Sandy M’s review of More Things in Heaven and Earth (Watervalley, Book 1) by Jeff High
Contemporary Fiction published by NAL Trade 1 Oct 13
I’m glad I’ve made that decision to review a few books outside the romance genre when the opportunity presents itself. This book has it all – yes, even a bit of romance. I went from laughter to curiosity to frustration to irritation to amazement to a number of other such states with Luke Bradford in his journey to Watervalley, Tennessee as the town’s resident doctor. Luke is following in his father’s footsteps and heads to small-town America where he goes through a multitude of trials and tribulations, along with the swirling emotions that he never expected.
Luke has just been handed his medical degree and has the huge debt to prove it. So leaving Nashville to take this position with Watervalley isn’t his first choice – he prefers the scientific research end of the medical field – but with the added benefit of his school loan being taken care of, he’s going to put in a few years and then get back to his regular life. His introduction to the townsfolk doesn’t go as well as he’d hoped. Run-ins with the local sheriff and a can of beer start him on the wrong foot, and, I’m sorry, Luke, but I laughed my tail off during your drive into town. My heavens, you’d think things wouldn’t be able to outshine this undignified beginning, but you’d be wrong.
Moving into the house the town has provided, Luke has his doubts this is the place for him. He’s a city boy, and he just knows the people here aren’t going to accept him for a number of reasons. But he begins his first day at work, and the parade of the most interesting characters begins. Beginning with the oldest resident, the string of patients Luke sees are there mostly to check out the new doc. But what fun it is to meet them all. Since Luke is also a single young man, there’s plenty of ladies in town who also want an introduction. However, the one who he’s interested in can do without him. The two secondary characters who stand out are Connie, the black housekeeper who keeps Luke fed and on the right track, and John Harris, the reclusive hermit who once lived amid these eccentric folks but who now wants nothing at all to do with them.
When a flu epidemic hits Watervalley, Luke works day and night to figure out what the hell is going on. There’s no common denominator and no help forthcoming, and it’s during this time, when Luke truly feels he’s let everyone from his dad to himself to the townsfolk down, that he decides Watervalley would be better off without him. Connie is the one who gives him the most to think about, but what Luke finally learns is small-town America, with its hope, love, laughter, and community camaraderie, is perhaps the only place to live a full and happy life.
Jeff High has captured me heart and soul with this story, and I can’t wait to see what he does next with Watervalley, Tennessee. There’s even an hysterical short story on his web site that is worth your time to check out. This book is one you won’t forget for a long time, and the series is one you’ll anticipate book by book. I highly recommend you read this story. I dare you to not be hooked by the end of the first chapter.
Grade: A
Summary:
As an ambitious young doctor with a penchant for research, Luke Bradford never wanted to set up practice in a remote rural town. But to pay back his student loans and to fulfill a promise from his past, he heads for Watervalley, Tennessee–and immediately stumbles into one disaster after another. He expects the people of Watervalley to be simple, but finds his relationships with them complicated, whether he’s interacting with his bossy but devout housekeeper, the attractive schoolteacher he consistently alienates, or the mysterious kid next door who climbs trees while wearing a bike helmet. When a baffling flu epidemic hits Watervalley, Luke faces his ultimate test. Whether the community embraces him or not, it’s his responsibility to save them, And he’ll soon discover that while living in a small town may not be what he wants, it may be just what he needs.
No excerpt available
