FINDING SUTTON’S CHOICE by Brenda Haas
Fiction, Women’s Fiction
5*****

BLURB: It’s been ten, long years since her abrupt departure, and, with a cryptic voicemail, 28-year-old writer Charlotte Sutton finds herself back in her hometown of Lakeside, Ohio. Only this time, her estranged father doesn’t recognize her, and a surprise half-sibling has taken her place. Chuck Sutton—newspaper editor, retired baseball player, and the town’s most beloved celebrity—is thought to have Alzheimer’s disease. The community newspaper is also on the verge of closure, and a childhood friend holds a decade-long grudge. Despite all this, there is Lakeside. The quaint waterfront community, flush with ivy-covered cottages and vintage charm, hasn’t changed even as everything else in Charlotte’s life has shifted. She intends to stay only long enough to get her father’s affairs in order. But, to reconcile her past and unearth family secrets, Charlotte must reconnect with Chuck through his Alzheimer’s diagnosis and reevaluate her own misconceptions about growing up in the small Ohio town that still holds her heart.

THOUGHTS: This is a story full of emotions. It is a tale of love, life, truth, sorrow, and family. If you’ve ever had to live with someone who had dementia or Alzheimer’s, this may be a difficult story to read. It is not a story that you rush through, but one to read and feel deeply. The world building is beautifully done. Even though I’ve never been to Lakeside, OH (and yes, it’s a real place), I felt like I was there. Sutton’s Place, Charlotte’s family home is easy to picture and the description of Lake Erie… perfect. But the characters are what drives the story. Charlotte hasn’t spoken to her father for ten years, but before that, she had very little to do with him. Or rather, he was too busy to do much with her. But when she gets a call that her father is ill, she returns to her hometown to see what’s up. And what is up is a teenage half-brother she knew nothing about and a father who is deep into the throes of Alzheimer’s. He doesn’t even recognize her at first. What was supposed to be a weekend to take care of a few things ends up being a permanent move to take care of her father and brother, find old acquaintances who become good friends, and a new love. Though this isn’t a romance, the HEA satisfies and gives a feel-good ending to the story.

Having dealt with family members who suffered from this insidious disease, I know the ups and downs of dealing with people with this problem. And the author shows those emotions perfectly. It’s not an easy road to travel either for the victim or the family. Did I enjoy the story? No. It was very difficult for me to read and brought me to tears more than once. BUT, it is very well written and draws the emotions and doesn’t let you go. But a HEA ending satisfies and leaves you with hope.

Recommended.