キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか? しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか? 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな?』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう?もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain's Log, Stardate 10.03.2008
Sunset
by
Karen Kingsbury
As John Baxter makes plans to marry Elaine, one of the Baxters enters into the most trying season of all. During a time of renewed love and hope for the future, the Baxters try to come together to establish the sacred ground of marriage and to chart a course for the future. Memories of times gone by meet with the changes of today in a story that proves only the support of faith and family can take a person into the sunset years of life.
Camy here:
I have to admit, this book was the first Karen Kingsbury book I’ve ever read. And BOY, now I know why she’s a bestselling author!
She writes with so much emotion, with so many emotionally vibrant pictures, with such exquisite word choices! I was crying left and right—and I enjoyed it!
Very uplifting, hopeful book. It shows God’s grace and love practiced by fallen Christians during trying periods of life, through hard choices.
There are a LOT of characters in this book, and since I haven’t followed the Baxter series, I was a bit confused at times and couldn’t always remember who was who. But she does a good job giving subtle hints so I could figure it out within a few paragraphs.
People who have followed the Baxters will find it a very satisfying ending, pulling lots of story threads full circle. I thought she did a good job, considering how many characters and stories were involved in the series.
Overall, a very entertaining book, hard to put down. Kingsbury fans will love it, and it made a new Kingsbury fan out of me!
Sunset
by
Karen Kingsbury
As John Baxter makes plans to marry Elaine, one of the Baxters enters into the most trying season of all. During a time of renewed love and hope for the future, the Baxters try to come together to establish the sacred ground of marriage and to chart a course for the future. Memories of times gone by meet with the changes of today in a story that proves only the support of faith and family can take a person into the sunset years of life.
Camy here:
I have to admit, this book was the first Karen Kingsbury book I’ve ever read. And BOY, now I know why she’s a bestselling author!
She writes with so much emotion, with so many emotionally vibrant pictures, with such exquisite word choices! I was crying left and right—and I enjoyed it!
Very uplifting, hopeful book. It shows God’s grace and love practiced by fallen Christians during trying periods of life, through hard choices.
There are a LOT of characters in this book, and since I haven’t followed the Baxter series, I was a bit confused at times and couldn’t always remember who was who. But she does a good job giving subtle hints so I could figure it out within a few paragraphs.
People who have followed the Baxters will find it a very satisfying ending, pulling lots of story threads full circle. I thought she did a good job, considering how many characters and stories were involved in the series.
Overall, a very entertaining book, hard to put down. Kingsbury fans will love it, and it made a new Kingsbury fan out of me!
Comments
I love KK but I confess I have OD'd on her. I've taken a break, and now have some catching up to do with the Baxter family apparently. ALong with the bajillion other books I brought home with me from ACFW. Oh, except for yours of course, because when I got to the bookstore it was SOLD OUT. Blah.