The latest review is in for the second installment in the series about my mother Velma's extraordinary life: The Road to Resilience.
Read the glowing review from Midwest Book Review below:
Synopsis: An inherently interesting novel that is based on the life of author G. L. Gooding's mother, Velma Steele, "The Road to Resilience" is the sequel to, and continues the saga that was introduced in author Garry Gooding's first novel, "Where Courage Began" -- where readers first met five-year-old Velma, her young siblings, and her suddenly widowed mother Alice. Now, with the publication of "The Road to Resilience" we find that it is Christmas Day 1924 and young Velma is still breathless from the dramatic events of the previous night. She remembers with joy participating along with many of her community in rallying around an isolated family in a moment of great need.
As years pass, Velma continues working hard at school and putting in endless hours helping her widowed mother and older sister. Together they support the family during the economic hardships in rural America that foreshadowed the Great Depression of the 1930's. Uprooted yet again by this national tragedy, the family's indomitable spirit and endless spunk help sustain them. Along the way, Velma begins to envision a brighter future in spite of continuing hardship. Then, as a young woman, Velma meets handsome Jack Gooding and in the briefest of time, realizes she has found her one true love. Now equipped with hard earned life skills, she feels confident in facing the vagaries of life with Jack at her side. Together they begin pursuit of shared dreams amid a turbulent world. All too soon, however, her resilience and courage must endure the greatest challenge yet. A lasting fictional tribute to life in Dallas County, Iowa, "The Road to Resilience" continues a heartwarming literary series that mirrors the struggles of a generation, shining a special light on the Midwestern love for God, the land, hard work, family, and friendship.
Critique: Exceptionally well written by an author with a genuine and memorable flair for the kind of 'feel good' narrative fiction that wins literary prizes, "The Road to Resilience" is a fully entertaining, engaging, and memorable novel that is highly recommended, especially for community library Historical & Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Road to Resilience" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Thanks, Midwest Book Review!