Vacation by JC Miller - Review and Giveaway

This review is in conjunction with a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $5 Amazon GC to three randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Dr. William Koval, a pragmatist with little faith in humanity, prefers to dwell in the eerily comforting microscopic realm, where he is master of his domain. But his worldview is upended when he decides to go on the English walking tour his wife had been planning before her murder three years earlier. Only when William confronts his past, including his troubled marriage, will he find a way to rejoin the living, to move forward, and perhaps love again. The real journey, he discovers, lies within.

My Review:

I enjoyed this book so very much! The author does a remarkable job at pacing the story... especially the backstory of William and Kathleen. Little by little the Ms Miller shares enough for the reader to realize it was not only Kathleen's death William has shut away while he wrapped himself in his work.

The characters that William meet on the walking tour are wonderfully drawn and I would love to read more about them and their own lives--especially the French mother and daughter. All of the supporting characters work together to help heal William in ways he didn't even realize he needed healing. They were the kind of people it would be so much fun to be on a tour with!

The setting is richly drawn and made me feel as if I were actually there. The author has a wonderful facility in describing the area-- check out the excerpt below to get a sense of how richly descriptive this book is. It's been a long time since I've gotten so involved in a book that I stayed up way too late reading it because I had to know what was coming next.

I would recommend this book to fans of Maeve Binchey-- it has the same feel of community that many of her books have. 4 flowers and I'm definitely adding this author to my TBR list. Kudos!

Enjoy this excerpt:

When the sun broke through the clouds, he removed his jacket and stuffed it into his pack. He paused to gaze out at the horizon—limitless green, sparkling blue. Purple foxglove dotted the meadow, ushering in spring’s early debut. A subtle chorus of birdsong, twitters and warbles filled out the background, in combination with the wholesome tang of sheep dung. William slogged through sodden ground, laden with livestock muck. Nose running, shoes filthy, socks soaked, he held his gaze downward.
,br> Curiously, with every step he felt lighter.

He imagined atmospheric particles of green, sublimating his consciousness, working their way under his skin and changing him. He took pleasure in the soft crunch of grass beneath his feet, the lightness of wind on his face. In fleeting moments he imagined Kathleen walking beside him. William knew for certain then. He was predestined to land here in this sheep pasture, half way around the world.

About the Author:

JC (Jeanne) Miller, M.A., is an educator and founding member of JAM, an editorial-consultation team. An avid reader, aspiring traveler and table tennis enthusiast, she resides in Northern California.

Website: http://www.jcmillerwriter.com/
Facebook: Facebook

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