HEART OF A SHEPHERD
by Roseanne Parry
(Random House)
When Brother's dad is shipped off to Iraq, along with the rest of his reserve unit, Brother must help his grandparents keep the ranch going. He’s determined to maintain it just as his father left it, in the hope that doing so will ensure his father’s safe return. The hardships Brother faces will not only change the ranch, but also reveal his true calling.
The understated ones are hardest to review, you know, and they probably get short-changed because of it. But there is something about this book -- it's still hanging with me after a week. Brother's story has a steadiness to it, and although the characters don't burst from the pages, they have a quiet, lingering intensity about them. This is not a book for everyone, but I suspect it's going to mean a lot to a special few. *coughcoughSherrycoughcough*
I thought I saw the end coming, but nope, not really.
