Two children who had lost their parents in a car accident had been separated in the foster system until a fraternity brother (uncle) of the father accepts responsibility and is taking them home to California. But bad things are still in store for the kids because the uncle is killed during a tornado and the kids are stranded in the middle of nowhere. Luck does take a bit of a turn when Gemma, a grandmother raising her grandson after her daughter was killed in Afghanistan, finds the kids on the side of the road and takes them to Henry Adams in Kansas. Henry Adams is a small town that has welcomed children from the foster system all over the country and the citizens take the kids to their hearts. Sadly, luck turns again for the kids when an unknown aunt is found and takes custody of the kids for the sole purpose of spending their inheritance.

The story, as usual with all those involving Henry Adams, was heart-warming. However, this wasn't one of my favorites in the series. ( )

A story of a brother and sister that encounter unbelievable bad luck after the death of their parents in a traffic accident. First no relatives wants to have them live with them and when a fraternity brother of their father steps up and is willing to take them to California to live with him and his wife the trio is involved in a tornado in Kansas. The "uncle" is killed and his wife no longer wants the responsibility. A passerby takes them to a small town and is willing to foster them but when the town buyer searches for information about an estate suddenly a great-aunt steps up and agrees to have them live with her. She is quite mean to the children and her apparent motive for the adoption is the estate of more than 3 million. ( )

This was a feel good story one of those you want to curl up with. You will laugh, get mad and teary a time or two. ( )

Review: Chasing Down A Dream by Beverly Jenkins. 4 Stars 07/07/2017

This novel is a smooth and relaxing read. I can’t say it’s a Christian book because it feels like an every day life in a Henry Adams, Kansas community. It’s refreshing and well written. The characters each had their own developed personalities in a small town owned by one person. In this story it felt normal having someone buying the town and organizing how she and the citizen’s living there made it feel comfortable to go home.

Yes, the residents might have a situation to solve or an issue to discuss at the town meeting but they always hashed it out and found a solution that most everyone decided was right. There is someone dying, Eula wanting support and someone to plan her funeral but she has always been looked at as the black sheep of the family. Tarmar is Eula’s cousin and never got along with her and she discovers Eula, in her seventies, on her doorstep.

Than one day after a wicked tornado Gemma, who has a extremely bad past, finds two small children walking on the side of the road dirty and frightened. She takes them home with her and they told her what had happened to them and that their Uncle, who was going to adopt them, was back where they were walking, deceased…Once she heard about their parents died a while back in a car accident she automatically fell in love with the children and wanted to foster them. After her report to the authorities, she was able to watch over them until they find a family member to take them or they could go into the foster care system. Gemma filled out forms from the next town to become a foster parent but was told that the children services would not allow her to foster the small children because they were Black and she was White….

In the midst of the novel a couple, Jack, who was in the law forces and Rocky, who drives a spruced up motorcycle were planning their wedding with Jack’s mother trying to take over the whole situation. So, in the small town of Henry Adams there was always something going on, but wait, I can’t forget Tamar’s brother and all his bike riders came to a celebration of activities in the field behind Tamar‘s home, sleeping in tents, harmonizing in music, drinking, dancing and having just fun for four days. Oh, Jack the lawman was on alert when they hit town… ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I have not read the series before, but I was able to quickly understand the story. Reading this story really made me have a great appreciation for small town life. This small town is a perfect example of a 'town family' fit with their own matriarch, Tamar. I highly recommend this book. ( )