An unexpected setting, unexpected characters with an unexpected stretch, and an unexpected love story. What can be better than that?

In the story, when Connor, the groundsman of a church, is called to work on his off day to clean the church cemetery off fallen leaves, he accepts the job willingly. There is also that the lore of a dead man whose soul became one with a gnarly old oak on the church grounds, although Connor doesn’t believe such tales.

While he rakes, he notices a guy named Haldis who he had seen before but never talked to. Haldis sits under the oak with a notebook in his hand and he writes. Haldis says the place helps his muse as he writes and that he also enjoys watching Connor work. Connor feels drawn to Haldis, but he isn’t sure Haldis feels the same way. Will this love develop further or not is for the reader to find out.

Both characters are likable and relatable, as is Father Mahoney, and Connor’s feelings mixed with chagrin and awkwardness due to his shyness and self-doubts made me feel empathy for him in some way.

The somewhat happy ending is highly imaginative and brilliant, and the scene definitions with great imagery bring life to the story. The twist at the end and the interplay between the two main characters are delightful.

The word choices and the narration are smooth and I enjoyed reading this story greatly.

seeing how very different and usual elements can come together to make a great story.

everything

to read the other book "Mackerel Sky" published by this writer. I already bought it.

happy I have this story in my Kindle.

is S Jade Castleton, a.k.a our Osirantinous .

it is an easy and enjoyable read and the story is truly original.

Osirantinous has this story in her port, but if you click on this review and buy it, it will help WdC. It is only 99 cents.

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Created Jul 06, 2019 at 9:00pm • Submit your own review...