Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Bostick Communications, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it
Synopsis:When environmental writer Caroline Carlisle sets off to report on endangered sea turtles during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the last thing she expects is to uncover secrets - secrets that threaten to destroy her family, unless she can heal the hurts from a lifetime of lies. To make matters worse, Caroline's love for her late sister's husband, Simon, creates an uproar in a southern family already set on a collision course with its past.
Using real-life events as the backdrop, Trails in the Sand explores the fight to restore balance and peace, in nature and in a family, as both spiral toward disaster. Through it all, the ancient sea turtle serves a reminder that life moves forward despite the best efforts to destroy it.
Excerpt:
CHAPTER 1
Caroline – April 20, 2010
Our paddles caressed the water without creating a ripple as we floated by turtles sunning on tree trunks fallen into the river. A great blue heron spread its wings on the banks and lifted its large body into the air, breaking the silence of a warm spring day in north Florida.
The heron led us down the river of our youth stopping to rest when we fell too far behind. The white spider lilies of spring covered the green banks of the Santa Fe River in north Florida.
“Do you remember the spot where we always swam?” my husband Simon asked. “Isn’t it around here?”
“I can’t remember back that far,” I said.
Simon pulled his kayak up alongside mine as a mullet jumped out of the water in front of us and slapped its body back into the water.
“Still the dumbest fish in the river,” I said.
The leaves on the trees were fully green and returned to glory after a tough winter of frosts and freezes. Wild low-growing azalea bushes were completing their blooming cycle, and the dogwoods dropped their white blossoms a month ago. The magnolia flower buds would burst into large white blossoms within a month.
Simon and I missed the peak of spring on the river. However, we finally escaped our work on a warm Tuesday morning in late April.
“I hope things settle down. We should spend all summer on the river,” Simon said.
“Maybe we can get Jodi to come with us when she gets home from Auburn,” I said.
“Don’t count on it. Promise me you won’t be disappointed if she refuses.”
“I wish you wouldn’t be such a pessimist. That upsets me more than anything.”
Simon didn’t respond, which usually happened when I tried to talk about his daughter Jodi.
When we were kids, Simon and I spent many days in an old canoe on this river. Those idyllic days ended when he married my sister Amy. I never forgave Amy, even when she died two years ago. I eventually forgave Simon. Even though I didn’t miss or mourn my sister, Jodi, my niece, did. She lost a mother she
loved and believed Simon and I trampled her mother’s grave when we married nearly a year ago.
“At least winter is over,” Simon said. “Let’s hope for a quiet hurricane season.”
Caroline – April 20, 2010
Our paddles caressed the water without creating a ripple as we floated by turtles sunning on tree trunks fallen into the river. A great blue heron spread its wings on the banks and lifted its large body into the air, breaking the silence of a warm spring day in north Florida.
The heron led us down the river of our youth stopping to rest when we fell too far behind. The white spider lilies of spring covered the green banks of the Santa Fe River in north Florida.
“Do you remember the spot where we always swam?” my husband Simon asked. “Isn’t it around here?”
“I can’t remember back that far,” I said.
Simon pulled his kayak up alongside mine as a mullet jumped out of the water in front of us and slapped its body back into the water.
“Still the dumbest fish in the river,” I said.
The leaves on the trees were fully green and returned to glory after a tough winter of frosts and freezes. Wild low-growing azalea bushes were completing their blooming cycle, and the dogwoods dropped their white blossoms a month ago. The magnolia flower buds would burst into large white blossoms within a month.
Simon and I missed the peak of spring on the river. However, we finally escaped our work on a warm Tuesday morning in late April.
“I hope things settle down. We should spend all summer on the river,” Simon said.
“Maybe we can get Jodi to come with us when she gets home from Auburn,” I said.
“Don’t count on it. Promise me you won’t be disappointed if she refuses.”
“I wish you wouldn’t be such a pessimist. That upsets me more than anything.”
Simon didn’t respond, which usually happened when I tried to talk about his daughter Jodi.
When we were kids, Simon and I spent many days in an old canoe on this river. Those idyllic days ended when he married my sister Amy. I never forgave Amy, even when she died two years ago. I eventually forgave Simon. Even though I didn’t miss or mourn my sister, Jodi, my niece, did. She lost a mother she
loved and believed Simon and I trampled her mother’s grave when we married nearly a year ago.
“At least winter is over,” Simon said. “Let’s hope for a quiet hurricane season.”
Review: While this book is about the Deepwater Spill, it is really the backdrop and echoing sphere of Caroline's family's hidden past erupting like oil from the deep ocean floor, and spreading out to affect those not in the family itself. It was a wonderful method to use, but I have to admit I found myself scanning over those chapters and going to the chapters of Caroline and her family-. perhaps because we lived through it and it's results changed our lives, or because those chapters/the book held me rapt and didn't want to let me go.
This is a story you will want to read in one sitting- you may see some of the hidden history coming, but other parts will be a surprise,as will how the story ends! The book is well written, and gives you a very detailed history of the spill and how it affected the Gulf area from Florida to Texas.I'm looking forward to reading more books from the author!
In fact my only quibble was Simon's daughter attending Auburn University, as any Southerner knows, forgoing SEC Florida to go to Auburn is pretty much tantamount to having your Florida state citizenship taken away! It may be something minor, but living down here it was the something that niggled and bugged me every time I saw it on paper. SHRUG- it's a Southern thing....LOL
This is a wonderful book to read before Summer and I know you will enjoy it!
About the Author: P.C. Zick began her writing career in 1998 as a journalist. She's won various awards for her essays, columns, editorials, articles, and fiction. She describes herself as a "storyteller" no
matter the genre. She's published four works of fiction and one nonfiction book. Prior to 2010, she wrote under the name Patricia C. Behnke.
She was born in Michigan and moved to Florida in 1980. She now resides in Pennsylvania with
her husband Robert. Her fiction contains the elements most dear to her heart, ranging from love to the
environment. She believes in living lightly upon this earth with love, laughter, and passion.
Check out her website for more info.
matter the genre. She's published four works of fiction and one nonfiction book. Prior to 2010, she wrote under the name Patricia C. Behnke.
She was born in Michigan and moved to Florida in 1980. She now resides in Pennsylvania with
her husband Robert. Her fiction contains the elements most dear to her heart, ranging from love to the
environment. She believes in living lightly upon this earth with love, laughter, and passion.
Check out her website for more info.
Thanks for reading this post and entering the giveaway!
Thanks for hosting and thanks for review. I did want to respond to the university stuff. I lived in Gainesville, Florida, and taught at one of the high schools there for many years. Many of my students went to other southern schools such as Auburn, LSU, and even FSU. There was friendly rivalry and parents were torn sometimes, but only in families where sports mattered. I never thought about it, but maybe I should have. All I have to say now is: Go Steelers and Pitt:) Thanks again, and I'm glad you enjoyed the story.
ReplyDeleteIt's true as you say,just seemed odd,with so many great Florida schools to attend!
DeleteSome kids just wanted to get out of there. Gainesville, home to the Gators, is a relatively a small town (45,000 with students last time I checked). It's funny I never thought of it though when I was writing it so perhaps I should have put in a comment by someone about it being disloyal. I love to hear what different things folks pull out from a book. Thanks!
Delete