Title: The Lost Husband
Author: Katherine Center
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Release Date: August 1, 2013
"Dear Libby, It occurs to me that you and your two children have been living with your mother for -- Dear Lord! -- two whole years, and I'm writing to see if you'd like to be rescued."
The letter comes out of the blue, and just in time for Libby Moran, who, after the sudden death of her husband, Danny, went to stay with her hypercritical mother. Now her crazy Aunt Jean has offered Libby an escape, a job and a place to live on her farm in the Texas Hill Country. Before she can talk herself out of it, Libby is packing the minivan, grabbing the kids, and hitting the road.
The letter comes out of the blue, and just in time for Libby Moran, who, after the sudden death of her husband, Danny, went to stay with her hypercritical mother. Now her crazy Aunt Jean has offered Libby an escape, a job and a place to live on her farm in the Texas Hill Country. Before she can talk herself out of it, Libby is packing the minivan, grabbing the kids, and hitting the road.
Life on Aunt Jean's goat farm is both more wonderful and more mysterious than Libby could have imagined. Beyond the animals and the strenuous work, there is quiet, deep, country quiet. But there is also a shaggy, gruff (though purportedly handsome, under all that hair) farm manager with a tragic home life, a formerly famous feed-store clerk who claims she can contact Danny "on the other side," and the eccentric aunt Libby never really knew but who turns out to be exactly what she's been looking for. And despite everything she's lost, Libby soon realizes how much more she's found. Libby hasn't just traded one kind of crazy for another; she may actually have found the place to bring her little family, and herself, back to life.
“You can’t just wish strength for yourself. Or wisdom. Or resilience. Those things have to be earned.”
Another great novel by Katherine Center!
After reading 3 books by Katherine, I've come to appreciate her writing style. I'm a fan for life.
The heroine of this novel is Libby Moran. She's a widow and has two children, Abby and Theo. Her husband, Danny, passed away three years ago in a motor vehicle accident. Her daughter Abby was hurt during the same accident and she still walks with a limp. Libby still feels residual guilt about his passing. They had an argument the morning before the accident.
For the last year, Libby has been living with her mother. They don't get along and arguments are always present. Then a letter from her aunt arrives. In this letter, her aunt offers her a job at her goat farm and a place to live for her and her children. Libby doesn't think about it twice. She immediately packs their few belongings to start a new chapter in her life and the life of her children.
At the farms, things are different. She has to wake up early to milk the goats. She's dressing in overalls and makeup is a thing of the past. She has to learn to deal with the farm manager, who has a lot of facial hair. Her children are starting a new school and she worries about Abby and her limp. So many changes but at the end of the day, she's happy she made this choice.
The shaggy manager, James O'Connor stole my heart. He was so good to Libby's children. He was sweet and caring. I love all of their interactions.
“That’s not a farm manager,” I said. “That’s Chewbacca.”
The Lost Husband is quite inspirational. It's about family, loss, despair, love, and hope. It's also about moving forward and adapting to changes.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
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