This is Where It Ends by Cindy K. Sproles

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Minerva Jane Jenkins was just 14 years old, she married a man who moved her to the mountains. He carried with him a small box, which he told her was filled with gold. And when he died 50 years later, he made her promise to keep his secret. She is to tell no one about the box or the treasure it contains.

Now 94, Minerva is nearing the end of what has sometimes been a lonely life. But she's kept that secret. Even so, rumors of hidden gold have a way of spreading, and Minerva is visited by a reporter, Del Rankin, who wants to know more of her story. His friend who joins him only wants to find the location of the gold. Neither of them knows quite who they're up against when it comes to the old woman on the mountain.

As an unlikely friendship develops, Minerva is tempted to reveal her secret to Del. After all, how long is one bound by a promise? But the truth of what's really buried in the box may be hidden even from her.

MY THOUGHTS.....

This Is Where It Ends is an amazing book that kept me turning the pages. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next but also hated to reach the end! Author Cindy K. Sproles offers a realistic look at the Appalachian culture that would have been prevalent in the late 19th / early 20th century by sharing a poignant tale of a childless woman who'd been alone, atop her Kentucky mountain, for 30 years.. Minerva Jenkins had been a wife but it wasn't until her 94th year of life that she finally experienced true love. A young reporter from Lexington, Kentucky arrives at Shoal Mountain searching for facts about a box of gold and instead, finds a treasure beyond compare. He discovers feisty Minerva, and together, they build a powerful bond of the sweetest kind: the love that a grandmother and grandson might share!

Minerva is such a multi-faceted character! Spunky, independent, and contrary, but inside she's still the young girl who longed to be first in her husband's heart. Is it any wonder that she grew to be a tad bitter after Stately Jenkins asked her to keep a secret that was "never hers to hold"? This Is Where It Ends is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and I'm so happy that I met Minerva. There are several other characters who make this tale shine, including thoughtful and kind Del Rankin, compassionate Pastor Blessing, and Minerva's furry friend, Satchel! I can't say enough good things about this book and I highly recommend it to all who enjoy character-driven stories. It will surely be one of my top 10 books of the year!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a favorable review. These are my own thoughts. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cindy K. Sproles is an author and a speaker, whose dream is to do nothing more than craft words that speak from the heart. God's plan seems to be for her to write and teach the craft.  With God’s guidance, Cindy is expanding her horizons. We'll see how He uses her.

Cindy is a mountain gal. Proud of her heritage, she was born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains where life is simple, words have a deep southern drawl, and colloquialisms like, "well slap my knee and call me corn pone" seem to take precedence over proper speech. Apple Butter, coal mining, the river, pink sunrises, and golden sunsets help you settle into a porch swing and relax. Family, the love of God, and strong morals are embedded into her life in the mountains. Teaching writers, spinning fiction tales about life in the mountains, history, and down-home ideas find their way into all she does. “I love to write devotions, to seek after the deeper side of Christ, and to share the lessons He teaches me from life in the hills of East Tennessee. I am a writer. A speaker. A lover of God's Word and friend to all.” 

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