Prelude to a review, A Turn in the Road by Debbie Macomber

For as long as Debbie Macomber has been writing novels, my sister and my mom have been reading them.

During that same time period, I noticed Macomber's name on skeins of yarn, knitting pattern books, and occasionally on the cover of a book – that I was not reading.

A fan of all things Washington State, Starbucks, Costco, Microsoft, Nordstrom, Amazon, and especially Amazon Smile, I decided to take mom's suggestion and pick up a book by Washington state resident Debbie Macomber.

Actually, I didn't pick it up. My mom handed it to me and said, "Here, read this. It's a great story and will make you feel good." And a year later, I did.

I like books that you can read without being startled by missing words, or other weird stuff that takes you out of the rhythm of consuming a story. Macomber's book carried me away into the heart of fiction without the disturbances that appear when an editor hasn't done his/her job.

I also like books that surprise me with phrases I want to remember, such as:

It takes quite a man to replace no man.

I think you could write a whole book on that quote.

I like books that make me cheer for the protagonist, and one that gets all my gears going for the characters to make the right decision, even before I know what the right decisions are. That's the author creating conflict as I agonize with them through their adventure.

Mom has relayed what she's learned about Debbie Macomber over the years, as a person, and she's as much of fan of the Debbie Macomber who loves her family, as the author.

I may end up in the same place.

Just have to finish this book first.

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