One Wrong Turn by Deanna Lynn Sletten @DeannaLSletten #lakeunionpublishing

Author : Deanna Lynn Sletten
Pages : 204
Publisher : Lake Union Publishing
Publication date : June 20, 2017

The words “I’m her husband” roll off Clay Connors’s tongue, but with his estranged wife lying in a coma—and no assurance that she’ll awaken—he knows he’s perilously close to losing everything. A singular, terrifying accident has left Jess Connors suspended between life and death. Now Clay is reunited with the family he hasn’t seen for two years, including the daughters he left behind.

Clay should have been there for his family. He never should have stayed away so long. The alcohol that took over his life destroyed everything but a shred of his self-preservation. Sober and haunted, Clay revisits the memory of love, marriage, and how his life unraveled. He hopes that by trying to reconnect with the daughter who blames him and the daughter who barely knew him, he can find a light of hope in this darkest hour. As his family faces its most grueling, emotional test yet, Clay must summon the courage to make right what was wrong—and find forgiveness from his harshest judge: himself.

When Clay gets a phone call to tell him his wife has been in a car accident and is now in a coma, he rushes home to be with his children. There’s just one problem. He hasn’t seen his family in two years and not everyone is ready to welcome him back with open arms.

Clay is an alcoholic and while he’s been sober for a few years now, he’s never felt strong enough to go back home, fearing he would let his family down again. But now he doesn’t have a choice. Will he be strong enough to resist the beer? Will he have what it takes to take care of his children? Will his wife ever wake up from her coma?

The story is mostly set in the present with some flashbacks to explain the life of Clay and his wife, Jess, and his downfall into alcoholism. I found all the characters to be highly believable and realistic, especially the children. Eldest daughter Maddie is angry at her father for leaving and doesn’t hesitate in letting him know she doesn’t trust he will stick around this time. The youngest daughter Jilly doesn’t really remember much and is far more willing to accept her father back into her life.

At 206 pages, it’s a very quick read and if I want to be picky, I might say it could have been a little longer and maybe have some more depth to it. However, I found this to be a truly beautifully written story about the effects of alcoholism. It’s a story about forgiveness, love, loss, finding your inner strength and second chances and I really enjoyed it.

My thanks to author Deanna Lynn Sletten for my advanced copy of this book, which I chose to review honestly.

One Wrong Turn will be published on June 20th.

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