The town of Henry Adams, Kansas, has not much in it and not
much to do, bar farming and dodging tornadoes. But these
seem like good people. Let's meet some. Gemma Dahl, for a
start, driving along when she meets a pair of young kids
screaming for help. A twister overturned their uncle's car,
and they fear he's dead. Gemma instantly goes to their aid
and calls the sheriff. Lucas and his sister Jasmine had
just been adopted -- will they be sent back to foster care?
We also meet Rocky Dancer, a lively lady who is co-owner of
the diner. One way or another, most people are CHASING DOWN
A DREAM.
This series is called Blessings
and the contemporary
setting includes several African-American characters,
getting along with their neighbours, such as Deputy Davida
Ransom. After the police have done their best, Gemma, a
single grandmother, is left in temporary care of Lucas and
Jasmine. There are nine kids resident in this part of town,
including her grandson Wyatt. Surely there is room for two
more. Jasmine wants her hair done in cornrows, and even
though Gemma isn't African-American she assures the child
she can manage it. Life doesn't need to be complicated... but
officialdom might make it so.
I've obviously missed quite a lot of excitement, as
apparently five years ago, the mayor purchased the town on
eBay. I don't know what that entailed, but a large cast has
been assembled with tensions and back-stories, so if you
have been following the series no doubt you'll be delighted
to catch up on the gossip. I did find too many threads for
a newcomer so I was happy to concentrate on the orphaned
kids, Gemma and Rocky, and let the rest be a backing crew.
They include a lady named Tamar who feels entitled to speed
on the highway because her family has lived here for
generations. Pride goes before a fall. A friendly rivalry
exists with the town of Franklin, and some folks take it
too seriously.
We learn that many stresses go with running a town --
financial, legal, criminal. And just plain social. While a
romance occurs, it's not the focus of the book, so this
tale of good hearts and twisted jealousies which resolves
some generation-old issues is not just for romance fans.
Beverly Jenkins spins a lively yarn with historical detail,
and creates characters so real you feel you know them.
CHASING DOWN A DREAM will please her current readers, and
make anyone who hasn't followed the series want to go and
explore town from the start.
NAACP nominee and USA Today bestselling author
Beverly Jenkins continues her beloved Blessings series with
a heartwarming novel about what really makes a family.
There’s never a dull day in Henry Adams, Kansas.
Tamar July has never had a great relationship with certain
members of her family. In fact, she’d characterize it as a
“hate/hate relationship.” But when her cousin calls her with
the news that she’s dying and wants Tamar to plan the
funeral, she’s shocked but is willing to drop everything for
her.
After a horrendous storm, Gemma finds a young boy and his
little sister walking on the side of the road. She takes
them in, and quickly falls in love with the orphaned
siblings. But when Gemma contacts Social Services to try to
become their foster mother, she’s told a white woman cannot
foster African-American children.
In the midst of these trials, Jack and Rocky are trying to
plan their wedding. The entire town comes together to lend a
helping hand.
Though the residents of Henry Adams face seemingly
insurmountable obstacles, each of them will discover that
family comes in many forms, especially during the most
trying of times.
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