This book reminded me a little of A Man Called Ove and The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride. And yes, while it reminded me of those wonderful books, it is a great book on its own. I loved the way the story slowly evolved so that you learn about the behind the scenes aspects of the characters. Joshua Messer is actually receiving a second chance and as you flip through the pages, you will cry, laugh, and experience anger as you experience life through each of the characters.
The characters are well developed and you will develop strong feelings for many of them. As the story weaves through the pages, you will smell the bread baking, feel the angst of Joshua and Ana as they meet and begin to discover the other person’s hurts and loss, and discover what has brought them to this place. One of the best books I’ve read lately and I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read an advanced reader’s copy. The writing style was very different than the author’s typical lighthearted and witty cozy mysteries. But he did a fabulous job with this story and I hope he will continue to write this same type of book. It is definitely one to put on your to-read list. Thank you to the author, Rodney Strong, for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.