when God places them along our path.
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.
BackCover Blurb:
When Juniper Wilder's grief spiraled into addiction, leading first to an arrest for drunk driving, then jail and court-ordered rehab, she lost the most important thing in her life: her baby girl. Now, sober and on probation, Junie is determined to prove she can be the mother Fern deserves. But she's burned a lot of bridges, ones that can't be easily rebuilt.
Not every road is closed to her, however. Exiled to her late grandmother's South Carolina beach house, Junie starts over, ready to pay off her debts and prove to her brother that he can safely return custody of Fern. She works hard and finds surprising grace in an eclectic recovery community. There's an unexpected friendship, too—and maybe more—with her neighbor, Henry, a quirky college professor who helps her believe in second chances.
Still, it's hard for Junie to imagine ever forgiving herself, let alone receiving forgiveness from those she's hurt . . . particularly when her past rears its ugly head and threatens to undo every bit of progress she's made.
-Contemporary Southern fiction for fans of Lauren K. Denton, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Mary Kay Andrews, and Victoria Benton Frank
-An inspiring and hopeful summer read featuring a sweet, opposites attract romance
-Contains inspirational themes of recovery from addiction, second chances, unexpected love, redemption, and found family
-Includes discussion questions for book clubs, recipes, and a playlist inspired by Junie's story
I'm looking forward to this one. Now decide between audio and reading it . . . it's win-win :)
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