About
the book:
The pastoral charm of small-town Watervalley, Tennessee, can be deceptive, as
young Dr. Luke Bradford discovers when he's caught in the fallout of a
decades-old conflict.
After a rocky start as Watervalley's only doctor, Luke Bradford has decided to
stay in town, honoring the three-year commitment he made to pay off his medical
school debts. But even as his friendships with the quirky townsfolk deepen, and
he pursues a romance with lovely schoolteacher Christine Chambers, several
military veterans' emotional wounds trigger anger and unrest in Watervalley.
At the center of the clash is the curmudgeonly publisher of the local
newspaper, Luther Whitmore. Luther grew up in Watervalley, but he returned from
combat in Vietnam a changed man. He fenced in beautiful Moon Lake, posting
"Keep Out" notices at the beloved spot, and provokes the townspeople
with his incendiary newspaper.
As Luke struggles to understand Luther's past, and restore harmony in
Watervalley, an unforeseen crisis shatters a relationship he values dearly.
Suddenly Luke must answer life's toughest questions about service, courage,
love, and sacrifice.
My
Review:
Since I had not read any of the Novels
of Watervalley, I ordered the first, More
Things in Heaven and Earth, and second one, Each Shining Hour from the library and read them before I opened The Splendor of Ordinary Days. Jeff
High's writing is a dream to read. The emotion and explicit description are so
well done I felt like I was living in the small town. I found all three books
relaxing and enjoyable. Book three, laced with mystery and romance, can stand
alone, but I'd recommend reading all three; simply because they're good. I'm
hoping there's a fourth book soon. The only down side I can find is some of the
language; I'd rate the series PG-13. The stories are not overtly religious.
Instead they're a glimpse into the lives of Christian folk and a few skeptics
who are trying to live everyday lives in the midst of a small town, country
atmosphere. For me the stories are refreshing and reminiscent of my growing up
years.
About the author:
After growing up on a farm in rural Tennessee, Jeff
High attained degrees in literature and nursing. He is the three-time winner, in
fiction and poetry, of an annual writing contest held by Vanderbilt Medical
Center. He lived in Nashville for many years, and throughout the country as a
travel nurse, before returning to his original hometown, near where he now
works as an operating room RN in open-heart surgery. He is the author of the
Watervalley novels, including More Things in Heaven and Earth and Each
Shining Hour.
Connect with Jeff: website, Twitter, Facebook
I received The Splendor of Ordinary Days in exchange for a fair review.
The leaves, they are a-changing. As the green fades
and the reds, oranges, and golds hang like jewels from the branches, I once
again stand in awe of God's creation. On my drive to work, I take in the
amazing changes on the hills that surround us. While I'm excited to see the
season gradually fade into the next one, I'm not a huge fan of change in
general. I get a little nervous when plans are altered. I struggle a little
when I'm told I have one more new thing to learn for work. I need to adjust and
that rattles my confidence. When life throws a curveball what do I do? 
