Sandy M’s review of The Fullness of Time (Watervalley, Tennessee, Book 4) by Jeff High
Contemporary Fiction published by Jeff High 26 Mar 19
I read the first book in this series back when it released in 2013. I finished the next two books, and then waited to get my hands on this fourth one. Somehow, though, once I had it ready to go, I apparently got sidetracked for quite a while. I’m just now getting to it a number of years later. It’s okay, however, because I got what I needed from this series and its characters just when I was supposed to.
Luke is about halfway through his contract with the town of Watervalley, Tennessee. He’s providing medical services and they’re paying off his debt from med school. He’s now beloved by all the townsfolk, and Christine especially – their wedding is in just a few months. Then a couple of things happen that have Luke realizing his dreams are still alive and giving him a new mystery to solve.
There’s a new family in town, Matthew and his twins. He’s bought the old B&B, and the town is excited the place will be open again. But that’s where the mystery begins. Matthew isn’t there to open become an inn proprietor. His move to town involves his late wife’s family and he’s trying to figure out – along with new friend Luke’s help – what in the world his wife meant with cryptic remarks on her deathbed.
Despite all this intrigue, Luke is thrilled when he’s finally offered his dream of doing medical research. He’s pumped and ready to go when all details of his life and contract are laid out. Then he realizes he now has another person to think about, but wouldn’t Christine want him to do this, to be happy? However, Watervalley is Christine’s life. She’s happy there now. So Luke tamps down his joy to think things over a bit more. He’s lucky he’s found such a common-sense and understanding woman, when he decides to keep this new info to himself.
All the other townsfolk aren’t as understanding. Even with advice from best friend John Harris – who has changed his mind about leaving Watervalley – and his friend and housekeeper/cook Connie, Luke vacillates wanting to go and needing to stay with all the people who now mean so much to him. But those folks always surprise him one way or another. He just has to get there in his own time.
There’s still plenty of fun moments that will have a chuckle erupting now and again. New friend Matthew also has a change of heart once he gets a good dose of Watervalley charm. The twins and their angels are a happy inclusion into everyday life. The wedding? Well, Christine has the last word on that. My only nitpick I have is I don’t recall Luke being as, for lack of a better word, immature as he seems at times in this story. I know it’s for his “growing up” and making the right decisions, but it seems to go on a bit too long.
However, that doesn’t take away from the story itself. As usual, Mr. High has given readers a charming look at small-town America, and I’m so very glad of that. I thoroughly enjoyed every book in this series. I had hopes he would write another series or even just standalone books. But this one was written in 2019 and nothing from him so far. Even his website is very out of date. Unfortunate, because he does write a terrific story.
Grade: B+
Summary:
After a turbulent eighteen months, Luke Bradford is finally at peace with his new life as the sole physician in rural Watervalley. It is Christmastime, the town loves him, and his marriage to his beloved Christine is a few short months away. Then, an unexpected turn of events and finances changes everything for Luke, allowing his all-but-forgotten dream of doing medical research to be within his grasp. Now, he must choose between the obligations of his heart and the ambitions of his career. Meanwhile, the new owner of the town’s only bed and breakfast arrives under mysterious circumstances, reviving decades-old rumors around the B&B mansion’s cryptic past and stirring all the locals into a suspicious, whispering frenzy. With Luke’s help, the town warmly engages the newcomer, but Luke quickly notices his new friend is in fact, a man of many secrets who has come to Watervalley with a desperate agenda. As well the stranger’s two beautiful children have an uncanny, otherworldly gift. As the spring approaches, the long hours of patient care, the indecision about pursuing his dream, and the stress of bottling up all his emotions takes their toll, poisoning Luke with a brooding resentment. One by one the once stable elements of his world spin out of control, culminating into a crisis of choice that will have devastating effects on his career, his friendships, and his impending marriage. But within the curious world of Watervalley, the past has a transcendent effect on the present. In the fullness of time, events from long ago may yet come together to make Luke’s world whole again.
Other books in this series:
