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The Caddis Man
The 1918 influenza pandemic robbed Constance Warkentine of both her parents. The stringent terms in her father’s will robbed her of everything else. Unless she can find a husband and produce a son, the family property founded by her grandparents and lovingly tended for generations will pass to the Mennonite church, and she will be sent to live in a religious order. She has only a few months until her thirtieth birthday, when her life will change forever. So, when the traveling caddis man shows up with his sales case of samples—extracts and spices that fill her kitchen with their heady scent—and his own powerful presence, it seems evident to Constance that God has, indeed, answered her prayer. And if it’s not exactly a match made in heaven, at least she will be allowed to keep the Kansas farm she loves so dearly. Or will she? There may be other forces at work, those in power who don’t wish to see her succeed. Constance marries her caddis man, a decision that will shape the destiny of her family for generations to come. Her middle child is born with the good looks and fierce determination of her father, and at a fairly young age Evy finds herself in a position where the very existence of the family hinges upon her being able to safeguard the caddis man’s most devastating secret. Readers are loving this sweeping family saga that spans fifty years and half a world, from the wide Kansas farmlands to the missionary settlements in the Congo, through the effects of two world wars and the Great Depression. The Caddis Man will appeal to fans of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Signature of All Things. This is historical fiction at its finest, and a great choice for book groups. Includes Book Club Discussion Questions |
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0 to 60 Shelly Sinclair's life seems perfect—marriage to a successful Albuquerque doctor, two grown boys, a beautiful home in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains, financial and emotional security. Until the night of Ed’s retirement party and their thirty-fifth anniversary celebration, on the heels of her 60th birthday. That’s when her perfect husband chooses to announce that he's asked someone to marry him—a someone thirty-nine years his junior. And, oh yes, she’s the mother of his four-year-old child. Alone. At sixty. To start over. Complicated by the reactions from her sons and friends, Shelly has to figure things out, one step at a time. Choosing a new home, receiving an emergency call to deal with her elderly parents, and dating for the first time in decades. At each new roadblock, Ed tends to show up, complicating matters with the pretense that he’s there for her. Just when she has seemingly met the real Mr. Right, even though being with him would mean leaving her beloved New Mexico, there comes another big loss and a threat to her life. Can Shelly cope with all the changes and remake her life to be exactly what she wants for herself? Called zany, sexy, and poignant, with plenty of twists, 0-60 was optioned by Hollywood immediately after it was first published. A book club favorite and perfect for fans of Elana Johnson and Rachel Hanna. Praise for 0-60 and Susan Slater: “I laughed and I cried … and I loved the ending! Shelly's a champion for middle aged women everywhere. I can so easily see this story on the big screen (wouldn't Susan Sarandon be the perfect Shelly?) Slater has another winner here!” – Connie Shelton, USA Today bestselling author “Shelly's story will make you want to laugh, cry, scream and carry on right alongside her. Goes to show how strong we can be by the time we've lived 60 plus years. Bravo Ms. Slater!” – Quatrano, 5 star online review |