An Unfinished Life [J0474]

2005 PB with minor wear. In an extraordinary tale of love and forgiveness, Mark Spragg brings us this novel of a complex, prodigal homecoming. After escaping the last of a long string of abusive boyfriends, Jean Gilkyson and her ten-year-old daughter Griff have nowhere left to go. Nowhere except Ishawooa, Wyoming, where Jean's estranged father-in-law, Einar, still blames her for the death of his son. Though Einar isn't glad to see either of them, Griff falls in love with his sprawling ranch and quiet way of life, as she slowly gets to know his crippled old friend Mitch, the cats that lurk in the barn at milking time, and finally the grandfather she had lost for so many years. An emotionally charged story of hard-won friendship and reconciliation, An Unfinished Life shows a novelist of extraordinary talents in the fullness of his powers.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "I loved this book and every character in it, even Jean with her penchant for picking the wrong guy every time. I really loved Griff, I liked that she was tough, and smart without sounding like a grown up in a kids' body, which happens often with these kind of characters."; "The thought-provoking plot centers on family, forgiveness, desperation, love, friendship and triumph over tragedy. It's a slow burn, but beautifully written with memorable characters."; "The characters in this book were phenomenal. I am going to see if he wrote a sequel to continue with Griff because that little girl remarkable."