Jill Hannah Anderson

Jill Hannah Anderson's Closer to Home is well worth reading. She manages to keep the readers guessing whether they are reading a crime story or a romance. I won't spoil which genre it turns out to best fit in. Instead, I will just say that it is well-written and legitimately fun to read.

The main takeaway from this book is the lesson that people ought to care about their neighbors and go to great lengths to treat them well. That can sound trite, but in this book, it isn't. Joleigh, the main character, comes across as an authentic person whose personality made her ready to jump in and help any of her neighbors who needed her. The developing relationships between Joleigh and a young girl named Bits is one of the delights here. Franklin, the love interest, has his share of emotional problems but ends up showing true love to make his and Joleigh's story turn out well.

This isn't a perfect book for readers who are looking for reading material that exemplifies high moral standards. There is violence in the early pages. There is a moderate amount of bad language scattered throughout the book. There is non-explicit sexual immorality depicted. None of the characters demonstrate any spirituality. With all that recognized, Closer to Home introduces us to people who seem like real people ... people with flaws, but also people who show love and consideration even when those qualities are not always reciprocated.… (mer)

Review of eBook

When Joleigh Moore sees her boyfriend, Mack, murdered, she flees by hiding in a neighbor’s car. She ends up in Grandfield, Minnesota where she tries be unobtrusive and unnoticed, especially after discovering she has the very thing the murderers were seeking: Mack’s drug money which he had stashed in her plant journal.

Although she misses her farm animals, Joleigh finds herself becoming involved with the townspeople and feels as if she might have found the place she could call home. But is it safe? Will the murderers track her down?

What should Joleigh do?

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With compelling, relatable characters, the unfolding story is both challenging and heartwarming. Although it sometimes feels as if Joleigh is facing far more than her share of life’s challenges, these situations allow the reader to see her strength and resilience.

Anchored by a strong sense of place, the narrative addresses several societal issues, including the difficulties faced by servicemen returning home from war, discrimination, and racial prejudice. Readers also experience friendship, love, and family as Joleigh’s evolving story plays out against her need to deal with the past in order to move forward.

Readers who enjoy family drama, small town stories, and historical fiction are sure to find much to appreciate in this unputdownable tale of self-discovery.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers program and am leaving this review voluntarily.… (mer)